L.A. County officials recommend keeping your mask
Los Angeles County businesses whisked away many coronavirus restrictions Tuesday, and many residents shed their long-required masks for rolling around town.
But officials warned amid the celebrations that people shouldn’t toss those masks in the garbage just yet.
Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said that unvaccinated people should continue to wear face coverings as statewide capacity and physical distancing restrictions are lifted, noting that many people in the county still are not vaccinated.
“We want to stay in this very good place where we are,” Ferrer said. “As we lift many restrictions today (Tuesday), we need to be mindful the virus has not become less lethal. If anything, recent mutations have created more infectious and deadly variants potentially capable of causing great devastation. And while vaccination provides powerful protection, many people are not yet vaccinated, including 1.4 million children under the age of 12. There are also areas in our county where vaccination coverage remains low. And even where vaccination coverage is higher, it is not at the level needed to bring us to community immunity.”
As of Tuesday, 5.4 million county residents, representing 66% of the eligible population, had received at least one dose of vaccine. About 4.66million, or 56% of eligible residents, were fully vaccinated.
Los Angeles County reported six new COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, along with 210 new infections.
To date, the county has recorded 24,416 deaths and 1,246,619 infections during the pandemic.
According to state figures, there were 216 people hospitalized in the county due to COVID-19 as of Tuesday, down from 218 on Monday. There were 49 people in intensive care, up from 43 a day earlier.
Mandatory face mask requirements, along with social distancing, will remain in place in L.A. County courthouses despite changes in state and county public health COVID-19 guidelines that went into effect today, the presiding judge of the county’s court system announced.
Presiding Judge Eric C. Taylor said workplaces have to continue to comply with Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards.
“The court is carefully monitoring rapid developments and will continue to provide updates on any changes to workplace guidelines,” he said. “Please be patient and continue to wear your masks and remain six feet apart in all court buildings. If you forget your mask when coming to the courthouse, one will be provided to you at the entrance.”
An earlier order requires all people to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth while in public areas of a courthouse, and bars non-exempt people who refuse to wear a face mask from entry.
People whose disabilities preclude them from wearing face coverings are urged to seek an accommodation from the court in advance of their court hearing or appointment.
Court-goers are also required to maintain at least six feet of distance from all people outside their household and to comply with social distance signage throughout the courthouse.
Face coverings will still be required for people visiting a trio of museums in Exposition Park, too.
The California African American Museum, California Science Center and Natural History Museum will still require masks, regardless of visitors’ vaccination status. State rules allow businesses and entertainment venues to decide on mask-wearing policies.