Masks mandate reinstated in San Francisco Bay Space amid surge
from: JOCELYN GECKER, Associated Press
Posted: 08/02/2021 / 01:01 PM MDT
Updated: 08/02/2021 / 1:18 PM MDT
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Health officials in San Francisco and six other Bay Area counties announced Monday that they are restoring a mask mandate for all indoor spaces as COVID-19 infections increase due to the highly contagious Delta variant.
The new mandate – which applies to everyone regardless of their vaccination status – goes into effect Tuesday in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma County and the city of Berkeley.
Health officials also recommended that people gather outdoors when they have the opportunity.
“The virus doesn’t care what kind of interior space you are in,” said Dr. George Han, assistant health officer in Santa Clara. “You are at risk of coming into contact with the virus that is causing COVID-19.”
In line with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, California last week recommended that everyone wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status, but officials have no longer required it.
In the Los Angeles, Yolo and Sacramento counties, mask requirements are already in place for interiors.
San Francisco Bay Area health officials were the first in the country to announce a shutdown at the start of the pandemic.
