But with California fully reopened and pandemic restrictions lifted, it remains unclear how willing the public will be to pick up their masks again — especially with little enforcement. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health could issue a notice of violation or a citation to businesses that fail to comply with the mandate, a spokeswoman, Natalie Jimenez, wrote in an email. “Our community will not be able to enforce our way out of this pandemic; we need everyone doing their part to keep themselves and each other safe,” wrote Ms. Jimenez. In Los Angeles County, Sheriff Villanueva repeatedly declined to enforce Covid restrictions, including a statewide stay-at-home order last winter. Last summer, the county’s inspector general warned that sheriff’s deputies weren’t following orders requiring them to wear masks on the job.

Source: New York Times July 17, 2021 20:26 UTC