Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic rehearse in 2020 at the Hollywood Bowl, where they recorded virtual concerts during the pandemic. Photo: Natalie Suarez/Los Angeles Philharmonic
“The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued a new order stating that attendees of any major outdoor event will be required to wear a mask due to a spike in COVID-19 cases,” writes Selome Hailu in Tuesday’s (8/17) Variety. “The requirement stands regardless of vaccination status, and goes into effect as of 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19. This news comes after orders issued in July, which reinstated an indoor mask mandate for most public spaces, applying to both major events (defined as those with 5,000 or more attendees) as well as smaller spaces such as restaurants, movie theaters and gyms. July’s mask mandate did not include outdoor mega events, which are defined as those with 10,000 or more attendees. Tuesday’s order now incorporates these events…. The order will … affect larger venues including the Hollywood Bowl, SoFi Stadium and the Banc of California stadium, as well as sports venues…. Some Hollywood events such as special screenings … have been cancelled amid mask mandates and spikes in COVID-19 cases.” Separately, on Monday the Los Angeles Philharmonic announced that it would require proof of full vaccination at its indoor concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, starting October 9.
