Many health experts are strongly recommending the public still wear masks even as the state lifted its order requiring them to be worn in indoor public spaces for vaccinated people.
Luke Money
California school mask mandate will remain in place through at least Feb. 28
The state will reassess conditions at the end of the month before making a decision on school masking rules.
When is it really safe to take off your mask in California? Here’s what we know
Even as indoor mask orders in Santa Cruz County and across the state are set to expire next week, health officials are still encouraging people to wear masks while transmission rates are up.
Omicron hit Southern California much harder than the Bay Area. Here’s why
This is the latest coronavirus wave where, compared to Southern California, the Bay Area has fared relatively better, and local officials this time credit high rates of vaccination and booster shots.
49ers-Rams football, Lunar New Year pose new COVID-19 challenge for California
California is on the downslope of yet another coronavirus surge as it enters another season of celebration; will gatherings in the coming days send things in the opposite direction?
How worried should we be about the new BA.2 Omicron subtype? Here’s what we know
California has identified a number of cases of BA.2, a sublineage of the Omicron variant. How concerned should we be?
Will another devastating variant follow Omicron? Experts debate COVID-19 future, ‘endgame’
There remains considerable debate about the pandemic’s trajectory, but scientists generally say it’s too early to see the finish line for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Growing signs Omicron is leveling off in California
While California continues to see disturbing rises in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, there are some early signs the Omicron wave is slowing.
California approaches pandemic record for all hospitalizations
Last week, California averaged 52,000 hospital patients daily, just under the 55,000 hospitalized for all reasons during last winter’s COVID-19 surge.
Omicron can make you contagious before you test positive, allowing for rapid spread
In general, tests are able to reveal an Omicron infection, but enough virus needs to have reproduced and appear at sufficiently high levels in the nose or saliva to be detectable, health officials say.

