California’s Bay Area Reinstates Hospital Mask Mandates: Here’s What We Know

November 1, 2024 TruthUSA

A nearby hospital system in Monterey also implemented a mandate.

Starting Nov. 1, multiple counties in California’s San Francisco Bay Area region have reinstated mask mandates in health care settings, with other municipalities recommending face coverings.

Employees in counties such as San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Napa, and San Mateo are required to wear masks. Additionally, Santa Clara County and San Mateo County mandate that visitors and patients must also wear masks in health care facilities.

These mandates were announced several weeks or months ago and will be in effect from Nov. 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, following a similar mandate imposed across the Bay Area during the 2023–24 winter and spring seasons.

Health Care Orders Issued

The Santa Clara County announcement requires all individuals inside health care facilities, including visitors and patients, to wear masks from Nov. 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.

The county has made exceptions for children under age 2 and individuals with medical conditions that hinder mask wearing or removal without assistance.

In a statement made in September, the county emphasized the importance of preventive measures such as mask-wearing in crowded indoor spaces and staying home when sick.

“Similar to last year, the April 2023 health order will continue to mandate masks in all patient care areas of health care facilities starting on November 1 through the winter respiratory virus period,” the county stated.

In early October, San Mateo County mandated that “health care personnel and visitors in patient care areas of skilled nursing facilities wear face masks,” with the ability for the county health officer to adjust the dates.

Alameda County, which includes Oakland, issued an order in September requiring staff at health care facilities to wear masks through the end of the year and into early spring.

Pointing to the anticipated respiratory virus season, officials in Alameda County stated in the order that previous waves of RSV, flu, and COVID-19 occurred during the fall and winter months.

Similarly, Contra Costa County authorities mandated on Sept. 26 that health care staff-to wear masks until March 31 of the next year, providing an additional layer of protection for patients during the respiratory season.

“The masking of personnel in these facilities is necessary to provide a layer of protection to patients during the respiratory season when risk of exposure is highest,” the county explained.

Napa County issued a health order on Oct. 1 for a similar mandate, only requiring staff to wear masks in facilities.

California Hospital Reinstates Mandate

Aside from government mandates, a hospital system in Monterey, California, reinstated a mandate for patients, visitors, and staff.

In a statement issued on Oct. 29, Montage Health announced that masks will be required for all individuals entering patient care areas at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, regardless of vaccination status.

Other locations operated by Montage Health will only recommend mask wearing, rather than mandating it, the company stated.

NYC Offers Recommendation, but No Mandate

Recently, New York City’s Department of Health recommended in a post on X that residents wear masks ahead of flu season and to protect against COVID-19. They specifically suggested using respirator-style masks like KN95s, KF94s, or N95s.

“Wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings can help protect you from viruses like COVID-19 and the flu this season. Masking up also protects others if you’re sick,” the department stated in an Oct. 28 post, which garnered mostly negative reactions from X users.

While some studies have shown that masking may not significantly reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have cited studies indicating that face masks and respirator-style masks effectively filter virus-sized particles in laboratory settings.

However, the CDC notes that “The real-world effectiveness of face coverings to prevent acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been widely studied.”

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