Public health officials in Santa Cruz County on Wednesday announced the county is indoor mask mandate due to decreasing levels of new COVID-19 cases and transmission.
The bulletin from the county's Health Service Agency comes in conjunction with updated data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing Santa Cruz County in the yellow tier – or moderate – of community transmission.
The change is effective immediately.
"Moderate" community transmission is defined as between 10-49.99 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people and between 5-7.99% positive tests over the last seven days.
The order does not impact masking requirements issued by the state's Department of Public Health that include for unvaccinated Californians, schools, businesses, venues or organizations with face covering policies.
The county has reported 213 deaths due to COVID-19.
Related
