ORANGE COUNTY, CA One day before California Gov. 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. 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. Starting April 3, masks will no longer be required in. Instead, they held their meeting last week outdoors. Mayor Demings says he believes these . Health & Fitness CA Mask Mandate Ending Soon In Laguna Beach, Orange County After a masked-up start to the new year, vaccinated Laguna Beach residents will no longer have to wear masks come Feb. 15. On March 2, 2020, the Orange County Board of Supervisors ratified both declarations. If you have severe symptoms or are at high risk of serious disease or have questions concerning care, you should contact a health care provider for available treatments. Entering what he described as the fourth big surge since the pandemic began, Korber said the tricky part will be seeing the variants impact on health care workers who are on the front lines. The Guidance will be updated on April 3, 2023, utilizing personal risk, local COVID-19 transmission, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Community levels to guide the use of face masks. Currently, the OC Fair website recommends masks indoors. The county reported 28 more COVID-19-related deaths since Friday, with 24 of them occurring in January. At this point, we are here to provide recommendations and really safeguard our community and its still a community responsibility to maintain a mandate.. The vast majority of admissions are unvaccinated. California also is tightening existing testing requirements by ordering unvaccinated people attending indoor events of 1,000 people or more to have a negative test within one or two days, depending on the type of test. CLAYTON CHAU, MD, PhD, MASL 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.''. Join the conversation:In lieu of comments, we encourage readers to engage with us across a variety of mediums. The California Supreme Court wasted little time denying a petition from the Orange County Board of Education today that asked the court to overturn the state's mask mandate. The Guidance, effective April 3, 2023 provides recommendations which apply to the following groups: Face Mask Use and Skilled Nursing Facilities. January 2021 remains the deadliest month of the pandemic with a death toll of 1,594, ahead of December 2020, the next deadliest at 985. The indoor mask mandate will remain in effect until the county can move back to the "medium" category, LA County's Public Health Director Barbara Ferrersaid. COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER "What struck me is we passed 18% positivity. The California Health and Safety Code sections 101030 and 101470 require the County Health Officer to enforce and observe in the unincorporated territory of the county and within the city boundaries located within a county all of the following: (a) Orders and ordinances of the Board of Supervisors, pertaining to the public health and sanitary matters; (b) Orders, including quarantine and other regulations, prescribed by the department; and (c) Statutes relating to public health. Yes, its a little uncomfortable to wear the masks for several hours a day. 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. Mask Mandate Returns to Orange County Wednesday by Spencer Custodio Dec 13, 2021 Updated Jan 3, 2022 Why you can trust Voice of OC. "In Orange County, we are not moving toward mandates at this point," Zahn said. We're not seeing that," said Jose Arballo, public information officer for the Riverside County Department of Health. OC Health Officer's Orders & Recommendations The Orders and Strong Recommendations, above, shall not supersede any conflicting or more restrictive orders issued by the State of California or federal government. Newsom has issued lots of other coronavirus mandates, including requiring state employees, health care workers and, soon, public school students and teachers to be vaccinated. Mask Mandate to be amended March 7th, 2022 to No Longer Require Masks in Public, Indoor Spaces Orange County leaders say decision is contingent on COVID-19 Community Levels. With schools about to re-open and face-to-face instruction set to resume, school officials throughout Orange County are hearing from parents who hold opposing views about a state mandate that requires most students, teachers and staff to wear masks when indoors at a California public school. We know people are tired and hungry for normalcy. The first phase, which is effective immediately, calls for a change in social distancing from 6 feet to 3 feet . By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. They need to have that choice to unmask and every family should be able to make medical decisions themselves, said Let Them Breathe founder Sharon McKeeman. At a Monday news conference, Secretary of the state Health and Human Services department, Dr. Mark Ghaly said they wont change the mask mandate at schools just yet but they will reassess data at the end of the month on whether to lift the requirement. 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. 2022. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Demings said the changes to the county's mask mandate will happen in three phases. Share your thoughts in a community opinion piece. California orders statewide mask mandate amid rise in COVID - Los But county officials including public health officials have repeatedly said they dont have the power to enforce masks. "Hopefully, it doesn't get much worse than this and it is fairly mild.". Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Daily Pilot e-newspaper: Sunday, April 30, 2023, Newport Beach woman who survived abusive relationship uses her experience to empower others, Laguna Beach High students to install pop-up floral art mural at Promenade on Forest, Vanguard University unveils Patty Arvielo School of Business and Management, Newport to Ensenada Race: 21-year-old sailor hopes for robust winds throughout event, Daily Pilot e-newspaper: Saturday, April 29, 2023, O.C. ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - Orange County Public Schools will mandate masks for students for 60 days. 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. Gavin Newsom's mask mandate goes back into play, Orange County's COVID-19 hospitalizations remained relatively stable. Gov. Her other boy suffered anxiety from wearing his face mask. As the new indoor mask mandate began Wednesday in Orange County, two people spend time at the Anaheim Packing District. "Stay vigilant, get vaccinated, get boosted," Newsom said. 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. Statewide and in O.C., more people have required hospital care for non-COVID issues this winter. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. She also said its going to be difficult to enforce an indoor mask mandate for unvaccinated people with the new change. The CDC's updates include the following: An interval of up to 8 weeks between the first and second doses of mRNA vaccines (Pfizer/Comirnaty or Moderna/SpikeVax) may be preferable for some people. More than 6,500 staff infections at skilled nursing facility have occurred throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. About Voice of OC: Mission | Editorial Policies| Contact Us | Funding| Privacy Policy. You can check the county's status on the CDC's site here. AGENCY DIRECTOR, REGINA CHINSIO-KWONG, DO Its for everyones benefit to control this virus. Mask mandate chnages in Orange County - wesh.com The new changes are expected to go into effect on Feb. 16 according to the states public health department. 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. 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.. To help prevent the spread of droplets containing COVID-19, all county residents and visitors should refer to the CDPHs Guidance for the Use of Face Masks. But what is most important is what they learn and see on the playground.. Learning their ABCs is important, she said. 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. The CDC says it's safe to be outdoors or indoors in small gatherings without a mask as long as others are fully vaccinated. 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. "As expected, we are beginning to experience a rise in cases, not only here in Orange County but statewide and nationwide, due to increased holiday gatherings and travel," Chau said. California to end mask requirement for high-risk indoor settings, vaccine mandate for health care workers in April. 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. Both requests were rejected, Pulver said, but the earlier statements from the state might have left some parents believing that school districts have a say in such rules. Los Alamitos Unified School District trustees have also enforced the state mask mandate at their meeting and ended up meeting in an alternate room in January when people at their meeting refused to comply with the requirement. But the state confused it, making it sound like districts have options. And while some districts, like Tustin Unified and Capistrano Unified, plan to continue the virtual schooling that they offered even before the pandemic, others will cut back on online instruction. County Health Officer But that surge was before vaccines were available. 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. Even if people have been vaccinated, the mandate calls for mask-wearing in all indoor public spaces. Newsoms Curfew and Mask Orders]. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed an executive order blocking schools from mandating face coverings. After COVID-19 cases continued to spike in Florida and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings recommended that indoor mask mandates return, Disney complied. The state also is recommending travelers who visit or return to California to get tested within five days of their arrival. REASONS FOR THE ORDERS AND STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS, Regina Chinsio-Kwong, DO If L.A. County stays at the "high" category for two weeks straight, officials say it would trigger a new indoor mask mandate. RELATED: Here's what the end of COVID -19 emergency means in San Francisco. Some parents think school boards and districts can make those decisions, Pulver said. ORANGE COUNTY, CA California will lift its statewide mask mandate for indoor public places next week, health officials reported. "We're hoping we can avert that, but it does require everyone to be more cautious and to wear a mask indoors," Chinsio-Kwong said. Orange County rolls out 3-phase plan to do away with face masks There will be 3 phases to the updated mask ordinance that will eventually lead to dropping mask-wearing completely in the county. He wants residents to be cautious and if you arearound someone you don't know, assume they are not vaccinated. School districts have always been in charge of enforcement, Franklin said. Its not like we have another choice., Life is full of chances. For Health Care Workers, Adult and Senior Care and Direct Care Workers and those persons who provide health care in Correctional settings: All persons working in these settings should follow the State Health Officers orders and the CDPHs Guidance, found at the following links. Mask mandate in OC schools raises ire, praise, 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), Face mask mandate in schools raises ire, praise and confusion in Orange County, Youve got a blank canvas; now be creative and live fully alive, Hundreds of OC teens participate in Global Youth Service Day, Orange County Board of Education will sue Newsom over face masks, Placentia-Yorba Linda school board wants face masks to be optional, Dont be confused: online schools arent distance learning, signed an executive order blocking schools from mandating face coverings, California changes course on school masks, will let individual districts enforce mandate, California recommends masks for all indoors amid COVID surge, LA County will require masks indoors regardless of vaccination status starting Saturday night, Long Beach will require all city employees to get COVID-19 vaccine or be tested weekly, Orange County restaurants shut down by health inspectors (April 20-27), More land sliding at Casa Romantica; residents evacuated, trains halted through San Clemente, Then and Now: Photos of Casa Romantica show damage caused by landside, Orange County Artist of the Year winners announced, The DMV says permission to drive is based on ability, but older drivers are scrutinized more, OC Marine who volunteered in Ukraine, survived rocket attack: I would do it again, Joe Bidens re-election bid is off to a bad start, Henry Winkler advises find a passion and stick with it, no matter the stage of life, A look at Orange Countys baseball teams and the CIF-SS playoffs, Fire at Barnes & Noble in Orange disrupts book-signing event, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Orange County Schools recently voted to lift its mask mandate for students 72 hours after the county government rescinded its measure. Effective Monday, March 7, 2022, Orange County will no longer require masks in public, indoor spaces if key COVID-19 metrics continue to reach medium and low community levels. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 data tracker. The newly logged fatalities increase the overall death toll to 5,829. 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. STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS AND ORDERS Orange County already hit the "high" level July 15. 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. Five of the fatalities logged Monday occurred in November, raising that month's death toll to 85. (Revised March 24, 2023). The indoor mask mandate will remain in effect until the county can move back to the "medium" category, LA County's Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. Furthermore, Placer (no mandate) had a peak rate of 48.7 . Orange County already hit. The mask mandates at schools have been fiery points of contention since they first went into effect during the pandemic. And the tool we have at our disposal, besides vaccinations which are not available for younger kids, is masks, he said. The order comes as the per capita rate of new coronavirus cases in California has jumped. Orange County residents must wear masks for another month under state But we are also requiring masks for all individuals, during all times, at all indoor activities in schools. But for parents like Kambiz Shoarinejad, who has two sons enrolled at Tustin Unified, the face masks make sense. The county had 20.1% of its ICU beds available and 59.5% of its ventilators as of Monday. Masking in schools has allowed all schools to remain open, they say, and there is no risk of the state shutting down if people wear their masks. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Effective immediately: Physical distancing will be reduced from 6-feet to 3-feet in all settings, Fully vaccinated individuals should follow all updated guidelines for facial coverings that were announced by the CDC on Tuesday. 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. That emergency declaration will remain in place until either Newsom lifts it or the state Legislature votes to end it. Thats a good question. Face Coverings | Orange County, NC As Orange County moves to "high" COVID-19 community transmission, the county's deputy health officer says the region isn't moving toward reinstating an indoor mask mandate. All county residents who are six months of age or older are strongly recommended to obtain the seasonal flu vaccination unless a medical or religious exemption applies. Hospitalizations are rising in California, but still remain at relatively low levels. County of Orange, OC Health Officer's Orders & Recommendations, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Long Term Care and Residential Care Facilities for Elderly, https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/Non_Emergency_Regulations/, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html, https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Guidance-on-Isolation-and-Quarantine-for-COVID-19-Contact-Tracing.aspx, https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html#children, https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Order-of-the-State-Public-Health-Officer-Health-Care-Worker-Vaccine-Requirement.aspx, https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Order-of-the-State-Public-Health-Officer-Adult-Care-Facilities-and-Direct-Care-Worker-Vaccine-Requirement.aspx, https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Order-of-the-State-Public-Health-Officer-Correctional-Facilities-and-Detention-Centers-Health-Care-Worker-Vaccination-Order.aspx, https://www.cms.gov/medicareprovider-enrollment-and-certificationsurveycertificationgeninfopolicy-and-memos-states-and/revised-guidance-staff-vaccination-requirements. SAN FRANCISCO -- California's COVID masking rules are changing according to new information from the state's department of public health. Some counties in state refuse to enforce new mask mandate in New York The new mask mandate will cover everyone else, but state officials on Monday were unclear about how it would be enforced. Health officials in the Bay Area have not outlined criteria to reestablish a mask mandate. A violation of a health order is subject to fine, imprisonment, or both (California Health and Safety Code section 120295). The mask mandate in Cumberland County ended Sunday night. More than 8,000 COVID-19 cases leading to more than 1,500 deaths have occurred in Orange County skilled nursing facility residents. Do I need the new COVID-19 booster? Some parents in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District have even threatened to sue teachers over mask enforcement. The strong recommendation for universal masking at skilled nursing facilities when two or more COVID-19 cases are identified in a facility is based on the disproportionate burden of serious disease and death caused by COVID-19 in these facilities residents throughout the pandemic. While Buck enforced the mask mandate at their meetings, Placentia-Yorba Linda school board members Leandra Blades and Shawn Youngblood, have criticized the mask enforcement in their own district classrooms as inconsistent.An attempt earlier this month by Blades to get the board to approve a resolution against removing kids from classrooms failed. But since then, county governments covering about half of the states population have imposed their own indoor mask mandates as case rates surged with new variants. With COVID cases rising, will California resume mask rules? - Los