California will follow CDC mask guidance on June 15, with some exceptions
The state guidance on mask-wearing largely mirrors rules announced last month by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to state Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, people who are not vaccinated will still be required to wear masks in indoor public settings, including retail stores, movie theaters and government offices.
But how the mask-wearing rules will be enforced will vary from place to place, with Ghaly laying out three options for business owners and event-venue operators:
-- businesses and venues can publicly post rules regarding mask-
wearing and allow visitors to self-attest that they are vaccinated;
-- they can implement a vaccine-verification system to determine whether individuals are required to wear a mask''; or -- they can simply require all patrons to wear a mask.
"This is the choice of the venue and the operators,'' Ghaly said. "… We at the state level are giving all three options to private and independent operators to choose which is best suited for their community and their businesses."
The guidance, being formally released Wednesday afternoon, will also state that nobody can be prevented from wearing a mask as a condition of taking part in an activity or patronizing a business.
Still undetermined, however, are the masking rules that will apply to California workplaces and office settings. The board of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, of Cal-OSHA, is scheduled to meet Wednesday night to again discuss its regulations.
Elex Michaelson of FOX Los Angeles asked Ghaly about tonight's Cal/OSHA board meeting to determine mask rules in the workplace. Ghaly responded that he didn't want to get ahead of the board's announcement tonight.
Last week, Cal/OSHA voted to allow workers to go maskless only if every employee in a room is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
A dozen business groups including the California Retailers Association and organizations representing manufacturers, farmers, tourism interests and other industries sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom asking him to immediately issue an emergency order rescinding the board’s regulations.
Ghaly told reporters that the state's new guidance will be presented to the Cal/OSHA tonight, but that Cal/OSHA is an independent board separate from the state's health departments.
News Channel 3's Jake Ingrassia will follow Cal/OSHA meeting and have more on their decision tonight at 5 & 6 p.m. You can also watch a livestream of the meeting on website at the link below (Meeting starts at 5 p.m.)
Watch Live: California regulators to reconsider mask standard for workers
