Strict vaccine mandate begins for Los Angeles businesses

A new mandate in the city of Los Angeles now requires people visiting shopping malls, theaters, gyms or nail salons in Los Angeles to verify they are vaccinated against COVID-19

LOS ANGELES -- Before feasting on pancakes, burgers and milkshakes inside the Fred 62 diner in Los Angeles, patrons must now fork over proof of their COVID-19 vaccines for a waiter's inspection under new city coronavirus rules that are among the country's strictest.

The greasy spoon, famous for putting an LA spin on diner food, is one of thousands of businesses across the city where patrons were required to show proof of their vaccination status on Monday as the new measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus took effect.

For general manager Ian Hillan, the mandate is just one more thing the restaurant has to contend with during the pandemic. Staffing and supply chain issues — they recently had trouble getting napkins and certain kinds of beer — are more pressing problems.

In the last few weeks, Fred 62 finally reached pre-pandemic levels of patrons. Hillan is hoping the mandate might prove to be a good thing if more diners feel comfortable eating inside.