California to keep mask mandate in place for another month

California will keep its mask mandate in place until it fully reopens its economy on June 15 in an effort to persuade more residents to get vaccinated, breaking from other states that are dropping their requirements on the federal government’s advice.

California will still require people in most public indoor settings to wear masks for the next four weeks, said Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. That requirement applies to people regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated. Come June 15, fully vaccinated people can go without masks in most indoor settings. Ghaly said the month-long wait will give any wavering Californians both the time and the incentive to get vaccinated.