In a week, California’s statewide mask mandate is due to expire as data shows a marked drop in the virus’s effect. As of February 15th, the state will no longer require general indoor masking for vaccinated folks because COVID cases have fallen by two thirds over the month and hospitalizations are stable.

“We need to prune off the restrictions as we can do it safely and so I think it’s reasonable what we’re doing now,” said UC Berkeley Infectious Disease Expert Dr. John Swartzberg.

But he says this roller coaster of variant, surge, new variant, surge, new variant and so on, may go on as long millions insist on not being vaccinated.

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