Starting Monday, health care personnel in Sonoma County are required to mask up in patient care facilities due to the expected respiratory virus season.
Dr. Karen Smith, Sonoma County’s interim health officer, issued the order that will be in effect through April 30 as the risk of respiratory virus-related illnesses rises.
These health care facilities include hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, infusion centers, dialysis centers, skilled and long-term nursing care facilities, and others where patient care is provided indoors.
Businesses and governmental entities with health care delivery facilities are also mandated to observe the health care order for all personnel entering patient care areas within the health care delivery facility.
“Each year, we see that higher rates of influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses that can cause severe respiratory infections occur between late fall and spring,” Smith said. “Influenza and other seasonal respiratory viruses infect tens of millions in the United States each year and can result in serious medical outcomes, including hospitalizations and death.”
Smith also recommended everyone aged 6 months and older that is eligible to get updated vaccines against COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
“Vaccination remains the best protection against respiratory virus infections,” said Smith, who also recommends that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings when the COVID or influenza risk in Sonoma County is high.
According to the health official, patients and residents in health care and congregate facilities — especially young children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions — are at greater risk for respiratory virus-related hospitalizations and death.
Workers in such facilities are also at risk and can transmit the viruses to clients, patients and coworkers, placing further strain on limited health care resources.
“The co-occurrence of influenza season with a likelihood of another late fall/winter surge of COVID-19 may increase the risk of our health systems being overwhelmed with patients with critical respiratory illness,” Smith said.
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