Barbara Ferrer, the Director of Public Health for Los Angeles, explained to the County Board of Supervisors why she decided to keep the mask requirement in place despite California's announcement that it will be relaxed.
“We share in the desire to take masks off,” said Ferrer. “The issue is one of timing. Because mask wearing is an effective strategy for reducing the spread of Covid-19, we are glad that we are able to use that protection to so the things we love.”
"Our case counts today are more than 4 times higher than they were on December 15," she said, comparing the numbers on December 15, when the state implemented its mask mandate, to those this week.
She explained the county's criteria for removing masking from large outdoor events, as well as outdoor places at schools and child-care facilities, stating that when virus-related hospitalizations fall below 2,500 for seven days in a row, the restrictions will be lifted. Yesterday, they were at 2,773
In L.A., the next reduction will be "when the region has two weeks of moderate transmission or less," as defined by the CDC, and "there are no emerging reports of significantly circulating new variants of concern that threaten vaccine effectiveness," the county's mandated masking — this time at indoor workplaces, retail, and indoor events — would come into effect.
When a region has less than 50 cases per 100,000 over a seven-day period, the CDC considers it to be moderate transmission. According to state statistics, the county's average case rate for the week ending January 31 was 193 cases per 100,000 residents, down from 193 cases per 100,000 residents for the week ending January 31.
In addition, before masking can be lifted indoors at workplaces, retail stores, and indoor events, Ferrer has introduced a new condition. There must have been 8 weeks of immunizations available for children under the age of five. Approval is expected by the end of April, which means that the outdoor mask mandates will be lifted by that time.
"My concern is that these will become provisions that will last in perpetuity," Supervisor Kathryn Barger said of aligning with the state. ". Committing to keeping these in place until late spring is inconsistent with measures across the country and the state."
"I cannot support leaving these measures in place until late spring," she said, urging "clarity and consistency" in message.
She stated, "I will be opposing the health order." She also voiced fear that indoor masking restrictions may not be changed until May. "My understanding is that, per the CDC, our case numbers were only down to moderate transmission for only a few weeks last year."
"Our numbers are dropping pretty rapidly," Ferrer said. "In my mind there is no way this is forever. The issue is that the declines [only] take place as long as the measures are in place," she said, adding that it would only take "a few weeks" to reach the CDC's daily case threshold of 750.
She also stated that immunizations were not used last year to reduce the number of cases, giving the county an advantage this year in lowering the number of cases. That isn't fully correct, as the state's immunization program began in March and cases dropped to a low in May of last year.
“I think we can do this,” she said. I’d be the first person to say this looks like it would be impossible. We’re not trying to set the bar too high.”
She said, "I think we can do this. I’d be the first person to say this looks like it would be impossible. We’re not trying to set the bar too high."
