TO: Campus community
FR: Missy Brunetta, Director for Emergency Services and Associate Risk Manager and COVID Monitoring and Compliance Lead
On December 14, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced temporary new statewide indoor face mask orders to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The new order supersedes all prior guidance and will be in effect from Wednesday, December 15, 2021, through at least Saturday, January 15, 2022. However, California counties that have achieved lower transmission rates will be allowed to continue with eased mask requirements for fully-vaccinated individuals at the discretion of the local public health officer.
What does this mean for Sonoma County?
Sonoma County will maintain most indoor mask requirements despite low transmissions rates. In prior guidance, the public health officer provided limited exceptions to indoor mask requirements for groups that are fully vaccinated that will continue under this new order. This means that all individuals, even fully vaccinated individuals, must continue to wear a mask while indoors most of the time.
What does this mean at SSU?
None of the exceptions to the public health order in Sonoma County apply at SSU. SSU has required face coverings inside all non-residential campus buildings throughout the semester and will continue to do so. Individuals who are alone in private offices with the door closed are able to remove their face mask only if the office is not a shared workspace. Please continue to do your part and wear a mask properly when inside campus buildings.
If you have any questions about these orders or campus safety protocols, please email covid.monitoring@sonoma.edu.