California
California COVID-19 cases up; no plans to add restrictions | The Journal Record
Patrons eat indoors at Philippe the Unique restaurant in Los Angeles, on Feb. 25.
(AP file photograph/Damian Dovarganes)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California has no plans to impose new statewide pandemic restrictions regardless of an increase in coronavirus instances primarily because of the new extremely transmissible omicron variant BA.2, the state’s prime well being official says.
Probably the most populous state has seen “some sluggish however noticeable enhance in our case charges” within the final 10 days, mentioned Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Well being and Human Companies Company. California’s slower enhance contrasts with another components of the nation, particularly the Northeast.
Philadelphia final week grew to become the primary main U.S. metropolis to reinstate an indoor masks mandate. Confirmed instances jumped greater than 50% in 10 days and the town’s well being commissioner mentioned she needed to intervene to move off a wave of hospitalizations and deaths.
“In California, we haven’t seen a metropolis or a county have that form of case price enhance as of but,” Ghaly instructed The Related Press on Thursday, including he has seen no indication native officers plan to toughen their method. Native officers can proceed extra aggressively than the state in the event that they select and a few have throughout earlier waves.
California lifted its masks mandate in mid-February however Los Angeles County waited greater than two weeks longer. And it was solely three weeks in the past that the town of Los Angeles ended its mandate for a lot of indoor companies and operators of huge outside occasions to confirm that clients have been vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.
In LA County, which has greater than 1 / 4 of California’s inhabitants of almost 40 million, Public Well being Director Barbara Ferrer mentioned Thursday that instances rose 15% within the final week and she or he expects additional will increase as college students return to high school after spring break. However she is assured well being employees and amenities are prepared for any inflow of severely in poor health sufferers.