No More Masks Indoors in Los Angeles County Even for the Unvaccinated Starting March 4

March 3, 2022 - Health officials have moved forward the date for ending the mask mandate in Los Angeles county, removing the mask requirement for most situations starting Friday, March 4.

Masks have been required indoors ever since March of 2020, two years ago. For a brief period during the spring of 2021 the fully vaccinated were allowed to take their masks off in indoor situations. But the Delta variant surge starting in the late spring put an end to that indulgence.

The modified Health Order from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health states that "indoor masking will be strongly recommended, but not required, for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, except in high-risk settings where federal and state regulations continue to require masking, including everyone using public transit and all those in emergency shelters, health care settings, correctional and detention facilities, homeless shelters, and long-term care facilities."

Masks will continue to be required indoors at schools and childcare facilities until the state deadline of March 11, after which they are still "strongly recommended." Individual school districts may institute stricter guidelines if they choose.

Health officials still "strongly recommend" that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, continue to wear a mask in indoor public spaces because "transmission remains a significant risk."

Vaccine verification or a negative Covid test will still be required at indoor mega events. Such verification will only be "strongly recommended" at outdoor mega events and at indoor portions of bars and nightclubs.

Officials stressed that people are still allowed to wear masks "based on their personal preference, comfort level, and informed by their personal level of risk." In addition, employers are required to offer a medical-grade mask to employees if they request such.