Local Mask Mandates Instituted in Six Bay Area Counties

Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Sonoma

Six Bay Area Counties ( Alameda , Contra Costa , Marin , San Francisco , San Mateo and Sonoma ) have recently issued mandates requiring workers and members of the public to wear face coverings under specified conditions. Violation of or failure to comply with these orders is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.

The intent of these orders is to ensure that all people who are visiting or working at essential businesses and all people who are seeking care at healthcare facilities or engaged in certain types of public transit or transportation with others wear a face covering to reduce the likelihood that they may transmit or receive the COVID-19 virus; and to ensure that people who work for or seek services from entities engaged in essential infrastructure work also wear a face covering when they are in close proximity to others.

Specifically, the orders require members of the public wear non-medical grade masks or cloth face coverings outside of their homes when inside of, or in line to enter, any essential business; when engaged in critical infrastructure work; when obtaining healthcare services; and when waiting for or riding public transportation or ride-sharing services.

Essential businesses must require employees wear face coverings when the worker is interacting with members of the public; working in any space visited by members of the public; working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others; working in or walking through common areas such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities; or in any room or enclosed area when other people are present.

Essential businesses also must take reasonable measures, such as posting signs, to remind their customers and the public of the requirement that they wear a face covering; and essential businesses must take all reasonable steps to prohibit any member of the public who is not wearing a face covering from entering and must not serve that person if those efforts are unsuccessful and seek to remove that person. 

Face coverings are not required when driving alone or when working alone in a personal office not frequently visited by others; however, you must have immediate access to a mask and wear it when interacting with others or engaging in an of the activities previously outlined.

As a reminder, CTA has shifted the COVID-19 information exchange webinars to every other week. The next call is Friday, May 1 at 1:30pm PST. Please register to receive the dial-in information.