Imperial County changes its mask policy
County suspends outdoor mandate - News 11's Wiley Jawhary reports
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Imperial County residents can feel the wind on their faces again. The Board of Supervisors has lifted its mask mandate for outdoor areas, as long as individuals can physically distance and avoid crowds.
The Board made the decision Monday after hearing from the Imperial County Public Health Department (ICPHD). It reported low coronavirus hospitalization rates, and a declining number of new cases.
Supervisors signed off on the following guidance for face coverings:
- Face coverings are no longer required outdoors as long as individuals can physically distance themselves from others.
- The use of face coverings outdoors is still required when in a crowd.
- California residents must continue masking indoors (unless all are vaccinated).
The state further specifies, fully vaccinated people may interact with other fully vaccinated people in an indoor environment without wearing a mask if all from a single household and have a low-risk for contracting COVID-19. More information on state mask requirements is available on the California Department of Public Health website.
ICPHD also continues to urge the public to get their vaccines, and it's prepared to help people do that. Health officials will work with the state to provide free transportation to those who need their shots.
"If a person is unable to leave their home, on myturn, they select yes if they need help with transportation, and the state will call the person back and will help them schedule for transportation of for a vaccine to be provided at their home," says ICPHD Director Janette Angulo.
You can sign up for a ride by visit the state's MyTurn website.
Dr. Stephen Munday is also anticipating that in the coming months vaccines will be available for those that are much younger.
"Looking at how the process is moving along, I think that it's very possible by the time fall rolls around, we will see younger kids perhaps as early as six months legible to receive covid vaccines just like they can receive influenza vaccines," he said.
Health officials are optimistic in the downward trend of cases in the valley, and as long as this trend continues, moving into the next tier will become a possibility.
