New mask mandate unfortunate but necessary, Los Angeles official says

Los Angeles County, like many parts of the nation, has seen a steep rise in Covid cases in recent weeks, mostly attributed to the highly contagious Delta variant. The vast majority of the cases have been reported among people who have not been vaccinated, particularly the ones that have led to hospitalization and death.

Under the order in Los Angeles County, masks are required in all indoor settings, except when eating or drinking. Approximately 52 percent of the county’s population is fully vaccinated, but the order doesn’t distinguish between those who have been vaccinated and those who have not.

Solis said the county’s goal is still to get as many people as possible vaccinated.

“I’m not pleased that we have to go back to using the masks in this matter, but, nonetheless, it’s going to save lives,” Solis said. “And right now, that to me, is what’s most important. And really getting more people to understand that they have to get vaccinated.”

She also said Los Angeles is trying everything it can to increase the percentage of people who get jabbed.

“We are lessening the hardship to get vaccinated,” Solis told Raddatz. “We are going with boots on the ground to parks, to swimming pools, to swap meets, to anywhere you can think of where we are encouraging people to get vaccinated.”