Please see the information below regarding the most recent update on indoor masking guidelines for Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County and how they affect our parishes and schools. For the latest on COVID-19 and vaccine information, please visit www.lacatholics.org/oljpcovid19information
The State of California has lifted the indoor face mask mandates for fully vaccinated people in certain settings. The Counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara have revised their health orders to be consistent with the State orders. Los Angeles County Health Department anticipates that it will also lift the indoor mask mandate for fully vaccinated people in the County of Los Angeles sometime in mid-March. As an interim step, effective February 25, establishments, businesses and other venues may elect to remove the indoor mask requirement in very limited circumstances set forth here: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/business-masks.htm?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=. Under the new requirements, locations may ONLY allow people to remove their masks if the location verifies vaccination status or requires a negative COVID test of ALL workers AND visitors entering the building. If a location does not do this, then masks are required of all workers and visitors regardless of vaccination status. As you already know, our locations do not verify vaccination status of those entering a church or other venue to attend a religious service. Therefore, all attendees at religious services should continue to wear face masks in church regardless of vaccination status. Please note that this new interim order does not apply to schools, nor does it apply outside of Los Angeles County. The County Health Department is expected to announce masking guidance for grades K-12 within the next week and we will keep you informed on updates. As new health orders are issued, we will continue to keep you updated. For additional COVID related questions, please contact the COVID Response Team at [email protected] Kind regards,
Archdiocese of Los Angeles COVID Response Team (213) 637-7484