Heading to Yosemite? Better bring a mask for anything indoors or public transportation

Bryant-Jon Anteola
·1 min read

Masks are once again required when indoors and using enclosed public transportation at Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite’s mask mandate applies to all people regardless of vaccination status, with the rules going back into effect this week because of currently high COVID-19 community levels near the national park.

As of June 25, Madera County had an 8.8% positivity rate over the past seven days, which is roughly the same rate the county experienced back in February before many mask mandates throughout California were loosened two months later.

Mariposa County’s rate, meanwhile, was 12.3% the past seven days and has been on the rise for the most part since May.

In addition, Fresno County’s rate was 14.9% over the past seven days.

The mask rule does not apply when simply outdoors at Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite National Park announced that masks are once again required indoors and in enclosed public transportation inside the park because of high COVID-19 community levels. Masks, however, aren’t mandatory when outside except when taking enclosed public transportation.
Yosemite National Park announced that masks are once again required indoors and in enclosed public transportation inside the park because of high COVID-19 community levels. Masks, however, aren’t mandatory when outside except when taking enclosed public transportation.

Yosemite’s mask rules align with U.S. Department of Labor guidelines and updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 recommendations.

Under the guidance, all federal employees, onsite contractors and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask inside federal buildings in areas where community COVID-19 levels are high, or where required by local mask mandates.

In areas determined to have low or medium COVID-19 community levels, masking would not be required regardless of vaccination status.