How California mask mandate impacts Bay Area counties

Making sense of California's latest mask mandate

KTVU FOX 2's Cristina Rendon breaks down today's new masking rules.

OAKLAND, Calif. - Keeping up with California’s indoor mask mandate can be confusing, but it means most Bay Area counties will see no changes, with the exception of Marin and Solano counties.

The state mask mandate took effect Wednesday, which requires people to wear masks in all public settings from Dec. 15 to Jan. 15. Essentially, every county must either continue with its own indoor mask requirements, regardless of vaccination status, or follow the state’s updated guidance that took effect.

The mask mandate was reimposed because state health officials have seen an alarming increase in COVID infections and hospitalizations in recent weeks.

Changes will come to Marin County, where people must now wear masks in public settings like grocery stores, but it still allows exemptions in limited indoor settings. Solano County will now fall under the state’s mask order and does not allow for any exemptions.

California will allow some exceptions to indoor mask rules

A day before California begins requiring masks to be worn in most indoor settings, the state tweaked the rules to allow some exceptions where people may remove face coverings. San Francisco, for instance, may continue with its policy letting people take off masks in gyms and workplaces if 100% of the people there are vaccinated against COVID.

The state clarified that counties with exemptions can continue to allow masks to be removed in limited indoor settings like workplaces, gyms, and places of worship under the following requirements: