California Department of Public Health (CDPH), please view the Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. Dr. Chin-Hong said that the increase in community immunity from the widespread of the Omicron variant, early COVID intervention treatments and the significant decline in cases are among the reasons he agrees with the state's stance that it's time to loosen mask measures. And the state now requires those without proof of vaccination attending events with more than 1,000 people to show a negative COVID-19 test within one day. Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Sonomawere all in the orange tier, indicating "substantial" community spread, on Friday morning. Unlike San Francisco, Alameda County pointed to specific criteria for when the mandate will be lifted. Is the Stanley Quencher tumbler worth its TikTok hype? For additional information on the most effective types of masks and ensuring a well-fitted mask for children, individuals should refer to San Francisco On June 2, following Alameda County's announcement of a renewed indoor mask mandate, San Francisco officials told KQED that they don't have plans to reinstate a similar mask mandate at this time. If hospitalization rates remain elevated we would stick to our current approach. health care settings. As of Friday, 81% of Marin's population was fully vaccinated. faith-based organizations concluded on March 31. Vaccines and Rapid antigen test kits (home test kits) are also available There are now 15 people with COVID-19 in the hospital and six of those are in the intensive care unit. Consider wearing a mask in indoor areas of public transportation (such as in airplanes, trains, buses, ferries) and transportation hubs (such as airports, stations, and seaports). Capacity and distancing restrictions have been lifted for most businesses and activities. For vaccine-relatedquestions, please email inquiries Consistent with the SMARTER Plan and our adaptation of the SarsCoV-2 virus in our lives, California is updating its masking guidance. Reset The state's announcement follows a 65% decline in COVID cases, Newsom said. Here's a look at each of the criteria and where Marin and some of the the other counties stand in meeting the requirements. Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoorpublic places. Kids - Unvaccinated individuals. Updated boosters are availablefrom primary health care There is medium community spread and impact on healthcare system of COVID-19. 2 alleged robbers caught for snatch-and-grab theft in San Mateo County; to schedule an appointment by location, visitvaccines.gov. Other downtown establishments also experienced an increase in patronage since businesses shut down in 2020. However, junior and Virology Club member Evan Molloy recognizes the benefits of ending the mandate. Merchant said the county is working with community-based organizations, medical leaders and community leaders to educate residents on vaccine safety and efficacy and the risks posed by COVID-19. from the federal government. However, even if the state lifts its mask requirement for schools, individual school. The legislation was deemed safe, as 93% of the County population is vaccinated and the County is maintaining a low COVID-19 case rate. Alameda County Public Health Department spokesperson Neetu Balram said health officials will not consider lifting the mandate until the county reaches "moderate" or "low" levels of community transmission on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's county-by-county tracker. The previous guidelines required a test within 72 hours. COVID shots are low priority for healthy kids, teens, WHO says. Long COVID and heart issues: What do we know about lingering symptoms and treatment? CDPH Masking Guidance Frequently Asked Questions. ", Other county health officers haven't publicly shared at what point hospitalizations will be considered "low and stable.". You can email her at agraff@sfgate.com. Health officials continue emphasizing that those most at risk for the virus are the unvaccinated, and that booster shots in particular provide significant protection from serious illness, hospitalization and death. 2023 San Mateo County. [We] consult with each other regularly and many of our actions have been in concert. The mask mandate will be lifted when there is evidence of a sustained downward trend in transmission and ICU capacity has recovered.. Call Aging & Adult Services A few counties, such as Santa Clara County and Los Angeles County, proposed a later date to lift their mask requirements because they want to ensure lower COVID-19 case rates before changing the regulations. Willis said Marin's high vaccination rate is helping drive down cases and hospitalizations. With over 90% of our eligible community fully vaccinated, weve earned another margin of normalcy.". There are currently 22 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Napa County and the county dashboard estimates 0% ICU capacity. What does that mean? "We see February's local COVID-19 situation beginning much better than January," Rogers said. Initially, it was set to end on Jan. 15. In neighboring San Mateo County, Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow emphasized a separate point officials made during the briefing: The mask mandate is intended to curb transmission so that . If you have household or social contact with a vulnerable person*, wearing a mask is recommended when indoors with them, There is high communityspread and impact on healthcare system of COVID-19. They are among a dozen states with mask mandates in schools. Han's statement strongly suggests that Santa Clara won't lift its indoor mask mandate until the FDA approves vaccines for children ages 12 and younger. Heres when youll need one. "One of the silver linings of Omicron, so to speak, is that a large number of the American population saw the virus, and as a result of that they became immune.". Before resuming the masking requirement in December, California had lifted the requirement for people who were vaccinated as of June 15, a date that Newsom had described then as the state's grand reopening. All eight Bay Area counties still enforcing an indoor mask mandate are using the same shared metrics that will determine when the mandates will be lifted, and some counties are closer to hitting those metrics than others. People can wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by their own personal level of risk. The state of California will reassess its K-12 school mask mandate on Feb. 28, officials said Monday. County Healths COVID-19 pop-up clinic program for schools and Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). It plans to keep indoor mask requirements in place until the county has two straight weeks at or below a "moderate" rate of 50 new cases per 100,000 people and there aren't any reports of a new, troubling variant circulating, Ferrer said. California joined Oregon and Washington in lifting school mask mandates, officials announced Monday. With the end of the California COVID-19 State of Emergency, it is appropriate to revise our current masking framework. Vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks in indoor or public spaces, but those who are unvaccinated must continue to wear their masks indoors. During a meeting of the county's Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Louise Rogers, chief of San Mateo County Health, explained her thinking behind COVID becoming endemic. 1. "We estimate that there are around 68,000 currently eligible and unvaccinated residents. Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO), Assessor - County Clerk - Recorder & Elections, Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, Water Quality Notifications (Beach/Creek), https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/#can-open, Face covering guidance from California Dept. That's almost 10 times higher than the low point in June, despite a countywide vaccination rate of 78% among residents age 12 and older. We can say that, while the summer surge of COVID-19 likely peaked in mid to late August in Contra Costa, our case rates and hospitalization totals remain high, comparable to last winter. Read more here. Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a mask. Chin-Hong believes that in "stable environments" where proof of vaccination is required, removing your mask may outweigh the benefit more than the risk for some. Californias statewide mask mandate went into effect in December. He will, however, be keeping his on. People who are hearing impaired or need to communicate with a person who is hearing impaired are also not subject to the mandate. Eight Bay Area counties Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma set criteria for fully lifting the mask mandate last week. facilities, shelters, and residentialfacilities for the My dream would be that both of them just say,'This makes sense, state of California, let's follow suit and make it easier on businesses.'". Like just about everyone, Houston is tired of masking. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Health officers for the nine Bay Area jurisdictions that require face coverings in most indoor public spaces. Homebound The universal mask mandate was implemented, along with other COVID-19 recommendations, on Dec. 15 for four weeks. By comparison, San Francisco was at 75%. Napa was the only county in the "high" (red) tier. "We want to see that all eligible residents receive a booster to maintain their optimal protection," Chabra said. Related Materials:Masking Q&A| MaskingFactSheet(PDF)|FaceMask Tips and Resources|Face ShieldsQ&A (PDF)|Safe Schools for All Hub|All Guidance|More Languages. When choosing to wear a mask, ensure your mask provides the best. Employees who wear respiratory protection, Vaccinated people attending religious worship services, Other people who are exempted from face coverings according to other CDPH rules. To date, County Health has identified 43,444 positive cases of COVID-19 across all of San Mateo County and 584 deaths. The end of the school mask mandate is garnering mixed reactions from students. Wearing a mask is recommended in indoor public places. Read more aboutthe However, many counties soon reinstituted local mask orders as the summer delta surge took hold. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Here's what all seven counties said when asked about the future of indoor mask mandates. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. ", "We want to see fewer people hospitalized with COVID-19 before lifting the mandate," said Willis. By Sarah Wright. Im not sure that the mask mandate being dropped had much of an impact because the majority of people who come into the theater still wear masks.. Business owners, including Toni King, are holding their breath on what counties will decide on Feb. 15. Alameda County is currently listed as a place of "high" transmission, as is every other Bay Area county with the exception of Marin, which is listed as "moderate. To lift the mask mandate, a county's health officer must determine that COVID-19 hospitalizations are "low and stable. All Rights Reserved. to Default, Certificates, Licenses, Permits and Registrations, Registered Environmental Health Specialist, California Health Facilities Information Database, Chronic Disease Surveillance and Research, Division of Radiation Safety and Environmental Management, Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program, Office of State Public Health Laboratory Director, at risk of severe illness of death if they are infected with COVID-19, Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations, Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) PDF, CDPH Masking Guidance Frequently Asked Questions, COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Providers and Programs, CDC Science Brief: Community Use of Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "I think, hopefully for now, fingers crossed, well they're definitely going in the right direction," Rutherford says of the pandemic's course. Dr. Karen Smith, Napa County's interim public health officer, said in a statement, "We continue to carefully monitor several indicators of the spread of COVID-19 in Napa County and the surrounding area including: case rates, local hospitalizations and intensive care unit capacity. This data dashboard has been archived and may contain content that is out of date. In recent days, county data shows that daily COVID hospitalizations have dropped to 84 as of Monday, compared to over 100 in recent weeks. A week ago, July 14, there were four people hospitalized with COVID-19. Marin was the first to enter the yellow tier a week and a half ago, and was followed shortly after by San Mateo County. The mandate was extended through Feb. 15. "Weve talked about following the science as we place new restrictions, and the local mask mandate helped control the fourth wave," he said. County Health Officer Farnitano had previously said hospitalization numbers will be used to determine when to lift the mandate, and the most recent seven-day average for hospitalizations in the county is 188 patients, down from the peak of 220 on Aug. 23. Some downtown San Mateo workers also felt as if San Mateo County should have delayed its mask mandate termination. dashboard has beenupdated for the final time and will be This story was originally published December 15, 2021, 11:55 AM. All of these counties, except for Santa Clara County, chose to align with the state decision.. With hospitalizations starting to fall off across the highly vaccinated Bay Area, SFGATE checked in with the eight counties enforcing an indoor mask mandate and asked whether health officials are eyeing any specific case or hospitalization thresholds to determine when to lift mandates. Unvaccinated individuals over age 2 will continue to be required to wear masks in all indoor public settings. This Most hope that Californias latest ordinance will end the cycle of strict safety instruction and dangerous COVID-19 surges. By Astrid Casimire, Bay City News Foundation. In San Mateo County and across the state, the COVID situation is improving as case rates fall. These public health recommendations will be updated as CDPH continues to assess conditions on an ongoing basis. The updated guidance replaces mandatory masking requirements in high-risk settings with recommendations, which are also based on the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels. The state recommends those who travel in or out of California get tested for COVID within three to five days. Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. How to Get (916) 558-1784, COVID 19 Information Line: Tags Steven Parodi ", When the mandate went into effect, Santa Clara County was the only county that offered a long-range estimate for when it would be lifted, as Deputy Health Officer Dr. George Han said, "We need the added protection of masks back into our lives until everyone is able to be vaccinated, especially children.. Masks will also be mandatory for such events. San Mateo County joined seven other Bay Area jurisdictions in requiring masks in public indoor settings after COVID-19 has resurged in the region. A sign in the window of a business in Chinatown on Stockton Street reminds customers of the indoor mask mandate in San Francisco, Calif. on August 5, 2021. Napa County later followed suit, but Solano County has not issued such a mandate. new guidance here. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are trending downwards across the San Francisco Bay Area, precipitously so in some counties. Medicine,San Mateo Medical In early August, seven Bay Area counties San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Marin and Sonoma simultaneously issued an indoor mask mandate for all individuals regardless of vaccination status as the more contagious delta variant of COVID-19 started to spread in the region. For references on the effectiveness of masks and respirators, see CDC Science Brief: Community Use of Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2., Originally published on November 16, 2020, PO Box 997377 "For now were focusing on maintaining the progress weve gained," Willis said. San Mateo County plans to align with the state's decision to lift its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated residents, Health Chief Louise . establishedcriteriafor lifting local masking orders, "I would hope that they follow what the state is doing. or withoutadvance appointments onMyTurn, though appointments are State-sponsored COVID-19 testing has ended in San Mateo County. which were devised at a different point in the pandemic. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. San Mateo reached the yellow tier after Marin. County Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis has even assigned an earliest possible date for when the mask mandate can be lifted (Nov. 3), but noted that any case or hospitalization uptick will set that back. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines in San Mateo County: : People who are experiencing homelessness or unsafe living conditions where they cannot afford safe shelter are encouraged to try to stay with family or friends, identify housing options, or access emergency resources such as shelter. Persons for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines. Wearing a mask is recommended in crowded indoor public places. According to a report from The Bee, Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly said his office will review COVID conditions in February to see if the deadline needs to be extended again. But I may keep mine on for another few months, just to feel safe and comfy.". SACRAMENTO (CBS / AP) California will end its indoor masking requirement for vaccinated people next week but masks still are the rule for schoolchildren, state health officials announced Monday amid rapidly falling coronavirus cases. Marin was the first county in the region to advance into the yellow tier earlier this week. The latest estimate for when approval might happen is "early to midwinter," NBC News reported, meaning Santa Clara County could be looking at indoor mask mandates for the rest of 2021. Vaccines are available with Our number [of visitors] differs depending on our new [movie] releases and weve definitely seen more people, said Century 12 assistant manager Kalley Wasson. Decrease, Reset , For additional information on the most effective types of masks and ensuring a well-fitted mask for adults, individuals should refer to CDPH The COVID-19 situation in San Mateo County continues to look up, as case rates have declined by 96% since the county's peak in early January. Social link April 11, 2016. The mandate came after COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have increased across the state and with the detection of the omicron variant. Alameda County was added to the yellow tier last week, and San Francisco joined on Monday. California passed 80,000 pandemic deaths and 8 million confirmed positive cases last week butnew cases, hospitalizations and ICU admissions allcontinued fallingMonday andare projected to keep decliningat a rapid clip. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com. "It's not that the virus is going to disappear. The new restrictions affect all residents, not just those who are unvaccinated. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Persons may use information about the current CDC COVID-19 community levels in their county to guide which prevention behaviors to use and when (at all times or at specific times) based on their own risk for severe illness and that of members of their household, their risk tolerance, and setting-specific factors. So we set that as the metric well want to see less than 15 people in the hospital for COVID-19 before lifting the mandate. Ive heard from residents who have let us, the County Health Department, know that they preferred the mandate to be in place longer, Srinivasan said. toresidents unable to leave home due to age, disability, or When the mandate was first announced, city acting Health Officer Dr. Naveena Bobba expressly referred to the mandate as "temporary. For real-time information on the availability of vaccines and how Capacity and distancing restrictions have been lifted for most businesses and activities. Solano County Will lift its indoor. Helping everyone in San Mateo County live longer & better lives. On Friday, Marin was the county that's the closest to meeting the requirements, reporting one of the lowest COVID-19 case rates and the highest vaccination rate in the region. On March 12, California will also lift the mask mandate in K-12 schools, public transit, healthcare facilities, detention centers and senior care or childcare centers. Consider wearing a mask in indoor public places. Were in a good place to peel back restrictions.". elderly. Rapid antigen test kits (home test kits) are also available through pharmacies and free from the federal government . retired. County Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis has said that a case. UPDATE: California mask rules are changing but not disappearing. Next week's measure will include a vaccination or negative test result requirement for attendees of indoor "mega events" of more than 1,000 people. boosters remain widely available at health care providers and Groom executed the San Mateo County Health Officers decision to match Californias loosened mask protocols. Weve been wearing masks for almost two years now so itll be nice to see each others faces again, especially since I think a lot of students dont really care about [wearing masks] now because [the Omicron variant] is not as severe, Molloy said. People who are actively performing at in indoor live or recorded settings. A county must reach the "moderate" (yellow) tier of case rates, as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's data tracker, and remain there for three weeks. In Santa Clara County, there is now an average of 202 new cases per day over the last week, the highest rates since late February, according to county data. Bay Area mask mandates can end when county COVID-19 transmission rates reach the yellow moderate level for three weeks and 80% or more of their total population is fully vaccinated. Marin County is seeing some of the lowest COVID-19 case rates in the Bay Area. "For me, I'm 69 years old," Houston said. appointments are recommended. County Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis has even assigned an earliest possible date for when the mask mandate can be lifted (Nov. 3), but noted that any case or hospitalization uptick will. This affects about 50% of Californians who are not currently under a county-level mask mandate. Vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks in indoor or public spaces, but those who are unvaccinated must continue to wear their masks indoors. , Masks are especially important in settings where vulnerable people are residing or being cared for, and increasingly important as the risk for transmission increases in the community. (AAS) at (844) 868-0938torequest an onMyTurn, though clinics at congregate care facilities, including skilled nursing To learn more, visit:https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/#can-open. The county health officer determines that COVID-19 hospitalizations are "low and stable.". San Mateo County Reopening As of June 15, 2021, San Mateo County fully aligns with all state COVID-19 health and safety guidance and has no plans to impose separate guidance. It will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Read more; Social link April 11, 2016. Of the four Bay Area counties not in the yellow tier Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Napa and Sonoma Santa Clara is the closest one to entering with a seven-day case rate of 53.17. Plenty of others, of course, are more than ready to move on. People have been wanting to return to a more normal lifestyle by not having to put a mask on and stay home from work, said San Mateo County District 2 Supervisor Carole Groom. Follow us on Twitter. This data dashboard has been archived and may contain content that is out of date. He recently has said the state is preparing for the day when the coronavirus can be considered endemic, with rules that accept that it is here to stay but can be managed with caution. But certain groups including children ages 5-11 and Black, Latinx and Pacific Islander populations have vaccination rates less than 80 percent. SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA Even as the COVID-19 outlook for San Mateo County improves, health officials warn that the virus is not going to disappear. Local health departments that had mask requirements before Dec. 13 will continue mandating existing health orders. On March 12, California will also lift the mask mandate in K-12 schools, public transit . Performers are advised by the CDPH to get tested for COVID at least once weekly. Marin County Public Health Director Dr. Matt Willis said the earliest date the mandate could end is Nov. 3, but the county needs to work hard to keep cases down to get there, and if cases and hospitalizations bump up, this date could easily be pushed back.
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