Los Angeles has become the third major U.S. city to impose a strict COVID-19 vaccine mandate, following the example of New York City and San Francisco. Passed by the Los Angeles City Council, the mandate requires all visitors to indoor gyms and other facilities to be fully vaccinated in order to be granted entry. The order will go into effect on November 29.
Despite the widespread nature of this mandate, the Staples Center, home to the Los Angeles Lakers, is said to be unaffected by it. The Staples Center, along with the Microsoft Theatre, “are already subject to an existing LACDPH order addressing this subject matter,” Staples Center officials revealed in a statement.
In order to be granted access to the Staples Center, Lakers fans will have the choice of either producing proof of being vaccinated or providing a negative COVID-19 test result dated less than 72 hours before the time of arrival into the facility.
In addition to being subject to these more flexible requirements, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka revealed in a media session that the entire Los Angeles Lakers roster will be fully vaccinated by the time that the new NBA season gets underway.
