Written by Will Hekman
The Los Angeles City Council is considering a proposal that would require proof of at least partial vaccination against COVID-19 to enter public indoor spaces. This would include areas such as restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, and even some “retail establishments”. The proposal was introduced by City Council President Nury Martinez and Councilman Mitch O’Farrell.
Martinez said, “Hospital workers are exhausted, moms who have put aside their careers are tired, and our kids cannot afford the loss of another school year. We have three vaccines that work and are readily available, so what’s it going to take?” The proposal is similar to one being set in New York City, but it is considerably more restrictive with the inclusion of retail establishments, which could threaten the access of basic necessities. Councilman O’Farrell’s office said that the exact business that would be impacted by the proposal is yet to be determined and it is unclear whether grocery stores would be included as an impacted retail establishment. O’Farrell stated, “Hard-working Angelenos, their customers and the general public deserve to be safe in public spaces”. If the proposal is passed, the city attorney would have to prepare an ordinance requiring “eligible individuals” to have at least one dose of a vaccine to enter indoor public spaces.
Health officials have continued to push for vaccinations, as a large majority of cases in Los Angeles are from people who are unvaccinated. In the county of Los Angeles, 92% of COVID-19 cases were unvaccinated or were not fully vaccinated in the month of June, a decrease from May when the number was 95%, according to Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. Ferrerr also stated that 99.8% of deaths from COVID-19 during the first six months of 2021 were unvaccinated individuals.
