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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. UPDATE: California mask rules are changing but not disappearing. County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis wrote in an email that his county will look at case rates and where those case rates would have fit on the state's old color-coded reopening blueprint. Of course, if it takes weeks for children to become fully vaccinated (doses are given two weeks apart), a county teetering on the case requirement could fall out of the yellow tier while waiting to fulfill vaccination requirement, then have to re-enter the yellow tier and maintain for another three weeks, ensuring mask mandates linger. State-sponsored COVID-19 testing has ended in San Mateo County. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This data dashboard has been archived and may contain content that is out of date. For real-time information on the availability of vaccines and how The statewide mandate goes into effect in counties that do not have existing guidelines on masks in indoor public spaces. 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. "We see February's local COVID-19 situation beginning much better than January," Rogers said. Residents can continue toschedule vaccination appointments Groom executed the San Mateo County Health Officers decision to match Californias loosened mask protocols. "Omicron has loosened its hold on California, vaccines for children under 5 are around the corner, and access to COVID-19 treatments is improving," said state Public Health Officer Dr. Toms J. Aragn. In San Mateo County, 72% of the total population is fully vaccinated, the county health department said. which were devised at a different point in the pandemic. 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? You can email her at agraff@sfgate.com. 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. California mask rules are changing but not disappearing. The state's announcement follows a 65% decline in COVID cases, Newsom said. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are trending downwards across the San Francisco Bay Area, precipitously so in some counties. 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. 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. , For additional information on the most effective types of masks and ensuring a well-fitted mask for adults, individuals should refer to CDPH For additional considerations for children and masking in childcare settings, see COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Providers and Programs. 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. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Businesses will no longer be required to ensure guests wear masks, but may opt to continue to require guests to wear masks as a condition of service. When asked whether the county still plans to keep the mask mandate in place until the FDA approves vaccines for younger children, the county's health department said in a statement, "We continue to monitor and maintain situational awareness of our case counts and vaccination rates to provide the community with the most current information and will inform the community when the mandate could be or is lifted," and "we defer to the federal authorities on when children under 12 years would receive the vaccine.". Center,etc. All Bay Area counties now appear to be seeing some relief from the omicron surge in terms. "I would hope that they follow what the state is doing. When choosing to wear a mask, ensure your mask provides the best. However, junior and Virology Club member Evan Molloy recognizes the benefits of ending the mandate. Local health departments that had mask requirements before Dec. 13 will continue mandating existing health orders. Hazardous Materials Business Plan Program, California Accidental Release Prevention Program (CalARP), Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tank Program. 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. "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.". Read thelatest community Local health jurisdictions and entities can implement additional requirements that go beyond this statewide guidance based on local circumstances. 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. boosters remain widely available at health care providers and Such persons should consider taking extra precautions. However, California health officials extended the deadline on Wednesday, Jan. 5, due to the recent surge of the omicron variant, which has resulted in coronavirus cases reaching record highs following the holidays. Newsom, a Democrat, has come under pressure from Republicans and other critics to ease the mandates. All three counties have seen weeks of sustained case decreases and have total population vaccination rates close to 70%, and, as a result, may not hit the 80% benchmark as quickly as other Bay Area counties will once the vaccine is approved for children ages 5-11. 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. Heres when youll need one. CDPH Masks for Kids: Tips and Resources. For additionalinformation on testing guidance from the What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? On April 11, the girls and boys varsity track and, On March 21, Aragon senior Lloyd Walter signed his, On March 21, three more trees fell on Aragons c, Just before 7 p.m. on March 16, power was restored. This Most hope that Californias latest ordinance will end the cycle of strict safety instruction and dangerous COVID-19 surges. Last week, Los Angeles County public health director Barbara Ferrer said the winter surge will be considered over in the nation's most populous county when hospitalizations fall below 2,500 for seven days in a row. Masks will be mandatory starting Monday at all San Mateo County facilities regardless of a person's vaccination status. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. MS 0500 Unlike San Francisco, Alameda County pointed to specific criteria for when the mandate will be lifted. Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. Very young children must not wear a mask because of the risk of suffocation. He is an East Bay native who has a Master's degree in journalism from Stanford University. The only thing thats changed is that [masks are now] strongly recommended instead of required and we assume that the majority of our students and faculty will continue to mask, said SMUHSD Health Services Manager Sara Devaney. Helping everyone in San Mateo County live longer & better lives. San Mateo County has followed the state in lifting its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated persons, effective February 16. . Across the county, 82 percent of total residents have been fully vaccinated while almost 90 percent have received at least one vaccine dose and almost 400,000 booster doses have been administered. The mask mandate will be lifted when there is evidence of a sustained downward trend in transmission and ICU capacity has recovered.. ", A spokesperson for the county said only, "We continue to assess data about the impact of COVID-19 in San Mateo County and to stress vaccination and the wearing of face coverings as the most effective safety measures to reduce the spread of the disease and prevent serious illness and death. 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. For those in the Golden State, this means everyone, vaccinated and unvaccinated, must wear a face covering in indoor public spaces for the most part. 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. facilities, shelters, and residentialfacilities for the We continue to operate vaccination clinics offering first and second doses of Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson at 20 locations that are accessible to the most impacted communities.". 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. Espaol, - San Mateo County to lift indoor mask mandate on February 16. by Linda Hubbard on February 9, 2022. 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. Health officials said Monday that more changes to the state's policies will be released in the coming week. 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. 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. Effective April 3, 2023, the updated guidance is intended to provide information that each Californian should consider based on their unique circumstances. This data dashboard has been archived and may contain content that is out of date. Read more; Social link April 11, 2016. "You know, we're all ready to take this mask off.". The previous guidelines required a test within 72 hours. toresidents unable to leave home due to age, disability, or In fact, Napa County's case rate actually increased week-over-week. Not everyone has the same level of protection by virtue of the nature of ones job, living circumstance or health condition.. San Mateo County has followed the state in lifting its indoor But certain groups including children ages 5-11 and Black, Latinx and Pacific Islander populations have vaccination rates less than 80 percent. Aug 2, 2021. See Ms. Stretchs email for more details. What to know, SLO County teacher was arrested over a paper cut? Napa County issued a mask mandate later than the other Bay Area counties, and like Sonoma, is not seeing a rapid falloff in new cases. Please enter valid email address to continue. tosmchealth_iz@smcgov.org. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com. Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a mask. They are among a dozen states with mask mandates in schools. Contra Costa, Napa and Sonoma are further away with case rates of 67.97, 65.34 and 57.86, respectively. Heres what rules will (and wont) change, People receiving medical or cosmetic service on the nose or face. Here's what all seven counties said when asked about the future of indoor mask mandates. Aragon enforces student supervision policy, The benefits and dangers of cryptocurrency, Boys lacrosse loses to Priory 10-17 on senior night. 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. Some downtown San Mateo workers also felt as if San Mateo County should have delayed its mask mandate termination. To date, County Health has identified 43,444 positive cases of COVID-19 across all of San Mateo County and 584 deaths. Were in a good place to peel back restrictions.". In certain healthcare situations or settings and other covered facilities, services and operations,surgical masks (or higher filtration masks) are required. Maria Medina Wilson Walker contributed reporting. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. With coronavirus cases falling fast, California also is lifting a requirement that people produce a negative coronavirus test before visiting hospitals and nursing homes, effective immediately. 80% of a county's total population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or eight weeks have passed since a COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for children ages 5-11. For individual county mandates, check with your local health department. (CDPH) will no longer require masks in indoor high-risk and If you have household or social contact with a vulnerable person*, wearing a mask is recommended when indoors with them. A sign in the window of a business in Chinatown on Grant Avenue reminds customers of the indoor mask mandate in San Francisco on Aug. 5, 2021. 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 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.. Bay Area health officers have released guidelines for ending indoor mask mandates. Read more aboutthe medical reasons. Other individuals can be exempt if wearing a mask creates risk at work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.. Capacity and distancing restrictions have been lifted for most businesses and activities. to schedule an appointment by location, visitvaccines.gov. Call Aging & Adult Services 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. 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. 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. Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. Performers are advised by the CDPH to get tested for COVID at least once weekly. San Mateo County joined seven other Bay Area jurisdictions in requiring masks in public indoor settings after COVID-19 has resurged in the region. They can also call 211 or one of the Core Service Agencies located throughout San Mateo County:San Mateo County Core Service Agencies. 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. andupdated booster schedules. Napa County later followed suit, but Solano County has not issued such a mandate. Timing chart for information on the COVID-19 vaccine series When will Bay Area counties lift COVID-19 mask mandates issued in response to delta surge? "I think we are all hoping for a quick juncture," Stan Houston, owner of Mozart Einstein & Me in Livermore, told KPIX 5. Health,Dignity Vaccines and recommended. And while the county plans to align with the state's . (AAS) at (844) 868-0938torequest an 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. Persons younger than two years old. This affects about 50% of Californians who are not currently under a county-level mask mandate. Is the Stanley Quencher tumbler worth its TikTok hype? Eric did his undergrad at Pomona College, where he majored in politics and minored in economics. The Associated Press contributed to this report. facility. People can wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by their own personal level of risk. Most of the U.S. population 5 years of age and older has antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, either from vaccination or infection that can serve as a foundation for the protection provided by the bivalent vaccines, an FDA official said. When the mandate was first announced, city acting Health Officer Dr. Naveena Bobba expressly referred to the mandate as "temporary. The county will then end its mask requirement for large outdoor events such as concerts and sporting events and for outdoor spaces at schools and child-care facilities. Decrease, Reset "For now were focusing on maintaining the progress weve gained," Willis said. "But not committing to any single metric. California joined Oregon and Washington in lifting school mask mandates, officials announced Monday. Wearing a mask is strongly recommended in indoor public places. SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Governor Gavin Newsom is set to let California's statewide mask mandate expire on February 15, but each county has or can implement a mask mandate of their own.. "I may be one of the holdouts and let the general public come into my store, elect whether they wear a mask or not. 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. By Astrid Casimire, Bay City News Foundation. 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.'". from the federal government. People who are actively performing at in indoor live or recorded settings. View the California Department of Public Healths Vaccine But I may keep mine on for another few months, just to feel safe and comfy.". 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. Heres when youll need one, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have increased, coronavirus cases reaching record highs following the holidays, counties that do not have existing guidelines on masks, those who travel in or out of California get tested for COVID, No vaccine rule for some. 11. Sacramento, CA 95899-7377, For General Public Information: Marin was the first county in the region to advance into the yellow tier earlier this week. "We want to see that all eligible residents receive a booster to maintain their optimal protection," Chabra said. onMyTurn, though Beginning April 3, the California Department of Public Health No case or hospitalization data criteria was shared. February 7, 2022 / 11:00 PM It can be unnerving for [those] at higher risk. 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. establishedcriteriafor lifting local masking orders, The county's health department did not provide a threshold for when hospitalizations would be considered sufficiently low, stating, "We don't use a specific threshold for determining when to change the health order, and we can't predict when conditions will permit a change. , 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. 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. The new threshold comes after Sunday's Super Bowl that will draw as many as 100,000 football fans to SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles. "We can expect as we go around, certainly in the next months, that there will be a need to pull out a mask because the business that you're interacting with or the organization has that requirement, even if it is not the law," Rogers said. The current rate is 117 cases per 100,000 people. Medicine,San Mateo Medical Here's a look at each of the criteria and where Marin and some of the the other counties stand in meeting the requirements. to Default, About the Viral and Rickettsial Disease Lab, CDER Information for Health Professionals, Communicable Disease Emergency Response Program, DCDC Information for Local Health Departments, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Branch, VRDL Guidelines for Specimen Collection and Submission for Pathologic Testing, State of CaliforniaHealth and Human Services Agency, en Homebound There is medium community spread and impact on healthcare system of COVID-19. On Monday, the county saw a seven-day average of 85 cases per 100,000 people, a considerable drop from the early January peak of 239 cases per 100,000. 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. In recent days, county data shows that daily COVID hospitalizations have dropped to 84 as of Monday, compared to over 100 in recent weeks. To lift the mask mandate, 80% of a county's total population must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or eight weeks removed from when the COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for children ages 5 to 11. In workplaces, employers and employees are subject to either the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulationsor the Capacity and distancing restrictions have been lifted for most businesses and activities. mask mandate for vaccinated persons, effectiveFebruary 16. Eric Ting is SFGATE's politics editor. Tested guidance. 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.