Isai RochaThe California indoor mask mandate will end on Feb. 15, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
According to Newsom, the overall number of COVID-19 cases in California have decreased by 65% since the winter peak.
“CA’s case rate has decreased by 65% since our Omicron peak. Our hospitalizations have stabilized across the state,” Newsom said on Twitter. “Our statewide indoor mask requirement will expire on 2/15. Unvaccinated people will still need to wear masks indoors. Get vaccinated. Get boosted.”
The California governor tweeted the mask mandate news Monday, saying the requirement will “expire,” although unvaccinated individuals are still expected to wear a mask indoors.
While the ending of the mandate, technically applies to vaccinated individuals, no formal proof of vaccination is required to be shown, with the state instead asking for self-attestation that one is vaccinated.
The state had ended the original mask mandate in June of 2021, but it returned soon after the Omicron variant became the dominant COVID-19 variant.
Despite California’s move away from masks, Los Angeles County may still enforce stricter requirements that the state.
L.A. County indicated that it would end its indoor mask mandate only after COVID-19 hospitalizations have fallen below 2,500 for seven straight days.
“Masking will continue to be a key part of the ‘post-surge’ COVID-19 strategy,” L.A. Public Health Director, Dr. Barbara Ferrer said in a Feb.3 media briefing. “When L.A. County moves into the post-surge period… masking will no longer be required while outdoors while outdoors, at outdoor mega events, or at outdoor spaces in childcare and K-12 schools.”
