New California Rule Allows 75% Capacity For Movie Theaters In Yellow Tier, No Physical Distancing As Long As Crowds Are Fully Vaccinated – Update

Tom Tapp
·9 min read

UPDATED with more details: Hours after the California Department of Public Health issued an addendum to the state’s capacity guidance for “activities or events” in which all attendees are either vaccinated of have tested negative for Covid-19, the department followed up with details.

Turns out, “activities or events” does not refer to indoor concerts, but rather to movie theaters, museums, zoos and aquariums. That from a spokesperson for the CDPH.

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Concerts will continue with the previously announced capacity expansions for negative-testing or fully vaccinated crowds. For details on that, see the April 2 post appended to the the bottom of this one.

The update from the state means that movie theaters, now allowed to reopen to “50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer” in the Orange tier of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s reopening plan may “increase capacity by an additional 50%, up to a maximum of 50% of total venue capacity.” In other words, there is no longer a 200-person maximum. L.A. and most of the state is currently in the Orange tier.

The real jump comes when counties move into the Yellow tier. In that realm, theaters were previously at the same max 50% capacity. Now, according to the CDPH, “Venues may increase capacity by an additional 50%, up to a maximum of 75% of total venue.” That’s so long as patrons are all fully vaccinated or have a recent negative Covid-19 test. See chart below.

There are three measures by which counties are categorized in the color-coded tiers. Los Angeles has for weeks met the bar for crossing into the Yellow tier in two of those three categories. The remaining category is adjusted cases per 100,000. It needs to be below 2 for counties to enter Yellow. L.A. has been at about 3 the past couple weeks but, in the last seen days, numbers across the board have fallen, raising hope that, when the state reveals counties’ adjusted case numbers on Tuesday, L.A. will dip into Yellow across the board. It would have to stay there for one more week before Yellow-tier capacity boosts pertain.

So how does one prove vaccination status? While state officials have avoided using the term “vaccine passport,” here is the California Department of Public Health’s statement on that:

The following are acceptable as proof of full vaccination: Vaccination card (which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided and date last dose administered) OR a photo of a vaccination card as a separate document OR a photo of the attendee’s vaccine card stored on a phone or electronic device OR documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider.

Proof of a negative Covid test is described as follows:

The following are acceptable as proof of a negative COVID-19 test result: printed document (from the test provider or laboratory) OR an email or text message displayed on a phone or electronic device from the test provider or laboratory. The information provided should include name of person tested, type of test performed, and date of negative test result (for PCR, date of negative result must be within prior 72 hours; for antigen, date of negative result must be within prior 24 hours).

A few more requirements and adjustments from the state on Monday:

• Fully Vaccinated-only sections must be separate, distinct, and clearly marked from any other section of the venue that is set aside for tested attendees.
• Individuals in the Fully Vaccinated-only sections do not have to be physically distanced. Face coverings are required.
• Fully Vaccinated-only sections may be seated at full capacity within that section only. Suites may also operate at 100% of suite capacity if all guests show proof of full vaccination. However, capacity for the venue must not exceed the limits established above.
• There must be at least 6 feet of distance between the Fully Vaccinated-only sections and any other section in the venue.

PREVIOUSLY at 12:01 PM: Weeks after it first issued capacity guidelines for indoor live events, California health officials issued an addendum on Monday increasing limits for performances at which all attendees are vaccinated or have tested negative for Covid-19.

The new guidelines come as about 30% of adult Californians are fully vaccinated against the virus and after the state made everyone 16 and older eligible for a dose last week.

Previously, the maximum capacity for a large-scale event at which everyone is vaccinated was 35% (see previous post below). Monday’s addendum scales that up to 50% in the Orange tier and 75% in the Yellow. Los Angeles 32 other counties — comprising much of the state’s population — are currently in the Orange tier.

Venues may not use the capacity bonus below if any section of the venue includes attendees that do not show proof of negative test or show proof of full vaccination. The new guidelines added some other requirements, as well.

• Fully Vaccinated-only sections must be separate, distinct, and clearly marked from any other section of the venue that is set aside for tested attendees.
• Individuals in the Fully Vaccinated-only sections do not have to be physically distanced. Face coverings are required.
• Fully Vaccinated-only sections may be seated at full capacity within that section only. Suites may also operate at 100% of suite capacity if all guests show proof of full vaccination. However, capacity for the venue must not exceed the limits established above.
• There must be at least 6 feet of distance between the Fully Vaccinated-only sections and any other section in the venue.

So how does one prove vaccination status? While state officials have avoided using the term “vaccine passport,” here is the California Department of Public Health’s statement on that:

The following are acceptable as proof of full vaccination: Vaccination card (which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided and date last dose administered) OR a photo of a vaccination card as a separate document OR a photo of the attendee’s vaccine card stored on a phone or electronic device OR documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider.

Proof of a negative Covid test is described as follows:

The following are acceptable as proof of a negative COVID-19 test result: printed document (from the test provider or laboratory) OR an email or text message displayed on a phone or electronic device from the test provider or laboratory. The information provided should include name of person tested, type of test performed, and date of negative test result (for PCR, date of negative result must be within prior 72 hours; for antigen, date of negative result must be within prior 24 hours).

PREVIOUSLY, April 2:California on Friday issued new guidelines allowing for a resumption of attendance at indoor concerts, sporting events, theater performances and conferences on April 15, with varying restrictions on capacity based on counties’ placement in the economic-recovery tier system, and based on the number of attendees who have been tested and/or vaccinated.

Los Angeles County is currently in the Orange tier of the state’s reopening plan. To see what that means, take a look at the breakdown below and the charts at bottom. For information on the tier status of counties other than Los Angeles, see the map directly below.

“Today’s update to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy is a result of the progress we are making both in vaccinations and in controlling the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. “By following public health guidelines such as wearing masks and getting vaccinated when eligible, we can resume additional activities as we take steps to reduce risk.”

“As we continue to expand vaccine distribution, California is poised for a safe and equitable recovery,” said Dee Dee Myers, the former Warner Bros exec and now senior advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom and director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. “We will continue to work with businesses, arts organizations, community groups and others to open carefully, with health and safety top of mind, so that we never have to go backwards.”

In the Purple tier, indoor reopening for these activities are not allowed. In the Red, Orange and Yellow tiers these activities are allowed with capacity limits and modifications including physical distancing, advance ticket purchases, designated areas for eating and drinking, and attendance limited to in-state visitors.

The breakdown is as follows:

Venues with a capacity of up to 1,500 people: In the Red tier capacity is limited to 10% or 100 people, and capacity increases to 25% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. In the Orange tier, capacity is limited to 15% or 200 people, and capacity increases to 35% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. In the Yellow tier capacity in limited to 25% or 300 people, and capacity increases to 50% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination.

Venues with a capacity of 1,501 and above: In the Red tier, testing or proof of vaccination is required, and capacity is limited to 20%. In the Orange tier, capacity is limited to 10% or 2,000 people, and capacity increases to 35% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. In the Yellow Tier, capacity is limited to 10% or 2,000 people, and capacity increases to 50% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination.

The Lakers issued a statement late Friday, saying the team is “incredibly excited that the state of California announced guidelines today that will allow Lakers fans to return to Staples Center.”

“Now that we have the guidance, we will work with LA County Public Health and Staples Center to finalize our plans to have fans safely attend our games starting with the Lakers vs. Celtics game on April 15,” according to the team.

The Clippers posted a short message on the team’s Twitter page saying, “Can’t wait to see you, #ClipperNation.” The message included a photo saying limited tickets will be available for home games starting April 18.

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