Los Angeles County sheriff will not enforce new mask mandate: ‘Not backed by science’
Fox News
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Friday he will not use his department to enforce a mandatory indoor mask requirement set to take effect this weekend amid a spike in COVID-19 cases across the county since its reopening.
"We’re not where we need to be for the millions at risk of infection here in Los Angeles County, and waiting to do something will be too late, given what we’re seeing," L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said in a virtual briefing with reporters. In a statement, Villanueva said forcing those who are vaccinated or who have contracted COVID-19 to wears masks indoors "is not backed by science and contradicts the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines." "The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) has authority to enforce the order, but the underfunded/defunded Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will not expend our limited resources and instead ask for voluntary compliance," he said. "We encourage the DPH to work collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors and law enforcement to establish mandates that are both achievable and supported by science."More Related News
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