California Gov. Gavin Newsom Offers Vacation Incentives to Further Promote COVID Vaccinations
The state of California leveled up their game regarding COVID vaccinations as Governor Gavin Newsom offered vacation incentives as prizes for those who are at least partially vaccinated and entice more vaccine takers in the state. Associated Press reported that the state will award at least six dream vacations to encourage more residents to take the jab against the notorious disease.
The California governor made the announcement himself on Monday, on the eve of the state awarding $15 million in cash prizes.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom Offers Vacation Incentives to Californians
Newsom announced the six vacation packages in San Francisco, which was selected as one of the sites of the incentives. Various donors offered the six vacation packages through California's non-profit promotion arm called "Visit California." Apart from San Francisco, cities such as Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs will also be the travel destinations of the vacation incentives.
Apart from the travel location, the California Governor also announced that the package would include tickets to Disneyland, SeaWorld, Legoland, a symphony, and floor seats to an NBA game featuring the L.A. Lakers.
Gavin Newsom pointed out that the vacation packages offered by their local government highlight the best of California because the said incentives include culinary experiences, packages, and items.
The winners of the vacation incentives will be drawn from Californians, 18 years old and above, who are at least partially vaccinated. The governor also highlighted that Visit California will provide each winner with $2,000 for their travel money. Despite the hype, details on how to register for the raffle draw of the six vacation incentives were not furthered.
However, the president and CEO of Visit California, Caroline Beteta, noted that the state is less ready for tourism than other states due to the safeguard enacted by the officials. Beteta furthered that California would take at least another four years before it fully recovered.
The travel incentives of California come as the state boasted being among the country's lowest transmission rates. In San Francisco alone, Mayor London Breed noted that 80 percent of their eligible residents were partially vaccinated, while nearly 70 percent in the city were fully vaccinated. Because of this, the city of San Francisco became the first major city in the U.S. to hit that threshold.
California Reopening
But it seems like the travel prizes were not the only good news for the residents of the state. USA Today reported that Tuesday will mark the end of the state's public health restrictions and color-coded tiers that controlled the COVID-19 pandemic in the area.
It can be recalled that Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed in an interview that the state will no longer require their facemasks for fully vaccinated individuals.
Despite the promised reopening, California would still impose reservations because masks will be only allowed to be taken off for vaccinated people. However, masks are still needed in places like hospitals, classrooms, prisons, nursing homes, and public transit.
WATCH: Gov. Newsom Announces New Travel Vaccination Incentives, Promotes State Tourism - from KPIX CBS SF Bay Area
WATCH: Gov. Newsom Adds California Vacation Incentive To Spur COVID-19 Vaccinations - from KPBS