New Mask Order Issued In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Health care personnel in Sonoma County must wear a mask when in patient care areas starting Monday under an order issued by Sonoma County’s Interim Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith.

The health order remains in effect throughout the remaining respiratory virus season, until April 30. Smith issued the health order given the rising risk of respiratory virus-related illnesses, such as COVID and flu.

"Each year, we see that higher rates of influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses that can cause severe respiratory infections occur between late fall and spring," Smith said. "Influenza and other seasonal respiratory viruses infect tens of millions in the United States each year and can result in serious medical outcomes, including hospitalizations and death."

The order applies to all health care personnel regardless of their vaccination status.

Additionally, all businesses and governmental entities with health care delivery facilities must enforce this face mask requirement for all personnel entering patient care areas within the health care delivery facility.

Sonoma County has required health care personnel to vaccinate against influenza every flu season since at least 2017. In 2023, when it was determined that the vaccine did not fully mitigate the co-circulation of multiple respiratory viruses, the new requirement for face masks was introduced.

The order applies to staff at health care facilities including hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, infusion centers, dialysis centers, skilled nursing facilities, portions of long-term care facilities where nursing care is provided, and other facilities where patient care is provided indoors.

Dr. Smith also included guidance for the general public, strongly recommending that everyone 6 months and older get updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines —and RSV vaccines if they are eligible—to protect against potentially serious outcomes of respiratory illness this winter.

"Vaccination remains the best protection against respiratory virus infections," said Smith, who also recommends that all vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings when the COVID or influenza risk in Sonoma County is high.

Dr. Smith issued the health order because patients and residents in health care and congregate facilities—especially young children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions—are at greater risk for respiratory virus-related hospitalizations and death.

Workers in direct care, health care and congregate facilities are also at risk for respiratory illness and can transmit the viruses to their clients, patients and coworkers, according to the health order. Moreover, respiratory virus-related illness in health care workers can cause absenteeism, placing further strain on limited health care resources, the order states.

"The co-occurrence of influenza season with a likelihood of another late fall/winter surge of COVID-19 may increase the risk of our health systems being overwhelmed with patients with critical respiratory illness," Smith said.

See the full details of the health order.