San Francisco to ease indoor mask rule as omicron cases drop

San Francisco to ease mask requirements in some environments starting Feb. 1

New masking rules will go into effect for San Francisco starting February 1. This includes environments such as offices and gyms. Also fully vaccinated will mean you've also had your COVID booster shot if eligible.

SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco on Thursday announced that it would again allow people to remove their face masks indoors, reinstating the exemption that was in place before the omicron surge, public health officials said.

The change goes into effect on February 1 and applies to office workers, gym members, and other "stable cohorts" of people who are up-to-date on COVID vaccinations, including booster shots.

Those who don't meet the vaccination requirements must still wear a mask indoors.

Local health leaders said they made the change to their indoor mask policy as cases drop around the city and the omicron surge appears to have peaked.

"As we come out of this latest surge and face a future in which COVID-19 will remain among us, San Francisco will take a balanced approach in our response to COVID-19 by aligning with state requirements and guidelines where we can do so safely," said San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip. "We also acknowledge areas where San Francisco can be further ahead in easing restrictions, such as the indoor mask exemption for stable cohorts, given our highly vaccinated and boosted population."

Dr. Philip said she's referring to a relatively closed group of people, where there is somebody who kind of knows who is there.

This latest amendment to the health order will impact large gatherings with more than 500 people like Thursday's Warrior's game.

People who are not fully vaccinated and boosted can once again gather in those kinds of big groups, but with only with a negative antigen test, 24 hours before or a PCR test 48 hours before the event.

"People will either be able to go in if they are up to date on their vaccine. That means they've completed their vaccine series, and gotten a booster if they're eligible, or they would have to have a negative test," said Dr. Philip.

That negative test can't just be a home test either, it has to be from with a third party that sends the results to the venue.

Mayor London Breed said on Thursday that 82% of the city's eligible population is considered fully vaccinated.

Phillip said cases are still high, but are coming down. Meanwhile, hospitalizations seem to have peaked and are leveling off. "We're anticipating that they will also go down as the cases go down," said Philip. "So, it's good news for San Francisco."

The amended order now also makes room for those who have a religious or medical exemption from getting vaccinated, allowing those who aren't fully vaccinated to enter establishments with negative COVID tests.

"So, everyone needs to have a mask on unless you are up-to-date on your vaccination," said Dr. Philip. "Meaning you have a booster if you're eligible."

School age kids still need to wear their masks when they go to in person learning, and if you're going into a shop or other indoor setting you need to keep your mask on as well.

Health leaders say they're hoping this trajectory toward easing restrictions will continue, but say they will continue to follow the data, and if a new strain emerges or cases start to shoot up again, they will re-impose restrictions to help keep people healthy.