Los Angeles County became the first county in California to re-impose a mask mandate when county health officer Barbara Ferrer issued an order Thursday afternoon requiring all individuals — regardless of vaccination status — to wear masks indoors.
The order takes effect at 11:59 p.m., on Saturday, and was issued in response to a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations driven by the more contagious delta variant. The county had previously stated that every single patient currently hospitalized is unvaccinated, and that breakthrough infections caused by the delta variant continue to be very rare.
“Over 99% of the COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths we are seeing are among unvaccinated individuals,” Ferrer said Monday.
Approximately 52.2% of Los Angeles County’s residents are fully vaccinated, according to the most recent state data.
Earlier on Thursday, Yolo and Sacramento counties in Northern California encouraged residents to wear masks indoors due to the spread of the delta variant.
The state as a whole is seeing a slight uptick in cases and hospitalizations driven by the delta variant. Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week there is no immediate plan to implement a statewide requirement.
“If we continue to get people vaccinated that’ll be unnecessary and this is the call that anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated get vaccinated,” he said.
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