Vaccinated or not, California workers may keep masks on

• Major California businesses expressed frustration Thursday with proposed rules by state workplace regulators that would only allow workers to go maskless if everyone in a room is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
• The workplace rules could remain in place into early next year even though coronavirus cases have fallen dramatically in the state after a severe winter spike as more people get vaccinated.
• That contrasts with the state's plan to fully reopen in less than two weeks and do away with virtually all mask and social distancing requirements for vaccinated people.
• Katie Hansen, senior legislative director for the California Restaurant Association, was part of a long line of critics from various industries that testified at a meeting of the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, or Cal/OSHA, that is considering the plan.
• Hansen said that if the rules are adopted, then after the state reopens 'a fully vaccinated server could work a lunch shift in a restaurant...then go out to dinner with their family or friends at the same restaurant in the evening and not be required to wear a mask, even though they had to wear a mask earlier in the day while at work.'
• 'Cal/OSHA is out of step with the rest of the country,' said Andrew Sommer on behalf of the California Employers COVID-19 Prevention Coalition.
• Gov. Gavin Newsome, who established the state reopening date was June 15, was noncommital about what he would do if the idea was adopted. Newsome has the power to override it with an executive order.
• 'We'll see where they land on the rulemaking before making a determination of next steps,' he said, adding that Cal/OSHA must apply its rules to a wide variety of businesses, including places like meatpacking facilities that were hit especially hard by the virus.