California’s San Francisco Bay Area will be dropping some of its mask mandates in indoor public settings, however, officials have imposed some conditions on the change. 

According to US media reports citing officials, once counties reach at least 80% vaccination rates against COVID-19 and witnesses a dip in hospitalisation rates. 

The San Francisco Bay Area has recorded one of the lowest case rates in the United States and the highest vaccination rates, according to reports from Associated Press.

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The indoor mask requirements will be eased for public settings including places like gyms, offices, churches, college classrooms and others.

The highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 forced public health officials in areas like San Francisco, Sonoma, Alameda, Napa, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara to reinstate the mask mandate in August as cases surged.

Even though each county will finalise its own rules about the mask mandate in indoor public areas, there seems to be a general consensus between health officials to lift the mandate as of October 15, according to reports from Associated Press.

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Dr Sara Cody, a Santa Clara Health Officer said, “Indoor masking has helped to lower case counts, hospitalizations and COVID-19 deaths, so we don’t want to remove this important layer of COVID prevention too hastily”, according to reports from Associated Press.

Cody added, “These regional metrics will help keep our community safe, and ensure that our case rates are low and stable, our hospitals are in good shape, and vaccination rates are robust.”

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In San Francisco, where 75% of the entire population is fully vaccinated, patrons of a wide array of businesses are required to show proof of full vaccination, including offices, gyms and college classrooms.

Mayor London Breed‘s office said Thursday that mask requirements will be eased for those and other settings with fewer than 100 people, as long as everyone can prove they are vaccinated, the place is well ventilated and no children under 12 are present.