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California lifting indoor mask mandate, SLO County undecided

February 8, 2022

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

California officials announced Monday they will lift the state’s indoor mask mandate next week for vaccinated individuals.

After taking effect on Dec. 15, 2021, the mandate was set to expire on Jan. 15, 2022. But, the state extended the mandate through Feb. 15, the date it will now be lifted.

“CA’s case rate has decreased by 65% since our Omicron peak. Our hospitalizations have stabilized across the state,” Gov. Gavin Newsom stated in a tweet. “Our statewide indoor mask requirement will expire on 2/15. Unvaccinated people will still need to wear masks indoors. Get vaccinated. Get boosted.”

State officials did not announce plans to lift the requirement for children to wear masks at school. But, the California Department of Public Health stated in a press release that adjustments to the state’s mask policies for schoolchildren are in the works and will be disclosed in the coming week.

Additionally, California is keeping in place its mask requirement for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, in settings like public transit and congregate living.

San Luis Obispo County still has its own indoor mask mandate, which has been in place since Sept. 1. County officials have not indicated whether or not they will lift the mandate.


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I can’t wait to see what all the karens will scream at people about when masks go away.


4

It’s been 2 years now. The hospitals should be ready for any “surge” at this point. Anyone who wants the vaccine(s) has taken them. Anyone who wants to have the best mask on Earth has had a chance to buy and wear it.


At this point, it’s just becoming virtue-signaling and supposedly a reminder there “is a pandemic”. I feel very sorry for the people working 8 hour shifts sweating in masks for the last 2 years, especially when you read the side of the mask box that says: “Doesn’t protect against Covid.”..


46

It is because state of the union speech is March 1. Biden needs a victory. If we lift covid mandates, then he can say he beat covid. Trump couldn’t do it, but he did it. He has nothing else to crow about.


36

Stock market up 20%, 6.4 million jobs created, $1.2 trillion infrastructure package passed. Sure, nothing to crow about.


-58

Interesting list of accomplishments to “crow” about. Do you know anyone who’s benefiting from this 20% increase in he stock market…unless you know a lot of market insiders? Most people I know have been bleeding red in the market for the past year. 6.4 million jobs “created”, maybe restored would be a better word choice, but still a fraction of the jobs that were destroyed by lock downs! Do you see the labor shortages & help wanted signs, or are you still locked down? A $1.2 T infrastructure package signed with high inflation (highest in 40 years), GDP slow to recover, record trade deficit, and a $30 T National debt…this is not a good thing….unless stagflation is the goal.


20

Don’t forget the 690,000 COVID-19 deaths under his watch as long you are providing numbers for the Biden administration. I’m sure you just overlooked that, but I’m happy to help you out.


16

Crime is through the roof across our nation, our kids have lost years of mental and social development, race baiting is an acceptable form of argument, a woman can be a man and vice versa from one day to the next depending on how they are feeling at the time, inflation is the highest it has been in over 40 years, an unbelievable number of able bodied and minded adults are not working as a choice, our enemies across the globe do not fear us, and to top it all off the federal government will supply free crack pipes for the sake of “social equity.” Ya, everything looks fine to me adam.


21

Yeah that 20% boost in the stock market is really helping me with food and gas going up 50%+!


11

Politics, not science, is driving this latest loosening of restrictions. Mid-terms are approaching and Democrats are nervous. The recent Johns Hopkins study showed that lockdowns did not work so please, SLO County, it’s time to listen to the science. Get the masks off school kids and re-open 100%.


77

Did you read it? No? It’s not a “Johns Hopkins study”, it is a working paper (no peer review) written by 3 economists who are not doctors of medicine. One of them is a economist with no epidemiology experience, who is part of the Cato Institute. The other two don’t work at Hopkins, are not even Americans as they live in Europe.


“Moreover, Maher didn’t clarify that the three authors were economists rather than medical, epidemiology, or public health experts. Isn’t that a bit like three proctologists telling you how the economy is doing? It’s not clear how much economists alone would understand the complexities and subtleties of medicine and public health. After all, if you were to end up in the emergency room with an injury, “don’t worry an economist will be around shortly to re-attach your arm” may not be the most comforting thing to hear.” -forbes.


Just like the “Stanford study” This is BS alternative facts, please don’t get your medical advice from fox or facebook, it’s not a good look.


Politics, not science, is driving your spreading of misinformation. /r/SelfAwarewolves


-60

So, this is where, basic common sense, overules any “experts. Are there really any global pandemic experts anyways? No.


-4

So you do your own surgery with a stapler and all that?

And here I was paying some guy to stitch my injuries when the guy at the 7/11 could have done it for less.

/s


Yes there are experts, but you be you.


-22

You can’t stop this train. Once again it’s political (Dems don’t want to loose midterms). People are vaccinated and a shitload of herd immunity. Give it up dude. This pandemic is endemic. Save yourself and leave the rest of us alone.


30

Where did I say stop the train? If you read my reply to someone else they mentioned a “Johns Hopkins study” that’s not a study and the Cato Institute is involved so yes it’s political as both sides want to get elected.


“leave the rest of us alone” Gatekeep much?, you have been here all of 60 seconds, you leave.


-25

What’s your point? Are you against the party in control lifting the mask mandate? They must be following the science or the restrictions would stand. Please advise. You sound very informed.


10

I’m fine with the lifting and the real science.


But more importantly what’s your point? You think someone on the internet is wrong someplace?


-13

It is a literature review & meta-analysis study! You don’t need an epidemiologist or virologist to conduct a study like this..they study the physical science part, like gain of function. The article clearly identifies that it was by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health and the Study of Business Enterprise. I also really don’t see how anyone’s nationality, or immigration/residency status, is a disqualifying trait to conduct such a study. Indeed, it has not been peer reviewed, but it is in fact a study, a ‘pre-print’ study, conducted by Johns Hopkins (no slack institution). The facts of the study are not BS facts, they just haven’t been peer reviewed yet…which, it likely will considering the source is Johns Hopkins & colleges typically aim for publishing in scholarly journals. There have been countless preprint studies over the past 2 years that everyone (even “the science”) have been referring to, because most recent studies have not been published. Your ER scenario is a complete straw man – they did not evaluate covid treatment protocols in the health care system (though I would love to see those studies)…no one of sound mind would draw the parallel that these economists are masquerading as infectious disease doctors. It sounds more like they are just facts that you don’t want to hear.


8

Watch how fast other blue states fall in line as the political pressure tightens. Then Canada, New Zealand and Australia. These cockamamie mandates have been virtually worthless…. as “the science” tells us… for those who choose to listen.


75

Only against mask MANDATES.


Not anti-vaccination, just anti vax MANDATES


Get it?


24

Must be an election on the horizon….


80

Because you think there is no way that “CA’s case rate has decreased by 65% since our Omicron peak” is true?


-42

What happened after the last (delta) peak subsided? Oh right, the omicron peak. If it was about science, wouldn’t history tell us that if masks do work, then we would want to keep wearing them because there will be another “surge?” I’m not saying masks work (except a properly fitted N95 mask), just pointing out that the logic points towards the decision arising from political motivations.


7

Omicron case rate? Rate of positivity ALMOST irrelevant. Hospitalizations and death, almost completely non vaccinated. Vaccinated people spread Omicron profusely.


Testing positive is almost irrelevant, how many need hospital care or worse? ANSWER: Unvaccinated folks mostly.


Cloth masks don’t work, just virtue signaling theatre.

Get vaccinated and live your life.


-8