California to Lift Mask Mandate March 1 for Unvaccinated, March 12 for Schools

Kindergarteners wear masks while listening to their teacher amid the COVID-19 pandemic at Washington Elementary School in Lynwood, Calif., on Jan. 12, 2022. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo

California is lifting its mask mandate on March 1 for unvaccinated people in most indoor settings, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Feb. 28.

The state’s K–12 school mask mandate will be lifted on March 12. Masks will then be “strongly recommended,” rather than required, for all individuals indoors.