California Reimposing Indoor Mask Mandate as COVID Cases Rise
With COVID-19 cases rising anew in the state, California is reimposing a statewide mask mandate on indoor settings, state officials announced Monday.
Since Thanksgiving, there's been a 47% increase in COVID-19 case rates. While 80% of Californians have received at least one vaccine dose, we must do more. A new statewide public indoor mask requirement will prevent further spread. pic.twitter.com/PwILSk328K
— CA Public Health (@CAPublicHealth) December 14, 2021
The mandate will take effect from Dec. 15 to Jan. 15, 2022, according to Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the state Health & Human Services Agency.
Many counties across California, including Los Angeles, already have such mask mandates in place, Ghaly noted. The state rule will cover those counties that do not – representing about 50% of the state’s population.
The new rules require the wearing of masks in all indoor public settings.
“Even a 10% increase in indoor masking can reduce case transmission significantly,” Ghaly noted.
Ghaly said the state has seen a 47% increase in COVID-19 case rates across California since Thanksgiving, jumping from 9.6 cases per 100,000 Californians to now more than 14 per 100,000.