UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 120175, THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ (“HEALTH OFFICER”) ORDERS:
This Order is made in light of recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Santa Cruz County (“County”) as well as historical data showing seasonally higher rates of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses that can cause severe respiratory disease among people living in the County. Current COVID-19 metrics indicate that there is increased COVID-19 transmission in the County. The three COVID-19 metrics that support this determination consist of the County’s increase in hospitalizations, the County’s elevated viral level of COVID-19 in wastewater, and the County’s Effective Reproductive Number (Rt) rising above 1.00.
- This Order shall become effective at 12:00 am on November 1, 2023, and will continue to April 30, 2024, unless it is rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Health Officer. The Health Officer intends to continually review the need for the Order by monitoring COVID-19 metrics including without limitation viral wastewater concentrations, hospitalizations, Effective Reproductive Number, variants of concern circulating in the County, and vaccination rates.
- All acute care facilities including the Psychiatric Health Facility and Crisis Stabilization Program, maternity and surgery centers, skilled nursing facilities, and health care facilities that provide infusion therapy such dialysis and chemotherapy in Santa Cruz County must require all healthcare workers to wear a well-fitting high-quality face mask during the direct provision of patient care or while working in patient care areas during the Respiratory Virus Season.
- Requirement to Wear Face Masks.
- Regardless of vaccination status, all personnel must wear face masks at all times during Respiratory Virus Season when indoors during the direct provision of patient care or while working in patient care areas except:
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