Pasadena Transitions to Yellow Tier, Aligns with CDC Guidance for Fully-Vaccinated Individuals, and Resumes Administering Johnson & Johnson

(PASADENA, CA.) --The City of Pasadena will move to Tier 4 (Yellow) for activities and businesses in the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The City of Pasadena Health Officer has issued a Health Officer Order, which requires all individuals and businesses to comply with the restrictions and limitations set forth in the Yellow Tier.

Effective Wednesday, May 5, 12:01 a.m., the following activities will be permitted to occur in strict adherence with the updated Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) protocols:

• Restaurants may open for indoor dining at a maximum of 50% capacity in compliance with the protocol for restaurants, bars and breweries;
• Bars that are not able to provide a sit-down, bona fide meal with each alcohol transaction may operate indoors with modifications at a maximum capacity of 25% or 100 people, whichever is fewer, and may operate outdoors with modifications, in compliance with the protocol for restaurants, bars and breweries;
  
• Breweries that are not able to provide a sit-down, bona fide meal may operate indoors at a maximum of 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer, with modifications in compliance with the protocol for restaurants, bars and breweries
• All retail, including standalone grocers, may operate with modifications including physical distancing in compliance with the protocol for retail operations;
• Museums and galleries may open for indoor operations with modifications including physical distancing, in compliance with the protocol for museums and galleries;
• Movie theaters may operate indoors at a maximum of 50% capacity, in compliance with the protocol for movie theaters;
• Hotels and lodging may operate with modifications in compliance with the protocol for hotels and updated protocols for restaurants, bars and breweries, pools, and fitness facilities where applicable;
• Fitness facilities, gyms, yoga and dance studios may operate indoors at a maximum of 50% capacity, in compliance with the protocol for fitness facilities;
• Pools located indoors may reopen for routine use at a maximum of 50% capacity and pools located outdoors may be open for routine use at a maximum of 75% capacity, in compliance with the protocol for public pools;
• Offices may open with modifications including physical distancing in compliance with the protocol for offices, but telework is strongly encouraged;
• Family entertainment centers may open for indoor operation at 50% capacity (75% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination), in compliance with the protocol for family entertainment centers;
• Outdoor seated live events are permitted with maximum capacity of 67% and additional restrictions and modifications, in compliance with the protocol for outdoor seated live events and performances.
• Private events that are ticketed OR have a defined guest list, such as meetings, receptions, organized celebrations, conferences and similar events, are permitted to be held outdoors with a maximum of 200 guests with assigned seating. With proof of full vaccination or testing, private events up to 400 people outdoors or 200 guests indoors are permitted; all events must be in full compliance with additional restrictions and protocols;
• Indoor seated live events and performances are permitted subject to the following limitations and must be in full compliance with additional restrictions and protocols;
  • In-state visitors only;
  • Weekly worker testing program must be in place;
  • All tickets must be delivered by digital, advanced purchase only;
  • Eating and drinking may take place in pre-designated eating areas only (no eating or drinking in seats), with six feet of distance between customer groups;
  • Suites are limited to 25% capacity, with a maximum of three households, and verified fully-vaccinated guests may occupy suites at full capacity;
  • Venues with a capacity of up to 1500 attendees are limited to a maximum of 25% or 300 attendees, whichever is fewer (50% if all attendees show proof of full vaccination or testing as specified in the protocol;
  • Venues with a capacity of greater than 1500 attendees are limited to a maximum of 10% capacity or 2,000 attendees, whichever is fewer, (50% if all attendees show proof of full vaccination or testing as specified in the protocol.
• Outdoor, informal private social gatherings of up to 100 people are permitted with wearing of face masks and physical distancing; if everyone is vaccinated, and 50 people or fewer are in attendance, face masks and physical distancing are not required. However, gatherings are not risk-free and measures should be taken to reduce risk as well as to protect high-risk individuals.
• Indoor, informal private social gatherings are strongly discouraged, but are allowed with modifications. Private indoor gatherings can occur with up to with a maximum of 50% capacity in settings where capacity limits exist or 50 people, whichever is fewer. Wearing of face masks and physical distancing of 6 feet or more are required. Food and drink indoors is strongly discouraged. While face masks are removed for eating or drinking, individuals must stay at least 6 feet away from everyone outside their own household, and put their mask back on as soon as they are done with the activity. When persons are not able to consume food and drink outdoors instead of indoors, windows and doors should remain open as much as possible to provide good air circulation and ventilation. If everyone is vaccinated, and 25 people or fewer are in attendance, face masks and physical distancing are not required. However, gatherings are not risk-free and measures should be taken to reduce risk as well as to protect high-risk individuals

Residents are reminded to stay diligent about COVID-19 protocols including wearing a mask in public, frequent hand washing, keeping distance from others, and staying home if you feel sick, even if you have been vaccinated. The public is strongly urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible. All vaccines are proven to be highly effective at preventing hospitalization or death from COVID-19, and people who are fully vaccinated are also much less likely to be contagious or transmit the virus to someone else. The longer you wait to get vaccinated, the greater the risk of contracting COVID-19, and infecting a friend, loved one, or coworker.

COVID-19 vaccines are available through the Pasadena Public Health Department at no cost to people age 16 years and over. For more information and to register for an appointment, visit myturn.ca.gov.

Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

In alignment with the CA Department of Public Health (CDPH) COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Fully-Vaccinated People and the CDPH Guidance for Use of Face Coverings, fully-vaccinated individuals are not required to wear masks outdoors except in the following situations, when a mask must still be worn:

• At crowded outdoor events, such as live performances, parades, fairs, festivals, sporting events, or other similar settings;
• In crowded spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained and it is not known whether everyone in the space is fully vaccinated or at high risk for severe illness or death from COVID-19;
• In indoor public settings, unless expressly permitted by the Health Officer Order;
  
• At worksites and businesses; and
• In any setting where masking is required by the facility operator or business or by the Health Officer Order or its associated protocols.

People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks or more after receiving the second dose in a 2-dose series such as Pfizer or Moderna, or two weeks or more after receiving a single-dose vaccine such as Johnson & Johnson [J&J]/Janssen.

Health Department to Resume Administering Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

On Friday, April 23, the CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced they would accept the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) recommendations to lift a pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for all adults. Pasadena Public Health Department Director and Health Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh concurs with the findings of the ACIP and Western States Scientific Safety Review (WSSR) that the review of all available data at this time shows that the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks.

The CDC recommends that providers resume use of this vaccine in the US, with the additional disclosure to potential vaccine recipients of the possibility of a rare but increased risk of blood clots with low platelets (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome [TTS]) and that there are other COVID-19 vaccine options available for which this risk has not been seen. According to the CDC, to date most of these reports have been in adult women younger than 50 years old, but there have been reports in men and older women. The reporting rate for this event in women 18-49 years old is about 7 cases per million doses, and for both women 50 years and older and men, is less than 1 per 1 million people vaccinated. Informational materials in an accessible reading level in multiple languages are available from the CDC, and must be made available by providers, so that the members of the public can make an informed decision.

People who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should contact their primary healthcare provider if they have concerns or if they develop severe symptoms of headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination. For more information visit the CDC.