CHHS Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly during a press conference on July 21, 2020. (Photo: CDPH.ca.gov)
California Mask Mandate In Place Until June 15th Despite Mounting Pressure
‘The state is literally the only thing holding us back from a full reopening right now’
By Evan Symon, May 17, 2021 3:30 pm
California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly announced in a statement on Monday that California’s mask mandate would stay in place despite a growing number of calls from lawmakers and citizens to end it sooner.
Throughout the last few months, mask mandates nationwide have slowly been cancelled, including Texas ending their mask mandate on March 10th, Maryland and Virginia ending indoor mask requirements on Saturday, New York ending their mandate this Wednesday, as well as the CDC itself announcing last week that it is now safe to remove outdoor and most indoor mask requirements nationwide.
However, despite California having the lowest COVID-19 case rate in the nation and well over half the state’s population having received at least one dose as of Monday, state officials have refused to move the June 15th date to remove the mask mandate. Many officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, hinted last week that the mandate could be removed sooner due to the new federal regulations and because of many experts noting that mask mandates, especially for those already vaccinated, send the message that there is still a danger even though there isn’t one.
But on Monday, Ghaly ended any hope for an early end to the mask mandate by confirming the June 15th date to give time for more vaccinations and to better ease into the mask requirement ending for all vaccinated Californians.
“California has made amazing progress in our fight against COVID-19,” said Dr. Ghaly in a statement on Monday. “With more than 34 million vaccines administered, we now have among the lowest case and positivity rates in the nation. On June 15, California plans to implement the CDC’s guidelines around masking to allow fully vaccinated Californians to go without a mask in most indoor settings. This four-week period will give Californians time to prepare for this change while we continue our relentless focus on delivering vaccines, particularly in underserved communities.
“We urge all Californians to get vaccinated to ensure that infection and hospitalization rates remain low across the state and that we can all return to the activities we love. Until June 15, when California plans to fully reopen the economy, California will keep our existing guidance around masks in place.
“As of May 3, 2021, face coverings are no longer required outdoors except at crowded events, and for unvaccinated people, when physical distancing cannot be maintained. In indoor settings outside of one’s home, including public transportation and schools, face coverings continue to be required regardless of vaccination status.”
A June 15th mask mandate end date
Many county officials welcomed the news, who plan to use the extra month to increase vaccination rates and to have most residents at least partially vaccinated by the June 15th mask mandate end.
“We’ll use the extra month to increase vaccination rates. So far 43% of residents 16 and over are fully vaccinated in Los Angeles County. That means more than half of our adult population remains vulnerable,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis on Monday.
However, many citizens and businesses have protested keeping the date in place, noting that California’s low COVID-19 transmission risk and need for economic recovery point to a need for a mask mandate end to happen sooner.
“It’s ridiculous, because even though many national chains have said that they won’t require masks now, California is stubbornly holding everyone back,” explained Raichi Lewis, an assistant manager at a retailer in California that announced the lifting of the mask mandate last week, to the Globe. “It may not seem like such a big deal, but it really is. The state is literally the only thing holding us back from a full reopening right now. Having a store without masks, or at least the number going down, do you have any idea what that would do for the morale of the shoppers and the employees? It would be a strong signal of normalcy. That everything is coming back.”
“But they’re keeping us back again for another month. I know they are saying this is for safety, but we are already safe. Look at our [COVID-19] rates. We just want the next step.”
More mask mandate updates are expected later this month from the CHHS.
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July 3, 2020 -
It must be so very difficult to give up power and control.
Even Jay Inslee up in Washington state lifted the mask mandate.
This has/was never been about science and safety. Look to Sweden, Texas, Florida for answers, they are thriving economically and curbing the spread without masks, imagine that!
Geez, let our people go! Half the population will still want to wear their masks since fear has been beaten into them for 16 months!
CaliGirl, you are right, this has never been about science. No matter what the science says, Gavin does the opposite anyways! Hopefully voters will remember this in November. Recall Gavin 2021!
The state is always the thing holding back the people from living their lives freely. Anyone who thinks this state can be saved by the people who are running it is nuts. We need to disband or secede.
Or move away ….
This whole charade is and has been about the government’s fear that the pubic will find out that the CDC is complicit in the creation of this current virus – -and very likely several others.
The state continues with its contempt of Californians by insisting they know better and it’s based on “science.” There are many scientific mask studies before COVID19 that masks were ineffective in preventing the transmission of viruses. It’s time to overhaul the California legislature as most legislators stayed on the sidelines and did nothing for Californians but collect a paycheck. Two state legislators Kevin Kiley and James Gallagher, stood up against Governor Newsom’s tyranny and took Newsom to court on behalf of the People of California.
Recall Governor Newsom 2021.
This is not about science. Never has been and Dr. Mark Ghaly looks like a pedophile or at least, one of CA’s biggest creeps. These people are bad.
There is no science to this. All these health officials saying we need to mask until June 15 so we have more time to vaccinate and mask when you’re in a crowded area outside are an absolute joke. When you’re vaccinated, you are safe from Covid. There is an extremely low chance you’ll die from Covid and all these health officials are putting measures to the point of ridiculousness. People have waited a very long time to get back to normal and you’re STILL required to wear masks EVEN if you’re vaccinated.
Gavin bought millions of dollars in masks from BYD, his China connection and they need to sell them before they relinquish control…
This is all about inside deals, political manipulation and power…always has been…
Remember which party SCREWED UP YOUR LIVES, Californians… IT WAS THE DEMOCRATS!!!!
RECALL NEWSOM AND VOTE STRAIGHT REPUBLICAN if you want to save California…
Do NOT fall for the Democrat lies, fear mongering and emotional appeals completely devoid of logic….
Definitely voting on the recall. If Villaraigosa runs, I’m not voting for him. Has failed to criticize Newsom. Closed Restaurants, closed sports, closed schools, closed churches, social isolation, and now mask mandates still continuing until next month and even then we have no idea if businesses and counties will still require them. Absolutely terrible what happened.
Your naivete is amusing, in assuming there are two parties.
Ghaley was appointed CHHS secretary by Newsom. There are too many of these political APPOINTED people running state agencies. They will ALWAYS put politics over what is best for the people. This has to CHANGE.
The ease with which an entire population can be manipulated through fear and propaganda is nothing new. We learned that from 1930’s Germany. Joseph Goebbels and Adolph Hitler may be burning in hell but they’re also laughing their asses off.
Right, Fed Up, the system is called FASCISM. It’s where capitalists are controlled by the state. Just think about it. Which companies are supporting Newsom and his cronies….Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, and so forth. The fanatics among them, and used by them, are ALWAYS dangerous.
Arrest Mark Ghaly for his complicity with Fauci, Gates and their crimes against humanity. He is complicit.
When does the school year end?
today is February 25th, 2022! The mask mandate for California was lifted February 21st, 2022. Why on earth are you running this story with the headline that masks mandate will be held until June 15, 2021? For those who are headline only readers will think they still have to wear their masks? This is really odd for you to do this. WhY?
The article is from May 2021.