When and where do Californians still need to wear a mask, and what will change on June 15?
California announced Monday it will continue requiring almost everyone — including fully vaccinated individuals — to wear masks in most indoor settings until June 15, bucking the trend of other states that are adopting looser guidelines issued last week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC on May 13 recommended that people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear masks or socially distance themselves, even when indoors or in large group settings.
Though an increasing number of states, including New York, Illinois, Washington and Oregon, have em
braced the new federal guidelines, California officials have opted to take a more cautious approach.
Monday’s announcement will require big-box stores and chain retailers such as Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Starbucks to still require face coverings in their California stores despite dropping mask mandates for vaccinated customers in states following CDC guidelines.
Here’s what you need to know about the current masking requirements in California.
When are Californians currently required to wear a mask?
Under California’s current mask rules, which were issued on May 3 by the state’s Department of Public Health, vaccinated individuals must continue to wear face coverings indoors away from home with some exceptions, such as when visiting other vaccinated people or visiting non-vaccinated people from a single household who all have a low risk of severe complications should they get infected with COVID-19.
Individuals who are fully vaccinated don’t have to don masks outdoors except when attending crowded events such as concerts, parades, festivals and sporting events.
Non-vaccinated people must wear face coverings “any time physical distancing cannot be maintained” outdoors, including while exercising or gathering outside with fully vaccinated people.
People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second Pfizer or Moderna shot or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
What about businesses that announced they’re getting rid of masking requirements?
A growing number of large grocery chains and big-box stores like Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Starbucks have announced in recent days they’re lifting masking requirements and falling in line with the CDC’s guidance.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Monday he’s optimistic those companies will abide by California’s indoor mask rules and prepare to implement the CDC guidelines on June 15, rather than immediately.
At Costco, for example, the company said in a statement it would comply with state or local mask mandates, such as requiring customers to wear face coverings in California stores. In locations where a state or local jurisdiction does not have a mask mandate, Costco will allow people who are fully vaccinated to shop without a face covering.
As has been the case with all of California’s public health orders issued during the coronavirus pandemic, cracking down on businesses that fail to follow mask mandates will be up to local law enforcement until June 15.
Can stores and counties decide to implement CDC guidelines right away?
No. Individual counties and stores across California must follow the state’s mask rules until at least June 15. After that, counties could choose to impose stricter rules than the state, but not looser ones.
“If a county chooses to either further delay that date or wait or nuance it a bit and require (masks) in certain other venues or sectors, that is something that can be done,” Ghaly said. “It’s not a ceiling on restrictions, in some ways, it’s a floor.”
What will change on June 15?
Starting then, Californians will be subject to the CDC masking guidance instead of state rules.
Under the CDC guidelines, Americans who are fully vaccinated can resume their pre-pandemic activities such as going to work, participating in an indoor workout class, seeing a movie with friends or eating at an indoor restaurant or bar without wearing a mask — a freedom that has not been enjoyed by most people since March 2020.
As it stands now, masks will still be required in health care settings, public transit and transportation stations and in airports and on planes.
Why is the state waiting until June 15?
Ghaly said Monday that the state’s decision to delay the easing of mask rules by a month will give employers time to adjust to the change and give state and local public health officials additional time to get more people vaccinated, therefore increasing community protection against COVID-19 statewide.
The easing of mask requirements will also coincide with California’s target date for a “full reopening” of the economy.
What else is happening June 15?
The date will mark the end of the state’s complex color-coded system of rules known as the “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” which has guided the reopening effort across California’s 58 counties since last summer.
Starting June 15, California will “fully reopen” its economy and lift nearly all of the COVID-related restrictions in place. Restaurants, bars, museums, stores, movie theaters and nearly all other businesses statewide will be permitted to resume operations at full capacity both indoors and outdoors.