University of California San Francisco
UCSF School of Medicine UCSF Medical Center

Davies Symphony Hall COVID-19 Vaccination & Masking Policy

3/21/22 UPDATE:

-Anyone old enough for vaccination and/or booster is required to be vaccinated/booster. Currently there are no exemptions UNLESS it is due to not being of age to receive vaccination or booster (currently under age 5).  In that case, test is accepted - a negative PCR test 48 hours before entry or a negative antigen (rapid) test 24 hours before entry.

- Our definition of “eligible” for booster is based on the health orders ruling on calendar days from completion of initial vaccine series.  A person who is enough days past their initial vaccine series to get boosted, but is instructed not to get boosted by a doctor, or who can’t get boosted due to recent COVID illness, are both considered eligible for booster but requesting medical exemption. We are not allowing medical exemptions, so these individuals would not be admitted. Religious exemption is also not accepted at this time.

3/11/22 UPDATE: 

- No rules have changed for patrons or event participants entry and general masking.  Proof of full vaccination and booster (if eligible) required for all patrons of age, for entry.  Eligibility for booster is based on date from completion of initial vaccine set.  We are not accepting any exemptions to this rule, including medical or religious exemptions.  A doctor advising a date-eligible booster candidate to not get boosted, or a person recovering from recent COVID illness, are considered medical exemptions, not booster-eligibility criteria, and will not be honored. 

ORIGINAL POLICY:

The San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center (War Memorial) is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco. The Veterans Building, War Memorial Opera House, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, and Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall (War Memorial venues) are required to operate within the restrictions and guidelines imposed by federal, state, and local government entities to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

This policy is intended to clarify requirements regarding vaccination, masking, and COVID-19 safety for Licensees presenting events and performances in War Memorial venues. As a City and County owned and operated facility, all City employees at the War Memorial are required to be vaccinated. Global Gourmet Catering concessions staff and employees of the San Francisco Performing Arts Center Foundation are also required to be vaccinated. 

In adherence with requirements contained in federal, state, and local health orders, the War Memorial requires the following:

  1. War Memorial Licensees must require that all patrons, performers, crew, volunteers, and/or staff who are twelve (12) years of age or older provide proof of Full Vaccination prior to entering the facility. In addition to Full Vaccination, Boosters are also required for those people sixteen (16) years of age or older who are eligible to have received a Booster based on the time elapsed since completion of their initial vaccination regimen as defined by Orders of the Health Officer. Proof of vaccination, and Boosters where required, must be made available to War Memorial staff on request and vaccinations must meet all criteria specified in Orders of the Health Officer. 
  2. Persons aged five (5) to eleven (11) years must present proof of Full Vaccination, or a negative antigen test result received in the 24-hours prior to their entry, or a negative PCR test result received in the 48-hours prior to their entry. Persons aged two (2) to four (4) years must present a negative antigen test result received in the 24-hours prior to their entry, or a negative PCR test result received in the 48-hours prior to their entry. For persons aged two (2) to eleven (11) years who are performing in, or otherwise working on, a performance or presentation, said person may furnish proof of one (1) negative test result per each week of performance or rehearsal. Licensee must share any and all positive COVID test results with War Memorial staff within eight (8) hours of receiving such test results. Any person who receives a positive test result will not be permitted onsite until they have completed an adequate isolation period and/or met the definition of recovery as defined by Order of the Health Officer. 
  3. Due to the extreme risk unvaccinated persons pose to others, the War Memorial will not allow accommodations for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs from Licensee patrons, performers, crew, volunteers, and/or staff.
  4. The War Memorial is not responsible for costs related to vaccination, testing, or verifying proof of either or both. In the event the War Memorial determines in its sole discretion to hire additional staff to meet these requirements, Licensee will be required to pay all associated costs. 
  5. All patrons must wear Well-Fitted Masks that cover their nose, mouth, and chin when inside the facility unless they are actively eating or drinking. A non-vented N95 mask is strongly recommended as a Well-Fitted Mask, even if not fit-tested, to provide maximum protection. A Well-Fitted Mask does not include a scarf, ski mask, balaclava, bandana, turtleneck, collar, single layer of fabric, or any mask that has an unfiltered one-way exhaust valve. 
  6. Performers and musicians must wear Well-Fitted Masks when in any War Memorial venue consistent with all Orders of the Health Officer and may remove their Well-Fitted Masks only when they are actively eating or drinking, or when they are onstage during a live performance, presentation, or rehearsal. 
  7. No unmasked performer may be within six (6) feet of any audience member at any time. If any performers, presenters, musicians, or stage crew will be unmasked, and if there is insufficient space on the stage/performance area, or in the orchestra pit, to provide six (6) feet of distance between unmasked performers and audience members, the first two (2) rows of seats must remain unsold and unoccupied during performances and presentations. If in the sole discretion of the War Memorial the presenter has sufficient space on the stage/performance area, or in the orchestra pit, to provide six (6) feet of distance between unmasked performers and audience members, the first two (2) rows of seats may be sold.

Fully Vaccinated. “Fully Vaccinated” and “Full Vaccination” mean two weeks after completing the entire recommended initial series of vaccination (usually one or two doses) with a vaccine authorized to prevent COVID-19 by the FDA, including by way of an emergency use authorization, or by the World Health Organization (WHO). For example, an individual would be fully vaccinated at least two weeks after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or two weeks after receiving the single dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. 

Booster. A “Booster” means an additional dose of a vaccine authorized to prevent COVID-19 by the FDA, including by way of an emergency use authorization, or by the World Health Organization (WHO), for which a person is eligible. For example, individuals who are 18 or older may receive a booster of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or two months after receiving the single dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, and adolescents who are 16 or 17 may receive a booster of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine at least six months after their second dose of that vaccine. Consistent with CDC and CDPH guidance, either the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is preferred for the Booster. That preference applies to all initial vaccination series, regardless of which vaccine an individual received. Individuals are considered to have received a Booster one (1) week after they receive a dose as described herein.