CLEVELAND — More than a dozen music venues in northeast Ohio have collectively come up with a new COVID-19 policy.

The venues will require proof of vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the event. 

“I think kind of the first poster child for this was Lollapalooza," said Todd Gaumann, General Manager of Beachland Ballroom on Cleveland's east side.

The four-day annual festival in Chicago required either proof of vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test within three days of the event. Chicago health officials reported 203 cases of COVID-19 linked to Lollapalooza out of about 385,000 attendees — a rate of 0.05%.

“The music industry walked away from that and said this is something that we might be able to use," said Gaumann. 

Venues involved in the collective effort include: Beachland Ballroom, The Agora, Bop Stop at the Music Settlement, The Foundry Concert Club, Grog Shop, Happy Dog, Jilly's Music Room, Mahall's, Music Box Supper Club, Musica in Akron, The Nightlight in Akron, The Rialto Theater in Akron, Westside Bowl in Youngstown and The Winchester Music Tavern.

“We felt like we needed to be in lock step as a voice, because we knew one person putting their neck out there would likely incur some negative responses," said Gaumann. 

Similar announcements have been made by LiveNation, which handles events at Jacob's Pavillion at Nautica, House of Blues in Cleveland and Blossom Music Center.

LiveNation's policy goes into effect Oct. 4, which is the date by which all employees must be vaccinated, according to the music giant's new policy. 

Policies with the northeast Ohio venues go into effect no later than Sept. 7.