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Holy Rose, THIS – October 7, 2021 – As decisions to vaccinate and wear face covers indoors lower rates of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, health workers in the nine Bay Area jurisdictions who are demanding face coverings in most indoor public spaces today a consensus has been reached on the criteria for lifting these health ordinances.
These health workers continue to work together across the Bay Area to protect public health with a cohesive regional approach and to plan for the next phase of the COVID-19 response as this wave of the pandemic recedes.
All nine jurisdictions will lift the indoor masking requirement in public spaces not subject to state masking rules when all of the following occur:
● The jurisdiction reaches the COVID-19 moderate transmission level (yellow), as defined by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and remains there for at least three weeks; AND
● Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 in the jurisdiction are low and stable, according to the judgment of the health worker; AND
● 80% of the total population in the jurisdiction is fully vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson (booster doses not taken into account) OR eight weeks have passed since a COVID vaccine- 19 has been cleared for emergency use by federal and state authorities for 5 to 11 years
Most Bay Area health departments issued masking requirements for their respective jurisdictions on August 3, following a summer increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
But with regional data showing the wave is receding, and with the Bay Area one of the most vaccinated regions in the country, health workers in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco counties , San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and the City of Berkeley agree it’s time to plan for a transition.
Lifting a local indoor mask mandate would not prevent businesses, nonprofits, churches or others with public indoor spaces from imposing their own demands. As COVID-19 easily spreads through airborne droplets, face coverings remain very strong to prevent its spread.
Each jurisdiction will revoke its order when the criteria are met in that respective county or city. The criteria were developed to help determine the safest time to lift indoor masking orders, based on regional scientific and medical consensus. The criteria also ensure the safety of schoolchildren, aged 5 to 11, who need the extra protection of masks in the community to keep the case rate low so they can stay in school until they are finished. ‘they can be vaccinated.
“It is no coincidence that transmission is slowing down in Sonoma County. Public health interventions, including the masking requirement, are working, ”said Dr Sundari Mase, Sonoma County health official. “We believe that health orders, along with immunization, awareness and education all add layers of protection against COVID-19 in our community – and save lives. ”
California health guidelines for the use of face coverings will remain in effect after local masking requirements are lifted, meaning people who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 must continue to wear masks in businesses and indoor public spaces.
The state also requires face coverings for everyone, regardless of immunization status, in health facilities, public transport, and care facilities for adults and the elderly. California’s masking guidelines for K-12 schools would also not be affected by changes to local health ordinances.
An FDA advisory committee is expected to consider a request from Pfizer-BioNTech to authorize emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 on October 26.
Visit SoCoEmergency.org for local information on COVID-19 and Sonoma County’s emergency response to the pandemic.
Contact details:
Matt Brown, Communications Specialist
Media: [email protected]
Media: 707-565-3040
575, administration promenade, office 104A
Santa Rosa, California 95403
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