Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Unmasks Indoor Spaces

Topics: COVID-19

Effective today, March 4, 2022, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) eliminated a masking requirement for all persons, regardless of vaccination status, in most indoor public settings which aligns with the guidance ordered by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on March 1, 2022.  Further, there are no longer any verification of vaccination status or negative COVID-19 test status requirements in most circumstances in order to unmask.  

LADPH “strongly recommends” that all persons continue to wear face masks indoors, and requires masks to be worn by all persons over 2 years old, regardless of vaccination status:

• On public transport and transportation hubs (planes, airports, ferries, marinas, trains, subways, train and subway stations, buses, bus stations, taxis and ride-shares);
• Indoors in K-12 schools and childcare facilities through March 11, 2022;
• In healthcare settings;
• In correctional facilities; and
• In shelters and cooling/heating centers.

Also, Cal/OSHA continues to require masking when required by the CDPH or local health department orders, for employer-provided transportation and if an employer experiences an Outbreak or Major Outbreak.

Also, for Indoor Mega Events (1000 or more persons), while masking is no longer mandated, pre-entry verification of full vaccination status or negative COVID-19 test continues.  For outdoor Mega Events (10,000 or more persons) pre-entry verifications are strongly suggested. 

While the new order permits employers to continue to require masking (as well as permitting employees and other persons to wear masks), employers that wish to maintain masking requirements, will, no doubt, hear from employees that the “law” has changed and that the employees are no longer required to wear masks in the workplace.  Likewise, vaccinated employees may become upset at the notion of working side by side with a person who is not masked and who might be unvaccinated.  These changes will, no doubt, create morale issues and other workplace disruptions.

As demonstrated by the rapid and vast difference from last week’s LADPH orders, we expect that there may be future orders requiring more masking.  So, please contact your favorite CDF lawyer for advice on changing policies as the regulations and laws continue to change with great frequency.