In response to an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated individuals, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has updated its masking policy. Starting at 11:59 p.m. on July 17, all people regardless of vaccination status must wear face coverings indoors. This will supersede the county’s former policy, which only recommended face masks indoors.
About two weeks ago, Dr. Sam Torbati noticed a change in the number of patients coming into the Cedars-Sinai emergency room with COVID-19. For several months up until that point, the hospital saw one, maybe two infected patients a day–a welcome far cry from the city’s peak in the winter. Now, the hospital admits anywhere from seven to 15 cases.
