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Mask mandates return for some California health care workers

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Mask mandates are returning for at least some California residents. Starting Nov. 1, five bay-area counties will require employees at hospitals and other health care facilities to mask up to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the flu and other seasonal viruses.

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The counties included are Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Napa. Santa Clara and San Mateo will also require visitors at health care facilities to wear masks. In some places, it would be considered a misdemeanor to not wear a mask during the mandates.

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, mask mandates have been a point of debate. Now, critics are weighing in on the mandates returning.

“Mask mandates are making a comeback in California. We must elect the right people to assure history doesn’t repeat itself,” Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., said

Former President Donald Trump has been outspoken on preventing mask mandates from coming back. Earlier this year, he said he would cut funding to any school that has a vaccine or mask mandate.

Trump’s running mate JD Vance filed the Freedom to Breathe Act in 2023 to stop the president or any federal official from issuing a mask requirement on domestic air travel, public transit and some schools. Congress didn’t pass the bill. 

Vice President Kamala Harris has not commented recently on mask mandates.

The recent mask orders are similar to the orders issued in multiple states during last year’s cold and flu season. Those mandates were lifted once the season ended. The recent mandates are expected to end in either March or April 2025.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, wearing a mask can help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission. However, different masks give different levels of protection. 

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[Lauren Taylor]

MASK MANDATES ARE RETURNING — AT LEAST FOR SOME CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS.  

FIVE BAY-AREA COUNTIES ARE REQUIRING EMPLOYEES AT HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE FACILITIES TO MASK UP TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID, THE FLU AND OTHER SEASONAL VIRUSES. 

TWO OF THESE COUNTIES – SANTA CLARA AND SAN MATEO ARE ALSO REQUIRING VISITORS TO WEAR MASKS. 

THE MANDATES START NOVEMBER FIRST AND ARE EXPECTED TO RUN THROUGH MARCH OR APRIL. 

IN SOME PLACES, IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A MISDEMEANOR TO NOT WEAR A MASK DURING THE MANDATES.

MASK MANDATES HAVE BEEN A POINT OF DEBATE SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN IN 20-20. 

NOW WITH MANDATES RETURNING … CRITICS ARE WEIGHING IN. 

CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN KILEY SAID … 

“MASK MANDATES ARE MAKING A COMEBACK TO CALIFORNIA. WE MUST ELECT THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO ASSURE HISTORY DOESN’T REPEAT ITSELF.”

REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN ON PREVENTING MASK MANDATES FROM COMING BACK. 

EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE SAID HE WOULD CUT FUNDING TO ANY SCHOOL THAT HAS A VACCINE OR MASK MANDATE. 

HIS RUNNING MATE J-D VANCE … FILED THE ‘FREEDOM TO BREATHE’ ACT IN 20-23 TO STOP THE PRESIDENT OR ANY FEDERAL OFFICIAL FROM ISSUING A MASK REQUIREMENT ON DOMESTIC AIR TRAVEL, PUBLIC TRANSIT AND SOME SCHOOLS. 

THAT BILL DIDN’T PASS CONGRESS. 

DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE KAMALA HARRIS HAS NOT COMMENTED RECENTLY ON MASK MANDATES. 

THE RECENT MASK ORDERS ARE SIMILAR TO THE ORDERS ISSUED IN MULTIPLE STATES DURING LAST YEAR’S COLD AND FLU SEASON.

THOSE MANDATES WERE LIFTED ONCE THE SEASON ENDED. 

ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION WEARING A MASK CAN HELP LOWER THE RISK OF RESPIRATORY VIRUS TRANSMISSION … AND EMPHASIZE DIFFERENT MASKS GIVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PROTECTION. 

FOR SAN I’M … LAUREN TAYLOR.

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