Nationwide, the latest COVID-19 surge is driven by the highly transmissible BA.5 variant, which now accounts for 65% of cases. By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and CARLA K. JOHNSON "I feel fine about it because I've worn one pretty much constantly for the last few years. It's become a habit," said Barragan, masked up while out running errands Wednesday. LOS ANGELES -- Nick Barragan is used to wearing a mask because his job in the Hollywood film industry has long required it.
