For the first time in two years, students now able to attend class without masks
SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Monday marks the first time in two years California students are able to attend class without wearing mask.
The state's mask mandate for students expired at 11:59 p.m. Friday night, ending a two-year long requirement for face coverings that went into effect at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
The last day California school children were able to go maskless was March 13, 2020, on the final day of in-class instruction as the pandemic hit, which forced schools into remote learning.
On Monday, the monumental change was embraced by many people on school campuses, both educators and students.
"The kids are so excited," said Paul Aldaco, Liberty Elementary Assistant Principal. "Just seeing the grown-ups too as well. Everybody on the campus, I have to say is thoroughly excited, yes!"
"I feel great," said Pioneer Valley High School senior Miguel Bautista. "I feel amazing. I like seeing the new faces around campus. I feel more comfortable without it."
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced two weeks ago on Feb. 28 face coverings will no longer be required for students regardless of vaccination status once the mask mandate ended on March 11.
While masking is no longer required, the use of masks is still “strongly recommended” for unvaccinated people in most indoor settings.
"Families have that option to send their students to school wearing masks or not wearing masks," said Maggie White, Santa Maria-Bonita School District public information officer. "We want families to know we respect everyone's choices, as well as staff. We have staff members who are continuing to wear a mask, and we want to honor and respect that."
For some people on campus, they said they will continue to wear masks and will continue for the foreseeable future.
"I'm keeping my mask on because it's more a personal reason. My family has been really affected by Covid and I still believe it's very much out there and very much real," said Pioneer Valley senior Miranda Meza.
For the past two weeks following Gov. Newsom's announcement, schools districts have been providing parents and guardians with information through their outreach platforms in order to help them stay up-to-date with the new state guidance.
"There's been lots of messaging coming from the district office and also the school site just to make sure everyone is informed," said Shanda Herrera, Pioneer Valley Principal.
In addition, individual school districts are allowed to keep masking requirements in place if they choose based on their own health situation.
Several large school districts around the state are keeping the mask mandate in place for an unknown period of time, including Los Angeles Unified and Sacramento City Unified, while others, such as San Diego Unified, are extending the requirement to a predetermined date in the future (April 4 for San Diego).
On the Central Coast, all large schools districts have announced they will follow the updated state guidance and will allow students to go maskless.
