A.M. Brief: Disneyland to Become a Massive Vaccination Site

The house of the mouse is going to be O.C.’s biggest vaccination hub. Also this morning: LAUSD says students will have to get the vaccine when it’s available, new recommendations on mask-wearing at home, and COVID-19 infects a pair of gorillas at the San Diego Zoo. It’s Tuesday. Here is your news.

Morning News Rundown

Disneyland is set to become Orange County’s biggest vaccination site, county officials announced Monday. The park will be one of five large-scale PODs (or, Point of Dispensing sites) within the county that could potentially vaccinate thousands each day. The other four sites will be announced as agreements are finalized. [ABC 7]

The Los Angeles Unified School District says that COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for students returning for in-person learning. LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner called the requirement “no different than students who are vaccinated for measles or mumps.” However, the current vaccines haven’t been approved for children yet, so questions still remain as to when students can get them. [L.A. Times]

Two gorillas at the San Diego Zoo have tested positive for the coronavirus, while a third gorilla is showing symptoms. Zoo officials believe that all three should make a full recovery. [CBS Los Angeles]

In the midst of L.A. County’s unmitigated surge of COVID-19 infection, Public Health has new advice: If you live with someone who is either elderly or has an underlying medical condition, wear a mask at home. [L.A. Times]

If you’re still fuzzy on how or when vaccinations will be distributed in Los Angeles County, it’s worth reviewing L.A. Public Health’s most recent guidelines. Distribution is carved out into tiered phases. In the newly updated plan, more healthcare workers are now immediately eligible to get the vaccine. Also worth noting: Phase 2, which covers people 16-49 years old without high-risk medical conditions, won’t begin until mid-May or early June by current projections. [Public Health]