Long Beach City Extends Masking Requirement In Public Transit And Indoor Public Transportation Hubs Due To Increase In Coronavirus

Long Beach CA

06 June, 2022

6:46 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Long Beach: June 3, 2022 Long Beach, CA – Due to the continued increase in COVID-19 cases, positivity rates and outbreaks, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) will extend the masking requirement in all public transit and indoor public transportation hubs within the city. In the Health Order of April 29, 2022, the Health Department noted that it would reassess the masking requirement within 30 days of the Order or if the seven-day case rate dropped below 50 per 100,000 or if the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) assesses that an order requiring masking in the transportation corridor is no longer necessary for protection of the public's health, whichever occurred first. On April 28, the seven-day case rate was 72.8 per 100,000 people. Currently, the seven-day case rate is 230 per 100,000. After the Health Department's reassessment, masking will continue to be required for everyone 2 years of age and older, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status, in all public transit and indoor transportation hubs. This includes: Commuter trains Buses Taxis and ride-shares Airport and bus terminals Train stations Seaport or other indoor port terminals Any other indoor area that serves as a transportation hub The Health Department will continue to reassess the masking requirement every 30 days, or if the seven-day case rate drops below 50 per 100,000 or if the CDC assesses that an order requiring masking in the transportation corridor is no longer necessary for protection of the public's health, whichever occurs first. Until then, the City must continue to require community-level prevention strategies, including masking on public transit and in transportation hubs, to protect the most vulnerable in high-risk settings and safeguard the health care system. Traveling on public conveyances increases a person's risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 by bringing people in close contact with people outside their households, often for prolonged periods, and often in crowded settings. When people wear a well-fitting mask or respirator over their nose and mouth in indoor travel or public transportation settings, they protect themselves and those around them and help keep travel and public transportation safer for everyone. On May 20, the City of Long Beach entered the Yellow (Medium) Tier of COVID-19 Community Levels, as outlined by the CDC, amid rising COVID-19 cases. The Health Department is urging residents to adhere to the Health Order. Additionally, Health Officials are strongly recommending Long Beach residents take additional measures to protect themselves and others and slow the spread, including masking indoors, especially after close contact with someone who tested positive. The Health Department also encourages other common-sense safety strategies, such as staying home when sick; frequent hand washing; testing for COVID-19 when in contact with someone who has the virus or when experiencing any COVID-like symptoms; and becoming vaccinated and boosted when eligible. For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep our residents safe, visit longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity and @LBHealthDept on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. People may also visit longbeach.gov/COVID19data for up-to-date information regarding cases and vaccines in Long Beach. Media inquiries can be directed to Jennifer Rice Epstein, Public Affairs Officer, Department of Health and Human Services, at 562.441.3590 or [email protected]. This press release was produced by the City of Long Beach. The views expressed here are the author's own.