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School mask mandate could be lifted soon
school masks
An announcement from state health officials on when wearing face coverings in schools would go from a mandate to a recommendation is expected to come at the end of February (Photo contributed).

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are falling at a consistent rate in California to the point where health officials are getting close to ditching the state’s mask mandate in schools. But the state’s top health official said he’s not ready to end the mandate right now, though he “anticipates” being able to announce in two weeks a likely end date.

“Masking requirements were never put in place to be there forever,” Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said. “It’s not a question of if. It’s a question of when.”

Ghaly said that cases, hospitalizations, vaccination rates and national and global trends would all play a role over the next two weeks as the state reassesses conditions. On Feb. 28, Ghaly said he plans to announce when the mandate would move to "a strong recommendation."

Turlock Unified School District is monitoring the situation and is prepared to go along with whatever direction the state’s top health officials say is best.

“Until the mandate is removed, we will continue to adhere to CDPH and Cal/OSHA requirements to preserve in-person instruction for all students,” said the district in a statement. “In the meantime, we will prepare to make any newly revised changes as soon as they are received and allowable.”

Pandemic trends are moving in the right direction, said Ghaly. He said that COVID-19 cases are down more than 75 percent from a month ago and hospitalizations among those with the virus have fallen more than 40 percent.

The test positivity rate has fallen nearly 73 percent for the same period, he said. The state’s rate was 6.2 percent as of Monday, compared to 22.9 percent on Jan. 14.

This announcement came right before California’s indoor mask mandate was lifted on Wednesday morning at 12:01 a.m. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration brought back the statewide masking mandate in mid-December as the omicron variant gained momentum and extended it last month through Feb. 15.

The state also is lifting a requirement that people test negative before visiting hospitals and nursing homes.

Until further notice, everyone will still have to wear masks in schools, public transportation, nursing homes and other congregate living facilities.