California will impose a statewide mask mandate in all indoor public spaces as Covid-19 case rates soar, according to the US state's senior government health official as precautions ramp up against the Omicron variant.
The mandate, which will take effect on Wednesday and last a month, is one of several measures the most populous US state is taking to slow a wave of infections that is already straining hospitals in areas where vaccination rates are low.
"We know people are tired, and hungry for normalcy," state Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said in a conference call with reporters. "Frankly I am, too."
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