El Segundo Mayor Drew Boyles called a special City Council meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss the anticipated order from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) to require face coverings indoors.
The council voted unanimously not to utilize City staff or resources to enforce a potential new health order requiring indoor masking and approved a letter to be sent informing the L.A. County Board of Supervisors of their decision.
Last week the LACDPH announced that the number of COVID cases and the number of COVID-related hospitalizations are in the “high” level which triggers an indoor mask mandate. The council emphasized that the health and safety of the community is their highest priority and they are not opposed to masking, but believe each individual should make their own choice.
“As we approach the third year of the pandemic we are not where we were in 2020,” said Mayor Drew Boyles. “My City Council colleagues and I strongly believe the decision to wear a mask should be the choice of the individual and should not be imposed by L.A. County. Individuals should review the data available and consider their own circumstances and make their own decisions about wearing a mask. Businesses need to consider the various agencies that regulate their businesses as part of deciding how they will react to a potential change to mask requirements.”
If hospitalization rates do not decrease by Thursday July 28, the new health order could commence this Friday, July 29. L.A. County would be responsible for enforcement.