A study recently published by the Cochrane, a respected British nonprofit that conducts reviews of health care data, concluded there was no evidence that mask mandates were effective contrary to numerous other studies. One, published in February in the journal Health Affairs, said that of more than 400 U.S. counties, those with mask mandates between March and October 2020 had coronavirus case rates 35% lower than those without. "If we continue to get people vaccinated that'll be unnecessary and this is the call that anyone who hasn't been vaccinated get vaccinated," he said. "We need to layer up, need many layers in place when there's a lot of COVID circulating right now. (County data shows a higher rate of 58%). The mask and distancing mandates and closures all started before vaccines were available. It may seem easy to poke holes in the study, given those caveats. RELATED: Valley parents await state announcement on masks in schools. Here are a few easy ways to tell, Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area, Here's how to take a rapid COVID-19 test accurately at home, Here's everything you need to know about COVID-19 booster shots, How to show proof of vaccination in San Francisco or anywhere in California, Can a breakthrough infection still lead to long haul COVID-19? Should L.A. County remain in the high COVID-19 community level, which is defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the next two Thursdays, a new masking order would be issued with an effective date of July 29. These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation. Mask mandates have fallen and there are far fewer people wearing face coverings these days. Masks. Given that slightly under 4 million residents in L.A. County are not yet vaccinated, the risk of increased spread of this variant within the County remains high. 401 S. Ventura Street Ojai, CA 93023; Phone: 805-646-5581 Fax: 805-646-1980 Download for iOS or Android. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Feb. 27, 2023. And another report, published by the CDC in February, said consistent use of a high-quality face covering such as an N95 or KN95 respirator in indoor public settings was associated with 83% lower odds of testing positive for the coronavirus, compared with those who didnt wear a mask. San Diego had the lowest coronavirus death rate among Southern California counties, which local leaders attribute to early, aggressive action attempting to limit the spread and severity of the virus, according to Paul Sisson, health care writer for The San Diego Union-Tribune. As a result, it's somewhat unsurprising it had lower case and hospitalization rates, though it's impossible to assess how much of that difference comes from masks as opposed to vaccines. By contrast, an order from L.A. County would instantly affect 10 million residents, give or take the roughly 600,000 residents of Long Beach and Pasadena. The new rule applies to schools and child care facilities. Importantly, though, masks would not be required for those using outdoor spaces, as the risk of transmission in those settings is significantly lower than it is indoors. There are 406 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 22% of these people are in the ICU. Editor's note: The data in the chart above comes from the California Department of Public Health. More than half of Californias 58 counties or about 49% of the population fall into the highest tier, where masks are recommended indoors, including in schools. California to lift mask mandate in schools on March 12 Barger on Monday hailed the state's announcement that it is easing masking rules, and again called for an end to the county requirement. Were California county mask mandates effective against delta? Starting Wednesday, all residents will be required to wear face coverings indoors Children will still be required to keep their masks on at school, though California will reassess that on Feb. 28. To find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more, visit www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) If you dont have internet access, cant use a computer, or youre over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound. Ferrer acknowledged that, for many, reinstituting an indoor mask order will feel like a step backward and that for others it will feel unnecessary because of the availability of powerful vaccines and therapeutics., The reality is that because were living with a mutating SARS-CoV-2 virus, there remains uncertainty around the trajectory of this pandemic, she said. Oddly, among the numerous studies analyzed in the Cochrane report was one from Bangladesh and one from Denmark, both of which show masking helped stop the spread of COVID-19. In those two counties, the peak number of hospitalizations per 100,000 residents was six and five, respectively. Is the Bay Area next? To hit the high designation, the countys weekly case rate would have to be at least 200 per 100,000 residents and its hospital admissions reach more than 10 per 100,000 residents. COVID-19 As of Wednesday, 1,202 coronavirus-positive patients were hospitalized countywide more than double the total recorded a month ago. Webthe Superior Court of Alameda County lifts its mask mandate, no longer requiring masks in Court-controlled portions of courthouses. For details, see the LA County COVID-19 Response Plan. Disputes about whether coronavirus vaccines work have been settled, but questions about their side effects or whether they should be required have not. "Masks are an effective tool to minimize spread of the virus and future variants, especially when transmission rates are high. Many people feel like the risk is a lot lower right now, and theres no need to worry. Webthe Superior Court of Alameda County lifts its mask mandate, no longer requiring masks in Court-controlled portions of courthouses. Gavin Newsom was pressed over the summer on implementing a statewide indoor mask mandate in response delta, he demurred and said that vaccination Get top headlines from the Union-Tribune in your inbox weekday mornings, including top news, local, sports, business, entertainment and opinion. If your child begins their two-dose series for the Pfizer vaccine today, they would be able to get their second dose of the vaccine on August 5 and would be fully vaccinated as of August 19. Another person tweeted, The only city that is chomping at the bit to bring masks back is Los Angeles. Feb. 27, 2023. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com. California will end its statewide indoor mask mandate on Feb. 15. They push false data and fearporn through their daily news, a Twitter user lamented. I dont want a mild case and Im a healthy person., (Ariana Drehsler / For The San Diego Union-Tribune), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Column: The grim parallel paths of Todd Gloria and Kevin Faulconer, Column: State accountability push on homelessness presents a challenge for San Diego, Column: About that mile walk to buses and trolleys , Column: Same-sex marriage to follow abortion as big California ballot measure, Column: State seeks to boost cannabis industry with food and money. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said Thursday the city is "looking at mask mandates for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people," but did not indicate when a decision would be made. VACCINE TRACKER: How California is doing, when you can get a coronavirus vaccine. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Interestingly, San Diego County which has a higher vaccination rate than Los Angeles and Orange counties had a higher case rate than those two counties, but similar hospitalization figures. She was born and raised in the Bay Area and got her start in news at the Daily Californian newspaper at UC Berkeley where she majored in English literature. We cannot predict the future of the virus, but we are better prepared for it and will continue to take measures rooted in science to keep California moving forward.". The state requires employers to provide unvaccinated employees with NIOSH-certified respirator masks for voluntary use when working indoors, or in a vehicle with others. The state extended the mask mandate in January 2022 before announcing earlier in the month that it will expire after 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday. Sacramento County's vaccination rate is higher (among eligible residents, it's probably somewhere in the 60% to 65% range) than neighboring San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, two of the counties hardest hit by the delta wave. Los Angeles County lifted a mask mandate for public transit and transportation hubs such as airports Sept. 23. Webthe Superior Court of Alameda County lifts its mask mandate, no longer requiring masks in Court-controlled portions of courthouses. The county now averages more than 2,700 new COVID infections per day, up 180% since Nov. 1. 1 dead, 1 hurt after Santa Rosa high school stabbing, police say, How safe is your neighborhood? For most of the pandemic, people in Hong Kong have been required to wear a mask in indoor and outdoor public areas. The Associated Press contributed to this report. ", RELATED: Travelers coming into CA should make COVID testing part of their travel plans, state recommends. Because Solano's lagging vaccination rate compared with the rest of the region makes it a poor "control group" to evaluate mask mandates and it's clear that vaccination played a large role in dictating the trajectory of the delta wave it's worth looking to counties outside the Bay Area. Sustained jumps in cases and hospitalizations fueled by the hyper-infectious BA.5 subvariant pushed Los Angeles County into the high COVID-19 community level Thursday, a shift that could trigger a new public indoor mask mandate by the end of this month unless conditions improve. Of the three new deaths reported today, one person that passed away was over the age of 80, and two people who passed were between the ages of 50 and 64. Under those mandates, all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, were required to mask up indoors unless actively eating or drinking. Anyone 12 and older living or working in L.A. County can get vaccinated against COVID-19. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The new rule applies to schools and child care facilities. People wear face masks walking down Chestnut Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Jan. 4, 2022. COVID-19 deaths have been in the headlines again, as Californias death toll surpassed 100,000 last week. Local health officials in other parts of the state have not indicated theyre considering a new mask order, and some have said they dont anticipate implementing new orders more stringent than those required by the state. California is suffering through another intense coronavirus wave, fueled by the stunning proliferation of the BA.5 subvariant. We offer subscribers exclusive access to our best journalism.Thank you for your support. The Pfizer vaccine is approved for use in children aged 12 and older. list of masks recommended by the California government. To date, Public Health identified 1,262,578 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 24,566 deaths. Valley parents await state announcement on masks in schools. Thats up from a rate of 8.4 the previous week, according to the county. This represents the number of cases per 100,000 people and allows for the proportional comparison of cities of different sizes. Testing results are available for more than 7,142,000 individuals with 16% of people testing positive. Health officials have long said the county was inching closer to the metrics for a new mask measure, and those warnings are now closer than ever as the latest COVID-19 wave continues to wash over the region. The impact of vaccination shows up in the data when comparing Solano County and neighboring Contra Costa County. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Compared with its ancestors, the latest Omicron subvariant, BA.5, may have an enhanced ability to create a numerous copies of the coronavirus once it gets into human cells. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The Court will be transitioning to Zoom for all remote appearances. COVID-19 deaths have been in the headlines again, as Californias death toll surpassed 100,000 last week. Californians, regardless of the county Oregon and Washington adopted similar policies on Monday. Most, but not all, California counties will soon move on from the indoor mask mandate. He earned his bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Arizona. Sacramento County became the third California county to convert its indoor mask recommendation into a mandate a day after new guidance from the state encouraged all individuals regardless of vaccination status to mask indoors. This additional layer of protection can help to slow the spread and does not limit business occupancy and operations. There are sometimes discrepancies between state data and data reported by counties. Experts warned for years that the world was overdue for
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