Bay Area Guide To Mask Mandates: What To Know

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A universal mask mandate applying to most indoor public settings will be lifted next week for eleven Bay Area counties, officials said Wednesday morning.

The order will be lifted Wednesday, Feb. 16, for the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and the city of Berkeley, officials said in a joint news release.

Notably, unvaccinated people over age 2 must still wear masks in all indoor public settings. Businesses, venue operators and hosts can determine their policies to protect staff and customers and will be allowed to choose to require all patrons to wear masks.

Officials said the change aligns with the state Department of Public Health's decision to let a statewide indoor mask requirement expire. That order was instated Dec. 15.

Masks will still be required in California regardless of vaccination status in public transportation, health care buildings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, long-term care facilities and in K-12 schools and childcare settings.

As Gilroy Patch reported, Santa Clara County does not plan to lift its indoor mask requirement on Feb. 16, breaking from the rest of the Bay Area and the state.

The move comes amid falling case rates across the state.

Bay Area health officials said masks are still effective at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, especially where there are high cases or if people are looking for added protection. Continuing to mask while in indoor public settings, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, remains the safest choice for people and protects those who are medically vulnerable or are unable to get vaccinated, such young children.

Vaccinations and boosters remain the best defense against the virus, officials said.

See also:

• Santa Cruz County To Lift Mask Mandate Feb. 16
• Marin Hits Key Milestone As COVID Plummets