Los Angeles is on pace to bring back its universal indoor mask mandate on July 29, unless the nation drops below the CDC's "high" transmission threshold. Jha was questioned regarding Los Angeles' step to bring back its mask mandate throughout his appearance on ABC's "This Week."
"My view on this has been very clear: local jurisdictions, cities, counties, states should make decisions about mask mandates because communities are different and their patterns of transmission are different," Jha clarified.
HORRIFIC FOOTAGE EMERGES: FRANTIC RESCUE EFFORTS AFTER RUSSIAN MISSILES HIT UKRAINIAN CITY (WATCH)
"That said, CDC has very clear guidance on this as well through their COVID community levels. And the CDC recommendation is that when you're in a high zone, that sort of orange zone as L.A. County is, you know, people wearing masks indoors is important, and it will make a difference."
WATCH: NEWT GINGRICH'S APPROACH TO "DEATH TO AMERICA" CHANTS
Earlier in the interview, Jha announced that it's "really important to remind people of the science, the public health science and the public health science is very clear. If you're in a crowded indoor space, especially if it's poorly ventilated, wearing a mask reduces your risk of infection and spreading it to others. So we've got to continue to encourage people to do that."
TECH GIANTS JOIN FORCES WITH DHS IN HERCULEAN BATTLE AGAINST CHILD EXPLOITATION
BA.5 is the latest coronavirus variant to drive growth in infections around the globe.
HIGH-STAKES SUMMIT: G7 MULLS SANCTIONS ON IRAN, WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT?
According to the World Health Organization's most recent report, it was behind 52% of cases sequenced in late June, increasing from 37% in one week. In the United States, it is estimated to be causing around 65% of infections.
WATCH: THIS IS HAPPENING HERE IN PLAIN SIGHT
Like its closely related sibling, BA.4, BA.5 is particularly good at evading the immune protection afforded by vaccination or earlier infection.
BOEING WHISTLEBLOWER REVEALS SHOCKING SAFETY CONCERNS PLAGUING BOEING'S 787 DREAMLINERS
BA.5 has a growth advantage over the other sublineages of Omicron that are circulating," Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead on COVID-19, explained to reporters last week.
UNTHINKABLE IMPACT: ISS DEBRIS STRIKES FLORIDA RESIDENCE, NASA LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION
Meanwhile, Americans are growing less and less trusting of medical advice from specialists, and lack of representation in the scientific field may be a reason why, Jha further explained.
"If you look at the experience of the way the public health system has treated, let's say, African-Americans in America, there's a lot of basis for mistrust. It is not a glorious history," Jha announced at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colorado, last month.
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
