CALIFORNIA: Masks required indoors through Feb. 15, 2022

On January 5, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) extended its order requiring everyone to wear masks in indoor public settings regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus). The original statewide order was set to end on January 15, 2022, but will now stay in effect through February 15, 2022. CDPH will continue to monitor conditions and update the order as needed. (We reported on the original order here).

As we previously reported, CDPH’s Face Coverings Q&A web page (updated December 15, 2021) says the indoor mask requirement applies to all workplaces, even if they are not open to the public. There are still some circumstances where masking isn’t required, such as when actively eating or drinking, or working alone in a closed room. There are also people who remain exempt from the masking requirement, such as people with a medical condition or disability that prevents wearing a mask, and people who are hearing impaired and rely on seeing someone’s mouth to communicate.

Tips: Make sure your employees are aware they will need to continue wearing masks indoors until at least February 15, even if they are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The order is statewide, so it still applies even if your city or local jurisdiction doesn’t have its own mask mandate. If you’re considering upgrading your employees’ masks or learning more about mask fit and filtration, CDPH has information about how to choose a mask on their Face Mask Tips and Resources page. We don’t know yet whether the order will be extended any further, but we will continue to watch for any new developments and update our members accordingly.