Los Angeles Sheriff Says Deputies Won’t Enforce New “Unscientific” Mask Mandate

Los Angeles County officials will enforce a new mask mandate as of midnight tonight, but Sheriff Alex Villanueva said his officers will not enforce it because it's not based on science.
Los Angeles Sheriff Says Deputies Won't Enforce New "Unscientific" Mask Mandate
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LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles County has issued a new mandatory face mask order for all residents, including those who have natural COVID-19 antibodies from prior infection and those who have been fully vaccinated.

While Democrats across America seek to defund police and limit police interactions with the public necessarily, Los Angeles progressives want the Sheriff’s Department to enforce criminal actions against those who do not wear face masks and violate the latest health order.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva says he won’t do that, because the county’s new mandate is not based on science or CDC guidelines.

“Forcing the vaccinated and those who already contracted COVID-19 to wear masks indoors is not backed by science and contradicts the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines,” Villanueva said. “The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) has authority to enforce the order, but the underfunded/defunded Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will not expend our limited resources and instead ask for voluntary compliance. We encourage the DPH to work collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors and law enforcement to establish mandates that are both achievable and supported by science.”

The county’s new mask mandate goes into effect at midnight tonight.

“Due to increased COVID-19 transmission, LA County will be requiring masks indoors regardless of vaccination status, starting 11:59 PM on Saturday, July 17th. Wearing a mask when indoors with others reduces the risk of both getting and transmitting the virus,” the county said in a statement.