June 15 is the set date for California to reopen — as long as there are enough COVID-19 vaccines, CNBC reported.
Gov. Gavin Newsom intends for anyone who wants a vaccine to have one by that time, according to CNBC.
“With more than 20 million vaccines administered across the state, it is time to turn the page on our tier system and begin looking to fully reopen California’s economy,” Newsom said in a statement. “We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic. We will need to remain vigilant and continue the practices that got us here — wearing masks and getting vaccinated — but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter.”
The state is also supposed to end its color-tiered system, which has been used to determine the level of COVID-19 risk, according to CNBC.
Many states have been looking at relaxing their restrictions, with Texas rolling back its mask mandate in March and Arizona rolling back capacity restrictions on businesses and not requiring masks either, CNBC reported. Meanwhile, Alabama said it would not require masks anymore after Friday (April 9), and South Carolina said it would be quitting requiring masks for state buildings, although it still recommends that restaurants continue to require mask use.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has continued to recommend Americans stop traveling for now as cases continue to surge even amid vaccines being more prevalent, according to CNBC.
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“We are not recommending travel at this time, especially for unvaccinated individuals,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, per CNBC.
Eighteen states in total are at least loosening mask requirements, but some retailers, including several small businesses, have continued to require them.
In Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott has ended the mandate, Soul Popped Gourmet Popcorn at Austin’s Barton Creek Square Mall is still requiring every customer to mask up, calling it a “matter of safety” for all customers.
