California to end statewide mask mandate, could there be changes to masks in schools?

California announced Monday it will end its indoor masking requirement for vaccinated people after Feb. 15, however, masks are still required for kids in school state officials said. But could the mask mandate within California schools change in the near future?

The school mask mandates in other states have started to loosen.

Four other states announced Monday to set plans in place to lift their statewide mask mandate for schools. The states include Oregon, Delaware, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

California state officials said on Monday they are "continuing to work with education, public health and community leaders to update masking requirements at schools to adapt to changing conditions and ensure the safety of kids, teachers, and staff."

"We don't anticipate the change. We do anticipate that mask mandates will stay in place," said Riverside County's deputy public health officer Dr. Shunling Tsang. "In California, you know, we account for roughly 12% of all the students in the United States. But what we've seen is we've only accounted for 1% of all the COVID-19 related closures due to omicron and we think that's because we've had mask mandates in the schools."

Riverside County said it will continue to follow the state's guidelines.

Carissa Carrera is the president of the Coachella Valley Teacher's Association. 

"I anticipate you know that there won't be a big push to get rid of the masks in the schools just because the statewide one has changed," said Carerra. "I think everybody is safer if we continue the masking at the school sites."

State health officials also said, "Additional adjustments to the state's policies will be shared in the coming week."

News Channel 3 reached out to all three valley schools districts. They say they haven't heard from the state or county about any upcoming changes to mask rules and will continue to follow the current mask guidelines.