Unmasked?: New CDC Guidelines and California Reopening

On May 13th, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued new mask guidelines in response to the increasing amount of vaccinations within the country. 

According to the CDC, fully vaccinated persons can return to most pre-pandemic activities without having to wear a mask. Some of these activities include attending sporting events, eating indoors, going to movie theaters, and much more. The CDC guidelines do not override any federal, state, or local mandates, so these guidelines may not apply everywhere. 

As a result of these new guidelines and the rapid increase in vaccination rates, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) implemented new mandates regarding face masks. Currently, face masks are not required in outdoor public spaces for fully vaccinated residents of California unless they are attending crowded outdoor events or taking public transportation.

The CDPH announced in early April that California will fully reopen on June 15, meaning all capacity limitations and social distancing requirements will be lifted in all indoor or outdoor facilities. However, vaccination or negative Covid test verification will be required for large scale events, such as concerts or sporting events. The CDPH also announced both the activities and business tiers chart and county tiers chart, tables that outline covid restrictions based on the amount of cases, will be suspended by June 15 since almost all restrictions will be lifted.