California Allowing Indoor Concerts Starting This Month Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

California residents will once again be able to enjoy indoor concerts and performances as they will be allowed starting April 15, public health officials said.

The California Department of Public Health announced changes to its COVID regulations on Friday, and part of these changes would allow organizers to hold indoor concerts and theater performances again amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

However, this would not apply to all parts of California. The state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy has color-coded different areas and only those assigned red, orange and yellow are able to have indoor gatherings this month. Areas that are assigned purple would not be allowed to follow the updated regulations.

It is also important to note that attendees of such events would be required to undergo COVID-19 testing before they are allowed into the venues. If not, they should be able to provide proof that they have already been vaccinated against the deadly virus, as per ABC7.

As for the number of people allowed to attend the concerts and performances, this would mainly depend on the color of the region where the event is happening. The red-colored tier allows 10% capacity of a venue that can accommodate 1,500 people, or 20% capacity of a venue that can hold more than 1,500 people. Yellow and orange tiers allow a bigger number of audiences.

In the purple tier, private events like receptions and conferences are allowed as long as they are held outdoors, and each gathering should be limited to 25 people only. Regardless of the tier, everyone is still expected to wear face masks and follow social distancing guidelines.

California is slowly easing its restrictions after authorities noticed a lower rate of coronavirus transmissions. As of Friday, the state only recorded 2,414 new cases as more than 18 million people living in the region have already been vaccinated. Overall, the state has witnessed over 3.5 million cases since the pandemic started.

“Today's update to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy is a result of the progress we are making both in vaccinations and in controlling the spread of COVID-19. By following public health guidelines such as wearing masks and getting vaccinated when eligible, we can resume additional activities as we take steps to reduce risk,” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said.