Alameda County lifts indoor masking requirement

Increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations drove health department to reimpose mandate earlier this month

Alameda County is once again lifting a requirement for people to wear face masks in most indoor settings.

The change was scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

The county on June 3 became the first in the Bay Area — and perhaps the state — to reimpose the face mask requirement. At the time, COVID-19 cases from new omicron variants were pushing hospitalizations to levels that alarmed local health officials.

In a statement Friday, the Alameda County Public Health Department said daily COVID-19 cases have peaked and continue to decline. Case rates are also improving across each of the county's largest racial and ethnic groups, including Latino residents who were once again disproportionately affected, according to the agency.

“Conditions have stabilized following the sustained increases in case reports and hospitalizations we saw throughout May,” said Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Nicholas Moss. “While we expect continued impacts from COVID-19 in the coming weeks and masks remain strongly recommended, it is appropriate to step down from the health officer masking order at this time.”

According to the agency, the face mask requirement was reimposed to bring an earlier and lower peak to the spring wave of COVID-19 cases, reduce the impacts of severe disease and increase protection for those at greatest risk of poor health outcomes.

Businesses, venue operators and hosts may choose to continue requiring patrons and workers to wear masks to lower COVID-19 risk in their settings, the agency said.

“Masks work and are still an important tool to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, especially when rates are high,” Moss said. “We strongly encourage everyone to continue masking to protect themselves and others from COVID.”

Since Jan. 1, COVID-19 has caused the deaths of 328 county residents, according to the agency.