Newsom removes his children from basketball camp after it refused to enforce mask policy

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Tuesday pulled his children out of a summer day camp that was not requiring people to wear masks.

“The Newsoms were concerned to see unvaccinated children unmasked indoors at a camp their children began attending yesterday and after seeing this, removed the kids from the camp,” Erin Mellon, director of agency communications, said in a statement to The Associated Press.

“The family reviewed communication from the camp and realized that an email was missed saying the camp would not enforce masking guidance. Their kids will no longer be attending this camp,” Mellon added. 

Two of the governor’s children, aged 10 and 11, were attending the day camp, according to Mellon. The AP noted that the camp’s rules were in violation of state mask guidance recommending that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks indoors. Due to their ages, Newsom’s children are not eligible to get vaccinated.

The AP reported that this decision came after Reopen California Schools, a group that is advocating for full school reopenings without masks, said it had obtained photos of Newsom’s son at the camp.

Newsom likely wanted to avoid appearing as though he was ignoring his own policies, especially after he was seen attending a dinner party at a high-end restaurant, French Laundry, when he had advised California residents against large gatherings last year.

The AP noted that Newsom also received criticism for sending his children to a private school that utilized hybrid learning at a time when most children in public schools were still learning remotely.

These perceived hypocrisies as well as discontent with COVID-19 mitigation measures among his critics were part of what sparked the recall vote that Newsom currently faces.

This personal decision by Newsom comes just one day after his office announced that all state and health care workers in California would be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing.