https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-bring-back-indoor-mask-mandate-rcna8647 SAN DIEGO — Amid rising Covid-19 case numbers and fears that the highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus could spark a new wave of infections, the country's largest state is reimposing its indoor mask mandate, officials announced Monday. California's mandate, which resumes Wednesday, will last at least a month, when the state Public Health Department "will make further recommendations as needed," officials said in a statement. It applies regardless of vaccination status. The state health and human services secretary, Dr. Mark Ghaly, said an anticipated wave of gatherings during the year-end holidays — muted by last year's pandemic restrictions — influenced the decision to bring back the mandate. The rule was reimplemented "to ensure we get through a time of joy and hope without a darker cloud of concern and despair," he said at an afternoon teleconference. The mandate doesn't apply to private gatherings, however. "Wearing a mask is going to be one of the most important things to get us through this period of uncertainty," Ghaly said.
SAN DIEGO — Amid rising Covid-19 case numbers and fears that the highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus could spark a new wave of infections, the country's largest state is reimposing its indoor mask mandate, officials announced Monday. California's mandate, which resumes Wednesday, will last at least a month, when the state Public Health Department "will make further recommendations as needed," officials said in a statement. It applies regardless of vaccination status. The state health and human services secretary, Dr. Mark Ghaly, said an anticipated wave of gatherings during the year-end holidays — muted by last year's pandemic restrictions — influenced the decision to bring back the mandate. The rule was reimplemented "to ensure we get through a time of joy and hope without a darker cloud of concern and despair," he said at an afternoon teleconference. The mandate doesn't apply to private gatherings, however. "Wearing a mask is going to be one of the most important things to get us through this period of uncertainty," Ghaly said.