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L.A. County Public Health: No Universal Indoor Masking Mandate

Jul 28, 2022 10:21PM ● By Jeanne Fratello
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has announced that it will not move forward with a universal indoor masking mandate, thanks to improved COVID-19 numbers.

"Due to reduced transmission and hospitalizations, Public Health is not moving forward with universal indoor masking. Wearing masks in indoor public places is still strongly advised to slow the spread of COVID-19," the department announced in a tweet on Thursday, June 28. 

LAPDH Director Barbara Ferrer said in a briefing that the improved numbers meant that the move was not necessary.

That said, the department would continue to monitor for any major outbreaks, which would mean that the department would need to "reassess," she said.


Mandate Could Have Faced Uphill Battle


The issue had been coming to a head across the county, with multiple leaders and municipalities vowing not to enforce the proposed mandate.

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger has said she is opposed to a mask mandate, calling them "polarizing" and "unenforceable."

Additionally, Supervisor Janice Hahn has said she sides with the California Department of Health in recommending but not mandating indoor masking.

The cities of Long Beach and Pasadena (both of which have their own health departments) have said that they would not institute mask mandates; and the cities of Beverly Hills and El Segundo have announced that they would not enforce such a mandate, if one is instituted.

And on the agenda for the Manhattan Beach City Council, if members agree to keep the agenda item, is a proposed letter from the South Bay Council of Governments to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The letter asks the Supervisors to decline to institute a universal indoor mask mandate and instead consider a “Mask Advisory” order entailing stepped-up public education and signage in public spaces that encourage voluntary masking. 

How Did We Get (Back) Here?


According to LACDPH, Los Angeles County entered the High Covid Community Level on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Community Levels framework in mid-July after hospital admissions exceeded 10 new hospital admissions per 100,000 people. The county’s admission rate, at 10.5 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, reflected an 88% increase when compared to one month earlier.

LACDPH had originally said that if the county remained in the High COVID-19 Community Level for two consecutive weeks, universal indoor masking would be implemented beginning on July 29 to help slow the rate of transmission and protect those most vulnerable.

 

However, since the numbers actually went down, there was no reason to come down with another mandate.

Indoor masking is already required in many places, including at all healthcare settings, public transit and transit hubs, long-term care settings, shelters and cooling centers, and correctional facilities. Indoor masking also continues to be required at worksites with outbreaks, and is required for all individuals during the 10 days after a COVID diagnosis or exposure when they are around others.

Businesses and employers are allowed to require masks at work, and many have done that, either by maintaining an indoor masking requirement throughout the pandemic or reinstating one as cases began increasing.

Meanwhile, other experts are saying that mask mandates are not effective now that there is widespread immunity and high vaccination rates. 

Manhattan Beach has a vaccination rate of 90.5%, among all residents 6 months and older.




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