California's Covid-19 restriction tiers will be done away with by the state on June 15.

After a long year of business restrictions and closures, California is getting its sense of normalcy back. But don’t ditch the mask, yet.

Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Health and Human Services secretary, announced the state is doing away with the Blueprint for a Safer Economy metrics starting June 15. 

Stripping the blueprint means full capacity in places like bars, restaurants, gyms and other venues. California will keep its mask mandate.

Ghaly attributed the restriction removal to administering 20 million vaccinations in the state, and continually decreasing hospitalizations. 

“With that we’re ready to consider the next aspect of our pandemic response,” Ghaly said.

The June 15 date, eight weeks after all are eligible for vaccination, was selected to give residents a chance to sign up for two vaccination appointments over four weeks, and gain antibodies two weeks after being fully vaccinated.

The two-month period will also give businesses a chance to regroup before opening up capacity. During the two months leading up to June 15, health officials will keep a close eye on variants of concern, and make sure hospitalizations continue to see consistent decline.

Ghaly said the state is confident in lifting restrictions because of the consistent vaccine supply coming at the federal level. Additionally, health officials find that those who are hospitalized generally are not yet vaccinated. As vaccination ramps up, officials hope to see that hospitalization trends decline as a result. 

This will be a statewide exit from the blueprint, and not county by county. Everyday activities will be allowed, and businesses will fully open. 

A no-blueprint world and full capacity will provide predictability for businesses who have been subject to tiers for closures and restrictions. Right now there are no firm mandates on businesses to require proof of vaccination or Covid-19 testing.

“Right now we are hopeful in what we have seen,” Ghaly said. “We can go to movies, to the beach, and see family.”