- Locations that will require proof of full vaccination include gyms, salons, and city facilities.
- Individuals who are not fully vaccinated can still use outdoor portions of certain facilities.
- People with medical exemptions must provide a negative COVID-19 test to visit a business covered under the order.
The city of West Hollywood, California, has issued an emergency executive order requiring patrons of businesses with high risks of COVID-19 transmission to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated starting October 11.
All staff who “routinely work” onsite at these businesses will also have to meet this requirement by November 1, according to the order.
Businesses encompassed by the order include all establishments serving food or drink indoors, health and fitness facilities, city facilities, and personal care establishments, such as cosmetology services, tattoo parlors, nail salons, hair salons, and barbershops.
These locations all pose an elevated risk of transmission because patrons remove masks and are in close proximity with others, the order said.
“COVID-19 continues to present an imminent threat to the health and safety of community members and unvaccinated people are at higher risk for serious illness and death,” West Hollywood Councilmember John D’Amico tweeted after the order was issued.
Acceptable forms of proof include CDC vaccination cards, a photo or copy of vaccination card, documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider, or a digital COVID-19 vaccine record issued by the state, according to the order.
Individuals who do not provide proof of full vaccination are still permitted to use outdoor portions of covered businesses’ facilities.
—City of West Hollywood (@WeHoCity) September 11, 2021
While some alternatives were provided, professors affiliated with the Harvard School of Law Petrie-Flom Center consulted on some of the policies in the order to prevent the misuse of medical exemptions.
Individuals with legitimate medical exemptions will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test collected within 72 hours of their visit to a business covered according to the order, which also specifies that patrons may use antigen or PCR testing.