County of Ventura enacts a new mask mandate for indoor spaces
Due to skyrocketing of Covid cases thanks to the highly contagious Delta variant, Ventura County Public Health issued a new health order requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings.
The order, which have limited exceptions, took effect at 11:59 p.m. August 20 for individuals , and on August 23 for businesses and other public entities.
According to the County Spokeswoman, Ashley Bautista, the order will be in effect until 11:59 pm on September 19, or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended by the Health Officer.
“As of today, we reached a rate of 28 cases per 100,000, a 40% increase. I hope that this order will increase mask usage in Ventura County. I expect that this will have a beneficial effect on the increase in COVID-19 infections we are seeing,” said Public Health Officer, Doctor Robert Levin.
As of August 20, the unadjusted case rate per 100,000 population over 1 day is 28, overall testing positivity over the past 7 days is 7.7% and the HPI lower quartile testing positivity rate over the past 7 days is 9.9%.
Also, Public Health reports 598 new COVID-19 cases and 3,995 new tests, there have been three additional deaths including a 98, 76 and 87 year-old females.
According to the health officials, all individuals, businesses, venue operators, hosts, and others responsible for the operation of indoor public settings must require all patrons to wear face coverings for all indoor settings, regardless of their vaccination status.
“Also they need to post clearly visible and easy-to-read signage at all entry points for indoor settings to communicate the masking requirements to all patrons,” said the authorities in a press release.
Signage is provided by Ventura County Public Health at www.vcrecovers.org.
Bautista also said they are concerned by the substantial levels of increased community transmission, especially among unvaccinated people.
“Masking indoors must again become a normal practice by all, regardless of vaccination status, so that we can stop the trends and level of transmission we are currently seeing,” said Dr. Levin.
According to the health expert who fought the Ebola outbreak in Africa in 2013, this is due to the widespread COVID-19 Delta variant, which is substantially more transmissible than previous forms of the virus.
Recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), also indicates that even fully vaccinated individuals can in some cases spread the Delta variant to others, and so indoor use of face coverings provides an important added layer of protection.
“We continue to urge all eligible residents to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their family and friends. Becoming fully vaccinated against COVID-19 remains the best protective action that people can take. It significantly reduces the risk of infection and, for the small number of people that get infected, it reduces the risk of hospitalization and death once you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.”
For more information about COVID-19 visit, www.venturacountyrecovers.org.
