This memorandum updates facial covering recommendations at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) non-institutional work locations. The recommendations outlined herein supersede the February 15, 2022, memorandum entitled, “Required COVID-19 Facial Coverings in Non-Institutional Work Locations.”
The California Department of Public Health announced new masking guidance for California. Effective March 1, 2022, masks continue to be required for everyone in high transmission settings. These include public transit, emergency shelters, health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and long-term care facilities.
In all settings, including non-institutional work locations, it is strongly recommended all wear a mask indoors irrespective of vaccination status. However, unvaccinated individuals are no longer required to mask indoors.
Local conditions may warrant local masking requirements based on a combination of factors. Employees working in counties where the local health jurisdiction issues additional guidelines should continue to follow local mask guidelines. Please continue to monitor local public health announcements in counties where you work.
The requirement for state employees who have not verified their vaccination status to test at least weekly for COVID-19 has not changed. Exemptions to weekly testing remain in place. This includes, having COVID-19 in the prior 90 days or teleworking full-time in a week.
View current facial covering directives on the CDCR/CCHCS COVID-19 Response Page. We will regularly review and revise this directive as necessary based on response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For questions or concerns, please contact your respective supervisor or manager.