KN95 masks and nitrile gloves on January 26, 2022. Santa Cruz County is reinstating its annual mask mandate for certain health care facilities starting Nov. 1 to protect vulnerable populations during respiratory virus season. (Ray Saint Germain/Bay City News)

Santa Cruz County’s chief health officer has reinstated an annual mask mandate for certain health care facilities starting in November. 

Public Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez said Thursday that starting Nov. 1, all non-patients will be required to wear face masks indoors at acute care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, surgical and maternity centers, and infusion centers such as dialysis and chemotherapy centers.

The annual requirement is typically announced this time of year in several counties and coincides with “respiratory virus season.” It is intended to reduce the risk of serious illness, particularly among vulnerable populations, including infants, older adults, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems, according to county health officials.

“This order aims to reduce the spread of these viruses and protect those most at risk from severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death,” Hernandez said in a news release. 

Health officials say getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu is the best way to guard against infection, hospitalization or death from these viruses and to help viruses from spreading amongst the general population. 

For more information people can visit www.santacruzhealth.org.

Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.