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The county’s mandate, the result of increasing cases amid a new, more contagious variant, will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday; it was not immediately clear when Long Beach will institute the new requirement.
City health worker Dr Anissa Davis released a statement Thursday evening saying Long Beach has seen a 288% increase in the average number of daily cases over the past two weeks. She noted that the Centers for Disease Control now considers the county and city to be an area of ”substantial” transmission of the virus.
“Given these numbers, the city of Long Beach will align with LA County in requiring indoor masking regardless of vaccination status,” she said, adding more details on the order will be coming.
County health official Dr Muntu Davis said earlier the county was “not where we need to be” in terms of vaccination against the virus, as evidenced by seven consecutive days of new cases that have surpassed 1,000. On Thursday, the county reported 1,537 new infections, the highest number since early March.
The positivity rate in Long Beach is currently 3.8% and the case rate per 100,000 population is 7.5, the highest since April 4, city officials said Thursday.
In an interview on Wednesday, Kelly Colopy, the city’s health director, said 84% of the city’s new cases are among those not vaccinated against COVID-19. And in Thursday’s statement, officials said 12 of 14 Long Beach residents who are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 are not vaccinated.
“We continue to see a strong effect from the vaccine against all variants,” Colopy said. “The really high percentage of effectiveness is against hospitalization and death.”
The state of California lifted its mask mandate and other restrictions on June 15 and scrapped its COVID-19 risk classification color-coding system in various state health jurisdictions.
At the height of the pandemic in January, indoor dining was banned entirely and capacity was severely limited in other indoor environments such as grocery stores and retail stores. Face coverings were mandatory in public.
Davis, the county health worker, said Thursday residents will still be allowed to dine inside but will be required to wear a mask when waiting for a table or not eating.
Not all details of the new order were immediately available. Health officials said it would be posted on the LA County website by Friday.
When asked if he was ready for a public retreat from the new term, Davis said the announcement was the right move.
“We have to reduce these numbers,” he said. “It’s not the same situation as on June 15th… otherwise we’re going to be in a situation where we have to put in place more stringent measures.”
County and city health officials continued to express exasperation that more residents are not getting vaccinated, with particularly low numbers among black and Latino youth and residents.
In Long Beach, officials said 43% of eligible black residents and 55% of Latino residents are vaccinated compared to over 65% for other groups.
“We know it’s so preventable,” Colopy said of getting the virus and the risk of serious illness.
She said the city continues to develop ways to reach people and communicate that the vaccine is safe and effective.
To find out how to get vaccinated, click here.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with a statement from the Long Beach health official.
‘Overwhelmingly selfish’: County leaders slam those who won’t get vaccinated as COVID-19 cases rise
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