California’s Marin County is requiring people in hospitals to wear a mask through March.
The move follows the beginning of what has been considered virus season.
“Marin County, alongside other Bay Area counties instituted a health order that requires patients, staff and visitors to wear a mask in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities for the fall and winter virus season, November 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024,” according to the county.
“The intent of the order is to protect individuals in these high-risk healthcare settings and limit the spread of seasonal respiratory viruses including RSV, influenza, and COVID-19. It will apply to all individuals within the facility while they are in patient care areas.”
Children under 6 and those with a “valid medical reason” are exempt from the mask mandate.
The county also included a list of recommendations.
One of the recommendations from the county includes, “If you’ve had a significant exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, wear a mask for 10 days.”
Another recommendation says, “High risk individuals should consider wearing a mask,” adding that “family and household members of persons at high risk should consider wearing a mask.”
Other California counties have chosen to reinstate mask mandates, including Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa, and Sonoma County.
American Faith reported that Bay Area officials said the reason for the mandate was an attempt to combat a “tripledemic,” or a rise in coronavirus, the flu, and RSV this fall and winter season.
“The order in Santa Clara County does require masking for everyone who steps into a health care facility,” Santa Clara County’s Deputy Health Officer Dr. Sarah Rudman said.
“And that’s because we’re all at risk during this winter virus season. We all need to play a role in protecting ourselves and protecting each other,” she continued.
