LA County to reinstate mask mandate as Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations increase



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People wear face masks at an outdoor mall in Los Angeles on June 11.
People wear face masks at an outdoor mall in Los Angeles on June 11. (Damian Dovarganes / AP / File)

Los Angeles County will reinstate its mask mandate regardless of vaccine status starting at 11:59 p.m. Saturday night amid an increase in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

The new order from the health official will require the mask inside regardless of vaccination status, Los Angeles County health official Dr Muntu Davis said at a press conference on Thursday.

The positivity rate for daily tests in Los Angeles County rose to 3.75%, from 1.2% on June 15.

The county has seen more than 1,000 new cases of coronavirus every day over the past seven days, an alarming further increase as the Delta variant spreads, Davis said.

“We are at a substantial level of community transmission and we look forward to it going higher,” Davis said Thursday, announcing a new mask tenure. “Once we get to a higher level, it will be too late. “

He explained that the county was at a low level of transmission when it reopened last month.

“We are in a different situation,” said Davis. “It’s not the same situation as June 15.”

Los Angeles County reported 1,537 new cases on Thursday, an 83% increase from last week.

“Everything is on the table if things continue to get worse,” Davis said in response to a question whether the county would consider more restrictions.

The new order from the health official, which requires the use of masks indoors regardless of vaccination status, will add that extra layer of protection where the risk is highest, he said.

The county is urging all residents to get vaccinated and has launched mobile clinics for easier access.

Los Angeles County has administered more than 10.7 million doses of the vaccine and more than five million people are fully vaccinated, according to Davis.

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