Americans are expressing outrage as Covid-era mask rules slowly take hold across California.
Sonoma County, in San Francisco, is the latest region to reinstate mask mandates in all medical settings for staff but not visitors.
There are more than 20 hospitals and clinics in the area treating more than 480,000 residents and visitors, the largest of which is Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Karen Smith, the county’s interim health director, issued the order “given the increasing risk of respiratory virus-related illnesses, such as COVID and influenza.”
The decision will be in effect for the remainder of the respiratory virus season, from November 18 to April 30.
Despite Dr.’s concerns. Smith, the latest report from the California Department of Public Health shows that Covid and influenza activity is “currently low” in the state and that there were no hospitalizations during the week of October 28.
Meanwhile, the CDC states in its latest update that 4.8% of the US population has tested positive for an active Covid infection.
In response to the recent announcement about mask-wearing in Sonoma, many people on social media deemed it “stupid” and a “joke.”
Americans are expressing outrage after Covid-era mask rules are slowly taking hold across California
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One Facebook user wrote: ‘Here we go again. Sonoma County reinstates useless patriotic magic mask mandate for healthcare workers. Are forced vaccinations the next step? Masks do not reduce COVID.”
Another Facebook user said angrily: ‘Foolish, when they were supposed to do nothing.’
However, some people are in favor of the mask-wearing mandate, with one commenter writing, “Good. The idea of protecting patients is always a good idea.”
Early this month, the Monterey Peninsula Community Hospital also reinstated its mask-wearing policy for the same reasons.
Meanwhile, other counties with mask requirements include San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Napa and San Mateo.
Together, more than 2.8 million inhabitants live in these areas.
Rules vary by county, but in Sonoma, all staff in patient care areas of healthcare facilities must wear a face mask for the duration of the order and regardless of their vaccination status.
In addition, all companies that provide healthcare products or supplies must enforce the mandate for all personnel entering patient care areas.
While Sonoma is not applying the rule to visitors, other counties, such as Santa Clara and San Mateo, are requiring anyone entering a medical facility to wear a mask.
Dr. Smith also recommends that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks in indoor public spaces when the risk of Covid or flu is high.
She added: ‘Every year we see higher rates of influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses that can cause serious respiratory infections between late autumn and spring.
“Influenza and other seasonal respiratory viruses infect tens of millions of people in the United States each year and can cause serious medical consequences, including hospitalizations and death.”
Sonoma County has required all health care facilities to implement a flu vaccination program since at least 2017, requiring health care workers who provide direct patient care to receive an annual flu vaccine or wear a mask.
The order applies to personnel in health care facilities, including hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, infusion centers, dialysis centers, skilled nursing facilities, portions of long-term care facilities where nursing care is provided, and other facilities where patient care is provided indoors.
Dr. Smith also provided guidance for the general public around vaccinations, strongly recommending that everyone six months and older receive updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines, and RSV vaccines if eligible.
“Vaccination remains the best protection against viral respiratory infections,” she emphasized.