Masked for Another Month: Newsom Won't Follow CDC's Guidance Until Re-Opening Economy

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state will be following the new CDC mask guidance, but not for another month.

The CDC announced last week that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, but Newsom said California will wait to follow the science until the state's economy is fully re-opened.

Newsom first boasted about the total number of vaccines administered in the state before mentioning when California will follow the CDC's new guidance.

"CA has now administered over 35 MILLION vaccines," he tweeted on Monday. "We will implement the new CDC mask guidelines on 6/15, when we fully reopen our economy ..."

California health secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the date aligns with the state's plan to reopen the economy on June 15.

"Until June 15, when California plans to fully reopen the economy, California will keep our existing guidance around masks in place," Ghaly said.

Ghaly said it allows more time for more Californians to get fully vaccinated while providing more time to local governments, businesses and communities "to figure out an implementation system for the relaxed mask rules," ABC 7 reports.

“As of May 3, 2021, face coverings are no longer required outdoors except at crowded events, and for unvaccinated people, when physical distancing cannot be maintained," Ghaly said in a Monday statement. “In indoor settings outside of one’s home, including public transportation and schools, face coverings continue to be required regardless of vaccination status.”

In California, 49% of the people within the state are fully vaccinated and 15% are partially vaccinated, according to the state's COVID vaccine data.