Convenience Big Store: Mask mandate returns to Sacramento County

Sacramento County issues indoor mask mandate, regardless of vaccine status – Sacramento County has issued a new health order, requiring masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. The new mask mandate comes as the delta variant becomes more prominent and Sacramento County's daily case rate of COVID-19 rose drastically from 5.2 to 22.6 in the span of a month. The mask mandate went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 30. The requirement will last "until rescinded or amended in writing by the Health Officer." “The continued increase in cases is concerning - universal indoor use of masks, is the least disruptive and most immediately impactful measure to take to slow the rate of transmission,” Sacramento County Public Health Officer Olivia Kasirye said in the press release. She also said the COVID-19 vaccine is still the best protection against the virus and its variants and encourages everyone who is able get vaccinated. The new mask mandate is in line with the recently updated CDC and California Department of Public Health guidance. (Izzy Greenblatt, ABC10)

Water supply and drought top environmental concerns for Californians – A new Public Policy Institute of California survey is showing just how concerned Californians are about the state's growing drought. One in four people polled in the state said water supply and drought were their top environmental concerns right now. Also topping the list were wildfires, climate change, air pollution and vehicle emissions. This is a shift from last year, when most people ranked climate change as the top concern. The impacts of climate change on wildfire and drought though are still a top concern for a majority of people. In fact, 80% say that climate change has contributed to the current drought, and 78% say climate change has contributed to California's recent wildfires. (Monica Woods, ABC10)

Sacramento Kings select Davion Mitchell ninth overall –The Sacramento Kings selected Baylor two-way guard Davion Mitchell with the ninth overall pick in the NBA draft. Mitchell averaged 14.0 points, 5.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds while helping the Bears to their first national championship in more than 50 years last season. The 22-year-old was the Naismith defensive player of the year, averaging 1.9 steals during his final season at Baylor. His defense earned Mitchell the flashy nickname “Off Night” because of his opponents' tendency to have a poor shooting game against him. (Associated Press)

TIP OF THE DAY

Masking returns to Disneyland... Beginning today, all guests (ages 2 and up) of Disneyland and Disney World will be required to mask up while indoors, in Disney buses, on monorails, and along the Disney Skyline - even if they are fully vaccinated. (Eden Harris, ABC10)

SMILE

"Light at the end of the tunnel"... The Golden 1 Center reopened at full capacity for the Sacramento Kings Draft Party. More people at Golden 1 Center means more people walking around DOCO. Dylan Lane, manager of Getta Clue in DOCO, says the opening is great for retailers and signals hope. (Lena Howland, ABC10)