Questions & Answers

What is a Mega Event[1]?

Effective January 15, 2022 Mega Events are planned public or social occasions that include over 500 participants or spectators indoors and over 5,000 outdoors. Mega Events may have either assigned or unassigned seating, and may be either general admission or gated, ticketed and permitted events. Mega Events are also characterized by large crowds where participants and spectators may be talking loudly, chanting, cheering, or yelling. Mega Events may draw from beyond the nearby community and will often draw attendees and participants from other states and countries. From a public health consideration, Mega Events are higher-risk settings for transmitting COVID-19.

Mega Events include conventions, shows, nightclubs, concerts, sporting events, theme parks, fairs, festivals, large races, and parades when attended by more than 500 participants or spectators indoors, or more than 5,000 participants or spectators outdoors.

Mega Events do not include venues such as shopping malls or museums that are open to public circulation as part of their regular operations, except to the extent that such venues host qualifying events.
Guidance for Mega Events does not apply to school events that are not open to the general public.

When do facilities and venues need to be in full compliance?

Facilities and venues that are newly covered by this guidance must be in full compliance with this new requirement no later than January 15, 2022.

What if I've already sold tickets for an event occurring after January 15th (but did not meet the previous definition of Mega Event)? 

The state is providing these updates at this time to ensure businesses, event and venue operators have sufficient time to notify their customers of the new entry requirements.   

How long will these restrictions and recommendations remain in effect?

These restrictions and recommendations will continue and be updated as CDPH continues to assess conditions on an ongoing basis.

What makes Mega Events so much riskier than other events or venues?

Large events and gatherings involve several factors that increase the risk of transmission including:

1. persons attending often travel from outside the immediate area, and some types of travel may increase the risk of exposure;
2. events have prolonged duration;
3. persons attending are often in close contact;
4. most counties do require universal masking in indoor public settings, and masks are removed for eating and drinking; and
5. the larger the number of people gathered, the greater the likelihood that contagious persons are present.

What are acceptable forms of identification for attendees ages 18 and over to validate their vaccination record or proof of negative test?

Acceptable identification is any document that includes the name of the person and photograph, for example a driver's license or identification card (DL/ID), passport, school ID or work ID.

Can Californians resume non-essential travel out of state? Internationally?

Californians should follow CDC travel recommendations.

What is the definition of "fully vaccinated?"

See current CDPH Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Persons for definitions, acceptable vaccines, and updates on additional vaccines as they are approved.

Can venue operators use self-attestation to confirm that an attendee meets either the negative tested or fully vaccinated status requirement?

No, self-attestation may not be used to verify status as fully vaccinated or as proof of negative test result for indoor settings. Vaccine verification is required for Indoor Mega Events and recommended for Outdoor Mega Events. See current Options for Providing Proof of Vaccination in the CDPH Vaccine Records Guidelines & Standards for acceptable methods of vaccine verification.

Are children who are not eligible for a vaccine still required to follow the testing requirements of Indoor Mega Events?

Yes, children and those who are unable to receive a vaccine are still required to produce a negative test. However, children under the age of 2 are exempt from the testing requirement.

If an attendee is attending an indoor mega event for multiple consecutive days, and they are not fully vaccinated (and therefore must provide proof of negative COVID test prior to entry) are they required to provide proof of negative test each day they are in attendance?

Attendees (who are not fully vaccinated) participating in an indoor mega event for multiple consecutive days are only required to provide proof of negative test on the first day, and subsequently every third day (meaning testing is only required on day one, day 4 and day 7, and so on).

What about customers who purchase tickets for a group?  Will they have to provide vaccine verification for the entire group?

Yes, any customer purchasing tickets for a group will be required to provide proof that all parties in their group will meet the negative tested or fully vaccinated requirements for Indoor Mega Events. For Indoor and Outdoor Mega Events, all attendees must follow current CDPH Guidance for Face Coverings.

Are there any consequences for falsification of vaccine status or testing results in order to attend an indoor event with over 500 attendees?

Vaccination record cards are intended to provide recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine with information about the type of vaccine they received, and when they may be able to receive a second dose of the vaccine. By misrepresenting yourself as vaccinated, you put yourself and others around you at risk of contracting COVID-19. Additionally, the unauthorized use of an official government agency's seal (such as HHS or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) is a crime and may be punishable under Title 18 United States Code, Section 1017, and other applicable laws.

Is the event owner required to conduct contact tracing if it is found that people at the event were positive for COVID-19?

No, but event operators should cooperate and work closely with their local health departments to assist in any contact tracing efforts. Additionally, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), if applicable to them, which requires that employees be notified of an exposure.

Does that event owner have to retain a record of the participants' COVID-19 vaccination status or negative test result?

No.

[1] The requirements for Mega Events continue to be recommended but not mandatory for places of worship meeting the definition of a Mega Event.

[2] CDC - Delta Variant: What We Know About the Science