A Return to 2020: COVID-19 in Los Angeles

 '“The state is not just poised to recover, it’s poised to come roaring back,”' shared Governor Gavin Newson on June 15, 2021. 

Californians saw a glimpse of hope when the state lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. There would be no more social distancing guidelines and limits on capacity at various public spaces from that day on, and masks were no longer required for vaccinated people. Individual businesses and counties, however, could choose to require masks.

Since that day, the hope that California, and the rest of the world, would return back to normal has faded as COVID-19 cases have been rising rapidly. The rising cases are likely due to the highly contagious delta variant. 

"As NPR has reported, delta appears to be about 225% more transmissible than the original SARS-CoV-2 strains."

Consequently, on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, California's public health agency recommended that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks indoors despite the June 15 decision.

Contrary to popular belief, vaccinated people are still at risk, hence the recent recommendation to reimplement the mask mandate. The CDC reports that, as of July 26, 2021, 6,578 vaccinated patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized or died. Although it is a small percentage, as more than 163 million people in the United States have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, no one is completely safe from the virus. 

During these uncertain times, it is best to lean on the side of safety, which means wearing a mask regardless of vaccination status, being careful in big groups, and keeping up good hygiene. 

Sources

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/coronavirus/california-mask-mandate-june-15-covid-restrictions-reopoening-coronavirus-pandemic/2617486/

https://ktla.com/news/california/california-again-recommending-masks-indoors-regardless-of-vaccination-status-as-covid-cases-spike/

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/07/17/1017075240/delta-variant-is-spreading-fast-and-new-cases-are-rising-is-time-to-mask-up-agai

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/breakthrough-cases.html