Golden 1 Center to drop another COVID-19 rule Friday. Here’s what to know
The Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento is set to change its COVID-19 rules again.
Starting April 1, the Golden 1 Center will drop its vaccination or test proof requirement for event goers and shift from required to strongly recommended that patrons are fully vaccinated or have a negative test before entering the building. Specific events can have stricter policies.
You’re fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or two weeks after the first dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts highly recommend the booster shot six months after the second dose due to waning immunity.
The vaccination rule lift on Friday, the same day the center will host American rock band Journey’s world tour, follows California’s newest COVID-19 guidance for indoor “mega” events. An indoor mega event, according to the California Department of Public Health, has a crowd greater than 1,000 people.
The state’s latest COVID-19 protocol shift, which drops the requirement of proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test at these events, comes as state COVID-19 infections continue to fall. According to the state’s official COVID-19 dashboard, last updated Wednesday, California has a daily average of nearly 2,000 cases, 48 deaths and a 1.3% test positivity rate.
“This shift acknowledges that while case rates and hospitalizations are declining statewide from their peak during the omicron surge, indoor mega events continue to involve several factors that increase the risk of transmission of COVID-19,” CDPH wrote in a March news release.
Golden 1 Center mask guidelines
Golden 1 Center’s newest change came less than two weeks after its most recent mask rule shift.
As of March 22, in compliance with the state health guidelines, patrons are recommended but not required to wear masks while in the arena, according to the arena’s health and safety protocols site.
Guidelines may differ for particular events and concerts. You can find an event’s specific guidelines on the venue’s upcoming event calendar.
Golden 1 Center COVID-19 protocol history
The Golden 1 Center has followed state and county guidelines in regards to mask and vaccination requirements.
The April 1 vaccination loosening comes just a couple of months after Golden 1 Center tightened its vaccination rule, following the state’s reinstated statewide mask mandate. In December 2021, the center required its guests to show proof of a negative PCR test within two days or an antigen test within one day of entry.
In the past, unvaccinated event attendees needed to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within two days of the event. Before that, the center allowed negative tests taken within 72 hours.
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 3:39 PM.