On Wednesday, with COVID-19 cases rising due to the Omicron variant, the California Department of Public Health updated its masking guidance and extended universal indoor masking for another month.
CDPH said its universal masking for indoor settings, which began on Dec. 15, will now be extended from its original sunset of Jan. 15 to Feb. 15.
The state is requiring masks for all individuals in all indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status.
Surgical masks or higher-level respirators — such as N95s, KN95s and KF94s — with good fit are recommended.
The agency, citing studies that support the effectiveness of masking, said the measure is meant to protect against serious disease, hospitalizations and death, and an effort to keep schools open.
“This measure brings an added layer of mitigation as the Omicron variant, a Variant of Concern as labeled by the World Health Organization, continues to increase in prevalence across California, the United States, and the world and spreads much more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant,” the updated guidance explains.
Those who remain exempt from wearing masks at all times include children under age 2; individuals with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a mask; persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication; and those for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to them related to their work.
CDPH reported that over the last two weeks, the statewide seven-day average case rate has increased by more than sixfold and hospitalizations have doubled.
“While the percentage of Californians fully vaccinated and boosted continues to increase, we continue to have areas of the state where vaccine coverage is low, putting individuals and communities at greater risk for COVID-19,” the updated guidance said.
“Given the current hospital census, which is over capacity, the surge in cases and hospitalizations has materially impacted California's health care delivery system within many regions of the state. Staffing levels are also increasingly impacted by COVID-19 transmission in many critical sectors,” the guidance also noted.
State updates masking guidance; indoor masking extended through Feb. 15
- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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