California has not lifted the state's school-mask mandate, despite allowing people vaccinated to wear maskless in most indoor spaces from Tuesday.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly announced the news during a Monday afternoon press conference. He also stated that the school mask mandate and other COVID-19 protocols would need to be reassessed on February 28.
Ghaly stated that the mandate to school children will be lifted eventually, but that it was "the question of when, not whether."
On Tuesday, California's mask requirement will be lifted for most indoor venues. Schools, hospitals, and airports will still require masks.
Los Angeles County will continue to have its own mandate, independent of state regulations. Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the county's Public health director, said that indoor masking will be required for at least a few weeks more.
California's policy mirrors Washington, D.C.'s. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday, that California will no longer have requirements at many public venues, such as bars and restaurants, but that it will maintain its mask mandates schoolchildren.
Starting Tuesday, the city's indoor venue vaccine mandate will also end.
Bowser stated that cases have fallen more than 90% since December's peak of the omicron waves entered the district. There has also been a 95% decrease in hospitalizations. "We are now in a better place."