State Masking Requirement

Updated 5/25/2023

Effective May 11, 2023 the CDC is no longer calculating COVID-19 Community Levels as a result of the sunsetting of the federal public health emergency. As a result, CDPH is sunsetting its Guidance for the Use of Face Masks and is recommending all Californians consider the following:

- Wear a mask around others if you have respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, runny nose, and/or sore throat),
- If you've had a significant exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, wear a mask for 10 days.
- When choosing to wear a mask, ensure your mask provides the best fit and filtration (Respirators like N95, KN95 and KF94 are the best).

In addition, wearing a mask is increasingly important for those that are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19, and as the risk for transmission increases in the community:

- Examples of settings to consider wearing a mask include indoor areas of public transportation (such as in airplanes, trains, buses, ferries) and transportation hubs (such as airports, stations, and seaports), and other crowded indoor settings, especially where higher risk individuals are present.

For more tips and resources for face masks, visit the CDPH resources below.

CDPH Related Materials:
Get the Most Out of Masking
Face Coverings Fact sheet (PDF)
Face Coverings Questions & Answers
Masks for Kids: Tips and Resources

Reviewed 5/25/2023