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Here’s you need to know about San Francisco’s new mask guidance

2 mins read

Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases and the threat of the more infectious delta variant, masks are again coming back to the San Francisco Bay Area.

You might have heard the news over the weekend and to clear things more, we are giving you all you need to know.

On Friday, public health departments in one city and seven Bay Area counties released an advisory that recommends everyone, vaccinated or not, to use masks in indoor spaces. This advisory was issued even though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allowed individuals with complete vaccines to not use masks.

A combined statement was released by Alameda, Marin, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and San Mateo, as well as the city of Berkeley, that they recommend to mask up indoors to boost safety precaution efforts. Included in indoor public spaces are grocery stores, theaters, and entertainment establishments.

The advisory immediately took effect — not as a requirement but rather, a recommendation.

“We are asking our residents to collectively come together again in this effort to stem the rising cases until we can assess how our hospital capacity will be impacted,” Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco health officer said.

Napa and Solano counties, meanwhile, were not included in the counties to join the advisory announcement.

Universal masking requirements are also urged to be adopted for customers in business establishments in seven counties and Berkeley to serve as an added layer of protection for both the workers and clients.

The advisory was released following the voluntary rules announcement of Sacramento and Yolo counties. A mandatory mask requirement for public indoor locations was also reinstituted in Los Angeles County on Saturday, SFGate reported.

In June alone, 43 percent of all virus specimens in California were detected to be the delta variant. Across the country, the said variant accounts for 58 percent new cases, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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