With the COVID-19 case rate in California having declined by 65 percent since the Omicron peak and hospitalizations having stabilized statewide, the mandatory indoor mask mandate is set to end on February 15.
This was announced by Governor Gavin Newsom, who specified that this new action only applies to those who are fully vaccinated, so those who have not yet been immunized should continue with the measure.
The official said it is a good time for those who have not been vaccinated to do so, and for those who have already received the necessary doses to get a booster shot.
San Mateo County has done a good job of vaccinating its eligible population, as of Sunday, February 6, 631,220 residents have been fully vaccinated, which is equivalent to 81.4 percent of the total.
So far, 84 people are hospitalized for COVID-19, 82 of them confirmed SARS-CoV-2, and two suspected carriers.
The data show that hospitalizations are on the decline in the county, as on February 1 alone there were 131 cases that required hospitalization, 24 of them in intensive care.
While the numbers are trending downward, we should not let our guard down, so we should still wait until state and county health authorities indicate that actions such as wearing masks indoors are no longer necessary.
“We continue to urge vaccination now as it remains vitally important. And as we look forward to lower levels of virus transmission in the coming weeks, we are not there yet, so we remind everyone to continue to wear a protective mask that fits and is worn consistently, seek testing if symptoms arise, and self-isolate if you are sick,” said Louise Rogers, San Mateo County Health Officer.
It is worth noting that the pharmaceutical company Pfizer and the biotechnology company BioNTech announced today that, following a request from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they have initiated a continuous submission to modify the Emergency Use Authorization of their COVID-19 vaccine to include children from 6 months to 4 years of age.
The companies expect to complete the submission for emergency use authorization in the coming days.
This application is for authorisation of the first two 3-microgram doses of a planned three-dose primary series in this age group.
Data on a third dose administered at least 8 weeks after completion of the second dose are expected in the coming months and will be submitted to the FDA to support potential expansion.
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