San Diego School Board Under Fire for Reinstating Mask Mandate | Angry Parents Gunning for Board Positions
The San Diego School Board is facing the heat over the newly-reinstated mask mandate, which prompted parents to "step up" and run for school board positions. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

The California mask mandate removal has not been imposed in some parts of the state, with Willow Glen Middle School still imposing a mask requirement in its premise.

Today marks the first day many students in California will not be required to wear a mask indoors. However some people still disagree, according to an NBC Los Angeles news report.

A fourth-grade student, August McCaffery-Shapiro, said that he is going to wear a mask so he can feel more comfortable so that COVID-19 cases will not rise up again.

Gary Shapiro, the nine-year-old's father, said that he is glad that his son is doing what makes him comfortable. He added that he feels confident whether his son wants to wear his mask or not that it will be "pretty safe."

Meanwhile, other kids and parents are relieved that most schools are allowing masks to be optional indoors.

Reactions on the Lifting of California Mask Mandate

California became the first state in the country to mandate a stay-at-home order to halt the spread of the COVID-19.

The state then announced that it will be ending the mask mandate in California. The move had garnered mixed reactions.

The New York Times reported that polling suggests that Californians are divided on the issue.

Margaret Colburn from Los Angeles noted that as a teacher with multiple autoimmune diseases and immunocompromised students in her classes, she is worried for herself and the children.

Colburn added that she cannot understand the "level of selfishness and lack of empathy" in making the decision to remove the California mask mandate.

Brooke Habecker, a parent from Redwood City, said that cases are down at her son's middle school and people have not had positive tests among staff or students in a couple of weeks.

Habecker said that despite that she will tell her son to wear a mask until the new rules "shake out."

Others have more positive reactions to the removal of the mask mandate.

Ed Chaney from Clovis said that he is happy that it is being lifted, adding that he teaches at a middle school, so he knows students and colleagues will continue to wear a mask due to their health.

He added that he is excited to see "all their weird little faces again."

A Twitter user with a handle @MtnHousePsych said that it makes him happy that the mask mandate ended and masks are now optional.

Meanwhile, teacher Lisa VanDamme said that fewer than half took off their masks, while those still wearing masks were required by their parents or "hiding acne and braces."

California Mask Mandate

The California mask mandate for schools had officially ended on March 12. However, some face coverings are still recommended in some indoor settings, according to an NBC Bay Area report.

Aside from California, Oregon and Washington also announced the end of their mask mandates in their respective states.

A handful of California school districts had already dropped the mask requirement for students in open defiance of the earlier state mandate.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in February a plan that highlights prevention and quick reaction to outbreaks over mandated masking and business shutdowns.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: California's indoor mask mandate lifted, but there are still requirements in some locations - from ABC 10