With case rates increasing 47% since Thanksgiving, the California Department of Public Health will require universal masking to increase protection to individuals, families, and communities during the holidays.

While urban counties like Santa Clara show improved COVID-19 data over a year ago, mostly rural regions have more hospitalized COVID-19 patients today than in 2020.

For most holidays, the meaning is pretty straightforward. On the Fourth of July, the nation celebrates the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. On Memorial Day we remember the military’s men and women who died in active service. Presidents Day is a little more ambiguous—and that’s not even its real name.