State implements indoor mask mandate for all
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced a statewide mask mandate, effective December 15, 2021, through January 15, 2022, for all persons, regardless of vaccination status, while in indoor public settings. CDPH is taking this action as an added layer of mitigation in response to increasing detections of the Omicron variant in the state and around the country. According to CDPH, early indications are that the Omicron variant is likely to spread more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant. CDPH intends this new measure to bring additional protection to individuals, families and communities during the holidays when more travel occurs, and time is spent indoors.
For UC ANR activities, this action should not require much noticeable change, since people at most locations were already required to wear masks while indoors, due to high COVID-19 transmission rates in much of the state, and local health orders that required all persons to wear a mask indoors. For more information, please refer to the UC ANR Mask Protocol, which has been updated to include this new public health order.
Brian Oatman
Director, Risk & Safety Services