State officials said California will require masks in schools this fall, despite guidance from the CDC stating vaccinated students and teachers won't have to wear a mask inside the classroom. In a quote the California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Mark Ghaly said:
"Masking is a simple and effective intervention that does not interfere with offering full in person instruction"
At the outset of the new year, students should be able to walk into school without worrying about whether they will feel differently or singled out for being vaccinated or unvaccinated."
The CDC recommended that schools keep desk 3 feet apart, but this is not mandatory. Ghaly stated that some schools in the state may not be able to accommodate physical distancing. He also stated:
"We will align with the CDC by implementing multiple layers of mitigation strategies, including continued masking and robust testing capacity."
Due to the Delta variant of COVID-19 the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommends that all residents wear a mask indoors in public regardless of vaccination status!