Bay Area Reinstates Mask Mandates in Healthcare Settings

Several counties in California's Bay Area will require masks in healthcare facilities from November 2024 through spring 2025 to curb seasonal illnesses.

Masks will be mandatory in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Napa counties.
The mandates apply primarily to healthcare workers, but Santa Clara and San Mateo counties also require visitors to wear masks.
Santa Clara County extends the mask requirement to patients, with exemptions for young children and those with medical conditions.
The measures aim to reduce the spread of flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses during the colder months.
Despite being less restrictive than past COVID-19 mandates, the new orders have sparked political opposition.