Public health officials in Los Angeles County cited declining COVID-19 hospitalizations when they refrained Thursday from reinstating an indoor mask mandate that was set to go back into effect Friday.
At a meeting that was streamed live, public health director Barbara Ferrer addressed reporters about the decision, which she said was made solely based on the downward trend in serious illness for those infected with COVID-19.
Days before the decision, health officials had said it was all but inevitable that the indoor mask mandate would be reinstituted. As of July 28, COVID-19 cases in the county were still high, but since July 23, hospitalizations due to the disease caused by exposure to the coronavirus have made a steady decline.
Had the data shown numbers at a rate of more than 10 residents per 100,000, Ferrer said the county would have gone forward with the mandate, despite public uproar over the decision. When pressed by reporters on whether emails from the public and open dissent from several local politicians had swayed her decision, she said the decision was based solely on the data.
As of Thursday, Ferrer said there were 7,009 new reported cases, 1,239 hospitalizations and a rate of 15 deaths per day over the past week in L.A. County. Dr. Barbara Ferrer addresses an event in Los Angeles kicking off coronavirus vaccinations for children at Eugene A. Obregon Park on Nov. 3, 2021.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Shahs of Sunset’ star Mike Shouhed charged with domestic violence against his fiancée in Los Angeles“Shahs of Sunset” star Mike Shouhed has been charged with 14 criminal counts, including domestic violence, battery and weapons charges in a case involving his fiancée.
Read more »
New Los Angeles bridge opens, then quickly closes amid chaosLOS ANGELES (AP) — The newest bridge in Los Angeles, a $588-million architectural marvel with views of the downtown skyline, opened to great fanfare on July 10. It has already been closed, to great dismay, several times since then amid chaos and collisions.
Read more »
Unruly passenger forces flight from London to Los Angeles to divert to Salt Lake CityA disruptive passenger onboard a Virgin Atlantic flight from London's Heathrow airport to Los Angeles on Tuesday caused the aircraft to be diverted to Salt Lake City, according to an airline statement.
Read more »
'Violent and Unruly' British Man Arrested After London-Los Angeles Flight Diverted to Utah: PoliceLocal police took the suspect into custody after the plane landed and referred the case to the U.S. Attorney's office, which typically has authority over international flights.
Read more »
Unruly passenger forces London-to-Los Angeles flight to land at Salt Lake CityThe unruly passenger of the Virgin Atlantic flight was taken into custody in Salt Lake City.
Read more »
Los Espookys Returns in September, and Here's a TeaserLos Espookys returns to HBO with its second season on September 16. Here's a teaser.
Read more »