Calif. Senate Clings to Mask Mandate Even as Gov. Announces He’s Dropping It

Even after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday he was dropping the mask mandate on school kids March 12, the California State Senate leaders quickly sent a memo out to Senators and staff announcing mask mandates would remain in place while they “consult with local public health officials.”

Who is it in the Senate clinging to the mask mandate?

Secretary of the California State Senate Secretary Erika Contreras authored the memo:

“As you may know, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) made an announcement yesterday easing masking requirements in many settings regardless of vaccine status.  Following the release of new indoor masking guidance, Governor Gavin Newsom also signed an executive order that updated the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to align with the new guidance.

The Senate is reviewing the updated CDPH and CDC masking guidance and consulting with local public health officials for additional guidance based on local public health considerations. As an employer, the Senate will also be looking at the Cal/OSHA updates to provide the most accurate and up-to-date guidance to our workforce, which is located in seventy-six district offices throughout the state.  The Senate will communicate any potential updates to our Health and Safety Guidelines regarding masking for Senators, staff and the public in the next few days.”

 This is just stunning. Here’s how you “consult with local health officials:”

1) Google www.saccounty.gov/COVID-19/ and read how Sacramento County public health officials already lifted its COVID mask mandate February 16th, and rescinded its orders mandating virtual and remote public meetings in Sacramento County. 

What’s left to consult on?

What is Senate leadership so fearful of? Losing control?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its COVID-19 mask guidance last Friday to no longer recommend mask-wearing in most indoor settings.

Even when people were faithfully wearing masks and getting vaccinated and boosted, most got the Omicron variant anyway – vaccinated or not, masked or not, social distanced or not.

It’s over, except for the tyrants in the State Capitol. It appears they are clinging to the mask mandate not out of a fear of COVID, but out of a fear of losing the unprecedented control they’ve had the last two years. And as a bonus, they’ve kept the public at bay because… COVID.

Notably, the California Assembly relaxed the mask rules slightly, so while Assembly members and staff are in their offices, no masks are needed. They are asking only for masks to be worn in communal areas, like hallways and committees. Even that’s a stretch.

And, today, March 1, 2022, is the first day in two years where everyone will be working in person for Capitol staffers – no more remote working. So after two years, citizens can finally access their Assembly representative’s State Capitol offices.

How long will California lawmakers perpetrate this charade? The day after the November 8, 2022 Election comes to mind.