BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Officials urge mask-wearing for fans attending Super Bowl

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

BE - Test Share

More Sports

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

(NewsNation Now) — An estimated 150,000 out-of-town visitors are expected to descend on Los Angeles for the Big Game, posing a considerable threat to public health given the ongoing spread of COVID-19 across America.

The city has been dealing with local health leaders call “Extraordinarily high transmission rates,” but just in time for Super Bowl LVI, key indicators show the omicron variant is in decline on the California coast.

“It takes a lot of work to continue to decline to get us to where we can really say we have low to moderate rates of transmission,” said Barbara Ferrer, director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Ferrer says she has implemented a “layered protection policy,” meaning vaccines, testing and masks are prioritized and given free to everyone.

“We are grateful that the NFL again has come here to LA County knowing ahead of time that we were going to ask them to help us layer these protections,” she said.

Key partnerships, like the one with the NFL, will help push that “layer strategy.” Those who receive a free dose of the vaccine at the convention center will get a free ticket to the Super Bowl Experience, an interactive event where fans can get autographs, try out football drills and take pictures with the Lombardi trophy.

Everyone leaving will get an at-home COVID test to take before they head to the game or go to a watch-party with friends. Kn95 masks will be placed on every seat of SoFi Stadium.

While the LAPD and the county sheriff have been shorthanded for weeks with officers quarantining from COVID-19, federal partners like the FBI, Secret Service and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol will provide extra security in the days and weeks leading up to the big game.

“We have made sure that we always have an abundance of caution, and we always follow the science and the medicine,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

City officials said they would support throwing a parade for the Rams if they win the Super Bowl, but it would have to figure out what the proper spacing and route would need to be to keep everyone safe.

Sports

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Cloudy

la

60°F Cloudy Feels like 60°
Wind
3 mph E
Humidity
83%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
52°F Mostly cloudy skies. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph WSW
Precip
22%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Crescent