LA County Lifts Indoor Mask Mandate for Vaccinated Individuals

After COVID-19 and omicron cases have plummeted, Los Angeles County announced last week on Friday that it would officially lift its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated individuals.

This comes after nearly two years of mask mandates, signaling the start of the final stages of our COVID-19 re-opening journey.

The order that went into effect Friday, February 25th, now aligns LA County closer to the State of California, which elected to lift the statewide mandate on February 15th.

La County originally did not align itself with the state earlier this month, instead deciding to wait for a further reduction in COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 case rates significantly dropped last week, with only 1,934 new cases of COVID-19 and a hospitalization rate of 1,150.

This is substantially lower from January 9th, the county reported 45,848 new cases and a hospitalization rate of about 3,000.

This situation is an incredibly positive one, says Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, the state’s director of public health. “Omicron has loosened its hold on California, vaccines for children under 5 are around the corner, and access to COVID-19 treatments is improving."

Below are two options available to establishments that wish to implement these new relaxed rules.

Option 1

Starting this Friday, establishments, businesses, or venues that want to allow fully vaccinated customers and workers to unmask while indoors must:

a) Verify that 100% of customers (5 and older) and workers prior to, or upon, entry to indoor spaces:

i) Provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or

Provide proof of a recent negative COVID-19 viral test result. Tests for customers must be taken within two days of entry if a PCR test, or one day if an antigen test. Employees will be allowed to submit a negative test result every three days.

Those who are not fully vaccinated or do not show proof of vaccination, are required to provide a negative test, and continue wearing a well-fitting mask while indoors (as required by the state), except when actively eating or drinking.

Option 2

Starting this Friday, establishments, businesses, or venues that want to allow their fully vaccinated customers to unmask indoors while all onsite workers remain masked, must:

a) Verify that 100% of customers (5 and older) prior to, or upon, entry to indoor spaces

i) Provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or

ii) Provide proof of a recent negative COVID-19 viral test result. Tests for customers must have been taken within two days of entry if a PCR test or one day if an antigen test.

b) Adhere to the following regarding customers and masking:

i) Fully vaccinated customers may be unmasked in the indoor setting.

ii) Customers that are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a well-fitting mask while indoors (as required by the state), except when actively eating or drinking.