On Monday, state officials announced that masks will be required in all indoor public spaces across California, regardless of vaccination status. This follows a drastic spike in COVID-19 cases after Thanksgiving. The mandate will be reinstated for a month, starting on Wednesday, December 15. Although the measure will not be vigorously enforced, officials are hoping that wide cooperation will prevent the need for further restrictions during the holiday months.
Meanwhile, those attending indoor mega-events (events of 1,000 people or more) will require proof of vaccination, a negative antigen test taken within a day of the events, or a negative P.C.R. test taken within 48 hours of the event.
Masks will also be required in the following indoor public settings:
- Public transport
- K-12 schools and childcare
- Adult and senior care facilities
- Healthcare facilities
- Detention facilities
- Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers
Amidst the uncertainty of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant, LA has maintained its stricter mask mandates for indoor settings and large outdoor events in the build up to the festive season. Additionally, vaccine requirements have been in place for bars, wineries, breweries, nightclubs, and lounges since November 4. So while this may not make much of a difference to L.A. residents, it’s worth noting for anyone with any holiday travel plans.
“We are proactively putting this tool of universal indoor masking in public settings in place to ensure we get through a time of joy and hope, without a darker cloud of concern and despair,” said CA Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly. “Californians have done this before. And we believe we can do it again.”
Featured image: Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash