Following Governor Newsom’s announcement that California’s indoor mask mandate would end on February 15, 2022 for all vaccinated persons, the Los Angeles County Department today issued a statement clarifying when the county’s own mask requirements would be eased. Specifically, when COVID daily hospitalizations drop below 2,500 for 7 consecutive days, masking will not be required at outdoor mega-events or in outdoor spaces at childcare facilities and K-12 schools. In addition, the masking requirement for indoor spaces will continue until:

• Los Angeles County has two consecutive weeks at or below a moderate transmission rate of 10-49.99 new cases/100,000 persons in the past seven days; or
• Vaccines have been available for children under age five for eight weeks; and
• No reports of significantly circulating new variants of concern that threaten vaccine effectiveness.

The county health department statement also reminds county residents that, pursuant to state regulations, indoor masking at K-12 schools, childcare facilities, youth settings, healthcare settings, correctional facilities, homeless and emergency shelters, and cooling centers is still required.  Further, masking when riding public transportation is still required in accordance with federal regulations.