Updated COVID-19 regulations for “mega” indoor and outdoor events

Proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 test required for indoor events greater than 1000 people

Karisa Kampbell / News Editor / The USD Vista

While still amidst an ever-changing pandemic, rules, recommendations, and regulations are continuously changing. Most recently, on Sept. 20, California implemented a new policy that requires proof of vaccination, or a negative test result before entering “mega indoor events.”

According to CBS8, a “mega indoor event” is defined as an indoor event with more than 1000 people. This is a drastic change from the previous threshold of what constituted an indoor event to be “mega,” which was 5000 people. The State of California instituted this new criteria in an attempt to further reduce the state’s COVID-19 numbers. 

Many events will fall under the category of a potential mega event. Such indoor events that will now require proof of vaccination or a negative test result include concerts, conventions, conferences, expositions, and nightclubs. 

New guidance from the State of California outlines that  ”mega outdoor events” – gatherings of 10,000 people or more – are highly encouraged to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result prior to entry for all individuals. Examples of Mega outdoor events include theme parks, concerts, and sporting events 

While it is mandatory for indoor events of more than 1000 people to require vaccination or negative test result proof, it is only highly recommended for outdoor events of more than 10,000 people to follow the same requirements. 

USD sophomore, Ryan Harris, shared his thoughts on the new guidance and how he agrees it’s important to have such requirements in place right now. 

“I think that as we are still in the pandemic, it’s important to keep some restrictions and I see why California has decided on these restrictions,” Harris said. “With vaccinations being so important and protecting us, in large gatherings indoors it’s beneficial and important to have things like masks and vaccines protecting us.”

Because San Diego and Southern California are large destinations for concerts, theme parks, and sporting events, many businesses and venues will be affected by the requirements and guidance. Larger outdoor venues, however, still maintain the choice of whether or not to implement these restrictions. 

SeaWorld San Diego, a large theme park located just minutes away from USD, has not implemented the new requirements. Similarly other large theme parks in Southern California such as Universal Studios Hollywood and Disneyland have also chosen not to implement the new requirements either. Instead, Disneyland requires all guests to attest that they are aware of the California State guidelines, and must agree to wear a face covering at all times while indoors. 

 If planning on attending an event at a mega outdoor venue, it is important to review the safety information before going, as it is up to the discretion of each company to what they are requiring guests to follow. 

While some may think that these restrictions are arbitrary, Harris expressed that he believes they are beneficial. 

“We all want to get out of the pandemic and end the restrictions, so I think that some minor precautionary measures for large gatherings might be beneficial in the short term,” Harris said. 

18 months later and still fighting the omnipresent pandemic, it is important to remain diligent in the fight against COVID-19. While adaptability has been key to the entirety of the pandemic, it is important to follow current State and County guidelines, such as the new requirements for vaccinations at certain events, in order to emerge on the other side of COVID-19 and leave masks a memory of the past.