Face Masks Still Mandated In Palm Springs

PALM SPRINGS, CA — Despite the relaxation of a statewide face mask mandate beginning at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the city of Palm Springs is not reversing course.

Face masks will still be required indoors in the city of Palm Springs "for the time being," the city announced Tuesday. In addition, under the city’s local COVID-19 order, proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test will still be required in restaurants and bars.

Although the state announced that masks will no longer be required in indoor spaces for fully vaccinated individuals in California, cities and counties can impose stricter requirements. Riverside County has aligned with state mandates, while Palm Springs has often imposed stricter guidelines.

On Thursday, the Palm Springs City Council voted to give City Manager/Emergency Services Director Justin Clifton the authority to decide when to remove the city’s COVID-19 restrictions.

The council instructed him that he should make decisions based on data and metrics and suggested milestones such as two multiple consecutive weeks in decline in cases and hospitalizations.

“We hope these trends will continue to decline and that Palm Springs can align its requirements with the state of California very soon,” Clifton said.

The statewide relaxation of the mask mandate is not universal. Unvaccinated people will still need to mask up in indoor spaces. Additionally, regardless of vaccination status, masks will still be required for all people in K-12 schools; on public transit; in healthcare settings (including long term care facilities); in adult and senior care facilities; in childcare and other youth settings; in state and local correctional facilities and detention centers; and in homeless shelters, emergency shelters, and cooling centers, according to the state.

Masks are recommended for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in places of worship, according to state officials.