City of LB Joins LA County In Reinstating Required Masks Indoors Regardless Of Vax Status

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City of LB Joins LA County In Reinstating Required Masks Indoors Regardless Of Vax Status

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(July 15, 2021, updated 10:16 p.m. from initial 3:30 p.m.) -- The increase in COVID-19 cases in the 30 days since Gov. Newsom ended most restrictions statewide as of June 15, coinciding with a local rise in new cases and positive test results among unvaccinated individuals, has led L.A. County's Dept. of Public Health to require persons already vaccinated to wear face masks if they're round other people indoors.

The L.A. County requirement becomes mandatory at 11:59 p.m. Saturday (July 18) but doesn't apply in Long Beach, which has its own independent Health Dept. Long Beach has historically followed L.A. County's stance but as of midafternoon July 15 hadn't changed its stance.

[UPDATE] At midevening July 15, the City of Long Beach's Health/Human Services Officer issued the following official statement:

The City of Long Beach has seen a 288% increase in average daily cases over the past two weeks as well as a current case rate of 7.5 per 100,000 residents, up from less than 1 per 100,000 on June 15.
These trends are similar to those reported by LA County. In addition, the CDC lists Los Angeles County, including Long Beach, as an area of "substantial" virus transmission. The delta variant, which is more highly transmissible, is now the dominant strain in California, including in Southern California, comprising 60% to 70% of new cases.
Given these numbers, the City of Long Beach will align with LA County in requiring masking indoors regardless of vaccination status. Additional information on the implementation of this requirement will be available soon through an amended Health Order.
Scientific evidence shows that vaccines continue to be an important tool in preventing COVID-19 cases. Vaccines also lower the risk for severe disease, hospitalizations and deaths. In June, 84% of new cases occurred among people who have not been vaccinated. No capacity limits or business restrictions are being implemented at this time.[END UPDATE]

As LBREPORT.com has previously reported, Long Beach's COVID-19 levels have now entered CA's previous (Newsom administration discontinued June 15) color coded "Tiers" for COVID-19 restrictions, within the former Orange Tier ("moderate") for positive test results and entering the former Red Tier ("substantial") on new cases.

Below is the most recent data released by City of Long Beach (continually updated on this page and our front page):

[Scroll down for further.]