Pasadena’s Mask Mandate Nears End

A major shift in COVID-19 response policy by two local public health departments — Pasadena’s and Los Angeles County’s — is likely in the offing Thursday if virus activity data set to be released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the region is now medium- or low-risk for COVID.

If that occurs, both city and county health departments have said each will issue a new Health Officer Order that removes their long-standing mandate for people to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. The orders could take effect as soon as Friday or Saturday.

That move will put both the city and the county in alignment with the state, which dropped its mask mandate on Tuesday.

Mask-wearing, however, will continue to be “strongly recommended,” particularly in crowded settings or while interacting with people at higher risk of severe illness from the virus.

“Despite the encouraging news, people who are unvaccinated, immunocompromised or living in low-resourced communities continue to be at higher risk and are more likely to become seriously ill and die from COVID- 19,” Ferrer said in a statement Wednesday. “Along with the significant protection provided by vaccines and boosters, masks add an important barrier to transmission that protects those most vulnerable from the worst outcomes.

“Therefore, Public Health, in alignment with the state, strongly recommends that individuals keep their masks on in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status, until there is less risk for those at elevated risk.”

Masking will continue to be required in higher-risk settings, including health care facilities, transit centers, airports, aboard public transit, in correctional facilities and at homeless shelters and long-term care facilities.

Indoor masks also continue to be required on K-12 school campuses, although Pasadena, the county and the state will lift that requirement on March 12.

County health officials also noted that people attending indoor mega- events of 1,000 or more people — such as sporting events — will still be required to show proof of COVID vaccination or a recent negative test to be admitted. Vaccine verification or a negative test will also still be required at health-care facilities and congregate-care facilities.

The county has dropped its requirement that people show proof of vaccination to patronize indoor portions of bars, nightclubs and lounges.

While the mask mandate will likely be lifted, Ferrer warned Tuesday that the virus remains a threat. She said the county will be monitoring seven “alert signals” that could portend increased virus activity. Three of them are community-wide metrics — variants of concern, COVID-19 emergency department visits and cumulative COVID case rates in high-poverty communities.

The other four “alert signals” involve specific sectors, tracking outbreaks at skilled nursing facilities, at K-12 schools, at homeless shelters and at worksites. If two or more of those signals rise to alert levels, the county will work to determine what is causing the increase and whether restrictions need to be reinstated.