Your guide to California’s changing rules on COVID-19: Masks, vaccines and schools

California Gov. Gavin Newsom this week unveiled the state’s latest mandate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring that all health care workers setting get the COVID-19 vaccine booster by Feb. 1.

It’s the latest of several orders Newsom has handed down as part of the state’s effort to grapple with a pandemic that continues to spread, with new variants such as the delta and omicron variants proving particularly contagious.

For Californians looking to keep up with the governor’s orders and combat the spread of COVID-19, here’s a rundown of all the state COVID-19 mandates and their current status.

Masks

California has been under a statewide mask order since Dec. 15. The order requires Californians to wear a mask when in an indoor public setting.

The order is set to remain in effect through Jan. 15.

This is the latest mask order issued by Newsom; the previous statewide mask order expired in June, though several counties have continued to enact their own, separate mask orders.

School vaccinations

On Oct. 1, Gov. Newsom announced that the state would be adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of vaccines required for students to attend California K-12 schools. That mandate includes exemptions for medical reasons or personal beliefs.

The mandate is set to trigger into effect upon full U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the vaccines for children. Such approval — and the triggering mandate — could happen as early as next summer.

Some school districts, including Los Angeles Unified School District, have tried to move faster in implementing such a mandate, though in LA Unified’s case, the district ran into trouble with tens of thousands of students being out of compliance, prompting the school board to delay implementation until fall of 2022.

Health care workers

As Newsom announced Wednesday, health care workers are required to get the COVID-19 vaccine booster. That modifies an existing executive order requiring that all health care workers be fully vaccinated.

Private employers

California has several COVID-19-related rules in place for private employers.

Employees who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic must still wear a mask, one that does not let any light shine through. In addition, private employers are required to continue paying and retaining workers who self-quarantine due to their exposure to COVID-19.

In addition, the state requires that employers must observe an employee’s COVID-19 test, or else have that test observed by an authorized telehealth proctor.

Employers must provide testing to fully vaccinated, asymptomatic workers who were exposed to the virus, at no cost and during paid time.

Public universities

Both the California State University and the University of California systems are requiring university students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated, including the booster shot.

The University of California made its announcement on Tuesday, with the California State University system following suit on Wednesday.

Both the UC and CSU systems allow for exemptions for medical or religious purposes.

State workers

California state workers face a choice: Get the vaccination, or wear a mask and submit to weekly COVID-19 tests.

However, Newsom has stopped short of mandating that the state’s 240,000-strong workforce be fully vaccinated.