Santa Cruz County Lifts Mask Mandate on February 16
Staff Report
The County of Santa Cruz has announced that it will follow the majority of Bay Area counties in lifting mask requirements for indoor public settings beginning Wednesday, February 16. The shift in policy aligns with recent determinations by health officials in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma counties, and the City of Berkeley.
“Omicron was an immense stress test on our system, and although it presented many difficulties because of the sheer number of people who became infected, the partnerships that have been built over the course of the pandemic allowed for increased testing, vaccinations and boosters,” said Santa Cruz County Health Officer, Dr. Gail Newel in a press release. “We as a community know how we can prevent severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths. We want people to continue to be cautious and layer their defenses through masking and other measures when the situation requires to protect family, friends and the community.”
Masking will continue to be required for all California residents while on public transportation, in healthcare and correctional settings, and in public K-12 schools and childcare facilities. Local health officials recommend indoor masking when in crowded facilities with poor ventilation.
The shift reflects a nationwide trend toward embracing a “new normal” of living with COVID. While Omicron was more highly infectious, it was also proved to be less life-threatening than previous variants. Health officials indicate that new orders and recommendations will continue to “follow the science.”
Dr. Newel’s statement continued, “After reaching a high on January 20 of 1,263 new cases in a day, Santa Cruz County case rates have declined to a 7-day average of 117 as of February 7. Meanwhile, hospitalizations, a lagging indicator of disease, have begun to decrease. Unvaccinated individuals over age 2 will continue to be required to wear masks in all indoor public settings. Businesses, venue operators and hosts may determine their own paths forward to protect staff and patrons and may choose to require all patrons to wear masks.”
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