Masks Mandate: San Francisco Bay Space well being officers challenge indoor masks mandate, no matter vaccination standing

September 2, 2021

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Masks Mandate: San Francisco Bay Space well being officers challenge indoor masks mandate, no matter vaccination standing

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) – UPDATE: Napa County Health officials announced Thursday, August 5th that the county will implement an indoor masking mandate. This comes just days after seven other Bay Area counties and the city of Berkeley announced their mandate to require every resident to wear a face mask in public places regardless of vaccination status.

Health officials in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma and the city of Berkeley announced a mask mandate on Monday afternoon that requires every resident to wear a face mask in public spaces regardless of vaccination status.

The health ordinance comes into effect on Tuesday at midnight.

The mandate aims to reduce the spread of COVID-19 amid a surge in cases and the delta variant.

RELATED: San Francisco Could Impose An Indoor Mask Mandate This Week Amid The 4th COVID-19 Surge

“We are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and hospital admissions are on the rise again, especially among the unvaccinated. In Contra Costa County, we are alarmed at the rate at which COVID-19 patients are filling our community hospital beds. “Said Dr. Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County Health Officer.

He said the number of patients hospitalized in the Contra Costa district had doubled in the past 10 days, increasing by more than 400% in July.

“While there may be slight differences between the ordinances issued today in each jurisdiction, they all have one thing in common. An easy step, wearing a mask indoors to give everyone another layer of protection, ”he said.

Each county stressed how the virus is increasingly spreading among the Bay Area’s unvaccinated population.

“In Sonoma County, our case rate for unvaccinated people is nearly six times higher than our vaccinated population,” said Dr. Sundari Mase, Sonoma County Health Officer. “This is not the same virus that we fought last year, just a few months ago. The Delta variant is 60% more transmissible than previous versions of the coronavirus, and (we have) an increase in the number of people vaccinated who are now testing will.” positive.”

VIDEO: Bay Area health officials address mask requirement, Delta variant, COVID-19 tests

Health officials from the seven counties that implement the mask mandate emphasized the effectiveness of masks, especially indoors.

“The virus doesn’t care what indoor area you are in, whether in a public building or at someone’s home. Anytime you go indoors with other people you don’t live with, there is a risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19, “said Santa Clara Assistant Health Officer Dr. George Faucet.

As cases rise, several Bay Area counties said they have also seen a surge in demand for COVID-19 testing.

“In Contra Costa County, we have seen increased demand for tests and have been working with our local laboratories and contracting additional laboratories to ensure we have the laboratory capacity for these tests as well as an exam.” Site capacity, “said Dr. Farnitano

The Bay Area isn’t the only area in California that requires a mask.

Los Angeles County reintroduced its mask requirement in July.

RELATED: These 5 Bay Area cities may be most at risk for new COVID-19 infections, data shows

Napa and Solano counties are now the only two counties in the Bay Area not included in the latest mandate for interior masks.

In a statement to ABC7, a Solano County spokesman said, “Solano County Public Health and the state are monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We will continue to follow the recommendations of the state. We will adjust our approach as necessary. “

Solano County said the “vast majority” of cases will carry over to parties, barbecues, picnics and other gatherings, mostly among the unvaccinated and residents between the ages of 20 and 40.

“The addition of restrictions on businesses does not match our data, as the virus spreads predominantly at home and in private social facilities rather than in businesses,” the district’s statement said.

The Bay Area health ordinance comes less than a week after California advised all residents to wear a mask indoors, including those who have been vaccinated.

The state’s recommendation last Tuesday followed similar guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommending that even those vaccinated should wear masks in areas where the virus is spreading faster.

According to the California Department of Health, more than 90% of the California population lives in areas with “significant or high transmission” of the Delta variant.

Four counties in the Bay Area have “high” transmission rates. These include the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Solano.

The five other counties in the Bay Area have what is considered to be “significant” broadcast.