Public Health Order Frequently Asked Questions
Last content update: 11/9/23
Public Health Order of March 24, 2023
The County’s Health Order Requiring Use of Face Masks in Patient Care Areas of Health Care Delivery Facilities During Designated Winter Respiratory Virus Period requires use of face masks in patient care areas of healthcare facilities from November 1 through March 31.
The Health Order applies to all Healthcare Delivery Settings. Health Care Delivery Facility refers to any setting or portion of a setting where any indoor medical, nursing, dental, vision or behavioral healthcare and/or service is provided. All settings where these services are delivered must adhere to the regulations set forth in the health order. This includes but is not limited to the following indoor healthcare settings: private doctor offices, primary care clinics, urgent care centers, community clinics, dental offices, optometry offices, physical therapy and psychological, psychiatric, or other behavioral health care delivery settings.
Patient Care Areas refer to any indoor setting accessible or traversed in order for a patient to receive medical, nursing, dental, vision or behavioral health care and/or services. These include lobbies, waiting rooms, examination rooms, patient wings, elevators, stairwells, and hallways used by patients. Patient Care Areas do not include administrative offices or staff break areas that are only accessible to personnel of the Health Care Delivery Facility. Patient Care Areas do not include areas such as cafeterias or gift shops that are not used for the provision of healthcare or to access areas where healthcare services are provided.
No. Face Masks are not required in break rooms and administrative offices that are only used by employees or staff and are not used for the purpose of patient care.
Yes. The Order does not prohibit individual businesses and governmental entities that operate health care facilities from deciding to create policies that require masking in additional locations or settings or at additional times of year. However, Health Care Facilities operating in Santa Clara County may not create policies that are less strict than those described in this Order. The Health Officer strongly recommends that Health Care Facilities monitor local and internal data that indicate circulating levels of respiratory viruses and impact to the facilities and institute internal policies that require masking at times outside the Designated Winter Respiratory Virus Period when local or institutional data suggest high risk to patients or employees. For data regarding the County’s wastewater surveillance, visit https://covid19.sccgov.org/dashboard-wastewater.
Face Masks are an important tool for stopping the spread of respiratory viruses, and anyone who is able to wear a Face Mask safely must do so when in a Patient Care Area of a Healthcare Care Delivery Facility during the Designated Winter Respiratory Virus Period. However, where Face Masks are required, there are exemptions for persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents them from wearing a Face Mask, and for persons who are hearing impaired or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired.
The Health Officer’s Order makes no changes to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and the ADA remains in full force countywide. Businesses and public entities must comply with their usual ADA obligations. Visit https://www.ada.gov/resources/title-iii-primer/ for further information on ADA requirements for businesses.
Surgical masks, KN95, KF94, and N95 masks are all acceptable. Scarves, ski masks, balaclavas, bandanas, turtlenecks, collars, cloth mask, or any masks that have an unfiltered one-way exhaust valve do not qualify as acceptable Face Masks for use in Patient Care Areas of Health Care Delivery Facilities.
The Health Order applies to all individuals in Healthcare Delivery Settings. These includes all clinical and non-clinical staff, residents, patients, visitors, volunteers, students, and any other individuals present in a Patient Care Area of a Healthcare Delivery Setting.
The Health Order applies to “fixed” healthcare delivery settings. Emergency medical services personnel and first responders are not required to wear a Face Mask in non-fixed medical sites such as ambulances under this Health Order. However, they are still required to wear a Face Mask when entering and working inside a Patient Care Area of a Healthcare Delivery Facility such as when dropping off a patient at hospital. The Health Officer strongly recommends that entities providing emergency medical services and first response services monitor local and internal data that indicate circulating levels of respiratory viruses and impact to their operations and institute internal policies that require masking as appropriate when local or institutional data suggest high risk to patients or employees. For data regarding the County’s wastewater surveillance, visit https://covid19.sccgov.org/dashboard-wastewater.
Yes, the Health Order applies to school health offices where patient care is provided and the use of Face Masks is required in accordance with the Health Order.