On February 28, 2022, California Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly released an update on the state’s mask requirements as follows:
- Starting March 1, 2022, masks will no longer be required for unvaccinated individuals but will be strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor settings.
- After March 11, 2022, in schools and child care facilities, masks will not be required but will be strongly recommended.
- Masks will still be required for everyone in high transmission settings like public transit, emergency shelters, health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and long-term care facilities.
Local jurisdictions may implement additional requirements beyond the state guidance based on local conditions, including community vaccine rates or vaccination rates in schools and child care settings.
Materials
- Governor Newsom, Brown and Inslee Announce Updated Health Guidance (February 28, 2022)
- California HHS Dr. Ghaly recorded presentation and slides (February 28, 2022)
- Governor Newsom – Next Phase of Pandemic Response (February 25, 2022)
- Governor Newsom Executive Order N-04-22 (February 25, 2022)
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 New Metric for Community Levels (February 25, 2022)
- California Department of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Questions & Answers
- California Department of Public Health Post-COVID Conditions Website
- Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards FAQs