On December 14, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California amended its COVID-19 safety protocols for facial coverings. Chief Judge Order 59-B provides:
As of December 15, 2021, the State of California and the County of San Diego will require masks to be worn in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status. This mask mandate is scheduled to last at least through January 15, 2022. Therefore, masks must be worn inside the federal courthouses and probation and pretrial services offices. Judges will retain discretion regarding masks in their own courtrooms.
More information about the Court's safety protocols can be found here.