L.A. moves to roll back vaccine verification at restaurants, businesses despite BA.2 concerns

Vaccine checks may no longer be required at restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and other businesses in L.A. if the City Council completes a vote next week. Los Angeles on Wednesday took another step toward rolling back its COVID-19 vaccine verification requirements for indoor restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and other businesses even amid concerns that circulation of the “stealth” Omicron subvariant, BA.2, might fuel an increase in cases this spring. Health officials and epidemiologists also have cautioned that California and the country could soon see coronavirus cases resurge with the Omicron subvariant BA.2, which is 30% to 60% more contagious than the original Omicron variant. Council President Nury Martinez said that if a surge in coronavirus cases returns, the city would follow the guidance of the county and state departments of public health on what steps to take. She added that “the city will continue to protect those most vulnerable in places where we have direct oversight, such as city buildings.” Although the city is moving to make vaccination verification a voluntary measure at many locations, “we have maintained the proof of vaccination requirement for entering indoor portions of our city facility,” Martinez said in a statement.