What to know as mask mandates, recommendations return amid California’s COVID surge
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that people should wear masks regardless of vaccination status in 45 counties combining for about 96% of California’s population, and state health officials on Wednesday recommended, but did not mandate, universal indoor masks statewide.
Individual counties are allowed to impose stricter rules than the state. Los Angeles County reintroduced a mask mandate in mid-July, and Yolo County announced Tuesday it will once again make masks mandatory beginning this Friday.
Numerous other counties, including in the Sacramento region, said prior to Wednesday’s announcement from the California Department of Public Health that they were awaiting further guidance from the state before making any changes to local rules.
Here’s what to know about masks in light of the new CDC guidance and the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.
Why did the CDC reverse course?
The CDC in May updated its guidance to say the fully vaccinated did not need to wear masks in most indoor settings. Many states and jurisdictions subsequently lifted or significantly loosened their mask requirements; California waited until June 15, the same day it dropped restrictions on businesses.
This week, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said it is once again recommended that people wear masks regardless of vaccine status in areas where COVID-19 cases are pouring in at a rate of more than 50 per 100,000 residents per week. That currently applies to roughly two-thirds of all counties nationwide, including a majority of California.
Walensky explained during a briefing Tuesday that the change to the guidance was warranted by the Delta variant, which is highly contagious.
Walensky said there is increasing evidence that some who are fully vaccinated may be contracting the virus and transmitting it, infecting others even if they do not become symptomatic or ill themselves. She suggested this appears to be happening with greater frequency with the Delta variant than previous variants.
What are the mask rules right now in California?
The state health department updated its guidelines on masking midday Wednesday.
The CDPH guidance is worded as a recommendation. However, masks are mandatory in Los Angeles County and will become mandatory Friday in Yolo County.
Spokespeople for five other counties in the Sacramento region — Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, Sutter and Yuba — said in emailed responses to The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning that they were waiting for additional guidance from the state, which Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said would be coming in “very short order.”
Where in California are COVID rates elevated?
Transmission rates as of Tuesday were high enough to trigger the CDC’s mask recommendation in all but 13 California counties: Alpine, Glenn, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Tehama and Tulare.
The CDPH recommendation does not contain any geographic distinction: masks are recommended throughout the state.
What kind of mask is best?
The CDC continues to advise the same masks it had previously: a good mask has at least two layers of breathable fabric and fits snugly on one’s face.
Masks should be worn properly, fully covering one’s nose and mouth.
Face shields are not recommended. Gaiters can be worn, but should also have two layers. The CDC also says people can wear two masks — a disposable mask beneath a cloth mask, for instance — to improve tight fit; this is particularly important for those with beards.
The agency continues to discourage N95 respirators for the general public, saying these should be prioritized for health care workers.
Children under 2 should still not wear a mask.
Does the Delta variant impact masks’ effectiveness?
Though the Delta variant of COVID-19 is known to be more contagious, the CDC has not noted any increased ability for it to penetrate through masks.
Should people wear masks outside?
CDC guidelines still note the risk of outdoor transmission of COVID-19 as “minimal.”
“In general, fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask outdoors,” CDC recommendations read.
However, the state says fully vaccinated people “might choose to wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings.”
In California, state health officials require that venues holding outdoor “mega events” with more than 10,000 in attendance make masks available for all attendees, and says attendees who are not fully vaccinated must wear them in these settings.
This story was originally published July 28, 2021 at 11:25 AM with the headline "What to know as mask mandates, recommendations return amid California’s COVID surge."
