LA County has moved to reinstate masking in healthcare settings. The order was given by the County’s Department of Public Health.

The order comes after months of efforts by ActionCareEquity.org, a community organization promoting the use of masks especially in healthcare settings. In a press release, the organization said that over 14,000 of its supporters had sent letters to the County advocating for reinstating mask use.

The group’s founder, Joaquin Beltrán, who is also a candidate for Congress in Southeastern Los Angeles County (District 42), said on X “We did it! Mask requirements are back in healthcare settings in LA County as of today Dec 29th! Thank you to everyone who has been tirelessly working on protecting our community for months, you made this happen!”

In a note to Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the Director of the LA County Department of Public Health, Beltrán said that masking in healthcare setting “means a tremendous amount to the immunocompromised and all who are vulnerable to SARS-2, which is everyone.”

Masks are back in healthcare in LA County! Thank you to everyone who organized tirelessly for months so our loved ones and community can access care more safely. LA County is the largest county in the U.S. and and can create important momentum for safer care across the country! pic.twitter.com/FWVagbxYwK

— Joaquín Beltrán for Congress #FreePalestine (@joaquinlife) December 30, 2023

Until further notice, the order requires masking in all healthcare contexts in Los Angeles County, except in Pasadena and Long Beach, which have their own Health Departments that already require masking.