The California Department of Public Health ( CDPH ) will require universal masking as of December 15.

Beginning Wednesday , CDPH will require masks to be worn in all indoor public settings irrespective of vaccination status. The renewed mandate will remain in effect through January 15, 2022. After that CDPH will make further recommendations based on conditions at that time. 

According to the state, since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate has increased by almost half and hospitalizations have increased by 14 percent. These increases, according to CDPH, is the reason to implement the new mask mandate in an attempt to slow the spread of both Delta and the Omicron variants. Additionally, CDPH has updated requirements for attending mega events like concerts and sporting events. Prior to attending an event, attendees will now require either proof of vaccination, a negative antigen COVID-19 test within one day of the event, or a negative PCR test within two days of the event.