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CDC updates mask guidance Outdoor activities permitted with no face coverings for those fully vaccinated
Newsom recall qualifies for ballot By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Proponents of a recall effort against Gov. Gavin Newsom collected enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, state election officials announced Monday, marking the second time in state history a recall effort triggered an election of this kind. State officials said Monday more than 1.6 million valid signatures were collected in support of the recall, surpassing the 1,495,709 valid signatures needed to qualify for an election. A total of 2,162,774 signatures were collected in the effort, but 1,626,042 were considered valid, according to data from the secretary of state’s office. Election officials are still unsure of when the recall election will take place, but when it appears on the ballot, California voters will decide if Gov. Newsom should be recalled and who should replace him. Even before the recall effort confirmed enough verified support, a number of Republicans stepped forward to declare candidacy, including Caitlyn Jenner and former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Businessman John Cox, who lost to Gov. Newsom in the 2018 governor election, and former Congressman Doug Ose are also running. No Democratic candidates have announced a campaign yet, but Gov. Newsom and his advisors have expressed confidence that he will defeat any attempt to remove him from office. “This Republican recall threatens our values and seeks to undo the important progress we’ve made — from
RAFAEL MALDONADO / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidelines Tuesday for outdoor mask wearing, easing outdoor restrictions for fully vaccinated residents. On Tuesday afternoon, some visitors to State Street wore masks while others walked around unmasked.
By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday announced revised guidelines for wearing masks outdoors, explaining that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear a mask outside unless they are in a large group of people. According to the new CDC guidance, both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals can walk, run and bike outdoors and attend small, outdoor family gatherings with fully vaccinated family and friends without wearing masks. Those who are fully vaccinated can also dine outdoors with friends from multiple households unmasked. “Today is another day we can take a step back to the normalcy of before,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House briefing Tuesday. “Over the past year, we have spent a lot of time telling Americans what they cannot do, what they should not do. Today, I’m going to tell you some of the things you can do if you are fully vaccinated.” The CDC also issued an updated status for mask wearing indoors, explaining different levels of safety for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals participating in indoor events and activities. For various activities,
like going to a hair salon, going to the shopping mall and attending an indoor worship service, the CDC labeled these activities as safe for vaccinated individuals who continue to wear a mask. Unvaccinated individuals, however, are still at risk of contracting the virus while engaging in a range of indoor activities, the CDC explained. Activities like going to an indoor movie theater, attending a full capacity worship service, eating at an indoor restaurant and bar were among the activities labeled safe for those vaccinated but “least safe” for those unvaccinated. While addressing reporters outside the White House Tuesday, President Joe Biden expressed hope that the revised guidance would spur more people to get their vaccine as soon as possible. “This is another great reason to go get vaccinated now,” Mr. Biden said. “Yes, vaccines are about saving your life, but also the lives of the people around you. They’re also about helping us get back to closer to normal.” The revised guidelines come after more than half of all U.S. adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and over one third of the population is fully vaccinated. In Santa Barbara County specifically, 36.1% of the eligible Please see MASKS on A4
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fighting COVID-19, to helping struggling families, protecting our environment and passing common sense gun violence solutions,” Gov. Newsom tweeted Monday. “There’s too much at stake.” According to a recent study from the Public Policy Institute of California, about 40% of Californians support the recall effort against Gov. Newsom. While 40% of the vote would not be enough to oust Gov. Newsom from his position, the recall delivers a blow to the prominent Democrat leader, who has received backlash in the past year from Republicans unhappy with his COVID-19 measures. Bobbi McGinnis, the Republican chairwoman for Santa Barbara County, called Gov. Newsom’s COVID-19 restrictions “over the Please see NEWSOM on A3
SB Unified addresses pandemic safety District to bus students to vaccination sites By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
According to revised CDC guidance, both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals can bike outdoors safely without wearing a mask.
During its regular board meeting, the Santa Barbara Unified School District discussed an increase in on-campus COVID19 cases. There have been 36 new COVID-19 cases in the district this month and one on-campus transmission. Students began their return to campus in March, separated into groups that learn in person two days per week. Elementary schools opened for five-daysper-week learning April 12, and secondary campuses opened for four-day weeks April 19. Susan Klein-Rothschild, Santa Barbara County Public Health Department school liaison, has noticed an increase in student COVID-19 cases countywide in both public and private schools. Since more students are attending campus, there will likely be more cases although case rates are decreasing. Ms. Klein-Rothschild noted factors that might have contributed to the increase, like spring break, sports and restlessness. “More students who participate
in athletics and extracurricular activities tend to be more likely to test positive for COVID, so that’s another factor,” she said. “We also know people are getting tired of following the protocols and wanting to loosen up when we’re doing better.” Of the 172 total cases, just 69 cases were detected in students. The case rate in teachers has been decreasing in recent weeks. “The number of COVID cases among school staff has drastically decreased, and I attribute that largely to the vaccination rates,” Ms. Klein-Rothschild said. Currently, 82% of the district’s employees have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. To help students get vaccinated, the district will begin transporting students who would like a vaccination to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital on Tuesdays. The bus will take groups of 20 at a time, and administrators plan to take 60 students next week. The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer has an emergency-use authorization for those 16 and older. The district will obtain parent approval for students under Please see SBUSD on A4
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NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
A recall effort against Gov. Gavin Newsom has garnered enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, according to state election officials. It is still uncertain when the recall election will take place.
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