In a July 15, 2021 News Release, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that, effective July 17, 2021 at 11:59 p.m., indoor masking requirements will be reinstated.
The Department of Public Health released an updated Health Order today which now requires face masks to be worn by all persons, regardless of vaccination status, while in all indoor public settings and businesses, with limited exceptions. The new mandate aims to slow the increasing level of transmission of COVID-19 currently experienced in Los Angeles County.
Key Takeaways
- Masks are now required for everyone, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status in all indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and businesses
- This includes offices, retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, meetings, and state and local government offices serving the public, among others.
- Individuals, businesses, venue operators or hosts of public indoor settings must also:
- Require all patrons to wear masks for all indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status; and
- Post clearly visible and easy to read signage at all entry points for indoor and outdoor settings to communicate the masking requirements for patrons.
Mask signage and additional resources provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health can be found HERE.
There Are Limited Exceptions
Unchanged from the previous Health Order (dated June 28, 2021), the following individuals are exempt from mask requirements:
- Children under age 2.
- People who cannot safely wear a mask, such as someone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or who is unable to remove a mask without help.
- Workers in situations where a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty as determined by a workplace risk assessment.
- Workers who cannot feasibly wear a mask while performing specific tasks, and limited to the period of time in which such tasks are actually being performed.
- Notably, workers who cannot feasibly wear a mask while performing their work must be tested for COVID-19 at least twice per week, unless the employer is provided proof of:
- the employee’s full vaccination against COVID-19; or
- proof of recovery from laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days against COVID-19.
- Notably, workers who cannot feasibly wear a mask while performing their work must be tested for COVID-19 at least twice per week, unless the employer is provided proof of:
- Anyone instructed not to wear a mask by their medical provider.
- If such individual’s job involves regular contact with others, they must wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape that is form fitting under the chin, as long as their medical condition permits it.
Most workplaces continue to be subject to Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) in addition to today’s Health Order which provides a more restrictive masking mandate. Both orders must be followed.
See our prior posts regarding Cal/OSHA’s revised ETS and related FAQ HERE.
As additional guidance is issued, we will keep you informed.
