Some Los Angeles residents should wear masks inside their own homes as COVID-19 cases rise at alarming rates, health officials said.
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer on Monday urged anyone living with someone more vulnerable to the virus to mask themselves at home, KABC reported.
“At the moment, as there is a lot of publicity, we recommend that people put their face covers on while they are indoors. It will add a layer of protection while we overcome this wave “, said Ferrer in a press conference.
Ferrer said the added caution is especially recommended for essential workers or anyone leaving home to do the necessary errands.
“We recommend that you keep your face covered if you are a worker who leaves every day or, in fact, you are someone who has to do the essential errands of your family,” Ferrer said.
The latest guidelines come as the county has become one of the hardest hit regions.
In Los Angeles, about 10 people tested positive for the virus on average every minute, KABC reported.
Ferrer said the county “is rapidly increasing our pace to reach the macabre milestone of one million cases.”
“The detrimental impact on our families and local hospitals of this wave is the worst disaster our county has experienced in decades,” he said.