it's kind of there in the middle of it -- south, you say, but still it's there landlocked in los angeles county, breaking away from the county when it comes to the health department. how would that work? how would that be effective if any direction you turn in torrance you're in redondo beach or gardena or some other place that wouldn't be governed by this small island of a health department? >> well, last year, last year i had asked for concurrence from my city council to seek, you know, the possibilities of possibly breaking away, not just as a city, but maybe as a regional approach, a south bay health district, or even what we call spa 8 service planning area 8, which is about a little over a million people. so, i mean, it's a pretty big area. keep in mind los angeles county has over 10 million people. it's a huge, huge area, and to kind of lump it up into one decision, i don't think, i don't think it's fair and it's not accurate. if we actually would follow the science and data, it would show that the whole south bay, possibly the whole spa 8 area doesn't require us to get masked up, especi

starting tomorrow night, los angeles county is requiring everyone vaccinated and unvaccinated to wear masks again because of a sharp rise in covid cases largely fueled by the delta variant. meantime, there are concerns of a possible covid outbreak for team usa basketball just one week before the olympics begin. it canceled today's exhibition game against australia after bradley beale tested positive for the virus. another teammate is under health and safety protocols. bradley blackburn is tracking all of this for us. good morning. >> reporter: anne-marie, good morning. every state in the country is seeing increases in covid cases right now, and officials are grappling with what to do. in l.a., they believe the best way is to make everyone mask up again. los angeles county is requiring masks to be worn inside businesses once again beginning this weekend. >> masking indoors must again become a normal practice by all regardless of vaccination status. >> i don't like it. i'm vaccinated. i wish everybody else would get vaccinated. so it's frustrating. >> reporter: l.a. is reporting more th

this may mean for the bay area infectious disease expert doctor peter chin-hong says while los angeles county has hired cases and lower vaccination rates than the bay area counties. its numbers could have future impact on our mask mandates. >> i'm a little concerned just for the bay area as a whole because way. you look. because when you look at where the hot spots are right now in the state. it's actually above us in the sacramento area and below us and the la area. so you have the top and bottom. and i feel like we're being encouraged because again, people move freely and just because we have a high vaccination rates doesn't make us completely immune from what's happening around us. >> instead of a widespread mask mandate. doctor chin-hong says we could see county by county decide to follow eli's footsteps specifically for those with higher cases in lower vaccination rates like solano county, for example, meanwhile, san francisco's covid case rates in vaccinations have been some of the best as of tuesday. 83% of those eligible have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 76% of those

surprising that the public health and political leaders they would enact such a mandate on thursday, los angeles county reinstated its indoor mask mandate. >> now raising questions on what this may mean for the bay area infectious disease expert doctor peter chin-hong says while los angeles county has hired cases and lower vaccination rates than the bay area counties. its numbers could have future impact on our mask mandates. >> i'm a little concerned just for the bay area as a whole because way. you look. because when you look at where the hot spots are right now in the state. it's actually above us in the sacramento area and below us and the la area. so you have the top and bottom. and i feel like we're being encouraged because again, people move freely and just because we have a high vaccination rates doesn't make us completely immune from what's happening around us. >> instead of a widespread mask mandate. doctor chin-hong says we could see county by county decide to follow eli's footsteps specifically for those with higher cases in lower vaccination rates like solano county, for example, meanwhile

>>> concern over rising coronavirus cases here, as los angeles county reinstates a mask mandate, and a bay area counties as it may do the same thing. >>> the tragedy police say was averted when they arrested a man with an arsenal of weapons and a racist manifesto. at the alert citizen who tipped off the whole thing. >>> the ongoing mistry over what happened to a bay area runner, as the official search comes to an end. the dedication of volunteers ramps up. >>> the signs that could make it easier to save a home during a wildfire, and the new trends emerging here after the state has reopened point >>> building a better bay area, moving forward, fighting solutions. this is abc7 news. >>> we begin with several new developments on the covid pandemic. that evening. i'm ama daetz. >>> and i'm dan ashley. you're watching abc7 news at 5:00 here live on abc7, hulu, and review stream. >>> alameda county health officers say they are considering specifically recommending masking indoors for everyone. san mateo county tells us it is considering changes to his guidance. for other health departments

positivity rate hit 3.5%, as cases rise, the state's most populous county is taking action. >> in los angeles countye required to wear a mask's indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. we are reaching out to bay area county health officers and so far only alameda and san francisco county say they are considering changes to current mask recommendations. >> also urging people to reconsider travel to state that have high levels of new covid cases and that includes florida and nevada. >> the university of cali tondate vaccinations, anyone who's unvaccinated and does not have an approved exemption will be barred from uc campuses. >> a u.s. surgeon general issued a health advisory against covid-19 and vaccine related misinformation dissuading many americans from getting their shots. he took aim at what's online nowadays. >> and while it often appears innocuous on social media apps and retail sites or search engines, the truth is that misinformation takes away our freedom

now los angeles county health leaders are bringing back indoor mask rules. at least one bay area county says it might recommend people do the same here. >> reporter: live music, food and crowds are back at the park if concord. some people wearing masks outside, while others are not. >> we're hoping that people have enough respect for each other that if you're not vaccinated, that you are wearing a mask. >> today i went to the gym and i wore my mask the whole time. i usually swim but i went in and worked out. i don't trust this delta variant very much. >> reporter: that's one of the reasons l.a. public health officials decided it's time to bring back the indoor mask requirement, regardless of a person's vaccination status. the highly contagious variant is surging across the country. despite l.a.'s rule change today, experts don't believe there will be a statewide reversal. >> i would be really surprised if we instituted a statewide mandate at this time. but i wonder, i think that there might be county-based recommendations to wear masks indoors. >> reporter: t

happy about it. >> reporter: and let's talk about those numbers. 462 people now hospitalized in los angeles county. that positivity rate jumped to 3.7%, and on the fourth of july it was only 1.5%. reporting from los angeles i'm paul vercammen. now back to you, pam. >> that really puts it into perspective. that's just sobering. paul vercammen, thanks so much. >>> also tonight a heartbroken family is pleading with americans get vaccinated after they were unable to convince their own mother in time. kim was a 63-year-old mother and grandmother, an elementary schoolteacher in little rock, arkansas. she died 11 days ago from coronavirus. and her obituary her daughters write this in part, quote, covid is a heartless and nondiscriminating disease, and it robbed us of the opportunity to enjoy several more years with our mom. she was in the best shape of her life when she fell ill with covid. her daughter, rachel, joins me now. rachel, thanks for coming on. i feel for you so much losing your mom so recently. i lost my mom a year and a half ago, and just i appreciate you coming onto tell this story. tell us

los angeles county, the nation's largest, is requiring masks indoors starting sunday morning. ramento, fresno county and yolo county just recommending the use. >> abc7 reporter matt boone is live at sfo. the big question is what do bay area counties think about this? how are they responding? >> reporter: they are keeping it status quo for now but if you are traveling to l.a. this weekend, don't forget your mask. this goes into effect late tomorrow night, basically sunday. it will be 11:59 pm tomorrow night. you can eat indoors still in l.a. but you will have to wear the mask when you are not eating and drinking. keep that in mind if you are on the move. the bay area is seeing an increase in covid cases and officials tell us they are watching the situation but they're not putting mask mandates in place here at this time. alameda county and marin county say they are thinking about recommending masks inside, not mandating. san mateo says changes are being considered. here is what we heard in san francisco. >> we do ask that people who are not fascinated when they go indoors, wear

this is because of consistent rise in cases and hospitalizations in los angeles county. earlier this week we were talking about a 500% increase in the county over the past five months. this is fueling concerns about cases, hospitalizations and deaths that we are continuing to see across the country. >> in a seemingly endless sea of noise, the white house tried to cut through. >> when it comes to information, caring is sharing. >> vaccine misinformation. >> we are losing time. the delta variant is spreading, people are dying. >> on the front line in louisiana, frustration. >> it is disheartening to see people continue to come in and a surge happening again when we have made this a preventable disease. >> it is projected that hospitalizations will increase over the next four weeks after months of decline. >> the cases are younger, almost predominantly unvaccinated. they are also people who made the choice not to take the life raft we have been throwing at them. >> what kind of decision is it to infect other people, including other people's children. >> 12 to 17 year olds ha

if you look at the map, this is los angeles county. the deeper blue means a deeper problem. los angeles county. you see problems elsewhere in california. l.a. county jumping off. if you look at the cdc match and bring it in nationally, you see the deeper blue here. the darker the shading, the higher the case count right now. the average of new covid-19 cases. and you see it everywhere. you find it all over america. you don't find it that deep and that blue. let me bring up the u.s. trend right here. this is horrific. all 50 states. all 50 states right now reporting more new covid infections than a week ago. montana is up slightly. the case count is up slightly. the deep red, the deep red 38 states. that means 50% or more new infections now compared to a week ago. to be fair, many of these states starting from a lower baseline than in the horrific winter surge. this is still a trendline going in a very wrong direction. at this point let's bring in the co-director of texas children's hospital. the cdc chief said we have and this map is stunning and sad, a pandemic of the unvacc

. >> this as los angeles county issued a new mask mandate for indoor spaces contra. costa county is one of the 7 bay area counties recommending indoor mask-wearing noting the highly infectious delta variant is now the predominant strain in the county in downtown walnut creek this cafe on north main street requires masks. the sign caught st briggs off-guard. look, my mask in the car and i just to walk down the street. and then i saw that it said masks required side. >> we ordered online backing up my mask and picked up my down the street. most employees could be seen wearing masks inside this restaurant. the manager says masks are still optional health officials stress those who are fully vaccinated remain. well protected its just scary to think that you know, people are out there not being aware and there's people that are choosing not to be vaccinated and. there's a lot of divisiveness and opinions over that. i'm personally vaccinated. but my daughters tend she's not. so it's up to be really careful. >> kron four's. gayle ong reporting for us from walnut creek tonigh

. >> reporter: los angeles county will take a step back, reissuing its endura mask mandate, even if you are vaccinated. the guidance goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. saturday. health officials in the nation's largest county blaming increasing transmission of covid-19. across much of the country, the spike in new coronavirus cases is fueled by the delta variant. the cdc says cases are on the rise in at least 45 states, with the u.s. back to an average of 1000 new cases reported every hour. >> unvaccinated people are driving this pandemic for as. >> reporter: even vaccinated people are going to have about a 5% risk of infection. that population should feel comfortable, yet remain cautious. >> it is not 100%. it is pretty close to 100% effective. but even a small percentage of a lot of people can be a lot of people. >> reporter: alameda and marin county health officers are considering specifically recommending masking for everyone. san mateo county is considering changes to its guidance. other health departments we've reached out to are planning to stick with state guidelines, which do not r

. >>> meanwhile stricter mask rules are taking affect the los angeles county by midnight. but as reporter michael george explained, health officials there are battling more than just a rising cobra cases. >> reporter: southern california's orange county fair kicked off with rides, food, fun, and crowds limited to 75% of normal capacity amid the pandemic. just to the north, a new los angeles county mandate requiring vaccinated and unvaccinated people to mask up indoors, takes effect this weekend. but saying it is not backed by science. l.a. county sheriff tweeted his department does not have the resources to enforce the mandate. >> originally i felt all my gosh here e it is agagain. hahave to put ththis ththing on face fofor a little bit longng but if it sasaves one e momore than i guguess it is worth h i >> reporteter: moveves cocomes every state across the patient reports rising covid-19 case numbers. a disturbing pattern fueled largely by the more contagious delta variant. >> the vaccines are still very very effective in preventing severe disease. we've got to get people

this may mean for the bay area infectious disease expert doctor peter chin-hong says while los angeles county has hired cases and lower vaccination rates than the bay area counties. its numbers could have future impact on our mask mandates. >> i'm a little concerned just for the bay area as a whole because way. you look. because when you look at where the hot spots are right now in the state. it's actually above us in the sacramento area and below us and the la area. so you have the top and bottom. and i feel like we're being encouraged because again, people move freely and just because we have a high vaccination rates doesn't make us completely immune from what's happening around us. >> instead of a widespread mask mandate. doctor chin-hong says we could see county by county decide to follow eli's footsteps specifically for those with higher cases in lower vaccination rates like solano county, for example, meanwhile, san francisco's covid case rates in vaccinations have been some of the best as of tuesday. 83% of those eligible have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 76% of those

. >> reporter: los angeles county will take a step back, reissuing its endura mask mandate, even if you vaccinated. the guidance goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. saturday. health officials in the nation's largest county blaming increasing transmission of covid-19. across much of the country, the spike in new coronavirus cases is fueled by the delta variant. the cdc says cases are on the rise in at least 45 states, with the u.s. back to an average of 1000 new cases reported every hour. >> unvaccinated people are driving this pandemic for as. >> reporter: even vaccinated people are going to have about a 5% risk of infection. that population should feel comfortable, yet remain cautious. >> it is not 100%. it is pretty close to 100% effective. but even a small percentage of a lot of people can be a lot of people. >> reporter: alameda and marin county health officers are considering specifically recommending masking for everyone. san mateo county is considering changes to its guidance. other health departments we've reached out to are planning to stick with state guidelines, which do not requi

los angeles county is requiring masks indoors, it's mandatory. but most bay area counties it's still a recommendation. the american academy of pediatrics are recommending that all wear masks in school whether vaccinated or not. and there are cases of break-through cases among the vaccinated. and five texas democrats recently traveled to washington together. >>> we now know what triggered it, the catastro catastrophic f explosion last month. it was triggered by the bomb squad. the chief said the technicians miscalculated the weight of the homemade fireworks when they detonated them. five bomb squad members have been removed from duties and they promised to hold people accountable. >>> you may not recognize the name, but it will be the first of the names on the september recall ballot. he's an attorney, former "hustler" magazine editor. we don't know where governor newsom's name will be, but somewhere near the top. they drew names. the governor's initial was drawn sixth. it is a long list. let's bring in larry gerston to talk about this. 41 candida

information that he understood that the vaccine would protect him as the delta variant rages through los angeles county. reporting from los angeles, i'm paul vercammen. back to you. >>> meanwhile louisiana's spike in new cases is rising to levels not seen since the winter surge. the state now has the nation's highest rate of new infections per capita and making matters worse, it's among the least vaccinated states in the u.s. cnn's suzanne malveaux has the latest from louisiana. >> reporter: it is a dire situation in the state of louisiana as it leads in the number of new covid cases per capita, more than any other state in the country at this time. there are pop-up vaccination sites trying to address this crisis situation, but if you just take a look at the numbers alone, 208% increase in number of covid cases over the last couple of weeks. 80%, more than 80% coming from the delta variant. 40% of those in louisiana residents receiving at least one out of two doses of the vaccine, that is much too low, according to the governor who says that louisiana has a long way to go, despite the fact that there a

it's actually for kids who are not vaccinated >> we have seen los angeles county and other communities now begin to re-embrace the idea of mask mandates indoors for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. is this going in a direction you think the cdc is going to have to also embrace that strategy? >> lester, i think what l.a. county is doing is something you're going to start seeing in the other parts of the country if cases rise in localities, continue to rise, and if the unvaccinated population remains low. and i think it's very appropriate for localities to make these decisions about putting mitigation measures like masking back in place. >> does this make a statement about the efficacy of the vaccines or is this simply a way of saying we don't know who is vaccinated and who is not, so let's put masks on everyone indoors? >> well, lester, it's not a statement about the efficacy of the vaccine. here's what we've continued to see throughout this pandemic is that the vaccines remain highly effective, even against the variants that we're seeing. the worry, though, is we've got millions of

information that he understood that the vaccine would protect him as the delta variant rages through los angeles county. reporting from los angeles, i'm paul vercammen. back to you. >>> the daily average of americans getting fully vaccinated is at its lowest since january. just 49% of the u.s. population is fully vaccinated, far from the number needed to reach herd immunity. 30 states have yet to vaccinate at least half their residents and cam alabama and mississippi haven't cracked 35%. gary tuchman asked residents of alabama why they were hesitant to get the shot. >> most of my family has been vaccinated and they've been pushing me and i've been putting it off but the delta variant kind of scares me. >> reporter: that's why you got it? >> yes. >> reporter: how come you waited this among? >> based off a lot of stuff i heard about the internet, what people were saying about the covid shot. >> reporter: basically rumors? >> rumors. >> joining me is dr. reed tucson, founding member of the black coalition against covid. he's also the former health commissioner in washington, d.c., during the hiv/aids cris

kathy, how are the mask mandates being enforced >> well, kate, this is now in effect in los angeles county the sheriff there is saying the deputies won't be enforcing the rules instead asking for voluntary kpl compliance >>> major leagues players were back at nationals park today after a shooting near the stadium last night that caused panic. the gun violence a disturbing national trend. kelly o'donnell reports. >> reporter: today fans returned -- a game where zoomed but anxiety lingers in the aftermath of gun violence >> it's a different feel at the ballpark today. >> reporter: fear took the field saturday night at nationals park in washington gunfire could be heard. >> please remain calm. >> reporter: confusion set in and a race find safety players and fans scrambled. >> it is a very bizarre scene at national park. we have no idea where the panic began. it was in right field. a bunch of fans in the con course began running from center field to right field in the concourse >> i didn't know what it was my whole stomach is upset. >> reporter: the gunfire actually happened outside the ballpa

paul vercammen is in los angeles for us. >> reporter: the covid-19 numbers in los angeles county started heading back up in the wrong direction, 462 hospitalizations, 11 new deaths and that positivity rate leaping now to 3.7%. it was just 1.5% on the fourth of july. so there's a lot of debate about this new rule that mandates wearing masks indoors at restaurants, movie theaters and the like, and a lot of drama unfolding here, this is patty's restaurant in taluca lakes, the headshots in the shadow of movie and television studios. here there's a lot of unscripted, healthy debate about this. most people say they are willing to wear the masks again indoors but you'll see great guides at one table, a husband vaccinated, a wife who is not. >> i think it's good. i think it protects people. i think anything to protect people and i don't mind the inconvenience of doing it. most of the time i'm outdoors anyway so when i go into a market or something, i put the mask on. i got it in my back pocket and we go from there. >> i don't like anything that's mandated. i haven't seen the evidence to show tha

. >> los angeles, the biggest county in the u.s., is reimposing its mask mandate and for the first timece april a major league baseball game had to be postponed because of covid cases. it all comes as the more contagious delta variant fuels a spike in cases across the country. 46 states are seeing the numbers go in the wrong direction. >> children are a major concern. 12 to 17-year-olds have the lowest vaccination rate of any age group, and it's expected to be mid-winter before young children are eligible for the vaccine. abc's ike ajanji is here with the latest. good morning. >> the surgeon general says common vaccine myths are running rampant through unvaccinated communities and it's stalling vaccine rates at a time delta variant is spreading. general d. vivek murthy calling on social media companies and politicians to take a bigger responsibility in fighting widespread vaccine misinformation. calling it an urgent threat in the fight against the virus. >> every one of us has the power and the responsibility to make a difference in this fight. lives are depending on it. >> reporter: he

over the weekend los angeles county reissued an indoor mask mandate.fections are being fueled by the highly contagious delta variant and low vaccination rates. >>> and firefighters are trying to contain at least 70 wildfires burning out west. the bootleg fire in southern oregon exploded in size yesterday. the nation's largest current wildfires swelled to nearly 300,000 acres fueled by dry and windy conditions. it has burned more than 150 homes and buildings and is threatening thousands more. >>> five democratic lawmakers from texas who are temporarily living in washington, d.c., have tested positive for the coronavirus. they left their state to block republicans from passing new voting restrictions. rodney hawkins reports from s. hutersrcd at the texas state capitol. ♪ calling for a stop to republican proposed voting restrictions in the legislature. >> they were going to hold us until the bills got passed. >> reporter: over 50 state democrats left austin to prevent a vote during this special session. what's at stake then? >> effectively the voting righ

in california, the indoor mask mandate returns to los angeles county. health officials in the san francisco bay area today follow suit, recommending the 7 million people who live there mask up, whether they're vaccinated or not. and in nevada, clark county, home to las vegas, is also recommending both vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear a mask when they're indoors. this, as experts warn it's the unvaccinated that are accounting for most new cases. >> there is a clear message that is coming through. this is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated. >> unvaccinated americans are not protected against series illness, hospitalization and death. and we're seeing it in the data. unvaccinated americans account for virtually all recent covid-19 hospitalizations and de death. >> reporter: i talked to the assistant state officer here in alabama yesterday. she is battling what so many other officials are across the country, misinformation. she told me she's having to dispel myths right and left and really is asking people if you see something online about the va

. >> thours from now, an indoor mask mandated returns to los angeles county in hopes to bringing caseumbers back down. cnn's erica hill reports. >> reporter: masks back on in los angeles county where new cases are surging. >> anything is on the table if things continue to get worse which is why we want to take action now. >> reporter: starting sunday, faces must be covered indoors. the cases are rising in d.c. for the first time since january. >> the danger is as more unvaccinated people get infected, and delta is so contagious, it's really transmitting at a speed that i haven't seen since the very beginning. >> reporter: death up 26%. hospitalizations 36 in the last seven days. the president placing the blame on facebook and other social media platforms for not doing more to stop the spread of misinformation. >> only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated. and they're killing people. >> reporter: the fda confirming friday it's prioritizing the review of pfizer's vaccine, noting it's among the agency's highest priority. one official telling cnn, full approval can come in the next

and it's masks back on inside for the 10 million people living in los angeles county, regardless of vaccination move marks a dramatic reversal the countries summary opening efforts. we have all of the breaking details in a live report. and being coined the woka-cola campaign, being targeted for its political narrative again, and a lightning rod in just a bit. we begin tonight with the biden administration collaborating with social media companies to potentially censor what they consider to be covid disinformation. white house correspondent kevin corke has the latest reaction to this extraordinary disclosure tonight. good evening, kevin. >> good evening, shannon. what is a slippery slope says critics who are accusing the white house tonight of basically authoring and all authoritarian rule on social media platforms, limiting what you can say or see, if the white house deems it is disinformation, is a bridge too far. and it begs the question, who gets to define disinformation, and what happens when so-called disinformation today was faxed tomorrow? >> we have increased disinformation research and

in los angeles county, better have one on whether you're indoors and whether you're vaccinated or not. it is starting worldwide. more after this. stors into thisp whoo! yeah! oh, hi i invested in invesco qqq a fund that invests in the innovators of the nasdaq 100 like you you don't have to be circuit design engineer to help push progress forward can i hold the chip? become an agent of innovation with invesco qqq that delicious scramble was microwaved? get outta here. everybody's a skeptic. wright brothers? more like, yeah right, brothers! get outta here! it's not crazy. it's a scramble. just crack an egg. >> neil: one step forward, another step back. the eiffel tower reopening in paris. first time since the pandemic hit. but in the same city, they have a crackdown on new restrictions besides masks. same thing is going on in greece where they're protesting it and in italy they're fed up with it. los angeles county, beginning tomorrow night, if you are not wearing a mask, you're not allowed indoors whether you've been vaccinated or not. could spread to las vegas as well. what about the

then wish maybe nip it in the butt once and parole travelers headed to los angeles county flying out of san jose airport thursday, finding out masks are back on in indoor settings in l, a county. this man did not understand why he had to wear one when he's vaccinated because i'm vaccinated. it should help, you know, to avoid me to wear the mask. l. a county health officials implementing the new mask policy saturday night after an alarming increase in covid 19 cases there. i think health officers across this data struggling with the same challenge right now, which is we are seeing increases in cases here in the bay area, marin county's health officer says the county's case rate has quadrupled over the past month. san francisco has seen a threefold increase in covid cases over the past 12 days. the barrier could follow yolo and sacramento county's recommending masking indoors but not requiring it. for now. we've all worked hard to achieve the gains we have achieved. um, and the freedoms that go along with that, um and so we would be very reluctant to institute any sort of requirement or

. >>> at 11:59 tomorrow night los angeles county's new mask mandate will go into effect. everyone will be required to wear a mask indoors even those who are vaccinated. health officials say the mandate is necessary as covid cases rise, especially among unvaccinated people. >> i got vaccinated and it made my life easier, but apparently it doesn't matter. >> it's not punitive. it's not a punishment to anybody. it's about public safety. >> today the los angeles county sheriff said his office will not enforce the mandate. he says it's not backed by science and added the department will not expend on th instead he asked for voluntary > pfizer is one step closer to getting full fda approval for its covid-19 vaccine. the company has been granted priority review for its shot. that review process usually takes six months, but approval can come sooner developing news wildfire is sending up plumes of smoke visible from lake tahoe and is forcing evacuations. the tamarac fire is burning south of lake tahoe near the small town of markeleyville. the fire has burned at least 1,600 acres.

now, they're speaking right now in los angeles county. you've likely seen a lot of those viral videos of rampant shoplifting and stealing here in the bay area. our kristy smith is tracking this storey she's going to have more for us on those new measures being taken during our afternoon newscast. >>> let's take a live look outside. folks moving along highway 101. the sky is pretty clear out there. checking in with meteorologist kari hall and howhere shaping up for the rest of the t's all thanks to this, the fog rolling across the bay. while it is clearing out across much of the rest of the bay area, right now nice and cool, some low 60s. we're at 65 in oakland and 77 in fairfield. you can see the difference in the temperatures already 80 in brent wood and 76 degrees in san jose. as we go through the forecast, we will see our temperatures today in the upper 70s and low 80s for some of our warmest spots inland, some upper 80s and that's only going to be a few of those. as we go toward the weekend, a little bit warmer. we'll talk about that

los angeles county officials re-instituting an indoor mask mandate. regardless of vaccine status. more than 65% of americans 12 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine. the highly contagious delta variant surging even in areas with low vaccination rates. trevor ault leads us off. >> reporter: tonight, with the delta variant surging, some hospitals in covid-19 hotspots reaching a breaking point, admitting more covid patients now than at any other point in the pandemic. at this arkansas medical center officials saying the hospital is full. >> we're back into emergency mode without having a public health emergency declared. >> reporter: the delta variant is now driving up cases everywhere but south dakota and wyoming. alongside arkansas, the highest infection rates are in florida and missouri. >> we've been doing this as long as we can and we're losing too many patients and our staff members are burned out. >> reporter: in los angeles county, with new cases up four-fold since the fourth of july, an indoor mask mandate now back in place for everyone, even if they're fu

los angeles county is mandating them indoors. state health officials friday urged everyone to get vaccinated but would not say whether statewide restrictions are coming. a spokesperson said in a statement in part, quote, we continue as always to support the ability of local health jurisdictions to enact stricter local public health guidelines that is tailored to the situation in their communities as some counties have done experts point to the rapidly spreading infectious delta variant the latest state data shows that variant has accounted for. 48 1% of the most recent specimens sequenced we have to realize that this idea that somehow we're vaccinated and we're done with the pandemic is not right. >> we have to do is realize that we have to combine vaccines with the other precautionary measures that we know. >> you know, work. doctor, you is the founder of the covid action group and has warned without restrictions. the virus could become endemic owner. we wait the more we'll have more variants that are undermining the vaccines an

leslie bring back a mask man that you are in los angeles county. 're bringing back the mask a mandate for people vaccinated indoors, how does that encourage people to get vaccinated? >> first about here in los angeles county, we look to science into doctors. it is the healthcare workers whose liberties have been infringed upon this past year end continue to be when people do not want to mask up, do not want to get vaccinated do not with the social distance. that's it we are seeing the numbers surging. we of us here in los angeles county, myself included to not have a problem asking upgrade remedy scientist, the physicians of said the delta variant is stickier in the lungs may not die, people are not vaccinated makeup between 90 and 95% upon spice patient throughout the country we have people ages 30 -- 55 her hospitalized, and i see on ventilators with two children on life support in mississippi. people may talk about oh, my liberties being infringed upon, but at the end of the day we are supposed to all be in this together. this is not and should n

. >>> at 11:59 tomorrow night los angeles county's new mask mandate will go into effect. everyone will be required to wear a mask indoors even those who are vaccinated. health officials say the mandate is necessary as covid cases rise, especially among unvaccinated people. >> i got vaccinated and it made my life easier, but apparently it doesn't matter. >> it's not punitive. it's not a punishment to anybody. it's about public safety. >> today the los angeles county sheriff said his office will not enforce the mandate. he says it's not backed by science and added the department will not expend "limited resources" on this. instead he asked for voluntary compliance. >>> pfizer is one step closer to getting full fda approval for its covid-19 vaccine. the company has been granted priority review for its shot. that review process usually takes six months, but approval can come sooner than that. >>> developing news now, a wildfire is sending up plumes of smoke visible from lake tahoe and is forcing evacuations. the tamarac fire is burning south of lake tahoe near the small town

new cases are trending up in 49 states, and southern california, los angeles county, is seeing daily cases top 3,000 for the first time since february. the county is taking action. joining me now from los angeles, paul vercammen. paul, what are health officials saying there with the delta variant spreading at such a rate? >> reporter: one of the things they're doing is getting out in neighborhoods like this, this is predom predominantly african-american and latino. they're knocking on doors. the numbers dipped a bit below 3,000 today in terms of the new cases. but what is going up, alarming, ten new deaths and 688 hospitalizations. we have not seen spikes like these in l.a. county since last december and the big winter surge. so when they fanned out today, they're trying to find out why some people are still reluctant to get the vaccine. dr. farar knocking on doors herself says it is often what they encounter when it comes to the unvaccinated. >> we heard a lot of misinformation, people scared to get the vaccine. the most two dominant themes today were we don't trust the government's

that the public health and political leaders, they would enact such a mandate on thursday, los angeles county reinstated its indoor mask mandate. >> now raising questions on what this may mean for the bay area infectious disease expert doctor peter chin-hong says while los angeles county has hired cases and lower vaccination rates than the bay area counties. its numbers could have future impact on our mask mandates. i'm a little concerned just for the bay area as a whole because way. you look. >> because when you look at where the hot spots are right now in the state. it's actually above us in the sacramento area and below us and the la area. so you have the top and bottom. and i feel like we're being encouraged because again, people move freely and just because we have a high vaccination rates doesn't make us completely immune from what's happening around us. >> instead of a widespread mask mandate. doctor chin-hong says we could see county by county decide to follow his footsteps specifically for those with higher cases and lower vaccination rates like solano county, for example, meanwhile,

in los angeles county, a requirement to mask again. is the rest of the country going in that direction? good evening. i'm erin burnett. "outfront" tonight, american i idol. for kevin mccarthy, that's donald trump. today he's going to meet with trump at his golf club in new jersey. his office claims the two discussed upcoming special elections, the mid-terms and fundraising number. a source claims there was no discussion apparently about the elephant in the room which is mccarthy's current high stakes decision to name five republicans to the committee will investigate the january 6th investigation. he has to make that decision in the coming days. to state the obvious, the central of that investigation is donald j. trump. the meeting between mccarthy and trump as we are hearing some of the most disturbing revelations about the actions of his final days in office. specifically that the joint chiefs of staff, mark milley, feared trump would attempt a coup after the election. viewing him as the classic authoritarian leader with nothing to l

this is in los angeles county.esidents another big problem is the cartels in order to grow the illegal marijuana plants they have to steal water from the communities. these are remote areas. they depend on this water. once it's gone it's gone. they steal a bunch of water. >> laura: this is an american outrage this is continuing to be allowed in our country. again americans are terrorized every day. >> it's no coincidence this got worse at the same time the border crisis is on-going. when we have issues at the border, it does go farther north. this is just one example. unfortunately there are people in los angeles county the northern part who are afraid for their lives and i have to mention at the same time this is happening, the sheriff's department has to deal with the rising violent crime rates on top of the fact they are operating on a smaller budget than the breves year. >> laura: thank you. my next guest represents the area and made a stunning remark wednesday detailing what this issue is now representing. >>

late today, the mask mandate returning for los angeles county. and all of this comes as the new surgeon general issues his first official advisory, calling misinformation surrounding the pandemic and vaccines an urgent threat in the fight against covid. >> today, we live in a world where misinformation poses an imminent and insidious threat to our nation's health. >> reporter: the nation's doctor, vivek murthy, says two-thirds of people who are not vaccinated believe common myths about vaccines. he's now calling on social media companies and politicians to take more responsibility. >> every one of us has the power and the responsibility to make a difference in this fight. lives are depending on it. >> reporter: this as the national grapples with the surging delta variant, now considered more contagious than the previously known variants. overnight, encouraging news on the one-shot vaccine, the johnson & johnson vaccine. new peer-reviewed data shows the j&j shot may provide a strong immune response at least eight months after immunization and may

los angeles county mandating masks indoors effective immediately, even for people who are vaccinated. that as the county reporting its highest infection numbers since early march. it's not just there. the highly contagious delta variant tearing across the country. arkansas, missouri, florida and nevada now labeled as high transmission states and breakthrough cases are growing. overnight the yankees forced to postpone their game against the red sox after three yankees pitchers tested positive, all of them fully vaccinated. >> certainly disappointing and frustrating. >> reporter: i fruit and his wife also testing positive after taking a trip to las vegas, despite being fully vaccinated. sean says their kids then got sick. they're too young to be vaccinated. >> i'm pretty confident if i hadn't had the boost from the vaccination, i might not be standing here talking to you right now. >> reporter: as the school year approaches, concern mounting of possible outbreaks among unvaccinated children. nationwide only a quarter of kids 12 to 15 are fully immunized and arizona's chandler unified di

you're watching kron. 4 news at >> now at 9 as los angeles county orders. new indoor mask mandate. even for people fully vaccinated. many people here in the bay area are wondering if similar effects will follow here locally. good evening, everybody. thanks for joining us on kron 4 news at 9. i'm grant lotus and i'm vicki liviakis. kron 4 s taylor bisacky spoke with an infectious disease expert about what this could mean. >> for our area. she joins us now live from the newsroom with more. do explain taylor. well, vicki doctor peter chin-hong says the move out of l a doesn't surprise him. they're seeing numbers that they haven't seen in months. however, he says the mandate seems to be an emotional response. but he also says it's something that we could see in those bay area counties with higher case rates. >> on thursday, los angeles county reinstated its indoor mask mandate raising concerns and questions for the bay area. it's not surprising at all. >> of course, when you have cases increase to the thousands per day after being in the hundreds previously. that's going to make people

los angeles county will be the first in california to reinstate an indoor mask mandate, regardless ofer a person is vaccinated or not, just in the last hour, bay area counties issued their own recommendation for everyone to wear masks indoors again seven bay area counties as well as the city of berkley. issued a joint recommendation to wear masks indoors. napa and solano county did not join in that recommendation, but starting at midnight on saturday, it will be a requirement to wear masks inside in los angeles county coronavirus cases have been spiking their recently more than 400 people are hospitalized. the county has recorded more than 1000 new cases every day for the past week, health officials say the restrictions will stay in place until they see improvements. officials in sacramento county are also recommending that all people wear masks indoors instead, regardless of their vaccination status. yolo county made the same recommendation on wednesday. the county has seen 59 delta variant cases since mid april. that's about three quarters of all positive cases in the county. the st

if we're surging, then which maybe nip it in the butt once and for all travelers headed to los angeles county flying out of san jose airport thursday, finding out masks are back on in indoor settings in l. a county. this man did not understand why he had to wear one when he's vaccinated because i'm vaccinated. it should help, you know, to avoid me to wear the mosque l. a county health officials implementing the new mask policy saturday nights after an alarming increase in covid 19 cases there. i think health officers across the state are struggling with the same challenge right now, which is we are seeing. increases in cases herey area. marin county's health officer says the county's case rate has quadrupled over the past month. san francisco has seen a threefold increase in covid cases over the past 12 days. the barrier could follow yolo and sacramento county's recommending masking indoors but not requiring it for now. we've all worked hard to achieve the gains we have achieved, um, and the freedoms that go along with that, um and so we would be very reluctant to institute any sort of enviro

los angeles county will require indoor. some of the county's 10 million residents reacted with a shrug by all those people that get him out of it. just being asked to wear masks like it's just the minister nationwide. the seven day case averages up 70% in l. a county more than 1000. new cases have been recorded each day for the last week, but the debate over indoor masks continues. the decision made by the l. a county in terms of reinstituting and masking indoors. um, even among vaccinated individuals is appropriate because of the data, there's no scientific reason whatsoever. they have to have a mask mandate they can recommended for indoor use. recommend not mandate here in d. c a group of house republicans introduced a bill on friday that would ban federal mask mandates on buses, airplanes and trains in washington. caroline shibley fox news, canada hopes to welcome visitors back very soon, prime minister justin trudeau says he hopes to allow fully that. fascinated travelers back by early september. the nation also tentativ

in california the indoor mask mandate returns to los angeles county. alth officials in the san francisco bay area today follow suit recommending the seven million people who live there mask up whether they're vaccinenated or not. in nevada, clark county home to las vegas, is recommending vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear a mask when they're indoors. this as experts warn it's the unvaccinated that are accounting for most new cases. >> there is a clear message that is coming through. this is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated. >> unvaccinated americans are not protected against serious illness, hospitalzation, and death. we're seeing it in the data. unvaccinated americans account for virtually all recent covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths. >> reporter: and those trends are here in alabama, as well. the assistant state health officer told me she's having to dispel myths right and left. the state has launched a tiktok contest in hopes that that would get attention from the young people here, and i told that cheer squad about the tiktok contest.

covid-19 infections on the rise down south and los angeles county.aid they worry the numbers could get even worse plus in east family displaced after a fire nearly destroys their home the ongoing threat that firefighters say could be to blame. mayor. london breed arg the city's crime trends from the latest comstat report. this report highlights the mid year public safety statistics there have been 26 homicides in the city that is up by four from the same time last year. crimes involving guns are double what they were sexual assaults are down. although there were 88, which the chief acknowledges too many robberies were also down, and chief scott says that's mainly due to all the officers out there on patrol. police officers in the streets really matter when it comes to driving down robberies because people are less likely to rob people when they see officers nearby. that's just the reality is proven is tried and true, it matters. deployment matters, chief scott says the department right now is short, nearly 400 officers. mayor breeds bunch of proposal

he is leaving it up to the counties, whether it be los angeles or sonoma or yolo county or san franciscore trying to say look, we know we have a problem. we know, but we are not ready to say the word mandate either. no one is in a rush to say that except the counties that are hard-hit. >> down the road it is hard to know, because the pandemic is taking us in directions we did not foresee. okay, get all vaccinated and we will be good to go. what will the impact beyond elected officials? you think there will be increased turnover, because voters look at this like, i don't like the way you handled this at all? >> we are still handling it, the question is what happens in the fall. if there is a problem with reopening schools because of the variant. if there is a problem with reopening california because of the variants. already, for example, conventions in san francisco, they are really worried that they will mandate masks and people coming to the conventions that are already vaccinated are told to wear a mask. that will not do good and will not too good for tourism. it is up in the air and