California Workers Can Go Unmasked After Panel Vote, Governor OK

A California mandate that fully vaccinated workers wear face coverings while on the job was reversed Thursday by the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board with a 5-1 vote.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order following the vote that enables the change to take effect without the normal 10-day review period by the Office of Administrative Law. The change was among dozens of revisions to the state’s Covid-19 emergency temporary standard.

Other changes to the rule, enforced by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Heath, include allowing unvaccinated workers to go maskless when outdoors and requiring ...