Los Angeles County — the country’s largest county — will now require people to wear face masks indoors even when they’re fully vaccinated, The Associated Press reports.
When does the Los Angeles County mask mandate start?
Per KTLA, Los Angeles County will have a new mask mandate beginning at 11:59 p.m. PT on Saturday.
- “We’re not where we need to be for the millions at risk of infection here in Los Angeles County, and waiting to do something will be too late, given what we’re seeing,” L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis told reporters Thursday, according to KTLA.
How long with the Los Angeles County mask mandate last?
Davis said the requirements will take effect until there’s a change in the COVID-19 numbers.
- “Masking indoors must again become a normal practice by all, regardless of vaccination status, so they can stop the trends and level of transmission we’re currently seeing,” Davis said, according to KTLA.
Why is Los Angeles County requiring masks again?
Los Angeles County is in the middle of a coronavirus surge.
- In fact, Los Angeles County said its COVID-19 case numbers passed the 1,000 mark for five days in a row as of Wednesday.
Hospitalizations are low. But many of the hospitalizations have been among those who have not been fully vaccinated.
- “To date, we have not had a patient admitted to a (Department of Health Services) hospital who has been fully vaccinated, with either the J&J, Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Every single patient that we’ve admitted for COVID is not yet fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Christina Ghalym, county health services director, according to CNN.
Do you have to wear a face mask?
Back in May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance that said fully vaccinated people can interact indoors without face masks or distancing in most instances, as I wrote for the Deseret News.
Experts have been wondering if the United States would add mask mandates again, especially since nations around the world — like Australia, Israel and many in Europe — have added lockdowns and restrictions to deal with the delta variant.
- “These decisions come as the more transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus becomes the dominant strain in several countries,” according to NPR.
The delta variant is now the most dominant form of coronavirus in the United States.