California reopening economy, lifting COVID-19 restrictions

California is set to reopen its economy and lift most COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday.

“On Tuesday we will fully reopen our economy,” Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) wrote on Twitter. “It’s been a long road, but our future is BRIGHT.”

Newsom, in the same tweet on Sunday, said California has administered more than 40 million COVID-19 vaccines, which is the most of any state in the U.S.

Additionally, he reported that 72 percent of adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.

NEW: CA has now administered over 40 MILLION #COVID19 VACCINES.

That’s over 16 million more than any other state in the nation.

72% of adults have received at least one shot.

And on Tuesday we will fully reopen our economy.

It’s been a long road, but our future is BRIGHT.

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 13, 2021

Beginning Tuesday, all capacity limits and physical distancing restrictions will be lifted throughout the state, according to The Washington Post.

Californians who have not yet been vaccinated, however, will still be required to wear a mask in a number of indoor locations, according to the Post.

Additionally, attendees to indoor events that host more than 5,000 people will be required to show a negative test or proof of vaccination upon entry, the Post reported, citing the state’s public health department.

Newsom signaled in April that nearly all COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted and the state’s economy would reopen on June 15.

Last month, the state’s Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly announced that beginning June 15, fully vaccinated Californians will be allowed to go without masks in most indoor settings, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on May 13 that fully vaccinated Americans can safely ditch masks while indoors.

Ghaly said the state decided to lift the mask mandate four weeks after the CDC made their announcement to “give Californians time to prepare for this change while we continue our relentless focus on delivering vaccines, particularly in underserved communities.”

California will now join a number of states that have lifted most restrictions and reopened their economies, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

The state reopenings come as the U.S. continues to progress through its vaccination effort.

As of Sunday, more than 143.9 million Americans were fully vaccinated, equating to 43.4 percent of the total population, according to the CDC.

More than 173.8 million individuals, or 52.4 percent of the total population, have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Sunday, according to the CDC.