Masks and face coverings

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Wear A Mask.

Wear a mask or face covering for added protection from COVID-19. Masking is one of our most powerful tools against the COVID-19 pandemic and health officials want to avoid future surges in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

When to wear a mask.

In the Bay Area, face coverings or masks must be worn over the mouth and nose in all indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status. Examples of indoor public settings include offices, retail stores, restaurants, bars, theaters, family entertainment centers, conference centers, and State and local government offices serving the public.

The indoor mask requirement went into effect on August 3 and will remain in effect until Marin county can satisfy criteria tied to COVID-19 transmission, hospitalization rates and vaccination progress.

Masks are not required outdoors but are strongly recommended in crowded environments. Everyone is strongly encouraged to also wear masks indoors at private gatherings where vaccination status cannot be confirmed.

California also requires that everyone wear masks in:

Public transit
Hospitals
Long-term care facilities
Homeless shelters
Indoors in K-12 schools, childcare, and other youth settings

Review the current health order on indoor mask use to learn more about where masks are still required or recommended, and a list of exemptions for indoor mask use.

Traveling

Face coverings are still required when you are:

On public transportation (or waiting for it indoors)
Driving or riding in a taxi or rideshare vehicle (even by yourself)

Scarves, ski masks, balaclavas, or bandanas are not allowed on any public transportation (or waiting for it). This is by CDC order.

When will Marin lift the Indoor Mask Requirement?

When all the following criteria have been met, the local masking order will be lifted:

Marin County reaches the CDC’s moderate (yellow) COVID-19 transmission tier and remains there for at least three weeks; AND
Hospitalizations decrease and the weekly average of COVID-19 patient census remains below 15 patients per day (total, countywide); AND
One of the following conditions is met:
- 80% of the county’s total population is fully vaccinated
- Eight weeks have passed since a COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for emergency use by federal and state authorities for 5- to 11-year-olds

After the local masking order is lifted, unvaccinated residents will still need to wear masks in indoor public settings under the state’s face-covering order.

Guidance for Businesses, Venue Operators or Hosts**

Individuals, businesses, venue operators, hosts, and others responsible for the operation of indoor public settings must:

Require all employees, contractors, visitors, and patrons to wear face coverings in all indoor settings, regardless of their vaccination status; and
Post clearly visible and easy-to-read signage [PDF] 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.

**No person can be prevented from wearing a mask as a condition of participation in an activity or entry into a business.

Masks in the Workplace

Cal/OSHA has aligned workplace mask requirements with general mask guidance from the CDPH. For more information, see Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards.

Please see current masking guidance for the State of California for masking exceptions.

Wear your mask correctly

Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
Make sure you can breathe easily
A face covering can be made of cloth, fabric, or other breathable material, but it should not have holes

how to wear a mask correctly

COVID-19 Status Update for 10/15/2021