MASKS will be required when indoors in Los Angeles County as of midnight Saturday (Shutterstock).

The battle against the coronavirus is taking a new turn, as public health officials are calling for a move back to the wearing of masks, as well as mandating vaccinations in some settings.

According to the Associated Press, a requirement that when indoors in most places, face coverings are to be worn in Los Angeles County. The requirement will go into effect shortly before midnight on Saturday.

Dr. Muntu Davis, public health officer for Los Angeles County, called the return to masks “an all-hands-on-deck moment.” Since California reopened on June 15, the Delta variant of COVID-10 has sparked a marked increase, mostly among unvaccinated people. The county has been recording over 1,000 new cases each day for a week.

People will still be able to go maskless while eating or drinking in restaurants.

The change does not affect Orange County, but local rates of confirmed new infections in the OC have risen in recent weeks, from around 50 a day to triple that.

Additionally, the University of California announced on Thursday that students, staff and faculty must get vaccinated before returning in the fall.

According to the Los Angeles Times, new cases of coronavirus in California are up 175 percent over the past 14 days, and deaths by 32 percent.

Heavy rains, floods ravage Western Europe

HEAVY RAIN is lashing Western Europe (Shutterstock)..

At least 58 people – and perhaps as many as 1,300 – are dead as heavy rains led to massive floods in Germany, Belgium and other parts of Western Europe.

The New York Times reports that violent storms have led to evacuations across the area and that over 1,000 people are unaccounted for.

Flooding and high water levels are battering Switzerland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and more heavy rain is expected on Friday.

Cuomo facing questions on sex harassment

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, once considered a possible Democratic presidential candidate, will be interviewed on Saturday about allegations of “sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior.”

ANDREW CUOMO, governor of New York (Wikipedia).

According to the New York Daily News, Cuomo, 65, has denied doing anything wrong. “I can’t tell you how eager I am to tell my side of the story,” he said.

He will be questioned by independent attorneys working for New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Cuomo’s accusers say he has asked women about their sex lives and – in one case – allegedly groped her under her blouse.

He is also facing an investigation from the New York State Assembly into his conduct.