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California will keep its COVID-19 mask rules in place through June 15, state health officials announced this week.
The announcement came after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a seismic shift in its recommendations, saying those whoâve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely unmask and disregard distancing requirements in many instances.
Following that new guidance, states across the country, including Oregon, updated their own rules to allow the fully vaccinated to unmask in some settings.
But California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Monday the state would wait to lift its mandate until June 15, when state officials plan to lift most pandemic restrictions.
Del Norte Countyâs COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower than most of the rest of the state, and lower than some health officials would hope.
Dr. Warren Rehwaldt, Del Norte Countyâs public health officer, told the board of supervisors Tuesday the county has vaccinated about one third of the countyâs adults (behind the stateâs 45%).
âWeâre hopeful that we can get more,â Rehwaldt said. âWe think that the biggest news that people should think about in making this decision is the fact that we have some variants in our county. Theyâve been identified â not a lot yet, but weâve had the California variant for some time that weâve known about, and we now have the (U.K. variant), and we think that weâre going to get more.â
A loosening of COVID-19 restrictions still remains just out of reach in Del Norte County.
According to the countyâs case data, it was close to a reduction last week, with data qualifying for the orange tier of virus restrictions, but a recent increase could squander that progress.
The countyâs April 18 through 24 case rate and test positivity rate were below the threshold for the orange tier of virus restrictions, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. After two weeks with rates at that level, the county could move to the new tier.
A change in tiers would be the countyâs first in three months, a longer wait than any other California county. The reduction would increase the allowable capacity in the countyâs indoor bars, restaurants and other businesses.