SACRAMENTO – (INT) – State health officials issued new guidelines Tuesday on the use of face masks to protect against COVID-19. They mirror federal community COVID-19 levels.

The community levels set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) help individuals and communities decide which prevention actions to take based on data that classifies communities as low, medium, or high risk.

California’s guidance goes a step farther. It allows certain congregate settings, including correctional facilities, homeless and emergency shelters, and cooling centers to make masks optional when community COVID-19 levels are low.

Health care and long-term care settings are not affected by the masking changes.

Story Date: September 29, 2022