It was the first state in the U.S. to shut down due to the COVID-19 crisis, and now, the Golden State is opening up.
California is lifting most of its COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday – which means the state will no longer enforce social distancing or capacity limits at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, gyms, stadiums or anywhere else.
"This is truly a big, big day," said Dr. George Rutherford, Pediatrician and Director of Prevention and Public Health Group at UCSF.
Importantly, face masks – the most recognizable and controversial symbols of the coronavirus pandemic – are no longer mandated by the state's Department of Public Health or executive order in many situations.
This occasion isn’t without reason.
California has administered almost 39 million doses of the various COVID-19 vaccines: An estimated 56% of all residents have gotten at least one dose with 47.1% of Californians fully vaccinated.
However, rural parts of the state aren’t yet up to speed.
"People need to get vaccinated," Dr. Rutherford told KCBS Radio’s Jim Taylor and Margie Shafer. "They’re spread fairly far apart. Across the country, rural areas seem to be lagging behind the urban areas in terms of vaccination. Some of that may be volitional, some of that may be delivery issues. But it’s something that deserves additional focus."
The Delta variant, traced to India, remains of high concern in the U.S. and beyond as the race to vaccinate the world continues.
When it comes to wearing masks at work – the rules are clear as mud.
"You could wait two more months. You could have done it a month earlier. But this seems to maximize…we have to get a lot of stuff straight," Dr. Rutherford added, pointing to the confusing rules handed down by Cal/OSHA.
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