As the Omicron variant recedes across much of the country, federal officials on Friday gradually moved closer to the new normal of the pandemic by easing their coronavirus protection advice.
Based on the new criteria for measuring the risk of Covid-19 in the community, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 70 percent of Americans could stop wearing masks and no longer need to practice social distancing or avoid crowded spaces.
However, perhaps unsurprisingly, this means things are not so simple for Californians.
The federal government is just the foundation upon which the local rules are imposed. In other words, even if CDC officials say masks aren’t needed where you live, your city mayor can still ban you from going to the grocery store naked.
These rules can be confusing, so today I’m going to walk you through the latest federal, state, and local guidelines and how they might apply to you.
Keep in mind that public health guidelines are constantly changing and major changes to California school mask requirements are expected to be announced later today. (More on this below.)
New federal leadership
Until last week, the CDC calculated the risk level of Covid-19 in a community based on the number of new cases. But given that Omicron spreads easily but causes mostly mild illness, the new calculations are based more on the possibility that hospitals could be overwhelmed.
With revised figures, the CDC has reduced the proportion of counties in the US that recommend wearing masks indoors from 95 percent to 37 percent. (The only exception: no matter where you live, masks are required on public transport and airplanes.)
These softer recommendations are not necessarily permanent, but are an acknowledgment that our situation with the pandemic appears to be improving.
“We want to give people a break from things like disguises when our levels are low and then be able to turn to them again if things get worse in the future,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters Friday. . “We have to be ready, and we have to be ready for whatever comes next.”
In California, 30 of our 58 counties fall into this high-risk category, where masks are recommended. These include Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, and Fresno counties.
So while you can always wear a mask if it makes you feel safer, the CDC says you should definitely wear a mask in these high transmission areas, regardless of your vaccination status.
You can check your county’s risk level as determined by the CDC. here.
California disguise law
If the place where you live is considered high risk, you don’t need to go deep into state and local regulations: just wear this mask.
But if your county is listed as a medium or low risk county, such as San Francisco and Ventura counties, you need to pay attention to statewide rules.
California regulations require that if you are not vaccinated, you must wear a mask in enclosed public places. And even if you have your shots, you still have to disguise yourself in certain settingssuch as doctors’ offices, homeless shelters, and prisons.
Let’s say you’re not in a high-risk county and you have all your vaccinations. Can you go to the cinema without a mask?
Yes, unless your community has its own additional rules for the use of masks. (I warned you this was hard.) Counties with mask-wearing ordinances include Santa Clara, Los Angeles as well as Mendocino.
Latest News about School Disguises
This brings us finally to the wearing of masks in schools, which has become a particularly contentious issue in California.
Just yesterday, 200 parents and children gathered at Golden Gate Park to protest the state of California’s requirement that teachers and students wear masks indoors. It is reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. There have also been protests in favor of masks in recent weeks.
But change is coming soon.
On Friday, the CDC announced that it was no longer endorsing the wearing of masks in schools across the country, but only in districts deemed to be at high risk. California officials are expected to announce a timeline for easing their school mask mandate later today.
“Mask requirements were never set in perpetuity,” said Dr. Mark Galy, the state’s secretary of health and human services. reports The Los Angeles Times.
For more:
Where are we going
Today’s travel tip comes from Jerry Brag:
“Armstrong Woods is a state park north of Guerneville in Northern California, about an hour and a half north of San Francisco. This is a wonderful sequoia grove and much less crowded than Muir Woods. There are hiking trails and a picnic area, and it’s a quiet and beautiful place.”
Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Send your suggestions to [email protected]. We will report more in future editions of the newsletter.
And before you leave, good news
For decades, heart valve replacement was banned for people over 90 because they were considered too weak to survive the required invasive surgery.
But that all changed in 2012, when a replacement technique that did not require open-heart surgery received federal approval. The new procedure has helped extend the lives of some of the oldest Americans.
Welwyn Bill, who lives in the San Diego area, received a high-tech heart valve two years ago when his original equipment began to fail.
He turned 100 this month.
Read more from San Diego Union Tribune.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Soumya
PS Here today’s mini crossword puzzleand a hint: birds that can fly almost silently (4 letters).