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California's indoor mask mandate has been extended, and will remain in place until at least Feb. 15.
It was reinstated last month and was originally set to expire on Jan. 15.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said the move was prompted by concerns about surging COVID-19 case numbers and more hospital admissions across the state.
As we get closer to Feb. 15, the department will assess whether to extend the mandate again, he said.
Business closures are not on the table at this time, Ghaly said.
Hospitalizations statewide are approaching the same levels as they were last winter. Back then, California hospitals admitted around 53,000 patients, though not all of them were being treated for COVID-19.
As of now, 51,000 people are in hospitals across the state.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in L.A. County, while rising, are still well below the peak of a year ago.