To protect against the elevated risk of respiratory virus-related illnesses, such as COVID and flu, during the fall and winter, Sonoma County’s Health Officer Dr. Mia Shim issued a health order requiring health care personnel and others to mask in patient care areas of specified health care facilities. The health order, designed to protect the most vulnerable people in our community, will be in effect from Nov. 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027.
The health care facilities subject to the order include the following:
- skilled nursing facilities,
- portions of long-term care facilities where nursing care is provided,
- acute and non-acute rehabilitation facilities,
- infusion centers, and
- dialysis centers.
The masking requirement applies to both health care personnel and non-patients — such as visitors and other members of the public who are accompanying patients — in all patient care areas. These areas include registration desks in lobbies, waiting rooms, examination rooms, therapy rooms, and other areas where patients and health care providers interact.
“Safeguarding our most vulnerable residents is a shared responsibility, particularly within environments dedicated to healing and long-term care,” said Dr. Shim. “By wearing masks in these designated facilities, we provide essential protection for patients who face the highest risk of severe disease. This action also supports our dedicated health care workforce and helps our medical resources remain resilient when seasonal illnesses peak.”…