Is California Ready to Reopen? The State Prepares for Post-Pandemic Life

June 15th will be a big day for California. Businesses can reopen at 100% capacity. Now, this is also the day when officials are issuing relaxed mask regulations. In most settings, both indoors and outdoors, a mask will not be required for fully vaccinated individuals.

This appears to be a huge relief for the millions of California residents. While the state’s reopening trails behind other states, it also provides clarity to people who have been eager to return to normalcy. By this point in time, all Californians aged 16+ are able to get vaccinated. So long as there are vaccines readily available and a low number of hospitalizations, Governor Newsom is prepared to fully open the economy.

We’re approaching a point of progress that seemed impossible last summer. Now that the numbers are decreasing and faces are getting freed, we might really be ready to embrace life post-COVID. Yet there are still cases of COVID-19 in California. Yes, the numbers are fewer, but they’re not entirely gone. This might mean regulations are being dropped during a period of time when they’re still critical.

What We Know

The CDC has finally given Americans the green light to resume daily life without a mask if they are fully vaccinated. People are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose of their vaccine , and anyone who has already reached this milestone is safe to commence life without a mask. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as air travel or large crowds and gatherings. For most areas of daily life, full vaccination means no need for a mask. Even if you’re walking in a store with other unmasked, unvaccinated people, the vaccinated person should have immunity.

California isn’t so quick to adopt this policy. In the Golden State, June 15th is the maskless day.

Many stores are dropping mask regulations for fully vaccinated individuals. Target, Costco, Trader Joe’s and Starbucks are all part of the roster. In California, these retailers won’t ease their regulations until June 15th to continue the vaccination distribution process. If you go to a Target in Florida or Texas, you won’t need a mask. Those states have removed COVID-19 protocols for weeks…