Is it time for Californians to tear the masks off - at least outside?
Virus particles disperse very quickly outdoors, and five global studies have now found less than 10% of all coronavirus infections occurred outside, with one suggesting that the chance of outdoor transmission is possibly as low as one in 7,000.
UCSF professor of medicine Dr. Monica Gandhi was an early advocate for universal masking, but says that it may be beneficial for California to drop the outdoor mask mandate.
"Especially at this time, with our incredible vaccination rates in the state of California, it is the right thing to do to show the public that yes, we take new data, we change, we ease restrictions as we go along."
The state currently requires people to wear masks anytime they are out in public and could come within six feet of someone who is not in their households.
She said that after over a year of lockdowns and mask requirements, it would be good for the public’s morale to continue easing restrictions as the data allows.
"That way you can have a break when you’re outside and you can see faces again. And then when you’re going indoors - until we all have a chance to be vaccinated - indoor masking will still be important."
But not everyone agrees that we have reached the point where we can relax this specific requirement. Masking is seen as one of the simplest and most effective tools we have against the virus.
The virus is still surging in parts of the country and there are about 65,000 new cases each day across the country.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported state officials say it is unlikely that any masking rules will be changed before the June 15 reopening deadline.
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