The new normal as mask mandates drop

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The State of California is not renewing the mask mandate that expires on February 15, and Nevada is expected to follow the same direction when Governor Sisolak speaks on Thursday, February 10, but there will still be public health guidance.

Local public health officials still have the authority to keep restrictions in place that are tougher than the state ones. El Dorado County Public Health has taken the approach of not issuing any orders that are more strict than the State's orders, and they do not have any plans to change this approach after Feb. 15.

"The end of the universal indoor mask mandate does not mean that indoor spaces are suddenly safe places to be without masks," said Dr. Nancy Williams, public health officer for El Dorado County.

"Although the State is transitioning away from required universal masking in many settings, we still encourage everyone to take steps to protect themselves and to wear masks if they feel more comfortable doing so, especially when they are in crowded spaces, or if they are immune-compromised or have other risk factors," added Dr. Williams.

California teachers, students, and staff will still be required to mask indoors at school, for now. State health officials announced Monday that they are working with “education, public health, and community leaders to update masking requirements at schools to adapt to changing conditions and ensure the safety of kids, teachers, and staff.”

“Omicron has loosened its hold on California, vaccines for children under 5 are around the corner, and access to Covid-19 treatments is improving,” said Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, the director of California’s Department of Public Health.

As of February 9, El Dorado County has a case rate of 40.8 per 100,000 residents, and a positivity rate of 15 percent. There are currently 23 residents hospitalized at the county's two hospitals. To date, 190 residents have died from COVID-19. Twenty days ago there were 148.4 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents, and a positivity rate of 25.7 percent. There had been 182 deaths at that time.

The current guidelines for individual counties in Nevada, which require masks at indoor public places for people regardless of vaccination status, are in place through at least Thursday. Federal guidelines, which include mask-wearing on airplanes, will continue to remain in place regardless of any announcement from the state. Sisolak's speech Thursday will define any mask rules or guidelines that may continue in the state.

New virus variants and surges are still possibilities, California Governor Newsom said he will be releasing information next week as the public navigates living life in the new normal of a pandemic.

And, while masking offers significant protection, immunization is still the most protective step people can take, said Williams.

"As always, if you are sick it is important to stay home. We have no plans to change away from deferring to state guidance, but will continually modify our recommendations to keep them aligned with the most recent scientific evidence about masking," said Dr. Williams.

"We began adding the experts' advice about how higher quality masks (N95-, KF94-, or KN95-certified) are the most protective, followed by medical masks and multi-layered cloth masks, and the importance of good fit," added Dr. Williams. "We include the context of when and where adherence to good masking is most important - in crowded indoor spaces, and where masking is still mandated (in high-risk settings such as healthcare facilities and congregate living facilities) and why (because these settings have high concentrations of vulnerable people). We explain why masks continue to be mandatory in schools (because we want to give kids the best chances to remain in the classroom rather than isolated at home due to having contracted COVID)."