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California’s indoor mask mandate for schools will stay in place through the rest of the month, then it will be reassessed. Sonoma County Health Officer Doctor Sundari Mase says that’s the right thing to do, and last night, indicated the county will be aligning its regulations with the state’s recommendations. The statewide indoor mask mandate for most public spaces will not apply to fully vaccinated people beginning today. But, there will be exceptions in places like public transit, health care centers, assisted living facilities, and prisons.
Most counties in the Bay Area will be changing their masking requirements later this week. Government officials say the drop in positive COVID-19 cases, the decrease in hospitalization to treat sick patients, and even declining death rates mean indoor masking rules can be lifted for vaccinated individuals. The only exception is Santa Clara County, where cases still remain high. K-12 schools, public transportation, and health and elderly care facilities will still require masking of all people regardless of their vaccination status.