On Wednesday, five counties in California announced mask mandates ahead of the flu season as a precautionary measure.
In Hospitals and doctor’s offices, staff are required to wear masks with all patients in Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa, and Sonoma counties reports ABC7 News. Additionally, some counties will also require patients and long term care residents to wear masks during any interactions with staff.
In an interview with ABC7 News, Dr. Sarah Rudman, Santa Clara County’s deputy health officer said, “The order in Santa Clara County does require masking for everyone who steps into a healthcare facility. 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.”
Many other counties in California have implemented mask recommendations such as Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura, but have not gone so far to mandate them, yet. In Los Angeles, all healthcare workers must be updated with their Covid-19 vaccinations and if they choose not to, then workers are required to wear masks at all times during any patient interaction.
In San Bernardino County, the local government “strongly recommends” all individuals while in an indoor environment should wear masks.
According to ABC7, those who support the mandates argue the precautionary measures would help avoid a “tripledemic” including RSV, the flu, and Covid-19. However, citizens of California and many healthcare workers have pushed back hard on the mandates saying “We’re over it,” as one California hospital worker described the work atmosphere to ABC7. “Our patients, we still don’t know if they’re coming in with [C]ovid, but it doesn’t scare me.”
ABC7 News reports that the mandates are set to stay in effect until March 2024 at a minimum.
