For additional considerations for children and masking in childcare settings, see COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Providers and Programs. Horoscope for Monday, 5/01/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Destructive landslide closes historic California institution, Dubs fans picking apart video of possible Poole-Draymond incident, Major SF retail store slated to permanently close, Warriors' biggest hater made a cowardly Game 7 'bet', Draymond Green rips Domantas Sabonis: 'Lost a lot of respect', Esalen Institute sued over alleged use of video with the N-word, More rain, 'unseasonably chilly' temperatures coming to Bay Area, Winter returns to California with snow, hail and rain, Bay Area mom influencer found guilty of lying about kidnapping, Shock, fear as 2 killings in 3 days rock quiet Davis, Bay Area preschool teacher suspected of dumping body along road, simultaneously issued an indoor mask mandate, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's county-by-county tracker, In search of vegan food, I found a world-class Mendocino inn, What you should wear to Disneyland in May. "We're still in 'purple' equivalent and would want to see numbers closer to orange," he wrote. Heres what rules will (and wont) change, People receiving medical or cosmetic service on the nose or face. faith-based organizations concluded on March 31. San Mateo County has followed the state in lifting its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated persons, effective February 16. . By comparison, San Francisco was at 75%. What to know, SLO County teacher was arrested over a paper cut? Health officials from 11 Bay Area jurisdictions including San Mateo County say they will lift universal mask requirements for most indoor public settings beginning Wednesday, Feb. 16. 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. The now extended universal mask mandate will end on Feb. 15. Solano County Will lift its indoor. 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. 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. They start having conversations and bring more friends, so we get more clients.. For outdoor events with more than 10,000 people, there is no vaccination requirement but masks or negative tests are recommended. 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. "With things moving in the right direction, we are making responsible modifications to COVID-19 prevention measures, while also continuing to develop a longer-term action plan for the state.". The end of the school mask mandate is garnering mixed reactions from students. 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. 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. Contra Costa, Napa and Sonoma are further away with case rates of 67.97, 65.34 and 57.86, respectively. "I would hope that they follow what the state is doing. Some downtown San Mateo workers also felt as if San Mateo County should have delayed its mask mandate termination. Endemic COVID path emerges in San Mateo County providers and pharmacies. Eric did his undergrad at Pomona College, where he majored in politics and minored in economics. Initially, it was set to end on Jan. 15. California Department of Public Health (CDPH), please view the 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. The state's announcement follows a 65% decline in COVID cases, Newsom said. San Mateo County to lift indoor mask mandate on February 16. by Linda Hubbard on February 9, 2022. 2. County to align with state mask mandate - San Mateo Daily Journal Employees who wear respiratory protection, Vaccinated people attending religious worship services, Other people who are exempted from face coverings according to other CDPH rules. Very young children must not wear a mask because of the risk of suffocation. "But not committing to any single metric. Here's what all seven counties said when asked about the future of indoor mask mandates. All Bay Area counties now appear to be seeing some relief from the omicron surge in terms. Long COVID and heart issues: What do we know about lingering symptoms and treatment? In the Bay Area, Santa Clara County will not follow the state's lead. Were in a good place to peel back restrictions.". But certain groups including children ages 5-11 and Black, Latinx and Pacific Islander populations have vaccination rates less than 80 percent. 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. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com. Consistent with the SMARTER Plan and our adaptation of the SarsCoV-2 virus in our lives, California is updating its masking guidance. What Bay Area health officers say will end mask mandate - The Mercury News The mandate was extended through Feb. 15. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. All rights reserved. retired. San Mateo County to lift indoor mask mandate on February 16 Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. She said it's just one more step to operating business as close to normal as possible. San Mateo County To Align With State On Lifting Mask Mandate Coronavirus - San Mateo County Health 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. Rapid antigen test kits (home test kits) are also available through pharmacies and free from the federal government . Vaccination is Widely Available in San Mateo County "Whenever you're in a crowded situation with lots of different households coming together, you don't know who they are, it's probably still a good idea when there's a lot of virus floating around to wear your mask," Chin-Hong said. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Heres when youll need one. ", 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. Not everyone has the same level of protection, Throughout the pandemic, there [has been] a group of Bay Area Health Officers representing San Mateo County, San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Solano Napa and Santa Cruz counties, said Deputy Chief of San Mateo County Health Srija Srinivasan. County joins others in ending mask mandate on Feb. 16. Alameda County was added to the yellow tier last week, and San Francisco joined on Monday. How long will Bay Area mask mandate last? It may depend on county. 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 In alignment with the State, San Mateo County is joining the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and the City of Berkeley in lifting universal mask requirements for most indoor . new guidance here. "I think we are all hoping for a quick juncture," Stan Houston, owner of Mozart Einstein & Me in Livermore, told KPIX 5. 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. When will Bay Area counties lift mask mandates? - SFGATE In workplaces, employers and employees are subject to either the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulationsor the Espaol, - A week ago, July 14, there were four people hospitalized with COVID-19. 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. 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. There are now 15 people with COVID-19 in the hospital and six of those are in the intensive care unit. Facilities that are high-risk settings should make respirators (e.g., N95s, KN95s, KF94s) with good fit or surgical masks available to any residents and staff who would like to use them. "I think the way we're really thinking about this is to deemphasize the word 'end' in 'endemic'," Rogers said. Newsom says mask mandate to end after June 15 - San Mateo Daily Journal Read more aboutthe recommended. A county reaches the "moderate" (yellow) tier of case rates as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's data tracker and remains there for three weeks. The updated guidance is unchanged for general community settings and continues to use a framework based on the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels. See Ms. Stretchs email for more details. 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. Bay Area officials plot when to ease mask mandates, other - MSN At the time, some health officials including Contra Costa County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano and Marin County Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Lisa Santora said their counties will monitor hospitalization numbers in determining when to lift the mandate. For example, San Francisco, San Mateo and Contra Costa counties will have exemptions due to previous regulations. And while the county plans to align with the state's . 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 Capacity and distancing restrictions have been lifted for most businesses and activities. Consistent with the SMARTER Plan and our adaptation of the SarsCoV-2 virus in our lives, California is updating its masking guidance. facility. Plenty of others, of course, are more than ready to move on. "Three consecutive weeks in yellow will mean weve maintained fewer than 18 new cases per day on average," Willis explained. Center,etc. Updated booster shots are 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. REDWOOD CITY (AP) -- San Mateo County supervisors announced late Thursday that, effective July 26, masks will be required in all county buildings and facilities for both employees and. 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. 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. CDPH Masks for Kids: Tips and Resources. County Healths COVID-19 pop-up clinic program for schools and Ask bilingual California nurses live for free, Original COVID shots no longer authorized but newer ones are, FDA says. When the mandate was first announced, city acting Health Officer Dr. Naveena Bobba expressly referred to the mandate as "temporary. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines in San Mateo County: https://www.smchealth.org/covidvaccine, Learn more about COVID-19 testing options in San Mateo County: https://www.smcgov.org/testing, Requirements for all industries after June 15: https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/#can-open, Access community resources: 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. Here's a look at each of the criteria and where Marin and some of the the other counties stand in meeting the requirements. Other downtown establishments also experienced an increase in patronage since businesses shut down in 2020. 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. Californias statewide mask mandate went into effect in December. Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) PDFStandard and should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements. "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. State-sponsored COVID-19 testing has ended in San Mateo County. This story has been updated to include additional information from the California Department of Public Health on exemptions to the new indoor mask mandate. But other COVID restrictions apply at California airports, Have questions about the COVID vaccine? 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. In certain healthcare situations or settings and other covered facilities, services and operations,surgical masks (or higher filtration masks) are required. The county health officer determines that COVID-19 hospitalizations are "low and stable.". 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 why, She couldnt recognize her dad after COVID, study says. 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. Call Aging & Adult Services Rapid antigen test kits (home test kits) are also available "You know, we're all ready to take this mask off.". "There is still some work to do," Preston Merchant, a spokesperson for San Mateo County Health, wrote in an email. Willis said Marin's high vaccination rate is helping drive down cases and hospitalizations. [However, the customers] who arent wearing a mask anymore are happier. February 7, 2022 / 11:00 PM This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. California indoor mask mandate ending, but will Bay Area counties still 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. 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. "I think California is ready," said University of California San Francisco Prof. of Medicine Dr. Peter Chin-Hong. For vaccine-relatedquestions, please email inquiries Health,Dignity It would be better if we were still wearing masks because [guests] might have an appointment for three or four hours and sit in a chair without a mask on and [employees] wouldnt know about [their vaccination status], said Y Salon & Spa receptionist Andrea Davila. 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. 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. The state recommends those who travel in or out of California get tested for COVID within three to five days. 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). establishedcriteriafor lifting local masking orders, Stay tuned for ongoing updates. Face masks to be required inside all San Mateo County facilities Contra Costa County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano had previously told his board of supervisors that in a best-case scenario, the county will meet metrics by late December or early January. 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.. 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. CDPH Masking Guidance Frequently Asked Questions. Marin was the first county in the region to advance into the yellow tier earlier this week. "Thats among the lowest rates in the state, and Californias rates are the lowest in the nation. 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.". Wearing a mask is recommended in indoor public places. Read thelatest community The statewide mandate goes into effect in counties that do not have existing guidelines on masks in indoor public spaces. Finally, no person can be prevented from wearing a mask as a condition of participation in an activity or entry into a venue or business (including schools or childcare), unless wearing a mask would pose a safety hazard. 2023 San Mateo County. Health care facilities and other high-risk setting operators should develop and implement their own facility-specific plans based on their community, patient population, and other facility considerations incorporating CDPH and CDC recommendations.. Hover over . 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. This affects about 50% of Californians who are not currently under a county-level mask mandate. Residents can continue toschedule vaccination appointments from the federal government. Please enter valid email address to continue. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). 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. State-sponsored COVID-19 testing has ended in San Mateo County. These public health recommendations will be updated as CDPH continues to assess conditions on an ongoing basis. Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. Updated boosters are availablefrom primary health care "We see February's local COVID-19 situation beginning much better than January," Rogers said. With over 90% of our eligible community fully vaccinated, weve earned another margin of normalcy.". San Mateo County mask mandate ending Groom executed the San Mateo County Health Officers decision to match Californias loosened mask protocols. All Rights Reserved. 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. Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. In summary: When - The California indoor mask mandate expired at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. View the California Department of Public Healths Vaccine Endemic is really about accepting that it will be present in the environment and we all have to take steps to protect ourselves and our family members and our communities in ways that are appropriate for the situation.". Property owner speaks out. To date, County Health has identified 43,444 positive cases of COVID-19 across all of San Mateo County and 584 deaths. Wearing a mask is recommended in crowded indoor public places. Cases and hospitalizations are not falling quiteas precipitously in Sonoma County as the rest of the region, and county spokesman Matt Brown said in an email there is "no end date or trigger that would end" the mask mandate. Currently, four Bay Area counties Marin, San Mateo, Alameda and San Francisco are in the yellow tier. Newsom, a Democrat, has come under pressure from Republicans and other critics to ease the mandates. Most hope that Californias latest ordinance will end the cycle of strict safety instruction and dangerous COVID-19 surges. All of these counties, except for Santa Clara County, chose to align with the state decision.. People vaccinated against COVID after infection still at risk, study says. Dr. Anand Chabra, San Mateo County Health COVID-19 mass vaccination section chief, also reminded that getting vaccinated remains the most important way to protect against COVID-19, as vaccinated and boosted people are less likely to end up hospitalized from COVID compared to unvaccinated people. First Bay Area county could lift COVID mask mandate soon - SFGATE For additionalinformation on testing guidance from the Capacity and distancing restrictions have been lifted for most businesses and activities. All businesses and venue operators are encouraged to improve ventilation and air quality in their facility to prevent airborne respiratory infections and improve indoor air quality. The updated guidance replaces mandatory masking requirements in high-risk settings with recommendations, which are also based on the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels. 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. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are trending downwards across the San Francisco Bay Area, precipitously so in some counties. What does that mean? People who are hearing impaired or need to communicate with a person who is hearing impaired are also not subject to the mandate. mask mandate for vaccinated persons, effectiveFebruary 16. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. SAN MATEO, Calif. (KGO) -- Even though 89% of San Mateo County's population . pharmacies. Not everyone has the same level of protection by virtue of the nature of ones job, living circumstance or health condition.. Area counties will not need to meet previously Maria Medina Wilson Walker contributed reporting. Homebound Something was off with faces, Is it COVID or just seasonal allergies? On Feb. 16, San Mateo County followed the California state government order to relax mask mandates. Follow us on Twitter. 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. Decrease, Reset San Mateo County has followed the state in lifting its indoor Beginning April 3, the California Department of Public Health Napa County later followed suit, but Solano County has not issued such a mandate. "If they know that the people that are taking their mask off are vaccinated then I think they're going to feel a whole lot safe," said King. Vaccines are available with Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com, Where every Bay Area county stands on metrics to lift COVID mask mandates, Horoscope for Monday, 5/01/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Destructive landslide closes historic California institution, Dubs fans picking apart video of possible Poole-Draymond incident, Major SF retail store slated to permanently close, Warriors' biggest hater made a cowardly Game 7 'bet', Draymond Green rips Domantas Sabonis: 'Lost a lot of respect', Esalen Institute sued over alleged use of video with the N-word, More rain, 'unseasonably chilly' temperatures coming to Bay Area, Winter returns to California with snow, hail and rain, Bay Area mom influencer found guilty of lying about kidnapping, Shock, fear as 2 killings in 3 days rock quiet Davis, Bay Area preschool teacher suspected of dumping body along road, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's data tracker, was the first to enter the yellow tier a week and a half ago, In search of vegan food, I found a world-class Mendocino inn, What you should wear to Disneyland in May. 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.