Expert recommends not to stop using mask 1:55
(CNN) -
Los Angeles County, the nation's most populous, will reinstate its mask-wearing mandate starting at 11:59 p.m. Saturday night amid a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. .
The order will require the use of an indoor mask regardless of vaccination status, Los Angeles County health official Dr. Muntu Davis said at a news conference Thursday.
We have to do something dramatic to protect the US against covid-19, says expert
"We share our deepest condolences with those of you who have lost friends, loved ones and family during this difficult time," Davis said in a news release from county health officials.
"We anticipate maintaining the mask wear requirements until we start to see improvements in our community transmission of COVID-19. But waiting until we are at a high level of community transmission before making a change would be too late."
California fully reopens its economy 2:07
According to the press release, 210 new coronavirus cases were reported on June 15.
On Thursday, more than 1,500 were reported, the highest total of new cases since mid-March, authorities said.
US is 'wasting time' in vaccination race as delta variant becomes ubiquitous, says expert
The daily test positivity rate in Los Angeles County has risen to 3.7%, from around 0.5% on June 15, according to the press release.
advertising
About 4 million county residents are not vaccinated, authorities said.
Due to the delta variant, these countries have resumed biosecurity measures
Los Angeles County has reported a total of 24,566 coronavirus deaths and 1,262,578 cases.
The Census Bureau estimates that as of July 2019, 10,000,000 people lived in the county.
The Angels