State Mask Guidance as of June 15

COMMUNITY NEWS State Mask Guidance as of June 15

Editor’s note: This was posted June 9 by the California Department of Public Health in advance of the state reopening June 15 as the Coivd-19 pandemic wanes. •••

The COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing infection, disease, and spread. Unvaccinated persons are more likely to get infected and spread the virus, which is transmitted through the air and concentrates indoors. About 15% of our population remains without the option for vaccination (children under 12 are not yet eligible) and risk for COVID-19 exposure and infection will remain until we reach full community immunity.

The purpose of this guidance is to align with CDC recommendations and provide information about higher risk settings where masks are required or recommended to prevent transmission to persons with higher risk of infection (e.g., unvaccinated or immunocompromised persons), to persons with prolonged, cumulative exposures (e.g., workers), or to persons whose vaccination status is unknown.

When people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask correctly, they protect others as well as themselves. Consistent and correct mask use by people who are not fully vaccinated is especially important indoors.

In workplaces, employers are subject to Cal/OSHA’s revised COVID-19 emergency temporary standards at https:// www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/ETS. html or in some workplaces the CalOSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standard at https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_ publications/ATD-Guide.pdf and should consult those regulations for additional requirements.

Individuals

Masks are not required for fully vaccinated individuals, except in the following settings where masks are required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status: • On public transit (such as airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares) and in transportation hubs (such as an airport, bus terminal, marina, train station, seaport or other port, subway station, or any other area that provides transportation) • Indoors in K-12 schools, childcare and other youth settings. º Note: This may change as updated K-12 schools guidance is forthcoming, pending updates for K-12 operational guidance from the CDC. • Healthcare settings (including long term care facilities) • State and local correctional facilities and detention centers • Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers

Additionally, masks are required** for unvaccinated individuals in indoor public settings and businesses (such retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, meetings, state and local government offices serving the public).

For more information, refer to CDC Recommendations for Safer Activities at https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/ATD-Guide.pdf

**Guidance for Businesses, Venue Operators or Hosts

In settings where masks are required only for unvaccinated individuals, businesses, venue operators or hosts may choose to: • Provide information to all patrons, guests and attendees regarding vaccination requirements and allow vaccinated individuals to self-attest that they are in compliance prior to entry. • Implement vaccine verification to determine whether individuals are required to wear a mask. • Require all patrons to wear masks.

No person can be prevented from wearing a mask as a condition of participation in an activity or entry into a business.

Exemptions

The following individuals are exempt from wearing masks at all times: • Persons younger than 2 years old. Very young children must not wear a mask because of the risk of suffocation. • Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a mask. This includes persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a mask could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a mask without assistance. • Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication. • Persons for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines. n

“COVID Update” from page 7

There is no approved vaccine for younger children, but there is little evidence of spread by young school-age children.

The Toll

Deaths from COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County have leveled off at 207, with 50 percent of deaths at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, a percentage that was higher early in the pandemic.

Locally, 79 percent of those who died were age 70 or older and 78 percent had other health conditions – those percentages have remained stable.

A year after the pandemic began, case rates have plummeted statewide with 39.9 million vaccine doses administered.

On Wednesday, Santa Cruz County reported three people hospitalized with COVID, none in intensive care. n ••• County COVID Deaths: 207

As of June 16

Age 90 and up: 56 • 80 to 89: 63 • 70 to 79: 44 60 to 69: 27 • 50 to 59: 5 • 40 to 49: 7 30 to 39: 5

Race/Ethnicity

White: 115 • Latinx: 75 • Asian: 15 Black: 1 • Amer. Indian/Alaskan Native: 1

Gender

Male: 103 • Female: 104

Skilled Nursing/Residential Care Santa Cruz Post Acute: 20 Watsonville Post Acute: 18 Pacific Coast Manor: 14 Hearts & Hands Post Acute: 8 Sunshine Villa: 7 • Aegis: 4 Maple House 1: 4 • Valley Convalescent: 4 Watsonville Nursing Center: 4 Montecito Manor: 3 • De Un Amor: 2 Dominican Oaks: 2 • Driftwood: 2 Hanover House: 2 • Maple House II: 2 Rachelle’s Home 1: 2 • La Posada: 1 Paradise Villa: 1 • Rachelle’s Home II: 1 Valley Haven: 1 • Westwind: 1 Total: 103 Not at a facility: 104

COVID Cases by Town Aptos: 819 • Ben Lomond: 126

Boulder Creek: 154 • Capitola: 460 Felton: 159 • Freedom: 997

Santa Cruz: 3,993 • Scotts Valley: 448

Soquel: 361 • Watsonville: 8,163 Unincorporated: 257 Under investigation: 285 Total: 16,222*

Source: Santa Cruz County Public Health *Fewer than before because of data cleanup

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Editor’s Note: Would you like to share your family’s COVID-19 story? Email Jondi Gumz at info@cyber-times.com or call 831688-7549 x17.