On March 4, 2020, the Governor of the State of California declared a State of Emergency to exist in California as a result of the threat of COVID-19. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG), Jalopy Eirasqiom, left, allows Jacqueline Gabriel, right, to adjust his cap before the Valencia High School graduation ceremonies which occurred at Bradford Stadium in Placentia, California on Thursday, June 17, 2021. Ghaly said enforcement would likely be stronger in some places than others, but he urged Californians to heed the warnings and wear masks. AGENCY DIRECTOR, REGINA CHINSIO-KWONG, DO Starting Wednesday, California and Orange County residentswhether vaccinated or unvaccinatedwill again need to wear masks in area shops, restaurants and malls for at least four weeks, according to the Governor's office. Before the meeting ended, Foley once again urged viewers to get vaccinated, boosted and follow safety precautions as a way to be kind to each other by protecting each other from the virus. The new policy will go into effect on Feb. 15. "Delta still remains the single most sequenced strain that is causing all of our hospitalizations," Chinsio-Kwong noted. HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. Mar. We're in a wave of COVID. Send us asecure tip. While fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to mask indoors, we still recommend that you continue to wear a mask indoors, regardless of your vaccination status, especially those who are at high risk or living with loved ones who have comorbidities or who are immunocompromised or prone to getting sick, she said. The newly logged fatalities increase the overall death toll to 5,829. Orange County Public Schools announced Monday it was reinstating its mask mandate for all . But Durham and Orange counties, at least for now, plan to keep the indoor mask. We want our children to be healthy. I do still believe that people should be masking, but I think at the moment it is going to have to be on a voluntary basis because even with the so-called rules, theres not going to be total compliance nor very much enforcement, he said. The governor can do this because California is still operating under an emergency declaration Newsom issued at the beginning of the pandemic. For the PDF English version, click here. At that time, we will again reevaluate across California our communitys health care delivery to make sure that we are taking the latest information to determine if there there would be another extension or if were prepared to lift that requirement, Ghaly said. Chinsio-Kwong, the countys deputy health officer, said that its important that masks are worn at schools, noting that kids 5-11 years old are the least vaccinated group eligible for a shot.As of January 31, for ages five to 11, only 33% of that population received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, she said during last Wednesdays news briefing. Wake County's mandate ends at 5 p.m. Friday. In light of the recent COVID-19 related guidance and orders by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the State Public Health Officer, the following Orders and Strong Recommendations shall revise and replace the prior Orders and Strong Recommendations of the County Health Officer that were issued on September 23, 2022. On March 2, 2020, the Orange County Board of Supervisors ratified both declarations. LA County moved Thursday into the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "high'' virus-activity level, and if it remains that way for two weeks, indoor masking is coming back July 29. And Newport Beach City Council members passed a resolution in support of children going maskless at schools last year. The CDC says it's safe to be outdoors or indoors in small gatherings without a mask as long as others are fully vaccinated. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. In a teleconference Wednesday with reporters, Dr. Mark Ghaly, California's health and human services secretary, said the mask mandate was being extended through at least Feb. 15. Thats a good question. California indoor mask mandate returns Wednesday, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), See how COVID deaths are plummeting this spring, COVID-sniffing dogs can help detect infections in K-12 schools, new California study suggests. [Read: OC Officials Express Concern Over Death Threat to Public Health Officer Over Mask Order]. Three were in September and one was in August. On Tuesday, Orange County Health Care Agency reported that six more residents have died as a result of coronavirus. It's a move residents in some neighboring counties should not expect to see. The OC Fair also returned, and will take place through Aug. 14. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer). On July 22, two groups, Let Them Breathe and Reopen California Schools, filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn Californias school mask mandate. Gov. Some local governments and school districts have been enforcing the mask mandate at indoor public meetings like the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. The test positivity rate is at 3.3 as of Tuesday. These parents argue that the driver of the new surge, the Delta variant, is more transmissible than previous versions of the sometimes fatal disease and the masks-for-all rule helps protect kids and figures to slow community spread. School district officials say one thing is certain they dont have the legal authority to unilaterally opt out of the mask mandate. All employers in Orange County that are subject to Cal/OSHA Standards shall follow applicable Cal/OSHA requirements during COVID-19 Outbreaks. RELATED: Dont be confused: online schools arent distance learning. But other Democratic governors have resisted new restrictions, including Gov. But how well OC dealt with the mask mandate is unclear with county public health officials largely taking a hands off approach to enforcement. Mask Mandate Returns to Orange County Wednesday by Spencer Custodio Dec 13, 2021 Updated Jan 3, 2022 Why you can trust Voice of OC. Here's what the end of COVID -19 emergency means in San Francisco. Noymer said the request can you please put your mask on? has been declining throughout OC. Wearing a mask in those high-risk indoor settings will still be recommended. The question is how do you manage risks, Shoarinejad added. We know people are tired and hungry for normalcy. Gavin Newsom's mask mandate goes back into play, Orange County's COVID-19 hospitalizations remained relatively stable. Its an issue thats been seen at Orange County Board of Supervisors meetings throughout the pandemic. . Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a mask. Its for everyones benefit to control this virus. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. The only way is to stick with masks, stick with science, and with sensible cautionary protocols, like hand washing and social distancing., Anaheim Hills resident Claudia Gallegos, a mom to five children, including two at Placentia-Yorba Linda schools, said shes disappointed some school districts are caving to the pressure of some parents.. Furthermore, Placer (no mandate) had a peak rate of 48.7 . ORANGE COUNTY, CA One day before California Gov. After you have ended isolation, if your symptoms recur or worsen, you should test again; if you test positive, you should isolate as stated above. At that time, the state will also increase the attendance thresholds for . A violation of a health order is subject to fine, imprisonment, or both (California Health and Safety Code section 120295). The county has logged 199 new coronavirus cases, raising the cumulative count to 317,752 since the pandemic began. Members of the public are no longer required to wear a mask/facial covering when entering Court facilities regardless of vaccination status, but the use of masks/face coverings is still strongly recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Its unclear if those requests will gain traction. The mask debate isnt unique to California. Officials in a couple of states including Oregon have announced plans to get rid of their own school mask mandates. '', "People keep saying it's not as deadly anymore,'' Noymer said. The Orange County Board of Supervisors also terminated the Local Health Emergency and Local Emergency on February 28, 2023. "The HCA continues to monitor the data closely, but HCA has no plans to institute a mandatory mask mandate. Even if people have been vaccinated, the mandate calls for mask-wearing in all indoor public spaces. [Read: Mask Mandate Returns to Orange County Wednesday]. If symptoms, other than fever, are not improving, you should continue to isolate through Day 10 or until symptoms are improving. Orange County amends face mask mandate with 3-phase plan. The order comes as the per capita rate of new coronavirus cases in California has jumped 47% in the past two weeks. UPDATE: Orange County Board of Education will sue Newsom over face masks. About Voice of OC: Mission | Editorial Policies| Contact Us | Funding| Privacy Policy. California to end mask requirement for high-risk indoor settings, vaccine mandate for health care workers in April. But for parents like Kambiz Shoarinejad, who has two sons enrolled at Tustin Unified, the face masks make sense. County Health Officer Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code sections 101030, 101470, 120175, and 120130, the County Health Officer for the County of Orange orders and strongly recommends the following: All Orange County residents and persons who work in Orange County, and who fall under one of the following categories, shall obtain the seasonal flu vaccination unless a medical or religious exemption applies: Nothing herein shall be construed as an obligation, on the part of employers, public or private, to require employees obtain the seasonal flu vaccination as a term or condition of employment. All rights reserved, Los Angeles County faces a very likely indoor mask mandate, Post-Prom Fight in Palmdale Ends in Gunfire, 25-Year-Old Makes $200/Hour Without a Bachelor's Degree: I Work Less Than 6 Hours a Day', Hollywood Braces for Possible Writers Strike as Talks Continue, How Much Could You Get in New $725M Facebook Settlement? After that date, Orange County residents vaccinated against COVID-19 will no longer have to wear masks in indoor or outdoor settings, unless specified by local city or county officials. The vast majority of admissions are unvaccinated. A list of conditions that increase peoples risk for severe COVID-19 disease can be found here: PerCDPH masking guidance, infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings. Individuals who are vulnerable to severe COVID-19 disease. We are proactively putting this tool of universal indoor masking in public settings in place to ensure we get through a time of joy and hope without a darker cloud of concern and despair. Ghaly said. Our numbers dont look good, said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, a deputy health officer with Orange County, during Supervisor Katrina Foleys Community COVID Update Zoom meeting Wednesday evening. UPDATE: Orange County Board of Education will sue Newsom over face masks Other parents are frustrated by the mandate, saying they believe masks pose a risk to their child's mental health. The Orders and the Strong Recommendations contained in this document are based on the following facts: (i) As of March 22, 2023, the County has reported a total of 715,259 recorded confirmed COVID-19 cases and 8,009 COVID-19 related deaths; (ii) Safe and effective Food and Drug Administration authorized COVID-19 vaccines have been widely available, but certain populations have been slow to getting vaccinated or boosted; (iii) the current consensus among public health officials for avoiding severe illness caused by COVID-19 is for persons to complete a COVID-19 vaccination series and receive an updated (bivalent) booster if eligible, wear a well-fitted face mask in indoor settings when around others outside of their household, practice distancing, and frequently wash hands; (iv) some individuals who contract COVID-19 have no symptoms or have only mild symptoms and so are unaware that they carry the virus and are transmitting it to others; (v) current evidence shows that the novel coronavirus can survive on surfaces and can be indirectly transmitted between individuals; (vi) older adults and individuals with medical conditions are at higher risk of severe illness; (vii) sustained COVID-19 community transmission continues to occur; (viii) the age and health status of a portion of Orange County's residents place them at risk for serious health complications, including hospitalization and death, from COVID-19; (ix) younger and otherwise healthy people are also at risk for serious health outcomes and for transmitting the novel coronavirus to others. On February 26, 2020, the County of Orange Health Officer and the Chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors declared a Local Health Emergency and Local Emergency, respectively, based on an imminent and proximate threat to public health from the introduction of COVID-19 in Orange County. Orange County already hit. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Message usvia ourwebsite or staff page. For those at the highest risk, there antiviral treatments available to prevent serious illness.". The county has 22% of its ICU beds available and 69% of its ventilators. Enforcement is really the crux of it all.. They issued the guidance, and they suddenly put the enforcement on the backs of local school boards, with really no information on what that means.. Even with the mandate coming to an end, masking indoors will still be a requirement for people who are unvaccinated and for everyone, including vaccinated individuals, in certain settings like public transportation as well as airports, train and bus stations. The state department of public health says that the masking-up "has proven to decrease the rate of infections" and "slow community transmission." There was a slight drop in the positivity rate from 3.4 to 3.2 percent and hospitalizations from 196 to 194, while ICU admissions increased slightly from 59 to 63 per day. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness . The Orders and Strong Recommendations issued on September 23, 2022, are no longer in effect as of March 24, 2023. "With things moving in the right direction, we are making responsible modifications to COVID-19 prevention measures while also continuing to develop a longer-term action plan for the state.". The Orange County Board of Education has also tried to sue the state over the school mask mandate, but their petition was denied by the California Supreme Court around a week after it was filed. If you test positive for COVID, you only have to isolate for five days, not ten, as long as you don't have a fever and your symptoms are improving. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer), Holding on to her backpack, Reagan May, a second grade student at Linda Vista Magnet Elementary School in Mission Viejo, wears a mask and a decorative face shield as she starts in-person learning on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. Hospitalizations are rising in California, but still remain at relatively low levels. "We have such an overlap in terms of our populations from Los Angeles County and us and other surrounding counties," Zahn said. "I believe we will continue to do so. Five of the fatalities logged Monday occurred in November, raising that month's death toll to 85. The board had filed the petition only eight days before the court ruled, according to the Voice of OC. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong), Graduates line up six feet apart with face masks on as the Dana Hills high school holds a walk through procession where 600 students remain in their vehicles, then get to walk across a formal graduation stage Friday, July 24, 2020 in Dana Point during the Covid-19 pandemic. County parents have also been rallying at school board meetings against masks and people have been holding protests against mask requirements. Other parents are frustrated by the mandate, saying they believe masks pose a risk to their childs mental health and their ability to learn. All rights reserved. A brief look at revised Indoor Masking, Testing for Mega Events and Testing for Travel: Universal Indoor Masking: Masks are required to be worn in all indoor public settings, regardless of vaccine status, between December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022, Testing for Mega Events: Individuals attending Mega Events (indoor crowds of 1,000 or more, or outdoor crowds of 10,000 or more) must provide proof of vaccination, a negative antigen test within one day of the event, or a negative PCR test within two days prior to entry into the event, facility or venue, Travel Advisory: All travelers arriving in and returning to California from other states or countries are recommended to test for COVID-19 3-5 days after arrival, regardless of vaccination status. CHIEF OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, MATTHEW ZAHN, MD The mandate was expected to end on Jan. 15 but when case counts skyrocketed, state officials extended the mandate to Feb. 15. At an early February council meeting, Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu paused a residents public comment period to ask him to put his mask on. Though Greg Franklin, superintendent of the Tustin Unified School District, agreed that the state created confusion among a lot of people, he doesnt view the current mask rules as dramatically different from last year. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. RELATED: Here's what the end of COVID -19 emergency means in San Francisco. Those areas include health care, long-term care, and correctional facilities as well as homeless, emergency and warming and cooling centers. (714) 966-4617. Her other boy suffered anxiety from wearing his face mask. Chinsio-Kwong said the health care agencys environmental health division has not issued any citations and that enforcement of local and state health orders was really up to law enforcement and state agencies. While hospitalizations and case rates decline, Orange County's January death toll eclipsed the worst months of last summer's surge, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency. But in Florida currently experiencing the nations biggest coronavirus surge Gov. Priscella Vega is the Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley reporter for the Daily Pilot. But Noymer pointed to the number of deaths so far in July and said, "That's a lot of deaths for a respiratory virus in the summertime.''. She earned her journalism degree from Cal State Long Beach. Statewide and in O.C., more people have required hospital care for non-COVID issues this winter. Back in December, state public health officials announced a one month reinstatement of an indoor mask requirement amid concerns over an Omicron winter surge. The death toll for October stands at 125, 195 for September and 180 for August.In contrast, the death toll before the more contagious Delta variant-fueled summer surge was 31 in July, 19 for June, 26 for May, 46 for April, 200 for March and 617 for February. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California is bringing back a rule requiring people to wear masks indoors, a move aimed at containing a new type of the coronavirus as people gather with family and friends during the holidays. Its harming (childrens) mental health, their academic progress and their social development. 2021. according to the states public health department, passed a resolution in support of children going maskless, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. After COVID-19 cases continued to spike in Florida and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings recommended that indoor mask mandates return, Disney complied. That's dwarfed by 2,259 patients on Jan. 7, just as vaccines were being rolled out for health care workers. For more information about COVID-19 in O.C., visit: occovid19.ochealthinfo.com. A sign outside of a coastal business in Orange County on June 9. Yes, its a little uncomfortable to wear the masks for several hours a day. School district officials, including Pulver, say the California Department of Health confused parents on July 13, when it issued two statements about masks at school.
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