Three weeks after becoming the first California county to reinstitute a mask mandate in most indoor public settings amid climbing coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, Alameda County has rescinded the order — citing improving conditions. That agency recommends public indoor masking for counties in the high level, but not for those in medium. Alameda’s renewed mask mandate, which went into effect June 3, marked the first time a California county had reissued such an order since the initial winter Omicron surge faded. Though transmission has remained elevated since then, Alameda County ultimately proved to be an exception, rather than a harbinger. Even with the order soon to be lifted, Alameda County, like California as a whole, continues to strongly recommend public indoor masking.

Source: The Times June 25, 2022 10:24 UTC