{"id":2043607,"date":"2023-09-25T05:09:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T09:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/health-care-workers-mandated-to-wear-masks-in-several-counties-officials\/"},"modified":"2023-09-25T05:13:49","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T09:13:49","slug":"health-care-workers-mandated-to-wear-masks-in-several-counties-officials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/health-care-workers-mandated-to-wear-masks-in-several-counties-officials\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthcare workers in multiple counties required to wear masks: Officials."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhealth-care-workers-mandated-to-wear-masks-in-several-counties-officials%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2043607&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Bay Area Health Agencies Reinstate Mandatory Masking for Fall and Winter<\/h2>\n<p>Several Bay Area health agencies in California announced last week \u200dthat mandatory masking would return to hospitals and health care settings for the fall and winter months.<\/p>\n<p>Contra Costa, Sonoma, Alameda,\u200c and San Mateo counties issued mask orders for health care staff in hospitals and other\u2063 care facilities. The orders start on Nov. 1 \u2064and last until April 30, 2024, officials\u2064 said,\u2064 citing recent increases in COVID-19, influenza, and other\u2064 respiratory viruses that are typically commonplace during \u200bthe colder months.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>\u201cEach year we see that higher rates of influenza, COVID-19 and\u2064 other \u2063respiratory viruses that can\u2064 cause <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/health-care-workers-mandated-to-wear-masks-in-several-counties-officials\/\" title=\"Healthcare workers in multiple counties required to wear masks: Officials.\">severe respiratory infections occur annually<\/a> between late fall and spring,\u201d Dr. Karen Smith, the Sonoma County interim health officer, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/sonomacounty.ca.gov\/sonoma-county-health-officer-issues-order-requiring-health-care-facility-staff-to-wear-a-mask\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/cdc-refuses-to-release-updated-information-on-post-vaccination-heart-inflammation-5496214?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>CDC Refuses to Release Updated Information on Post-COVID Vaccination \u2064Heart Inflammation<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/23\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/cdc-refuses-to-release-updated-information-on-post-vaccination-heart-inflammation-5496214?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/a-strange-covid-19-symptom-how-to-diagnose-and-treat-it-5496222?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>A Strange COVID-19 Symptom\u2013How to Diagnose and Treat It<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/23\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/a-strange-covid-19-symptom-how-to-diagnose-and-treat-it-5496222?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Contra Costa Health Services CEO Anna \u200cRoth told the county&#8217;s board of supervisors last week that the mandate will be enacted, \u2063according to local media \u2062reports.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;We are issuing the health order today around masking for high-risk facilities, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-homeland-security-department-illegal-immigrants-should-get-vaccine\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Homeland Security Department: Illegal Immigrants Should Get Vaccine\">health care facilities<\/a> specifically,&#8221; \u200cMs. Roth\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/sanfrancisco\/news\/contra-costa-county-issues-new-mask-order-for-health-care-workers-in-high-risk-facilities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a>. &#8220;So again, masking in hospitals, masking in\u200c skilled nursing facilities, masking in high-risk \u2064facilities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In Alameda County, which \u200dincludes \u2063the city of Oakland, the mandate will go into effect for \u201coperators of specified Health Care Facilities&#8221; because of COVID-19, RSV, and influenza, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kron4.com\/news\/bay-area\/alameda-county-requiring-mandatory-masking-of-staff-in-healthcare-facilities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to KRON 4 television. Staff are now mandated to wear &#8220;high quality&#8221; and &#8220;well-fitting&#8221; masks while inside patient care \u2064settings, officials\u2062 said several days ago.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>At \u2062about the \u200bsame time, the San Mateo County \u2063Health Department issued an \u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smchealth.org\/health-officer-updates\/91923-order-no-f23-1-wearing-face-masks-health-care-delivery-facilities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">order<\/a> that also mandates \u200dmasks in patient care settings for health care workers for the\u2064 same aforementioned period, starting on Nov. 1. Health care staff who don&#8217;t comply may face fines and misdemeanor charges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Please read this \u2062order carefully. Violation of, or failure to comply with, this Order is a public nuisance subject to citation, abatement, or \u200cboth, as well as a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both,&#8221; it reads.<\/p>\n<p>Health\u2064 officials in Santa Clara\u200b County, which includes the city of San\u200d Jose and Silicon Valley, already set a mandate in March\u2064 that will require masks in patient care areas\u2062 between\u2064 the late fall\u2064 and the spring.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>\u201cHistorical data show higher rates of infection by COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other viruses in Contra Costa County annually between late fall\u200d and spring,\u201d Dr. Ori Tzvieli, the county\u2019s health officer, \u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2023-09-21\/some-bay-area-healthcare-workers-will-have-to-mask-again-as-covid-flu-rsv-season-looms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrote<\/a> in the order at the \u2064time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:1200px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Signs reminding people of \u200dsocial distancing and wearing face masks remain at a mall in California \u200don June 14, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThis seasonal increase in circulation of multiple respiratory viruses poses a particular risk to people more \u2064likely to experience severe disease and \u2063death if infected, including infants, older adults, and people with impaired immunity.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>A similar\u200b rule was \u2064initiated in San Francisco. The \u2064city, which is also a county, already enforces year-round masking for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/karol-markowicz-too-little-too-late-disband-the-cdc-now\/\" title=\"Karol Markowicz: Too Little, Too Late: Disband the CDC Now\">health care staffers<\/a>, visitors, and patients, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/health\/article\/sonoma-reinstates-health-worker-mask-mandate-amid-18376297.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to \u200bthe San\u200d Francisco Chronicle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>While the Bay Area county health agencies all cited an increase \u200bin COVID-19,\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#trends_weeklyhospitaladmissions_select_00\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">data from<\/a> the\u200c U.S. Centers for Disease Control \u200dand Prevention (CDC) suggest that the current rise in reported cases is far lower than the historical average\u2014especially \u200bprevious surges of the virus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Since August, several hospitals \u2063across the United States have reimplemented mask mandates, although some have only made face coverings mandatory for employees\u2014not patients or visitors. A smaller number of schools and some private\u2062 businesses have also made \u2062masking mandatory \u2062in recent weeks, sparking\u200b fears of a repeat of COVID-19 mandates that were imposed over the past several years.<\/p>\n<p>Republican officials have expressed alarm about the return of mandates, with several 2024 GOP presidential candidates speaking out against them. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this \u2064month said his state wouldn&#8217;t reimplement the mandates, and former President Donald Trump released a video on social media calling on Americans to resist the\u2062 rules, \u200bwhich he described as tyrannical.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>Milder Symptoms?<\/h2>\n<p>Earlier this month, a handful of doctors revealed that symptoms\u200c of \u200cCOVID-19 appear to be getting milder. Some said it&#8217;s difficult to distinguish COVID-19\u2063 from \u2064influenza, the common cold, or even allergies without testing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>\u201cIt isn\u2019t the same typical symptoms that we \u2063were seeing before.\u200d It\u2019s a lot of congestion, sometimes sneezing, \u200cusually a mild sore throat,\u201d Dr. Erick Eiting, vice chair of operations for emergency medicine \u2062at New York\u2019s Mount Sinai, told NBC News in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/mkt_app\/health\/doctors-say-covid-19-cases-becoming-milder-impacting-upper-respiratory-tract-5493759?utm_source=andshare\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sept. 16\u2063 interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>He noted that &#8220;just about\u200b everyone who I\u2019ve seen has had really mild symptoms,\u201d referring to urgent care COVID-19 patients at \u2062his \u200chospital.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe only way that we knew that it was COVID was because \u2063we \u200dhappened to be testing them,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Dan Barouch, head of the Center for \u2064Virology \u200cand Vaccine \u2062Research at Boston\u2019s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in\u200c Boston, said the mild\u2062 symptoms may be, in part, due to prior\u200d immunity.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Overall, the severity of COVID is \u2062much lower than it was a year ago and\u200d two years ago,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That\u2019s not because the variants are less\u200c robust.\u2063 It\u2019s because the immune responses are higher.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> Why is the county&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gov-newsom-lifts-calif-lockdown-orders-amid-mounting-backlash\/\" title=\"Gov. Newsom lifts Calif. lockdown orders amid mounting backlash\">public health department<\/a> emphasizing the importance of masking in healthcare \u2064settings for the 19 and influenza concerns?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  19 and \u200cinfluenza concerns, according to the county&#8217;s public health department. The department emphasized the importance \u2063of masking in healthcare settings to\u2064 protect\u2064 vulnerable populations and \u200bprevent the \u200bspread of respiratory illnesses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The decision to reinstate mandatory masking comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the Bay \u200bArea \u2062and across the country. Health officials are particularly concerned about the upcoming flu season, which could further strain healthcare resources already overwhelmed by the pandemic.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;With \u200dthe increase in COVID-19 cases and the upcoming \u200bflu season, it is crucial that we take proactive measures to protect our healthcare workers, patients, and the community,&#8221; said Dr. Naveena Bobba, the San Mateo County\u200b health officer, in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smcgov.org\/press-release\/bay-area-counties-reinstate-mask-requirements-health-care-settings-fall-and-winter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">press release<\/a>.\u200c &#8220;Masks have been shown to be effective in reducing the transmission of\u2063 respiratory viruses, and we must prioritize the safety of our healthcare system.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The mask orders apply to healthcare staff working in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other \u2064high-risk facilities. They are required \u200bto wear masks at all times, regardless of vaccination status. The orders also\u200b urge\u2064 healthcare\u200b facilities to implement other preventive measures, such as social distancing and hand hygiene, to further minimize the risk \u200cof transmission.<\/p>\n<p>Healthcare providers and staff\u200c are not the only ones encouraged to wear masks. The public is advised to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nancy-pelosi-reportedly-spotted-maskless-at-reception-in-d-c\/\" title=\"Nancy Pelosi Reportedly Spotted Maskless At Reception In D.C.\">continue wearing masks indoors<\/a>, especially in crowded places and settings where social distancing is challenging.<\/p>\n<p>The reinstatement of mandatory masking in healthcare \u2064settings has received support from both local health officials and the medical community. They believe that the measure will help protect \u200bhealthcare workers and patients, reduce\u2062 the \u2063spread of contagious \u200ddiseases, and prevent potential surges \u2064in hospitalizations.<\/p>\n<p>However, the mask orders have \u2062also faced some opposition. Critics argue that\u2064 mandatory masking infringes on\u2062 personal \u200bfreedom and individual choice. They question the effectiveness of masks against respiratory\u2062 viruses and believe that the decision should be left to individual discretion.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the varying opinions on mask mandates, Bay Area health agencies remain\u200b steadfast \u2064in their commitment to public health\u200c and safety. They\u200b emphasize that the primary objective is to safeguard vulnerable populations and minimize the strain on healthcare resources.<\/p>\n<p>As the fall and winter months approach, it is important for individuals to stay \u2062informed about the latest guidelines and \u200drecommendations \u2062from \u200dlocal\u200b health authorities. Adhering to mask mandates, \u200bpracticing good hygiene, and getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and \u200dinfluenza are \u200bcrucial steps\u2063 in protecting oneself\u2063 and others \u200dduring this challenging period.<\/p>\n<p>While mask mandates may be\u2062 inconvenient or controversial\u2064 for some, they are deemed necessary by health \u2063agencies to mitigate the risks posed by respiratory \u200cviruses. The\u200b collective effort of healthcare professionals, policymakers, and individuals is crucial in ensuring the well-being of communities and maintaining a resilient healthcare system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Several Bay Area health agencies in California announced last week that mandatory masking would return to hospitals and health care settings for the fall and winter months. Contra Costa, Sonoma, Alameda, and San Mateo counties issued mask orders for health care staff in hospitals and other care facilities, effective from Nov. 1.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":2043608,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2043607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2043607","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2043607"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2043607\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2043608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2043607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2043607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2043607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}