The reopening about two weeks ago was met with relief and excitement statewide.
But it may have been too soon.
According to reporting by the Associated Press, since then the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant has spread among the unvaccinated. The state is now averaging close to 1,000 additional cases reported daily, an increase of about 17% in the last 14 days.
An increase was expected when the reopening began, but public health officials have become concerned with the more transmissible delta variant spreading among the unvaccinated. These comprise the vast majority of new infections.
Los Angeles County has asked that residents resume wearing masks again indoors.
In Contra Costa County, where 72% of eligible residents are fully vaccinated, officials recently began publishing virus case rates by vaccination status. Since the county has a high vaccination rate, the number of new coronavirus cases is generally low but unvaccinated residents remain at risk, said Dr. Chris Farnitano, the county's health officer.
"The overall numbers don't look that concerning, but we know that there's this population that hasn't been vaccinated that still is at very high risk, and those overall numbers can give a false sense of security thinking COVID is still under control where it's still spreading quite rapidly among the unvaccinated population," Farnitano said.
Vaccination rates vary widely across California. In San Francisco more than 95% of those eligible are fully inoculated, while rural Modoc County has a 37% rate, according to state data.
Public health officials said they hope measures like the one taken by Contra Costa County might help encourage more people to get the shots.
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