LA County plans to go along with the state in easing mask requirements on June 15.
With fewer than half of county residents fully vaccinated and kids younger than 12 not even eligible for shots, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer says masking, distancing and infection control measures remain "critically important."
"There's no way to determine, on sight, whether another person is vaccinated or not. We have come this far by taking care of each other. And to end this pandemic we will need to remain willing to follow sensible, safety modifications that make it possible to reduce cases and outbreaks while we increase the number of residents that are fully vaccinated," says Ferrer.
Demand for vaccinations is way down even though more people than ever before can get shots. Eligibility was expanded last week to 12 to 15 year old's.
As of Friday night, Ferrer says close to 16,000 kids in that group had gotten their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine, the only one currently available for use in children.
Dr. Christina Ghaly, the county's health services director, says her 13 year-old daughter got jabbed late last week.
"She is now one dose in and only five weeks away from being fully vaccinated with all of the protection and peace of mind that comes with that," Ghaly says.
Ferrer says there is no "magic number" to hit on vaccinations before June 15; the goal is to get as many people as possible immunized before then.