How long will the indoor mask mandate last? Here’s what has to happen in SLO County
COVID-19 cases are falling across San Luis Obispo County, so when will the indoor public mask mandate be lifted?
The Public Health Department offered some guidance Wednesday in a news release laying out two criteria that must be met.
First, the county must reach the yellow, “moderate” level of COVID-19 community transmission, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and stay there for at least 10 days, the release said.
Currently, San Luis Obispo County has a “substantial” level of community transmission and is in the orange tier.
Second, Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein must determine that COVID-19 hospitalizations are low and stable and area hospitals are able to meet the needs of patients.
Once those two criteria are met, Borenstein will lift the mask mandate.
The intention behind keeping the indoor mask mandate is to protect hospital capacity going into the winter months, Borenstein said in the release.
“Lifting the indoor mask mandate prematurely, while there is still substantial COVID-19 transmission and as we head into the winter months when hospitals typically see a surge from other respiratory conditions, will only land us right back where we were before the mask order was put in place,” Borenstein said.
The indoor mask mandate was reinstated by the county on Sept. 1 in response to the surge in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths from the Delta variant.
Those who were not fully vaccinated have represented 78% of new COVID-19 cases, 84% of hospitalizations and 79% of deaths in the county since June 15, according to the news release.
Where to get a COVID-19 test and schedule a vaccine appointment
Free coronavirus testing is available at clinics in San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, Paso Robles and Morro Bay. To make an appointment, visit emergencySLO.org/testing or call 888-634-1123 to register by phone.
To make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine, visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255. The county Public Health Department is also administering vaccines on a walk-in basis at clinics in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Grover Beach. To find shots at pharmacies near you, visit Vaccines.gov.
For more information, visit RecoverSLO.org/en/when-and-where-can-you-get-vaccinated.aspx.
This story was originally published October 20, 2021 at 2:47 PM.
