Commonground
Senior Moderator
September 30, 2024
Redwood City – San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana today issued a local health order requiring staff and workers in patient care areas of skilled nursing facilities to wear face masks.
Effective at 12:01 a.m. on November 1, 2024, the order applies only to paid and unpaid facility personnel and other workers and does not apply to patients, residents, visitors or individuals with medical or mental health conditions or disability that prevents wearing a mask.
Annually, between late fall and spring, San Mateo County data show higher rates of COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other viral infections that can cause severe respiratory disease. This seasonal increase in circulation of multiple respiratory viruses presents a particular risk – including severe disease and death – to infants, older adults and people with impaired immune systems.
According to the order, “The seasonal surges also risk overwhelming the existing health care system in the county, jeopardizing the capacity to provide care for these and other diseases. The risk to vulnerable patients of any of these viral illnesses in health care settings, especially skilled nursing facilities, remains significant.”
Within skilled nursing facilities, the order applies only to patient care areas, such as lobbies, waiting rooms, examination rooms, patient wings, elevators and hallways and patient rooms. It does not apply to administrative offices or staff break areas that are only accessible to facility personnel or to cafeterias or gift shops that are not used for the provision of health care.
Respiratory virus season runs from November 1 to March 31, though the health officer may adjust the dates of the order based on respiratory virus surveillance data.
The full text of the order is available here.
https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/news/health-officer-directs-skilled-nursing-facility-personnel-wear-masks-during-respiratory?auHash=WPLpO5iRk4VDX114-VPLwveSRHf4QO26KN7eAe4tVfo
Redwood City – San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana today issued a local health order requiring staff and workers in patient care areas of skilled nursing facilities to wear face masks.
Effective at 12:01 a.m. on November 1, 2024, the order applies only to paid and unpaid facility personnel and other workers and does not apply to patients, residents, visitors or individuals with medical or mental health conditions or disability that prevents wearing a mask.
Annually, between late fall and spring, San Mateo County data show higher rates of COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other viral infections that can cause severe respiratory disease. This seasonal increase in circulation of multiple respiratory viruses presents a particular risk – including severe disease and death – to infants, older adults and people with impaired immune systems.
According to the order, “The seasonal surges also risk overwhelming the existing health care system in the county, jeopardizing the capacity to provide care for these and other diseases. The risk to vulnerable patients of any of these viral illnesses in health care settings, especially skilled nursing facilities, remains significant.”
Within skilled nursing facilities, the order applies only to patient care areas, such as lobbies, waiting rooms, examination rooms, patient wings, elevators and hallways and patient rooms. It does not apply to administrative offices or staff break areas that are only accessible to facility personnel or to cafeterias or gift shops that are not used for the provision of health care.
Respiratory virus season runs from November 1 to March 31, though the health officer may adjust the dates of the order based on respiratory virus surveillance data.
The full text of the order is available here.
https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/news/health-officer-directs-skilled-nursing-facility-personnel-wear-masks-during-respiratory?auHash=WPLpO5iRk4VDX114-VPLwveSRHf4QO26KN7eAe4tVfo