"Is it safe to lift indoor mask rules at California schools?"
The Los Angeles Times interviewed Dr. Robert Kim-Farley about California’s decision to lift a statewide mask rule in K-12 schools after March 11.
![Two elementary students with masks, sitting at table](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/hero/public/2022-08/2022.03.01_KimFarley_LAT_Masthead_0.png?itok=7PjKr6Qs)
Public health officials say California’s strict coronavirus policies in schools in recent months have resulted in relatively few pandemic-related campus closures.
Moreover, California’s rates of pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations are the lowest among the nation’s six most populous states, health experts said.
So why have they decided to lift a statewide mask rule in K-12 schools after March 11, allowing schools to decide for themselves?
Faculty Referenced by this Article
![Robert Kim-Farley](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-11/___Robert_Kim-Farley-sq.jpg?itok=2D4uW5pC)
Robert J. Kim-Farley, MD, MPH, is a Professor-in-Residence with joint appointments in the Departments of Epidemiology and Community Health Sciences
![Dr. Dvora Joseph Davey](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/Dvora%20Joseph%20Davey%20headshot%20Feb%202019.jpg?itok=F2RZIQRF)
Dr. Joseph Davey is an infectious disease epidemiologist with over 20 years' experience leading research on HIV/STI services for women and children.
![James Macinko](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-07/Macinko%2C%20J_500x500_10.jpg?itok=bsG1e-s6)
Professor of Community Health Sciences & Health Policy and Management, and Associate Dean for Research
![Cathy Lang](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-12/___Cathy%20_Lang-sq.jpg?itok=rgSJoTSR)
Assistant Dean for Research & Adjunct Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences
![Sarah Blenner](https://ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-12/Sarah%20Blenner-sq.jpg?itok=8H4H3-qk)
Director of Field Studies and Applied Professional Training
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