LOS ANGELES — California state officials released a pandemic plan Thursday that gives an overview of how authorities will manage potential new surges, warning that while the omicron surge is fading, the state must be prepared for the emergence of new variants and seasonal increases in coronavirus transmission.
That means being prepared for a bump-up in coronavirus cases as the school year begins in the late summer, and a higher surge just as winter gets underway, officials said. It also means there may be instances when universal indoor mask orders are needed for limited periods of time to avoid overwhelming hospitals and ambulances responding to 911 calls.
The plan calls for stockpiling a robust supply of masks, maintaining the capacity to administer hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses and coronavirus tests per day, and enhancing the ability to track COVID-19 trends and respond to hard-hit communities. It’s now clear that there will need to be a years-long fight against COVID-19, officials said Thursday.
