Napa, Monterey, Santa Cruz Counties Join Other Bay Area Jurisdictions In Encouraging Indoor Masking - SFGate

Local, state and federal public health officials have warned that the pandemic is now progressing on twin tracks, with unvaccinated people increasingly in far more danger of serious illness and death due to COVID-19 than their fully vaccinated counterparts.

While unvaccinated residents have been required by the state to wear face coverings in indoor spaces even after the state's June 15 reopening, which also included lifting the mandate for fully vaccinated people, the enforcement mechanism for ensuring unvaccinated people keep their masks on has largely been limited to self-attestation.

"This will also make it easier for businesses to be sure unvaccinated people are masked," the four counties said.

Roughly 56 percent of eligible Santa Cruz County residents are fully vaccinated, while 73 percent of eligible Napa County residents are fully vaccinated and 70 percent of Monterey County residents have received at least one vaccine dose.