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Everything to know about California's June 15 reopening, from capacity limits to the mask mandate

Everything to know about California's June 15 reopening, from capacity limits to the mask mandate
MORE THAN WELCOMING. HERE AT CLUB 2 ME, THE DRINKS ARE POURING. THE LAUGHS ARE ROLLING, AND CUSTOMERS ARE BACK. HUEY TIDWELL, MANAGER OF CLUB 2 ME, SAYS BUSINESS IS GOOD. >> WE’RE ACTUALLY TURNINAG PROFIT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 13, 15 MONTHS. BRITTNAY: TIDWELL, LIKE MANY, ARE EYNGEI JUNE 15, THE DATE CALIFORNIA’S ECONOMY IS SET TO REOP.EN >> EAGERLY ANTICIPATED AND WE’RE PREPARED AND READY TO GO. BRITTNAY: ON JUNE 15, NEARLY ALL COVID RESTRICTIONS WILL BE REMOD.VE ALL OF THIS WELCOME NEWS TO TIDWELL, WHO SAYS RUNNING A BUSINESS WHILE KEEPING UP WITH CHANGING GDEUILINES CAN BE CONFUSING. >> A NIGMAHTRE. MORE OF A NIGHTMARE. AND YOU DO IT DAY TO DAY. YOU PICK UP YOUR PHONE AND SEE WHAT ARE THEY SAYING. BRITTNAY: ALTHOUGH THE STATE IS SETO RT EOPEN, GOVERNOR NEWSOM IS KEEPING EMERGENCY ORDERS IN PLACE BEYOND THE JUNE 15 REOPENING. THIS WILL ALLOW THE GOVERNORO T TAKE ACTION IN CASE THINGS GO SOUTH, ACCORDING TO POLITICAL ANALYST, STEVE SWA.TT >> IF THERE’S A NEW VARIANT THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN HITS CALIFORNIA, IF FOR SOME REASON THERE’S A SNAG IN SUPPLY OF VACCINE, IF ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE STOP GETTING VACCINES OR THEIR SECOND SHOT, AND SOMETHING HAPPENS DAN OUR DEATH RATES GO UP OR HOSPITALIZATION RATES GO UP OR POSITIVE TESTS GO UP, THEN HE FEELS HE NEEDS TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN AN EMERGENCTOY TAKE CERTAIN SPSTE BRITTNAY: ALLOWS CALIFORNIA TO CONTINUE COORDINATING WITH FEMA ON A NUMBER OF ONGOING PROGRAMS, LIKE VACCINATIONS AND TESTING, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS THE STATE CONTINUES VACCINATING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY WEEK. >> COVID IS STILL ANSS IUE. IT IS OUT THERE. BUT WE’VE WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED,HE T STATE OF CALIFORNIA FEELS THAT WE CAN REOPEN BACK TO NORMAL LEVELS, NORMAL CAPACITY AND BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO SORT OF NORMAL ROUTI. BRITTNAY: HERE’S HOW CALIFORNIA WILL CHANGE COME JUNE 15. VACCINE VERIFICATION AND NEGATIVE TESTING WILL BE REQUIRED FOR INDOOR MEGA EVENTS, BUT ONLY RECOMMENDED FOR OUTDOOR MEGA EVES.NT NO MORE RESRTRICTIONS ON CAPACITY AND PHYSICAL DISTANCI.NG MASKING WILL FOLLOW STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT GUIDANCE. AND TRAVELING WILL COINCIDE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CENTERS AND DISEASE CONTROL. BACK AT CLUB 2 ME, CUSTOMERS ARE MORE THAN READY TO GET BACK ATO NEW SINCE OF NOR
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Everything to know about California's June 15 reopening, from capacity limits to the mask mandate
On June 15, California plans to "fully reopen" its economy. What exactly does that mean? We break down everything you need to know.RELATED: COVID-19 vaccines in California: Everything you need to knowWhat will change starting June 15?First off, the state is ditching the color-coded reopening system. All counties, regardless of how high or low coronavirus transmission is, will be allowed to reopen all at the same time.In short, pretty much everything will be allowed to go back to normal. There won't be any required capacity limits, no more physical distancing, and much looser mask mandates.All those lifted restrictions are at the state level. Counties, cities and local businesses still have the right to set their own capacity limits or other rules, as they see fit.What about large events like sports games and big concerts -- what restrictions are in place there?These sort of "mega events" -- as the state is calling them -- are the only area with some COVID-19 restrictions still in place after June 15.At outdoor live events with more than 10,000 people, California will recommend venues have a verification of vaccination/negative test in place. Those who aren't vaccinated or who don't show a negative test result can still enter if they wear a mask. This is a recommendation from the state, not a requirement.Indoor venues with 5,000 or more people are required to implement a similar verification. However, at these indoor events, non-vaccinated people who don't show a negative COVID-19 test result can't enter, the state says. This is a requirement, not a recommendation.These guidelines are going to be in place for conferences, conventions, concerts, sporting events and the like until Oct. 1. The California Department of Public Health says it will re-evaluate the situation on Sept. 1 and decide if an extension is necessary.When will I still have to wear a mask?Starting June 15, California plans to update its mask mandate to comply with CDC recommendations.That means fully vaccinated people will be allowed to do pretty much everything they were doing before the pandemic without needing to wear a mask. That includes grocery shopping, going to the gym, drinking at a bar, seeing a movie or going to church.There are just a few places where vaccinated people will still need to wear masks, including hospitals, prisons, homeless shelters and during travel (including air travel and mass transit).If you're not vaccinated, you'll still be required to wear a mask. How will businesses be able to tell the difference? That's trickier. Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the state is working on writing up best practices that businesses will be able to follow.Will there be travel restrictions in place?California recommends people delay non-essential travel until they are fully vaccinated, but no travel restrictions will be in effect. Proof of a negative COVID-19 test isn't required to enter the U.S. nor California, but your destination may still require proof of vaccination and/or a negative test result.Will there be stricter rules in the Bay Area?Health officers in the San Francisco Bay Area, who have at times played it even safer than the state when it comes to reopening, have indicated they'll be following California's lead this time. We are expecting the nine Bay Area counties to adopt the same rules (and lack thereof) outlined by the state above.What will trigger another COVID-19 shutdown?That hasn't been announced yet. As vaccination rates continue to climb steadily, California has seen declining COVID-19 cases for six months, even as more businesses and sectors of the economy have been allowed to reopen.When announcing the details of the June 15 reopening, Ghaly was asked about what might trigger the state to potentially lock back down. He said the state would be keeping a close eye on case numbers and COVID-19 variants, but didn't get into the specifics of what a worst case scenario might look like."The big message today is we're at a place with this pandemic where those requirements of the past are no longer needed for the foreseeable future, and we will be watching closely to determine if and when we need other public health protections to come back into play," he said.

On June 15, California plans to "fully reopen" its economy. What exactly does that mean? We break down everything you need to know.

RELATED: COVID-19 vaccines in California: Everything you need to know

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What will change starting June 15?

First off, the state is ditching the color-coded reopening system. All counties, regardless of how high or low coronavirus transmission is, will be allowed to reopen all at the same time.

In short, pretty much everything will be allowed to go back to normal. There won't be any required capacity limits, no more physical distancing, and much looser mask mandates.

All those lifted restrictions are at the state level. Counties, cities and local businesses still have the right to set their own capacity limits or other rules, as they see fit.

What about large events like sports games and big concerts -- what restrictions are in place there?

These sort of "mega events" -- as the state is calling them -- are the only area with some COVID-19 restrictions still in place after June 15.

  • At outdoor live events with more than 10,000 people, California will recommend venues have a verification of vaccination/negative test in place. Those who aren't vaccinated or who don't show a negative test result can still enter if they wear a mask. This is a recommendation from the state, not a requirement.
  • Indoor venues with 5,000 or more people are required to implement a similar verification. However, at these indoor events, non-vaccinated people who don't show a negative COVID-19 test result can't enter, the state says. This is a requirement, not a recommendation.

These guidelines are going to be in place for conferences, conventions, concerts, sporting events and the like until Oct. 1. The California Department of Public Health says it will re-evaluate the situation on Sept. 1 and decide if an extension is necessary.

When will I still have to wear a mask?

Starting June 15, California plans to update its mask mandate to comply with CDC recommendations.

That means fully vaccinated people will be allowed to do pretty much everything they were doing before the pandemic without needing to wear a mask. That includes grocery shopping, going to the gym, drinking at a bar, seeing a movie or going to church.

There are just a few places where vaccinated people will still need to wear masks, including hospitals, prisons, homeless shelters and during travel (including air travel and mass transit).

If you're not vaccinated, you'll still be required to wear a mask. How will businesses be able to tell the difference? That's trickier. Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the state is working on writing up best practices that businesses will be able to follow.

Will there be travel restrictions in place?

California recommends people delay non-essential travel until they are fully vaccinated, but no travel restrictions will be in effect. Proof of a negative COVID-19 test isn't required to enter the U.S. nor California, but your destination may still require proof of vaccination and/or a negative test result.

Will there be stricter rules in the Bay Area?

Health officers in the San Francisco Bay Area, who have at times played it even safer than the state when it comes to reopening, have indicated they'll be following California's lead this time. We are expecting the nine Bay Area counties to adopt the same rules (and lack thereof) outlined by the state above.

What will trigger another COVID-19 shutdown?

That hasn't been announced yet. As vaccination rates continue to climb steadily, California has seen declining COVID-19 cases for six months, even as more businesses and sectors of the economy have been allowed to reopen.

When announcing the details of the June 15 reopening, Ghaly was asked about what might trigger the state to potentially lock back down. He said the state would be keeping a close eye on case numbers and COVID-19 variants, but didn't get into the specifics of what a worst case scenario might look like.

"The big message today is we're at a place with this pandemic where those requirements of the past are no longer needed for the foreseeable future, and we will be watching closely to determine if and when we need other public health protections to come back into play," he said.