Alameda and Contra Costa counties will, in certain settings where everyone is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, maintain exemptions to a statewide public indoor mask mandate, officials said on Wednesday.
The public health departments in each county confirmed to KCBS Radio on Wednesday that masks will not be required in gyms, offices, religious gatherings and other "eligible settings in controlled spaces." This comes a day after the California Department of Public Health clarified that its statewide indoor mask mandate, which is in effect from Wednesday until Jan. 15, would allow counties with their own mandates to "to maintain their existing health orders around masking."
Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties had eased indoor mask mandates over the last couple of months. All three counties, five others and the City of Berkeley reimplemented mask requirements in public indoor spaces amid the COVID-19 delta variant's spread over the summer. In October, prior to the omicron variant's discovery, public health officials from each jurisdiction agreed to criteria to ease and, ultimately, lift the mask mandate.
When California officials first announced the new statewide indoor mask mandate on Monday, it wasn't clear how local exemptions would be affected. San Francisco public health officials initially told KCBS Radio on Monday that masks would be required in previously exempt settings like gyms and offices, before reversing course on Tuesday when the state announced local exemptions could remain in place.
Marin County had lifted its mask mandate for vaccinated residents in November, although Dr. Matt Willis, the county health officer, admitted earlier this month bringing back the mandate was "on the table" depending upon the omicron variant’s severity. County health officials told the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday that gyms and offices are exempt, but masks are required again in stores and restaurants. KCBS Radio is awaiting confirmation from the public health department.
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