Beginning April 15 — the day every Californian over the age of 16 becomes eligible to receive the vaccine — counties in the red, orange and yellow tiers can begin hosting indoor events such as conferences or seated live performances, including professional sports.
Capacity limits increase significantly at events where attendees are tested or show proof of full vaccination. For example, in the orange tier, where half the state’s population currently sits, outdoor gatherings are limited to 100 people, but if all attendees show proof of vaccination or are tested, an outdoor event can hold 300 people.
All private indoor events such as conferences or receptions will require that attendees show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from 24 hours or less before the start of an event.
Indoor live events like concerts, theater performances or live sports can occur without all attendees being vaccinated at venues with a maximum capacity of less than 1,500, with capacity increasing with proof of vaccination or a negative test.
For larger events, all attendees must show proof of being tested in the red tier, but not the orange or yellow tiers. Sacramento County is currently in the red tier, and not expected to move in the coming weeks. See a full list of restrictions here.
In a statement, the Sacramento Kings organization said "We are excited about today’s announcement regarding indoor professional sports venues and look forward to safely welcoming fans back to the arena in the near future."
In all tiers, events must follow precautions such as pre-purchased tickets or a defined guest list and assigned seating. Indoor live events must have designated areas for eating and drinking, and only in-state visitors can attend.
Venues can have fully-vaccinated sections without physical distancing where people can sit shoulder-to-shoulder, but they must wear masks.
State health officials say the move is a response to more Californians being vaccinated and declining COVID-19 case rates. The state has delivered 18 million doses of coronavirus vaccine and around 16% of the population is fully vaccinated, while the average number of new cases has dropped to around 2,500 statewide from highs of more than 40,000 this winter.
On Friday the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new guidelines saying it is safe for fully vaccinated people to travel, but still advised against non-essential trips.
Still, many California counties say they don't have enough vaccine doses to meet demand, especially as millions of more people become eligible this month. And some experts are concerned that the state may soon see an increase in cases as other parts of the country experience an uptick.
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