Los Angeles County has officially exited the high coronavirus community level as calculated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meaning it is on track to lift its indoor mask order Friday.
L.A. County health officials have been waiting for the CDC’s weekly update of COVID-19 levels by county — issued Thursdays — before acting.
Once the county exited the high level, officials said earlier this week that L.A. County health officer, Dr. Muntu Davis, would issue a new health order — effective Friday — that will lift the indoor mask order in places such as bars, stores, offices, restaurants, gyms and movie theaters.
Businesses can choose to retain their mask requirement for both customers and employees. And residents can still choose to wear a mask in any public place.
The revised order, effective Friday, also is expected to relax some of the local vaccine verification rules. L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said vaccine verification no longer will be required at outdoor mega-events — such as at theme parks, SoFi and Dodger stadiums, the L.A. Memorial Coliseum and the Hollywood Bowl — and no longer will be required in indoor portions of bars, lounges, nightclubs, distilleries, wineries and breweries.
But vaccine verification or a recent negative test still will be required at indoor mega-events — those with more than 1,000 people, such as NBA games at Crypto.com Arena, formerly known as the Staples Center — which remains a statewide requirement. Vaccine verification also is required for healthcare workers and employees at nursing homes.
Responding to the expected lifting of L.A. County’s mask order, Universal Studios Hollywood announced Thursday it will no longer require guests visiting the theme park to wear masks or show proof of vaccinations or a negative COVID-19 test, starting Friday.
Even with the changes, California and L.A. County officials are still “strongly recommending” mask use in indoor public…