LOS ANGELES (KNX) — The public health director for Los Angeles County said Thursday the department would not reinstate an indoor mask-wearing mandate, citing a downward trend in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
Public health officials warned the county could return to masking two weeks ago when the area reached a "high" transmission level. The decrease in cases allowed county officials to issue the guidance as the region's coronavirus case rate improved. Some experts hope it signals the Omicron subvariants' effects are lessening.
The universal mask mandate would have applied to anyone 2 years or older inside restaurants, offices, stores, gyms, and much more. A masking order still covers people traveling on public transit, including Uber and airports.
As of Thursday, L.A. County averages roughly 6,100 per day. That's down 955 from last week's 6,700 per-day case average.
Business owners pushed back against the potential masking-requirement return, arguing it would hurt struggling storefronts and, ultimately, employees.
The county's public health director had said the foreseen move would "seem like a step backwards," before making Thursday's announcement.
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