Quick Take:
Santa Cruz County will reinstate its seasonal mask requirement in all skilled nursing facilities and infusion centers beginning Nov. 1, requiring employees, visitors and other non-patients to wear face masks indoors.
Santa Cruz County will reinstate its seasonal mask requirement in all skilled nursing facilities and infusion centers beginning Nov. 1, requiring employees, visitors and other non-patients to wear face masks indoors.
The requirement was issued by Public Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez in response to an uptick in respiratory viruses common between fall and spring. Hernandez said the county has already seen an increase in respiratory viruses in the community, as seen by wastewater testing. This is the fourth year a seasonal mask mandate has gone into effect.
“This Order is intended to protect people who are most vulnerable to serious illness, including hospitalization and death,” Hernandez said in a media release.
The California Department of Public Health also encourages community members to get vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19 and RSV. All of the respiratory vaccine recommendations can be found here.
