In response to the growing threat of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 and influenza, several Bay Area county officials are increasing the need for health care workers at the point of care of patients during future respiratory virus outbreaks. issued an order requiring people to wear masks.
The measures announced on Tuesday are sonoma, contra costa and San Mateo The move comes amid concerns that a potential “triple outbreak” of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus could strain the health system.
Other health departments in the Bay Area are expected to impose similar mandates.
“Each year, from late fall through spring, we see higher rates of influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses that can cause severe respiratory infections,” Sonoma County Interim health officer Dr. Karen Smith said in the paper. statement.
He stressed that respiratory viruses pose a significant risk to patients and residents of health care facilities and congregate care facilities, especially vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with chronic conditions. Health worker illness has the additional consequence of staff calling in sick patients.
“Employees in direct care, healthcare, and congregate settings are at risk for respiratory illness and can transmit the virus to customers, patients, and co-workers,” Smith noted.
These health orders are the first such mandates in the Bay Area. Lifting of previous mask requirements State and county officials made the announcement in April. Previously, local medical facilities were allowed to set their own mask-wearing rules.
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center reinstated a mask requirement in August after a spike in coronavirus cases among hospital visitors.
These new obligations apply only to staff at various health care facilities. Does not apply to patients or visitors. It also does not cover other congregate living settings, such as detention centers or homeless shelters.
San Mateo County health officials emphasized that health care workers must wear a high-quality surgical mask, KN95, KF94, or N95, that “fits the individual well” and covers the nose and mouth.
Requirements are the same as California’s New coronavirus infection (COVID-19) indicators After the late summer swell, it starts to level off. Hospitalizations have increased about 24% statewide over the past month, from a seven-day average of 320 to 395 per day.
in contrast, sonoma county The number of hospitalizations per day increased by 44%, from 18 to 26 people. In Contra Costa County, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations increased from eight to 12 per day.
“We are seeing an upward trend,” Contra Costa County Health Officer Anna Ross told the county Board of Supervisors Tuesday. She said: “It’s not that big. It can accommodate the increased demand for beds in some hospitals. But it’s going up.”
Santa Clara County previously similar policyrequiring the use of masks for staff, patients, and visitors in patient care areas only during the expected winter respiratory virus infection period, from November 1st to March 31st.
Marin County health officials are actively considering similar requirements.
The city of San Francisco already requires health care workers, excluding patients and visitors, to wear masks annually.
Although these measures apply to high-risk settings, reinstatement of widespread mask-wearing requirements for the general public is unlikely at this time. As COVID-19 becomes endemic, state and local health officials are now focusing on individual risk assessment.
Contact Aidin Vaziri: avaziri@sfchronicle.com