California Gov. Newsom walks back comments about end of mask mandate

SACRAMENTO — California is likely to have “guidelines and mandates” for wearing masks indoors after the state fully reopens next month, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday, appearing to walk back comments from the previous day that indicated masks would be gone in nearly all situations.

California’s mask requirements took effect in June 2020. Last month, Newsom announced he would lift most restrictions on business and activities on June 15 if the state’s coronavirus cases remained low but said mask orders would stay in effect.

Then in an interview Tuesday, he said California, once the state fully reopens, will look “a lot like the world we entered into before the pandemic.”

“We’re not wearing face coverings. We’re not restricted in any way, shape or form from doing the old things that we used to do, save for huge, large-scale indoor convention events like that, where we use our common sense,” Newsom said in an interview with Fox 11 in Los Angeles, adding there will be “no mandates” and “no restrictions on businesses large and small.”

A day later, while touting billions more for K-12 education in Monterey, he altered his words, saying the state “will still have likely some mask guidelines and mandates” for indoor activities.

“But we hope, sooner than later, that those will be lifted as well,” he said. “The bottom line is, we’ll go back to most broad-strokes semblance of normalcy, if we continue down this path.”

California now requires people to wear a mask when gathering indoors with people who are not vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people can meet indoors without wearing a mask. They also don’t have to wear a mask outdoors, except when attending large gatherings such as sporting events, festivals and concerts.

California has a host of other rules for businesses and other public places. Those rules vary by county, with the more severe restrictions imposed on places where the virus is most widespread.

Newsom has been under pressure to relax coronavirus restrictions as the numbers of new cases decline. He is facing a likely recall election later this year, an effort fueled mostly by anger over his handling of the pandemic.

Newsom’s comments on Tuesday and his remarks on Wednesday seemed to conflict with what the state has planned for mask mandates. Just two months ago, Newsom criticized Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbot for lifting that state’s mask mandate, calling it “absolutely reckless.”

Meanwhile, a state board that sets rules for workplaces is considering changing its mask rules later this month. Those proposed rules would not require people to wear masks indoors if all workers are fully vaccinated and no one has coronavirus symptoms, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Asked to clarify Newsom’s comments, Ali Bay, spokeswoman for the California Department of Public Health, said the state will “continue to update face coverings guidance as appropriate, with the goal of continuing to loosen restrictions as more people get vaccinated.” She urged Californians to continue to follow the state’s current mask guidelines.

Folks in downtown Santa Rosa enjoying a meal, sitting on a bench or walking by shops were mostly in favor of reducing the mask mandate.

“I think it sounds good as long as we’ve been vaccinated,” said Clifton Looney, 67, of Santa Rosa. “I think the ones who haven’t been (vaccinated) are in denial.”

“We’re moving in the right direction,” said Emily Brownlow, 41, who said she is in law enforcement. “We need concrete benchmarks for each county. I think his (Newsom’s) statement is vague. I’d need more information.”

“I love it,” said Mike Contreras, 27, of Santa Rosa, who was eating with friends at Carmen’s Bistro and Bar on Fourth Street. “They aren’t N95 masks, so they aren’t blocking the particles anyway.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised that N95-style masks should be preserved for frontline health care workers and said other types of masks are effective at slowing the virus’s spread.

He said he hasn’t gotten vaccinated because he thought the vaccines were created by researchers too quickly.

The rate of people testing positive for the coronavirus in California is just 1.1%, the lowest in the nation. More than 14.6 million people are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, and another 5.1 million are partially vaccinated.

Still, some public health experts say it’s smart to wear masks in public places.

“I can’t imagine completely abandoning all masking,” said Dr. Brad Pollock, associate dean for public health sciences at the UC Davis School of Medicine. “If we have no COVID left in the community, that’s one thing. But I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Others in Santa Rosa were pleased at being able to mostly rid themselves of masks.

“I’m fully vaccinated and I feel like I can live my life,” said Bob Triebel, 52, who was eating dinner with friends outside El Palomar restaurant on Fourth Street. “Most people can go into CVS and get their shots. ... Fear is over for me.”

Berlin resident Jose Promis, 48, said he moved back to the United States to get a vaccine. He said Germany is still under lockdown.

“Once people are vaccinated, let people live their lives,” he said.

“Everybody’s kind of ready to move on,” added his sister-in-law, Maureen Promis, 41, a teacher. “My kids are back in class and there haven’t been any problems.”

Press Democrat Staff Writer Kathleen Coates contributed to this report.