While there is still a threat from the active virus, Los Angeles County Public Health officials are using the moment of decreased risk to move to optional masking for fully vaccinated individuals, starting Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.
From Public Health; As the county continues to experience reduced COVID-19 spread, it is appropriate to consider fewer required safety measures, noting that vulnerable individuals should continue to layer in all protections possible. Given decreased risk, Public Health is modifying the Health Officer Order to allow establishments, businesses, and venues verifying vaccination status to offer optional masking for fully vaccinated individuals.
The modified Health Officer Order will be posted today and will go into effect at 12:01am on Friday, February 25.
The vaccine also continues to provide very strong protection against hospitalization and death. For the week ending February 12, unvaccinated people were five times more likely to be hospitalized compared to fully vaccinated residents. Fully vaccinated and boosted individuals were more than 13 times less likely to end up hospitalized compared to unvaccinated people. And the likelihood of dying was also significantly higher – 13 times higher – for unvaccinated residents compared to residents who were fully vaccinated.
Given lower hospital admissions and the effectiveness of the vaccines in reducing severe illness, changes have been made in the Health Officer Order that allow establishments, businesses, or venues two options for removing masking requirements for fully vaccinated individuals.
Option 1: Starting this Friday, establishments, businesses, or venues that want to allow fully vaccinated customers and workers to unmask while indoors must:
a) Verify that 100% of customers (5 and older) and workers prior to, or upon, entry to indoor spaces:
i) Provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or
Provide proof of a recent negative COVID-19 viral test result. Tests for customers must be taken within two days of entry if a PCR test, or one day if an antigen test. Employees will be allowed to submit a negative test result every three days.
Those who are not fully vaccinated or do not show proof of vaccination, are required to provide a negative test, and continue wearing a well-fitting mask while indoors (as required by the state), except when actively eating or drinking.
Option 2: Starting this Friday, establishments, businesses, or venues that want to allow their fully vaccinated customers to unmask indoors while all onsite workers remain masked, must:
a) Verify that 100% of customers (5 and older) prior to, or upon, entry to indoor spaces
i) Provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or
ii) Provide proof of a recent negative COVID-19 viral test result. Tests for customers must have been taken within two days of entry if a PCR test or one day if an antigen test.
b) Adhere to the following regarding customers and masking:
i) Fully vaccinated customers may be unmasked in the indoor setting.
ii) Customers that are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a well-fitting mask while indoors (as required by the state), except when actively eating or drinking.
Any individual showing proof of full vaccination prior to entering can still choose to wear a mask indoors.
While these new rules allow for more options, it is important to remember that the often posted “We reserve the right to refuse service” is always in effect, and businesses can request that people remain masked at their own discretion. Being respectful of the needs of others is vital to civil public interactions. Make sure you are communicating with the people around you about unmasking before you opt out.
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