Industry & Sectors Guidance

Summary

As Californians get vaccinated, the state is reopening and moving beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The purple, red, orange and yellow tiers that helped us manage COVID-19 in our counties are on track to end on June 15. While very limited measures will remain, Californians will see life getting back to normal.

As such, all sectors listed in the current Blueprint Activities and Business Tiers Chart may return to usual operations (with the limited exceptions for Mega Events). Employers are subject to the current Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), if applicable to them.

As the state continues to monitor the transmission and effects of COVID-19 and its many variants, CDPH strongly encourages the following general public health recommendations:

• Everyone should get vaccinated when eligible.
• Indoor spaces should be well ventilated (i.e., open all windows and doors to increase natural air flow), following current CDPH and CalOSHA guidance.
• Everyone should sign up for CA Notify as an added layer of protection for themselves and the community to receive alerts when they have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

CDPH will continue to provide updated guidance for youth, healthcare and high-risk congregate settings.

Questions & Answers

What is a Mega Event?

Mega Events are planned public or social occasions that include over 5,000 participants or spectators indoors and over 10,000 outdoors. Mega Events may have either assigned or unassigned seating, and may be either general admission or gated, ticketed and permitted events. Mega Events are also characterized by large crowds where participants and spectators may be talking loudly, chanting, cheering, or yelling. Mega events may draw from beyond the nearby community and will often draw attendees and participants from other states and countries. From a public health consideration, Mega Events are higher-risk settings for transmitting COVID-19. 

Mega events include conventions, shows, nightclubs, concerts, sporting events, theme parks, fairs, festivals, large races, and parades when attended by more than 5,000 participants or spectators indoors, or more than 10,000 participants or spectators outdoors. .

With the exception of live events/entertainment, fairs, water parks, amusement parks and large private events or gatherings, mega events do not include sectors previously identified in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy because they do not have the same risk factors described above. 

Can Californians resume non-essential travel out of state? Internationally?

Californians should follow CDC travel recommendations and read the latest CDPH Travel Advisory.

What is the definition of "fully vaccinated"?

See current CDPH Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Persons for definitions, acceptable vaccines, and updates on additional vaccines as they are approved.

Can venue operators use self-attestation to confirm that an attendee meets either the negative tested or fully vaccinated status requirement.

Yes, self attestation can be used to meet either requirement.

What does it mean to "self-attest" to a negative test or fully-vaccinated status?

Each customer will be asked to confirm that they will meet the requirements for a negative test or are fully vaccinated before entry into the event.  Venue operators are encouraged to obtain this confirmation during registration or at ticket purchase.  For sales made the day of the event, or for sales made through a third-party seller, confirmation can be made either in writing or verbally by the customer prior to entry into the venue.

What about customers who purchase tickets for a group?  Can they confirm for the entire group?

Yes, any customer purchasing tickets for a group will be required to confirm that all parties in their group will meet the negative tested or fully vaccinated requirements for indoor Mega Events. For indoor and outdoor Mega Events, all attendees must follow current CDPH Guidance for Face Coverings.  

Are there any consequences for falsification of vaccine status or testing results in order to attend an indoor event with over 5,000 attendees?

Vaccination record cards are intended to provide recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine with information about the type of vaccine they received, and when they may be able to receive a second dose of the vaccine. By misrepresenting yourself as vaccinated, you put yourself and others around you at risk of contracting COVID-19. Additionally, the unauthorized use of an official government agency's seal (such as HHS or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) is a crime, and may be punishable under Title 18 United States Code, Section 1017, and other applicable laws. https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2021/PSA210330 

How does this differ from the previous set of industry guidance that will be retired on June 15?

This guidance is specific to large high-risk settings, both indoors and outdoors. CDPH will continue to provide updated guidance for youth, healthcare and high-risk congregate settings. 

Will masks be  required in schools?

School masking guidance remains in place and masks are required. Going forward, CDPH will continue to provide guidance around youth settings.

Is the event owner required to conduct contact tracing if it is found that people at the event were positive for COVID-19. 

No, but event operators should cooperate and work closely with their local health departments to assist in any contact tracing efforts. Additionally, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), if applicable to them, which requires that employees be notified of an exposure.

Does that event owner have to retain a record of the participants' COVID-19 vaccination status or negative test result?

No.