LA County COVID-19 surge moves into "high" activity category, may trigger mask mandate
Health leaders are warning that an indoor mask mandate could return to LA County as COVID-19 cases rise.
As expected, Los Angeles County moved Thursday into the federal government's "high" COVID-19 activity category, sparking stepped- up warnings of widespread transmission of the virus and moving the area closer to another indoor mask-wearing mandate.
The county had been in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "medium" COVID activity level. But that changed Thursday when the county's average rate of new infections rose to 258 per 100,000 people -- well above the threshold of 200 per 100,000 to qualify the county for the "high" activity level.
Some businesses in Commerce are already masking up including Hair Stylist Lupe Pacheco.
"Sometimes I use two masks on my face....it's uncomfortable, but its much better for me and for everybody," said Pacheco.
LA County's Health Department said within the last month, the percentage of county hospital beds being used for COVID-19 patients has jumped from about 2% to nearly 7%.
The department said a mask mandate will return if that percentage rises to 10%.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says those COVID-19 increases, along with a sharp rise in flu and RSV cases, are stressing health care facilities.
"The past several years has certainly not been easy and we now face yet another moment of overstretched capacity and really one of tragic and often preventable sadness," said Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director.
Masks are still required indoors at health-care and congregate-care facilities, for anyone exposed to the virus in the past 10 days, and at businesses where they are required by the owner.
Meanwhile, California's Health Department reports the flu virus has also jumped from moderate to high.
They are working to add more pediatric beds as quickly as possible, but the number of children needing hospitalization is outpacing their ability to expand.
The health department says if a mask mandate does return, they will give businesses a heads up and time to get mask mandate signs and precautions back in place.