PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov
562.441.3590
Jennifer.RiceEpstein@longbeach.gov
Public Affairs Officer
Department of Public Health and Human Services
Long Beach, CA - The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has issued an updated Health Order, which took effect at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, and updates requirements for mega events, updates workplace mask guidance, and provides recommendations regarding travel and updates the protocol regarding youth sports.
Requirements for Attendees of Mega Events
Mega events, defined as events with crowds that number 1,000 attendees indoors per day or 10,000 attendees outdoors per day, are considered higher risk for COVID-19 transmission. These events will now require proof of fully vaccinated status or a negative COVID-19 test within one day for antigen (rapid) tests or two days for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. This is an update to the previous requirement, which allowed for testing up to 72 hours before the event start time. These policies apply to attendees two years old and older.
Travel Recommendations
The Health Order also recommends that people follow travel recommendations issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). These recommendations include:
- Travelers returning from or traveling to California should test for COVID-19 three to five days after arrival, regardless of vaccination status
- People should delay travel unless they are fully vaccinated
- People should not travel if they are sick, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
Protocol for Youth Recreational Sports
Updated protocols for spectators:
In all indoor settings, coaches, staff, volunteers, referees, officials and spectators, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask at all times. When outdoors, masks are recommended in crowded spaces and places, including among spectators at sporting events where distancing is not practical or possible. At sporting events attended by more than 10,000 individuals, universal masking is required by all spectators and employees except for the limited time when actively eating or drinking.
Updated protocols for youth athletes:
Youth athletes should wear masks when indoors as practicable, even when practicing, competing or performing. If athletes or teams elect to go unmasked while playing or practicing indoors, all athletes must be tested weekly, regardless of vaccination status. If athletes or teams wear masks while indoors, only unvaccinated athletes must undergo weekly tests.
If a team participating in indoor moderate or high-risk sports determines that requiring all players to remain masked is not practicable, and players elect to participate without their masks as a result, ALL team members, regardless of vaccination status, are required to have a screening test for COVID-19 performed at least weekly. Please note that while community transmission in the city remains substantial, it is strongly recommended that participants who are unvaccinated or are not always masked during indoor practice, conditioning, competitive play or performing, test two times per week.
In addition to prior exceptions to mask-wearing protocols for water sports, exceptions have now been made for the following:
- Gymnasts who are actively practicing or performing on an apparatus may remove their masks. Masks are required for floor routines and when gymnasts are not actively practicing/performing on the apparatus.
- Cheerleaders who are actively performing or practicing routines that involve tumbling, stunting or flying may remove their masks.
- During wrestling contact, a face mask should be removed unless an adult coach or official is closely monitoring for safety purposes.
Persons who show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are not playing unmasked nor with unmasked teammates indoors or that they have recovered from/completed isolation for laboratory confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days should not be included in routine COVID-19 screening testing if the person is asymptomatic.
Mask Guidance for Workplaces
The order continues to require that masks are worn indoors regardless of vaccination status. The order aligns mask requirements with Los Angeles County and has specific detail about masking requirements under certain circumstances.
This action was put in place by the City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, and in accordance with the Emergency Powers granted to the City Manager through the Proclamation of Local Emergency. It is effective from 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, until it is extended, rescinded or amended in writing by the Health Officer.
For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity and @LBHealthDept on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. People may also visit longbeach.gov/COVID19data for up-to-date information regarding cases and vaccines in Long Beach.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Jennifer Rice Epstein, Public Affairs Officer, Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, 562.441.3590 or Jennifer.RiceEpstein@longbeach.gov.