LA County mask mandates: Governors refuse to follow lead on guidelines for their own states
LOS ANGELES - Coronavirus case numbers are spiking in areas across the country with the rise of the Delta variant, but while Los Angeles County, California, is responding with the return of mandatory mask usage, several states are refusing to do the same.
Unlike during previous periods in the pandemic that saw rises in cases and deaths, Americans now have the availability of several COVID-19 vaccines, which a number of governors are pointing to as a reason to let their residents decide what precautions to take.
LA County residents ordered to wear masks again indoors
In the face of steadily increasing COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, Los Angeles County will again require people to wear masks in indoor settings beginning Saturday night, regardless of their vaccination status. But the news isn't sitting easy with most people.
"For over a year and a half, South Carolinians have learned about the virus, they know what to do to protect themselves from it, and the vaccine is available to anyone who wants it," a spokesperson for South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster told WBTW.
A day after LA County said it was bringing back a mask requirement for indoor spaces, McMaster's office said the governor "will not allow for the restriction of South Carolinians in any way."
RELATED: Los Angeles County re-implementing indoor mask mandate regardless of vaccination status
Similarly, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee stated that he has no plans to require masks, encouraging people to get shots instead.
"That is not under active consideration at the moment," Inslee said about a mask mandate, according to MyNorthwest.com. "But I will tell you, the folks that live in these vaccine deserts, they have the right to protect themselves, and the best way is to get their friends and neighbors vaccinated."
Inslee acknowledged the sharp rise in case numbers but said "the acceleration has not been significant enough in our book to warrant that."
On Tuesday, Washington announced that 70% of residents 16 and older have received at least one vaccine dose so far.
"We are using the tool of vaccinations," Inslee said. "That’s the ultimate answer to this pandemic. We don’t want to be wearing masks for the next 32 years – vaccines stop this thing dead."
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Florida, which has also seen a spike, remains opposed to mask mandates given the availability of vaccines. In May, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order prohibiting city and county governments in the state from imposing mask mandates, while allowing private businesses to require masks if they so choose. According to DeSantis’ office, the governor will not be changing this, despite Florida having 45,604 new cases between July 9 and July 15, nearly double that of the previous seven days.
"Gov. DeSantis has ruled out COVID lockdowns and mask mandates," press secretary Christina Pushaw told the Tampa Bay Times, pointing to Florida’s below-average death rate. "The key to Florida’s success has been protecting the most vulnerable, i.e. seniors and residents of long-term care facilities."
Pushaw also said that those suffering the most from COVID-19 are in large part unvaccinated.
"With vaccines being freely available all over the state, Floridians are encouraged to get vaccinated if they have not done so already," she said.
In Texas, which has also seen a significant rise in cases, the city of Austin issued guidelines calling for people to wear masks, but that recommendation cannot carry the weight of law because Gov. Greg Abbott has prohibited mask mandates.
Unlike the Los Angeles mandate, Austin’s recommendation is targeted at those who have not been vaccinated. LA County’s indoor mask requirement applies to all, including those who are fully vaccinated.
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