California's statewide indoor mask mandate will not be extended when it expires next week. State health officials are announcing that on February 15th, those who are vaccinated can go unmasked, unless counties or cities enact their own local mandates. Certain exemptions to that rule are still in place for indoor mega-events, public transportation, nursing and health facilities, and schools, where everyone is still required to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. Sacramento County officials confirms to KCRA that they will follow suit and also let the local mask mandate expire next week. These expiring mask mandates are to apply to those individuals who are vaccinated, however there is no word on how that will be enforced for those who are unvaccinated.
For indoor mega-events, which is considered anything over 1,000 people, venues will have to require vaccinations or negative tests for those attending and those who are unvaccinated will be required to wear masks. For outdoor mega-events over 10,000 people, there is no vaccination requirement but masks or negative tests are recommended. California officials also say they are lifting the requirements for proof of a negative test before visiting hospitals and nursing homes starting immediately. California is reporting a 65% drop in cases since the peak of the Omicron surge has passed.