Los Angeles to Create Ordinance Requiring Vaccination to Enter Restaurants, Retail Stores

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted Aug. 11 to prepare an ordinance that will require people to show proof of at least partial COVID-19 vaccination to enter public indoor spaces in the city, including restaurants, bars, gyms, entertainment venues, and retail stores.

The ordinance is more restrictive than a policy recently enacted in New York City, which focuses more on entertainment-oriented public spaces such as restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues, and excludes retail stores.

The motion was introduced last week by Council President Nury Martinez and Councilman Mitch O’Farrell.

“It’s our responsibility to protect the public, that includes protecting them from the unvaccinated,” Martinez said in a statement. “The decision to not get vaccinated doesn’t just affect you. We have kids under the age of 12 who are not eligible for the vaccine yet, and someone’s decision to not get vaccinated affects them as well.”

“Instead of fighting science, we should be fighting the virus,” O’Farrell said in a statement. “The data is clear: vaccines are safe and effective.”

During the meeting, O’Farrell called choosing not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 “immoral,” saying some people choose to “listen to some delusional rant on Twitter.” – READ MORE