Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA County To End Indoor Mask Mandate Friday. Why You Might Still Want To Mask Up
(
Zubada
/
iStock
)
Mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions are falling across the country, including here in Southern California.
L.A. County announced Wednesday that the county is lifting its indoor mask mandate for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, on Friday. County health officials said they're doing so "in anticipation of L.A. County moving into medium or low risk according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Level designation this Thursday."
Here's the specific instruction:
Under this modified order, indoor masking will be strongly recommended, but not required, for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, except in high-risk settings where federal and state regulations continue to require masking, including everyone using public transit and all those in emergency shelters, health care settings, correctional and detention facilities, homeless shelters, and long-term care facilities. At all sites where masking indoors is no longer mandatory, employers will be required to offer, for voluntary use, medical grade masks and respirators to employees working indoors in close contact with other workers and/or customers.
Support for LAist comes from
Speaking before the new order was announced, Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of the emergency medicine department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said these decisions are based on a better understanding of how the virus works and what the risk of community spread now is.
As COVID-19 precautions ease, he and other health professionals are reminding us it's now up to individuals to protect themselves.
"I think we're getting to a point where mandates and oversight from city and state is going to calm down," Torbati said, "and people will need to make better choices themselves."
Torbati, who was interviewed on our public affairs show AirTalk, which airs on 89.3 KPCC, is among medical experts who are cautioning that no mask mandate doesn't mean that masks are no longer needed or beneficial.
His advice to older people and others at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 is to keep wearing a mask in public settings for the time being — especially in places where it's unclear whether everyone's been vaccinated.
You might reasonably wonder if what's being called "one-way masking" will do anything to protect you, if everyone around you is going maskless. Our friends at NPR took a deeper look at that question and had this advice:
If you plan to continue wearing a mask, you can still get substantial protection as the sole mask-wearer — what's being called "one-way masking" — if you do it right.
1. Pick the best mask
2. Figure out how risky a situation could be
3. Consider how experts are weighing the risks
4. Give yourself a pep talk about that inevitable awkward feeling when you're one of the only masked people
Support for LAist comes from
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The new ordinance applies to certain grocers operating in the city and has led to some self-checkout lanes to shutter. -
Children asked to waive right to see a judge in exchange for $2,500 -
There’s still a lot to be determined as the refinery, which supplies about one-fifth of Southern California's vehicle fuels, works to restore production and as data is collected. -
The FCC voted to end E-Rate discounts for library hotspot lending and school bus Wi-Fi. -
About half the Pacific Airshow’s 2025 lineup has been grounded because of the federal government shutdown. -
USC says it’s reviewing the letter also sent to eight other prestigious schools nationwide. California's governor vowed that any California universities that sign will lose state funding.
Best of LAist