LOS ANGELES (KNX) — Aligning with the state’s updated guidelines, Los Angeles County will likely lift indoor mask mandates this Friday, Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said in an update Tuesday. In the meantime, you'll have to keep your mask on in some instances.
The state’s new guidelines went into effect Tuesday, and allow unvaccinated Californians to go without face coverings while strongly recommending them for all people “in most indoor settings.”
Initially, L.A. County said it would align with Gov. Newsom’s updates only if businesses were verifying the vaccination status or negative COVID-19 test results of customers and employees. But on Tuesday Ferrer changed course, saying that by Friday, conditions could be ideal to wholly approve the updated guidelines.
“We anticipate that on Thursday, when [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] updates their community- level table, L.A. County will be moving to low risk,” Ferrer said, referring to the CDC’s new set of community measures announced last week.
“We are prepared on Thursday to issue a modified health officer order with an effective date of implementation for Friday that will strongly recommend and not require indoor masking in most public indoors spaces."
When the new set of guidelines was introduced by the CDC last Friday, L.A. County fell into the “high” category — which meant a high potential for healthcare system strain and high level of severe illness. Under that category, the CDC does not recommend removing mask mandates.
In alignment with California guidelines, indoor masking will be required in several spaces, including on public transit and in emergency shelters and health care settings.
Masks will not be required in schools, but will be "strongly recommended" indoors, Ferrer said.
"As we've emphasized throughout the pandemic, masks are one of the
easiest things we can do to prevent COVID-19 transmission and provide strong protection to the person wearing them, as well as to the people around them, including those who are most vulnerable to harm from COVID-19," Ferrer said.
"We, along with the state and the CDC continue to urge individuals regardless
of their vaccination status to keep their masks on in public indoor settings
until there's less risk for those most vulnerable."
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