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| AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File |
Mask mandates are back.
Several Bay Area counties in California will require health care workers to mask up from Nov. 1 to either March or April, an unusual revival of rules that sparked controversy during the height of the pandemic.
Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Napa counties have issued the orders, which apply to workers at skilled nursing facilities, hospitals and other facilities. In some places, violations would be considered misdemeanor offenses punishable by fines or even imprisonment.
Counties say they are imposing the rules to try and stop the spread of COVID-19, flu and other seasonal viruses.
While the mandates aren’t as widespread as the ones public health care officials imposed in 2020-2021, they go against the grain.
Most places have moved on from pandemic rules and some areas have considered a ban on face coverings that obscure someone’s identity. It’s already become a political issue in the Golden State.
“Mask mandates are making a comeback in California,” said Rep. Kevin Kiley, California Republican. “We must elect the right people to assure history doesn’t repeat itself.”
Mask and vaccination rules fueled raucous controversy during the COVID-19 crisis, with business lobbies, airline pilots and other litigants going to court to block Biden administration mandates and Democratic-run cities and states fighting with similar groups over their rules.
Former President Donald Trump is campaigning for a return to the White House next year in part on a vow to prevent mask mandates from reappearing.
“I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate,” the Republican nominee said earlier this year.
His running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, filed the Freedom to Breathe Act in September 2023 to prohibit the president or any federal official from issuing a mask requirement on domestic air travel, public transit systems, or primary, secondary and post-secondary schools. --->READ MORE HERE
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| Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images |
Mask mandates are returning for a limited time during cold and flu season in the heart of deep-blue California’s San Francisco Bay Area.
With winter fast approaching, several Bay Area counties have recently issued health orders requiring that face masks be worn in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and other healthcare settings beginning on Nov. 1 and extending through either March 31 or April 30, 2025, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The new mandates were put into effect to prevent the spread of the flu, COVID and other seasonal illnesses.
The requirements only apply to healthcare workers except in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, which also require visitors to put on masks.
Santa Clara is also requiring that patients mask up, according to the outlet.
Localities that have issued health orders include Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Napa counties.
Healthcare facilities that must abide by the orders include hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, dialysis centers and infusion centers. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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