California not dropping indoor mask mandate until June 15

Sacramento — California says it isn't ready to follow the federal lead and unmask, at least for another month. The state's health director announced Monday that California will require people to keep wearing masks and practice social distancing indoors until June 15, when Governor Gavin Newsom had already said nearly all COVID-19 restrictions will be dropped if cases remain low.

The nation's most populous state needs more time before it will follow the lead of many other states and allow fully vaccinated people to skip face coverings and socially distancing in virtually all situations, officials said. People and businesses must adjust to the changes while the state continues its "relentless focus on delivering vaccines, particularly in underserved communities and those that were hard hit throughout this pandemic," Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Monday.