California to Require Masks for All Children in Schools, Despite CDC Guidance

Students sit behind barriers and use tablets during an English class at St. Anthony Catholic High School in Long Beach, Calif., on March 24, 2021. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

California will force children to wear masks in schools in the fall, despite federal guidance released last week that recommended against requiring face coverings for kids who are fully vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19.

“Masking is a simple and effective intervention that does not interfere with offering full in-person instruction,” said California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly in a statement.