Face Masks Are Returning to Hospitals. What’s Your Bay Area County Doing?

However, of the nine Bay Area counties, only two — Santa Clara and Marin — require visitors, patients, and workers to also wear masks in these settings, as confirmed by the county’s public health department spokesperson. In Marin County, all individuals in patient care areas are asked to mask — except those under six years old or with a medical excuse.

Most of the counties — like San Francisco, Alameda and San Mateo — are only enforcing the mask rule on staff or patient-facing workers, although some do recommend all entering health care facilities wear masks.

San Francisco’s Health Officer also recommends continuing “appropriate protections based on their situation,” such as getting the new COVID vaccine, wearing a well-fitted mask in appropriate settings, staying at home if you are feeling ill, and staying aware of medications like Paxlovid that help with the severity of the COVID infection.

Scroll down to find out your county’s current masking rules, according to their county spokesperson.

Masks have been found to be effective at reducing the transmission of COVID “when worn consistently and correctly,” says the CDC, and any mask is better than no mask” in protecting your individual health — especially ahead of the holiday season when many people gather and travel.“ Wearing a mask also reduces the likelihood of community spread and helps protect those at higher risk for severe illness or death from COVID, like older or immunocompromised people.

If it feels like everyone you know got COVID again in the last few months, you are not alone. Read KQED’s guide to the latest COVID variant’s symptoms and what incubation periods now look like for the virus. And remember, COVID is not the only illness in the mix — the flu is circulating along with RSV. Read KQED’s guide to getting your flu and RSV shots.

What are your Bay Area county’s masking rules for health care settings?