California Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mark Ghaly, announced Monday that beginning Wednesday, December 15, all Californians will be required to cover their faces again in closed public places, regardless of whether or not they are vaccinated.
This is a big change in the state’s masking policy, which was relaxed on July 28, allowing those who are fully vaccinated to venture indoors without cover in most places, although transportation hubs, schools K -12 and health centers have never relaxed.
Ghaly said the guideline, which runs until January 15, is not intended to regulate private gatherings in residents’ homes, but rather in public places such as businesses and entertainment venues.
He said concern over the statewide coronavirus case rate, which has risen from 9.6 cases per 100,000 to more than 14 since Thanksgiving, prompted the measure.
“This is a critical time where we have a tool that we know has worked and we are proactively putting this universal indoor masking tool in public settings to ensure we get through a moment of joy and hope without a darker cloud of worry and despair, “said Ghaly. “Californians have done it before, and of course we think we can do it again.”
In addition, the executive said that the state will also require anyone who attends a mega event with more than 1000 attendees and who does not show proof of vaccination, to show a negative result of the COVID-19 test taken in the previous 24 hours if it is a rapid antigen test or two days if it is a PCR test. The previous requirement was that negative results be dated within 72 hours of the event date.
“Given the breadth and availability of testing, and the fact that response times are faster than in the past, this seems appropriate,” said Ghaly.
A third recommendation is that people returning to or visiting California undergo a coronavirus test three to five days after arrival.
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