A signage reminding employees of wearing face masks in all indoor public settings is seen at the front door of the Metro Headquarters in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua)
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases.
The state, home to around 40 million residents, will require masks to be worn in all indoor public settings irrespective of vaccine status through Jan. 15, 2022, at which point public health officials will make further recommendations as needed in response to the pandemic, according to the California Department of Public Health.
The department also updated requirements for attending mega events, like concerts and sporting events, which require either proof of vaccination, a negative antigen COVID-19 test within one day, or a negative PCR test within two days prior to the event.
California, Once the epicenter of the COVID pandemic in the country, lifted its statewide mask mandate for vaccinated people on June 15 as the state announced to fully reopen its economy amid dropping cases and vaccine eligibility expansion. But public health officials are worried in recent weeks to see early signs of COVID-19 rebound this winter.
State public health officials reported 5,476 new cases and 19 related deaths on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to over 4.89 million and 74,704 related deaths. There are 3,930 hospitalizations statewide, with 990 of them in intensive care units (ICU).
Since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate in California has increased by 47 percent and hospitalizations have increased by 14 percent, said officials on Monday.
"Many of our hospitals are at a tipping point, and even a small winter surge can have serious consequences for our health care system," said Tomas J. Aragon, director of the California Department of Public Health and the State Public Health Officer in a news release Wednesday.
"By broadening the mask requirement to be universal, we have 30 days to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent the devastating impact on our hospitals, healthcare workers, and patients that we experienced during last winter's deadly surge," Aragon noted.
The department is hosting a week of action to strongly encourage Californians to take the steps necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 during the holidays, including getting vaccinated or boosted if they haven't already done so and following the state's new indoor masking and testing requirements. Enditem
A healthcare worker wearing face mask prepares a dose of vaccine at a pop-up vaccination site in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua)
Passengers wearing face masks are seen at the Union Station in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua)
Passengers wearing face masks are seen at the Union Station in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua)
A customer wearing face mask and face shield is seen at a post office in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua)
Passengers wearing face masks are seen at the Union Station in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua)
Passengers wearing face masks are seen at the Union Station in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua)
Employees and customers wearing face masks are seen at a fast-food restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua)
