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Seven Bay Area counties announced Monday that residents will be required to wear masks in nearly all indoor settings, marking the first major step in reversing a statewide rollback of public health restrictions in June.
The mask mandate, which begins on Tuesday (Aug. 3) comes as COVID-19 cases spike across the Bay Area, with some of the highest case rates since February of this year. Public health officials said at a Monday press conference that the delta variant of the virus is far more contagious and now accounts for the vast majority of new cases in the region, requiring protective measures to keep infection rates and COVID-19 hospitalizations under control.
“The delta variant is now the dominant variant in our area,” said George Han, Santa Clara County’s deputy public health officer. “And because it’s more contagious, we need more protection, and that comes in the form of masks as the easiest and best tools that we have.”
Residents are strongly discouraged from dining indoors and are asked to mask up in crowded outdoor areas.
Health officials, seven Bay Area counties
All of the county public health orders are nearly identical, requiring vaccinated and unvaccinated residents alike to wear face coverings indoors in public settings. In Alameda County, the regulations include a list of exceptions including when working alone in a closed room; indoor dining while patrons are actively eating or drinking; and swimming and showering at the gym. Residents are strongly discouraged from dining indoors and are asked to mask up in crowded outdoor areas, the health officials said.
The mandate will be simultaneously rolled out in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma. These public health orders do not have a sunset date, and come just days after the California Department of Public Health recommended universal masking in public indoor settings statewide.
In Santa Clara County, there is now an average of 202 new cases per day over the last week, the highest rates since late February, according to county data. That’s almost 10 times higher than the low point in June, despite a countywide vaccination rate of 78% among residents age 12 and older. San Mateo County saw a similar large spike to 87 cases per day during the week of July 15.
Sonoma County Health Officer Sundari Mase said the COVID-19 vaccine remains one of the strongest protections against the virus, and that the infection rate among the unvaccinated is six times higher than those who are vaccinated — a stark difference, given that unvaccinated residents make up just a small minority of the county population. But she said the vaccine alone is not enough to combat the delta variant, which is much more widespread and aggressive opponent.
The California Department of Public Health reported that the delta variant accounts for 84.4% of COVID cases this month, a rapid increase from just 53.1% in June and 5.9% in May. In Sonoma, it accounts for 95% of all new cases.
“It’s not the same virus that we were combating last year, or even a few months ago,” Mase said.
It’s not the same virus that we were combating last year, or even a few months ago.
Sundari Mase, Sonoma County health official
Fully vaccinated residents are included in the mask mandate because they, too, can get infected with so-called breakthrough cases, and Los Angeles County health officials reported last week that 20% of all new cases were among those who were vaccinated. Though people who are vaccinated are far less likely to suffer severe illness or end up in the hospital, they may spread the virus in public settings like grocery stores and restaurants.
In a statement following the press conference, Scott Morrow, San Mateo County’s health officer, described the mask mandate as a less disruptive public health requirement that can reduce community transmission while still allowing higher-risk activities to take place.
“As San Mateo County joins its neighbors in issuing these orders, the goal is to avoid disrupting businesses and residents’ everyday activities,” Morrow said. “We want our communities to stay open while being as safe as possible.”
Like past mask mandates, Han said he recommends people wear a surgical or medical-grade mask and, barring that, a well-fitted cloth mask. Enforcement will largely fall to individual businesses, many of whom made face coverings optional for vaccinated individuals less than two months ago.
Though the new public health orders are even-handed with residents regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, public health officers were emphatic in encouraging people to get vaccinated. Broad nationwide trends show that 97% of people ending up in the hospital with severe symptoms are unvaccinated, and local hospital admissions for people with COVID are surging. In Contra Costa County, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients doubled in just the past 10 days, and are up 400% in the month of July.
In Sonoma, 100% of the ICU patients with COVID were unvaccinated and could have protected themselves from the virus.
“This is really tragic given the widespread availability of vaccines in the area,” Mase said. “It’s needed now more than ever.”
I am sure that there is a good explanation for all of this but haven’t seen it yet. Or maybe I am just confused by the ever changing guidance based on the latest version of the science.
It seems that the responsible people are being told they have to continue to wear masks to protect those who are not being responsible. And there is lots of chatter suggesting that the responsible people will soon be paying those who are not responsible in order incent them to get vaccinated. But the unintended consequences could be just the opposite. Some might conclude that if they still have to wear a mask then what incentive is there to get vaccinated? Or they might conclude that if they hold out longer, the financial incentive might be raised.
Unmentioned in this latest emergency are the number of new deaths relative to the number of new cases and some comparison of those trends to last summer and fall. Since they are unmentioned, I suspect that information goes against the latest official COVID narrative.
I appreciate the freedom I have to wear mask.
What day we on for “just 2 weeks to slow to spread.” ?
Deaths have plummeted and in the words of Fauci in his email in 2020: “I do not recommend that you wear a mask.”
I sure hope (hope is actually an emotion, and I am feeling emotional as of now) Barry Obama reads this article and rethinks his 60th birthday party with over 200 servants and 450 maskless attendees. Oh, wait, he is our societal elite and is not subjected to the rules.
Ok, well I sure hope Gavin will allow our kids to go back to school. Oh, my bad, he is our tyrannical elite as well, and his kids attend private school in Sacramento. He knows what is best for your kids.
Sure hope those extremists that refuse to get the experimental drug behave and take the shot because they are infecting all of us! Oh, sorry, I was wrong, the large number of victims transmitting (breakthrough cases) and falling ill from the variant (there is always going to be a new variant and 6 month booster shots for the rest of your life) are the VACCINATED group.
Remind me, what are the name of the scientists and doctors pushing this stuff again? I guess you can just make this stuff up. Sure glad I have the freedom to not wear a mask.
Gee, do you think the Dems have returned to the well again for voting control, because September 14th is just around the corner.
@Jake Waters,
The unvaccinated are transmitting the virus (especially the delta variant) at a much higher rate than the vaccinated. Unvaccinated people are 3 times more likely to become infected in the first place! People who don’t become infected at all don’t transmit the virus. With delta, people who do become infected can transmit the virus, vaccinated or not. But if you are vaccinated, you are 3 times less likely to even have a SARS-COV-2 infection.
Stop making this about politics. It is about public health. Get vaccinated.
BobB. As late as last week the CDC said it is very unlikely for a vaccinated person to transmit the disease. Now a complete reversal and vaccinated people are the problem. This is not about public health, it is about incompetence. It is not about science, it is about opinions. Virology is not a black and white process. I am vaccinated and so be it. I am not following any mask requirements since I have done my part. Quit telling me what to do and I will not tell you what to do. It is about freedom from incompetent fools. If it is coming from the government it is about politics. Let Darwin work his magic.
Thank you Jake, Doug, Buklau and John. At least there are a few people in town who can THINK for themselves.
@been there,
Everyone can think for themselves. Buklau and Jake Waters are anti-vaxxers with a history of posting falsehoods about vaccines. Jake Waters continues to do so here.
BobB immediately jumps to name calling and spreading misinformation.
Pleasanton Weekly please take note of BobB.
@john,
I did not call anyone names or say anything that wasn’t true.
Pleasanton Weekly please take note.
Only true in your opinion. Your opinion is not fact.
This is the wrong decision by County Health Officials. The focus should be on getting the 30% of people who are not vaccinated to get their free vaccines. 70% of the US population has gotten their shots. Despite the shaky science from the CDC, vaccinated people are not the problem. We are no longer “all in this together”. Now it is a small percentage of the population who refuse to get shots that could end this pandemic in the U.S. for good. What next County Health? Are you trying to reach a zero caseload of Covid-19? No one can get ever get sick again, ever? With that mindset, how can you allow us to drive cars? It is time to place the burden squarely where it belongs – on the FDA for not giving final approval to the vaccines and to the population that refuses to take advantage of the vaccines.
Herd immunity is 70%, yet CNBC article: “CDC study shows 74% of people infected in Massachusetts Covid outbreak were fully vaccinated”
The vaccinated are still getting sick, they are still spreading it, and yet we are going back to the same mask policies as a year ago!
Basement Bob, that is disinformation. Israel, UK, and Scotland have been providing information more quickly than the US. They have the highest numbers for vaccinated people and are experiencing high numbers of breakthrough cases. Israel is 85% vaccinated (Herd immunity) and are seeing their numbers skyrocket. Unvaccinated are not the problem. Masks are equivalent to throwing sand at a cyclone fence expecting it to stop it. We already know that the face diaper doesn’t and hasn’t worked, so let’s stop with the fear mongering.
Secondly, the number of illegals racing into this country is nothing short of an impeachable crime of the Biden Administration. So many of them have the CCP Virus, but Biden is flying them all over the country via the military.
And stop with your little tantrum saying that just because we don’t agree with you that we are anti-vaccines. My God, you really have been in the dark a long time. You are a disinformation provider.
@buklau,
70% was not with delta variant. Delta may require as high as 90%.
@Jake Waters,
The vaccines are safe and effective. Stop fear mongering. People’s lives are at stake. Get vaccinated.
BobB. Simple question for you. Why are the vaccines still in experimental stage? Why has the FDA not given final approval? Are we the actual experiment?
@John,
Good questions.
Why still EUA and not full approval? From what I’ve read, it’s getting close, but the FDA wants to be very thorough. Likely to get full approval near the end of the month. Some countries, like Australia and New Zealand, have already given full approval.
> Are we the actual experiment?
Yes, we are the subjects of the experiment.
Technically, they are authorized vaccines but on an experimental basis.
Kudos to you for getting the vaccine and for serving your country.
BobB. You just summed up the problem. I served in Vietnam in 68 and 69. The government failed us then and ever since. Nothing but lies and changing stories. Now the FDA is using the entire country as an experiment. If it is so good approve the vaccine. Usual government covering their A.. As for the government lies.
You don’t need a mask.
You need a mask.
Only for 2 weeks.
Get vaccinated and you won’t need a mask.
Wear 2 masks.
Everyone needs a mask.
Herd immunity is 70%
No wait, her immunity is now 90% because of the delta variant.
It’s the unvaccinated fault.
It simply goes on and on with a different story at least weekly if not daily.
The CDC is a joke with it’s ” I feel an impending doom” Walansky in charge.
Fauci “highest paid government employee ever” is a lifetime civil servant with no practical experience, along with Biden.
I got vaccinated because I am 75. If I was 35 I would think long and hard about getting an experimental vaccine.
You are free to believe the government. Remember those that can do and those that are incompetent work for the government.
John
O Captain! My captain!
PP. You are supposed to get the vaccine as a shot not drink it.
Once again the same bullies on the block have hi-jacked what could and should have been an intelligent, thoughtful discussion on a topic that affects us all, like it or not. Doug Miller raised legitimate questions, and our community has lots of people who could have engaged in an exchange of productive ideas which could have shed some light and given each of us some insight into an important action that affects our daily lives.
Instead we have this playground of name-calling, ‘I’m smarter than you’ clap-trap that has been hashed and re-hashed ad nauseum, by the same 5 participants who have pounded us with the same lame arguments since this pandemic first reared its ugly head.
Well, gentlemen, knock yourselves out. I’m vaccinated, I’m old, and I’m gonna wear a mask indoors, avoid crowded venues, take my vitamins, stay hydrated, renew my driver’s license, place my garbage cans 3 feet apart, and separate my recyclables from my trash and organics, as well as wearing sunscreen and brushing my teeth twice a day to prevent tooth decay. Because I can. What I won’t do is follow or participate in this discussion any further because I have far better things to do with my time. Too bad you don’t.