This order has been rescinded and replaced by the November 1, 2021 Health Order. The language below is here for archive purposes.
ORDER OF THE MARIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER FOR THE WEARING OF FACE COVERINGS IN WORKPLACES AND PUBLIC SETTINGS AND CREATING AN EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN STABLE COHORTS OF FULLY VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS
DATE OF ORDER: October 8, 2021
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 15, 2021
Please read this order carefully. Violation of, or failure to comply with, this Order is a public nuisance subject to citation, abatement, or both, as well as a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both. [California Health and Safety Code § 120295 et seq.; California Penal Code § 69, 148(a)(1); Marin County Code 7.99.040].
SUMMARY OF THIS ORDER
This Order supersedes the August 2, 2021 Order of the Health Officer for the Wearing of Face Coverings in Workplaces and Public Settings (Prior Order) as of its effective date, October 15, 2021. This Order maintains the Prior Order’s requirement that all individuals wear face coverings when indoors in workplaces and public settings, with limited exemptions, and maintains the recommendation that businesses make face coverings available to individuals entering businesses. This Order creates an additional exemption to the face covering requirement in certain indoor settings with stable cohorts of fully vaccinated individuals. Specifically, if an employer, host, or organizer verifies that all individuals are fully vaccinated, then individuals in the following indoor settings may be exempt from the face covering requirement: offices, gyms, fitness centers, employee commuter vehicles, religious gatherings, college classes, and other organized gatherings of individuals who meet regularly, provided that all requirements set forth in section 5 of this Order are met.
BACKGROUND
Since April 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant has been circulating in Marin County. This variant is highly transmissible in indoor settings and requires multi-component prevention strategies to reduce spread. Despite high vaccination rates, Marin County continues to experience substantial levels of community transmission due to the Delta variant. The majority of COVID-19 cases are among unvaccinated residents; however, the County continues to see breakthrough cases in fully vaccinated individuals.
The COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States have been shown to be highly safe and effective at providing protection to individuals and communities, particularly against severe COVID-19 disease and death, and are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for all populations for whom the vaccine is authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Health Officer strongly recommends that all eligible persons in the County be vaccinated. Information on obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine in Marin County is available here.
On July 27, 2021, CDC updated guidance for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the Delta variant. CDC recommends that fully vaccinated persons wear a mask in public indoor settings. It also recommends that fully vaccinated persons get tested after close contact with infected persons. On July 28, 2021 California Department of Public Health (CDPH) aligned its Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings with the CDC and recommends universal masking in public indoor settings statewide. CDC and CDPH also endorsed that fully vaccinated people at higher risk for COVID-19 infection, unvaccinated persons, and not fully vaccinated persons consider wearing a mask in non-public indoor settings. Household transmission and small gatherings are major drivers of COVID-19 transmission in Marin County.
Universal indoor use of face coverings, also known as masking, is the least disruptive and most
immediately effective measure to take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Since the Prior Order took effect on August 3, 2021, the County has seen a decrease in the rate of COVID-19 transmission in the community. COVID-19 hospitalizations have also decreased. The County’s vaccination rate continues to increase, and the County remains one of the most highly vaccinated counties in the country. As a result, the Health Officer has determined that the face covering requirement may be lifted in certain indoor settings in which an employer, host, or organizer has verified that all individuals present are fully vaccinated.
The Health Officer will continue to assess the public health situation as it evolves and may modify this Order, or issue additional Orders, related to COVID-19, as changing circumstances dictate.
ORDER
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS
101040, 101085, 120175, AND 120220, THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER OF THE COUNTY
OF MARIN (“HEALTH OFFICER”) HEREBY ORDERS AS FOLLOWS:
1. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the July 28, 2021 Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings issued by the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) as may be amended from time to time, continues to apply throughout the County.
2. This Order directs that face coverings shall be worn, regardless of vaccination status, over the mouth and nose, in all indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and workplaces, such as, but not limited to: offices, retail stores, restaurants and bars, theaters, family entertainment centers, conference centers, and State and local government offices serving the public.
3. Individuals, businesses, venue operators, hosts, and others responsible for the operation of indoor public settings must:
(a) Require all employees, contractors, visitors, and patrons to wear face coverings in all indoor settings, regardless of their vaccination status; and
(b) Post clearly visible and easy-to-read signage at all entry points for indoor settings to
communicate the masking requirements to all patrons.
In addition, those responsible for indoor public settings are strongly encouraged to provide face coverings at no cost to individuals required to wear them.
4. Exemptions from face covering requirements – Individuals are not required to wear face coverings in the following circumstances but are strongly urged to be fully vaccinated:
- Persons who are working alone in a closed office or room;
- Persons in a motor vehicle and either alone or exclusively with other members of the same household;
- Persons who are actively eating and/or drinking;
- Persons actively engaged in water-based sports (swimming, swim lessons, diving, water polo) in an indoor, public recreational facility;
- Persons showering in a fitness facility;
- Service leaders of indoor public religious gatherings (e.g., clergy, readers, choir) while actively performing religious services;
- Performers at indoor events while actively performing;
- Persons who are obtaining a medical or cosmetic service involving the head for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service;
- Persons who are specifically exempted from wearing face coverings pursuant to other CDPH guidance;
- Children and adolescents with disabilities or other health care needs in child care, school, or other youth settings who are unable to wear face coverings due to their disability or health care need.
5. Additional exemption from the face covering requirement for certain stable cohorts of fully vaccinated individuals.
- In indoor offices, gyms, fitness centers, employee commuter vehicles, religious gatherings, college classes, and other organized gatherings of individuals who meet regularly, individuals are exempt from the face covering requirement under the following circumstances:
1. The host, employer, or organizer has verified that all individuals present are fully vaccinated; and
2. There are no more than 100 individuals present; and
3. The host, employer, or organizer can control access to the setting, and the setting is not open to the general public; and
4. The host, employer, or organizer maintains a list of individuals present.
- For purposes of this provision, “Fully Vaccinated” means a person’s status two weeks following the person’s receipt of a single-dose COVID-19 Vaccine or the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 Vaccine.
- Hosts, employers, or organizers shall verify the vaccine status of individuals with one of the following:
-
1. The original U.S. Department of Health and Human Services CDC vaccination card issued to the individual following administration of the COVID-19 Vaccine (CDC Card);
-
2. The original WHO International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis issued to the individual following administration of the COVID-19 in a foreign country (WHO Yellow Card);
3. A paper photograph or photocopy of the CDC Card or WHO Yellow Card;
4. An electronic image of the CDC Card or WHO Yellow Card;
5. A digital copy of the individual’s COVID-19 Vaccine record, obtained through the following portal: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/; or
6. Documentation from a licensed healthcare provider that the individual is Fully Vaccinated.
In the absence of knowledge to the contrary, hosts, employers, or organizers may accept the documentation presented as valid.
[RELATED INFORMATION: See our Frequently Asked Questions about Section 5 Mask Exemptions]
6. Employers and businesses subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) and/or the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standards should consult the applicable regulations for additional requirements. The ETS allow local health jurisdictions to mandate more protective measures. This Order, which requires face coverings for all individuals in indoor settings and businesses, regardless of vaccination status, with certain limited exemptions, takes precedence over the more permissive ETS regarding employee face coverings.
7. Businesses and governmental entities with Personnel in Acute Health Care Settings, Long-Term Care Settings, High-Risk Congregate Settings, and Other Health Care Settings—as those terms are defined in the CDPH Vaccination Status Order must provide appropriate face coverings as required by the CDPH Vaccination Status Order.
8. Non-public indoor settings. Household transmission and small gatherings continue to drive COVID-19 transmission in Marin County. The Health Officer recommends that fully vaccinated people at higher risk for COVID-19 infection, as well as unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated wear a face covering in non-public indoor settings (e.g., private gathering or event).
9. Mega Events:
- Indoor Mega-Events: All attendees of indoor mega-events (defined as 5,000 or more
attendees) must wear face coverings while indoors and must otherwise comply with
the restrictions set forth in the CDPH guidance Beyond the Blueprint for Industries
and Sectors https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Beyond-Blueprint-Framework.aspx.
- Outdoor Mega-Events: Attendees of outdoor mega-events (defined as 10,000 or more
attendees) are required to wear face coverings while in an indoor setting and in areas
where 50% of the structure has adjacent impermeable walls, such as concourses and
concession stands, and must otherwise comply with the restrictions set forth in the
CDPH guidance Beyond the Blueprint for Industries and Sectors https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Beyond-Blueprint-Framework.aspx.
10. All State orders and guidance documents referenced in State orders are complementary to this Order. By way of this Order, the Health Officer adopts such directives as orders as well. Where a conflict exists between a local order and any State public health order related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the most restrictive provision controls pursuant to, and consistent with, California Health and Safety Code § 131080.
11. If any provision of this Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, the reminder of the Order, including the application of such part or provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected and shall continue in full force and effect.
To this end, the provisions of this Order are severable.
12. This Order shall become effective at 12:01 am on October 15, 2021 and will continue
to be in effect until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Health Officer.
13. Copies of this Order shall promptly be: (1) made available at the Bulletin Board adjacent to the entrance to the Chambers of the Board of Supervisors, Room 330, Administration Building, and in the display case in the center arch of the Hall of Justice, Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael, California; (2) posted on the County of Marin website (www.marincounty.org as well as the County of Marin Department of Health and Human Services website (www.marinhhs.org); and (3) provided to any member of the public requesting a copy of this Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED
_______________________________ Dated: October 8, 2021
Matt Willis, MD, MPH
Health Officer of the County of Marin