ABC 7: LA County to keep COVID-19 mask mandates in place as state prepares to lift mask requirements

With the dramatic drops in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, California is lifting its indoor masking mandate in public settings. Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted that due to stabilizing hospitalizations across the state and a 65% decrease in cases since the Omicron peak the indoor mask mandate for vaccinated people will be lifted on 2/15. This will not apply to unvaccinated people and schools since they follow CDC guidelines. Los Angeles County health officials have said they will keep the requirement until new case counts drop 50 per 100,000 and hospitalizations drop below 2,500 for a week straight. The full article by Denise Dador can be read here on ABC 7. For more on COVID-19 click here.