Bay Area health officials to announce criteria for lifting regional mask mandates on Thursday

NOVATO, Calif. (KGO) – With COVID case rates falling, many are wondering how long we will need to keep our face masks on. Bay Area health workers are expected to announce plans for a possible end of the masking mandate inside the region on Thursday, but the order may not end overnight.

“It’s time, it’s been 18 months,” said Adam Kovacks.

Kovacks says you work out in his Novato Sonoma Fit gym, you always have to wear a mask, it’s not always easy, he hopes the term ends soon.

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“If you’re still worried wear your mask but it’s about time we put the blame on people, not small businesses,” Kovacks said.

Bay Area health officials could announce new criteria on Thursday to ease COVID restrictions like indoor masking. These criteria may include vaccination rates, case rates and hospitalizations. Santa Clara County health official Dr Sara Cody told supervisors the numbers were improving.

“The plan is to develop a set of measures that we can share across the region in order to lift the inner masking, we are getting very close to that,” Cody said.

Many in the Bay Area are hoping for a target date, when a mask is not required.

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It’s hard to breathe with the masks on, ”said Jesse Tassey of Novato.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf told ABC7 News at noon that she trusted health workers but would continue to wear her mask.

“Rule or not, I will continue to wear my mask inside restaurants, better safe than sorry,” Schaaf said.

San Mateo County officials say although vaccination rates are high, it is too early to lift masking rules.

“We know one thing is certain, COVID-19 is uncertain. I wouldn’t be surprised if in two months, if the mask orders are lifted, we could go back to another term,” the county supervisor said. San Mateo, David Canepa.

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