With the Omicron coronavirus surge receding, California will lift its universal mask mandate for indoor public places on February 15, state officials announced today.
Unvaccinated residents must still wear masks in indoor public settings, and everyone will have to wear masks in high-risk areas like public transit and nursing homes and other congregate living facilities.
The lifting of the indoor mask mandate statewide will apply to counties without local mask orders of their own such as Orange County.
Per the California Department of Public Health, everyone is required to wear masks in:
- Indoor public spaces (until February 15)
- Workplaces (until February 15)
- Public transit
- Healthcare settings (including long-term care facilities)
- Adult and senior care facilities
- Indoors in K-12 schools, childcare, and other youth settings
- State and local correctional facilities and detention centers
- Homeless shelters, emergency shelters, and cooling centers
Masks are required for unvaccinated people and recommended for everyone in:
