New Mask Order Takes Effect In Napa County

NAPA COUNTY —For workers in most healthcare facilities in Napa County, Nov. 1 is a day to put away the Halloween mask and put on a surgical mask.

To provide a layer of protection to patients against COVID-19, the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other viral infections, a new health order took effect Wednesday. The order was issued by Napa County Health Officer Dr. Christine Wu and requires hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities including crisis stabilization units, skilled nursing facilities and dialysis and infusion centers to implement and enforce a program requiring healthcare workers, regardless of vaccination status, to mask while in patient care areas.

The order supersedes prior standing masking orders directed at healthcare workers, which include anyone, paid or volunteer, who has direct patient contact or work in patient care areas. This includes but is not limited to clerical staff, dietary workers, janitorial staff, medical assistants, nurses, physician assistants, physicians, allied health workers and EMS personnel, Wu said.

The mask mandate is similar to orders passed by the nearby counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Marin and Sonoma. While the exact definition varies by county, masks became mandatory Wednesday and the order continues through April 30.

In Santa Clara County, the order extends to any person who enters a healthcare facility, including residents and visitors.

In San Francisco, workers in healthcare facilities and jails must wear masks.

Berkeley, which has its own public health department, passed an order requiring all healthcare facility and emergency medical services employees to wear masks only if they decline to receive flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. That order also went into effect Wednesday and ends April 30.

According to Napa County's order, the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19 and other viral infections cause severe respiratory disease annually between late fall and spring among people in Napa County. This seasonal increase in circulation of multiple respiratory viruses causes particular risk to certain populations more likely to experience severe disease and death if infected, including infants, older adults, pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that this winter, respiratory diseases will result in as many or more hospitalizations than they did last winter.

"While getting vaccinated against influenza, RSV and COVID-19 remains the best way to reduce
risk of hospitalizations and deaths, these vaccines are less effective at preventing symptomatic
infection and transmission of illness," Wu states in the Napa County health order. "Facial coverings are a proven method for protecting all people, including the most vulnerable, against respiratory infections.

View a PDF of Napa County's mask order: