Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday that the state will lift its mandate that all people wear masks indoors and as of February 15th, only unvaccinated people will have to stay masked in public settings, CNN reports.
With declining infection rates as the omicron variant fades, and with the state exceeding 80% vaccinated, Newsom hopes to return the state to a closer feeling of normalcy.
Although the state is lifting its mask mandate, some counties experiencing particularly high rates may extend theirs, a move the Newsom administration would not likely challenge.