Long Beach drops indoor mask mandate a day early for those fully vax

Long Beach health officials announced that they are relaxing their indoor mask rules for those vaccinated against COVID-19 a day earlier.

Why it matters: The change in masking rules reflects the overall decline of new cases and hospitalizations.

• The new rules are also an about-face to an earlier health order that only lifted mask requirements for outdoor youth sports and mega-events.

• The original date was Saturday, February 26.

Details: Residents who are vaccinated will be able to go maskless in most indoor venues, such as restaurants, offices, and stores, starting Saturday, according to the Long Beach Health Department.

• Customers could just self-attest to their vaccination status before entry.

• Check vaccination status to identify which patron requires to wear a mask for those who don’t provide proof of jab.

• Customers are compelled to wear a mask while indoors.

Where things stand: Info via Long Beach Health Dept.

• Hospitalizations: 114

• Total deaths: 1,210

• At least one dose 18 & older: 87.9% - Fully vaccinated 18 & older: 79.2%

• Positivity rate: 6.6%

• New Cases per 100K population: 9.4 daily

• ICU Capacity: 21.2%

• Ventilator capacity: 66.4%