EDITOR'S NOTE: Multimedia journalist Vicky Nguyen spoke with an Oregon family about their visit to Universal Studios Hollywood. Click the arrow above to watch the video.

LOS ANGELES — Starting Friday, visitors to Universal Studios Hollywood won't need to show their proof of a COVID-19 vaccine or negative test to enter the Hollywood movie-themed theme park — nor will visitors be required to wear a face covering or mask once inside.

What You Need To Know

  • Visitors to Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain will not need to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine or provide a negative COVID-19 test before entry

  • Visitors to Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags will also not be required to wear a face-covering or mask once inside

  • The theme parks in LA County are following new county public health orders that recommend but not require pre-entry vaccine verification and masking

  • Since October, theme parks in LA County required visitors to show proof of vaccine or provide a negative COVID-19 test

After months of requiring visitors to wear masks and bring their vaccine documents, Universal Studios Hollywood dropped its face covering and proof of vaccine or pre-entry negative COVID-19 test to align with new guidance from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health.

"Beginning on Friday, March 4, and in accordance with government guidelines, guests will no longer be required to wear facial coverings or show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test when visiting Universal Studios Hollywood," a Universal Studios Hollywood spokesperson wrote in a statement to media. "Facial coverings continue to be strongly recommended while indoors."

On Thursday, officials with the Los Angeles Department of Public Health relaxed many of its stringent masking and pre-entry proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test rules for indoor places, including bars, breweries, nightclubs, gyms, movie theaters and lounges. Health officials also only recommend but do not require outdoor mega-event operators such as theme parks, Dodger Stadium and other venues to have visitors show vaccination proof.

"After the post-winter surge, the county of Los Angeles continues to experience consistent decline in COVID-19 cases, test positivity rates and related hospitalizations," the county health order states. "The consistency in the decline of these important metrics in the county and across the state allow for a significant revision of required community-level infection control strategies."

Since October, theme parks in Los Angeles County, including Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain, have consistently complied with county public health orders requiring visitors to show proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 test before entry and mask up once inside.

In December, Universal Studios changed the age requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination from 12 years and older to ages five and older. 

The Hollywood theme park also partnered with a company to offer free rapid COVID-19 tests before entry.

Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia will also align with the county's new order. The website states visitors will not need to show proof of vaccination status nor a negative COVID-19 test for entry.