LA County will reinstate mask mandate when Covid case threshold hits ‘orange’

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer announced Thursday that if the county reaches the CDC's high transmission and hospitalization categories, masking may once again be required indoors.

LA County Public Health’s new COVID-19 numbers this week showed 4,493 new cases, 1,164 new hospitalizations, and 14 new deaths.

However, according to data from the CDC, as of Thursday, LA County's community transmission level remains at "medium," with a case rate of 165.3 per 100,000 people, new COVID-19 hospitalizations of 11.9 per 100,000 people, and 5.6 percent of staffed inpatient beds being used by COVID patients.

For a county to reach the "high" transmission category according to the agency, the threshold engages once an area reaches more than 10 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, or if the county sees more than 200 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people.

Local health officials on Thursday strongly recommended but did not require indoor masking. Indoor masking has been optional for the last few months in the county unless a business asked customers to wear one inside.

In September, LA County lifted mask requirements for public transit which could be changed if the indoor masking mandate returns.

In July, Kathryn Barger, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors announced that she would oppose any mask mandates that LA's Public Health Department planned to reinstate.