Long Beach lifts mask requirement on public transit, airports
The city did away with one of its last remaining mask mandates today, replacing it with a series of recommendations based on state and CDC guidelines.
The city did away with one of its last remaining mask mandates today, replacing it with a series of recommendations based on state and CDC guidelines.
Most colleges across the state lifted mask requirements before the fall semester, but CSULB kept its mandate in place until Monday. Now masks are only “strongly recommended.”
LA County has been on track to reinstitute an indoor mask mandate Friday unless there’s a sharp decline in cases. Supervisor Kathryn Barger is now publicly opposing it.
Unless hospitalizations drop, LA County’s indoor mask mandate will begin July 29. Long Beach would not be subject to it unless local health officials choose to follow suit.
Absent a major reversal in virus-related hospitalizations, an indoor mask-wearing mandate could be imposed in a little more than two weeks.
The order includes buses, trains, taxis and rideshares as well as inside the airport and other transportation hubs.
Passengers should check with airlines for updates about travel requirements.
That means, as of today, the city no longer requires vaccinated people to wear masks in offices, restaurants and most other indoor areas.
Long Beach’s new rules will be slightly looser than Los Angeles County’s, allowing businesses to take patrons’ word on whether they’re vaccinated or not.
“I just want to affirm that the LBUSD is still implementing the Long Beach health orders that require masking indoors,” Superintendent Jill Baker said. “That isn’t a choice; that is the health order that we are responsible for implementing.”