LA County's decision to reinstate a mask mandate indoors regardless of vaccination status is generating much controversy. But some experts say it's prudent.
“This is the right step to take now because masks can work to curb transmission immediately," said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, an epidemiologist at UC San Francisco.
According to Bibbins-Domingo, it makes sense to include fully vaccinated people in the mask mandate even though "breakthrough" cases remain rare.
“In indoor settings, we don't know who’s vaccinated and who’s unvaccinated. We were relying on the honor system. This basically gives an added layer of caution for everybody,” said Bibbens-Domingo.
Dr. Peter Katona, a professor of medicine and public health at UCLA, agrees.
“Relying on the honor system, it just doesn’t work,” he said.
Katona said reinstating the mask mandate regardless of vaccination status will simplify the county’s efforts to control the highly contagious Delta variant.
“To have a policy that’s simple for everyone to understand so that people who are unvaccinated don’t feel terrible about it. I think it’s the right thing to do," he said.
Informal polls reveal mixed feelings among residents.
The county just reported more than 1,500 new cases. That's more than seven times higher than the cases a month ago when the economy fully reopened on June 15. Hospitalizations have more than doubled since then.