CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Citing evidence of increased COVID-19 infections throughout the Bay Area, Contra Costa Health recommended masking in crowded indoor settings, particularly for those at high risk of serious illness if infected.

“This recommendation is not a health order,” county health officials said in a news release Tuesday. “It aligns with existing state requirements and recent advice issued in neighboring counties.”

Wastewater sampling from the county shows a steady increase in the presence of the virus a particularly infectious strain of COVID-19 — FLiRT—that is currently spreading throughout the western United States and driving the current surge, the county said.

For example, from May 9 to July 9, state lab testing of wastewater samples from the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District showed that concentrations of COVID-19 more than quadrupled. Recently, wastewater concentration has plateaued but remains high.

Contra Costa has also experienced an increase in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 infection, but case numbers and deaths attributed to the virus remain relatively low compared to spikes experienced earlier in the pandemic, according to the county health department’s website.

Although health agencies across the Bay Area jointly lifted most of their requirements and orders to mask indoors in February 2022, the use of masking came strongly recommended this week, particularly for those at high risk for serious illness, as a prevention measure whenever COVID-19 case rates grew high.

“Face masks are an effective tool to reduce the spread of the virus, particularly for those who are at risk for serious illness when there is evidence of elevated COVID-19 activity in the community,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Contra Costa County’s health officer. “This is one of those times. Our health system is not seriously impacted by COVID currently, and our goal is to keep it that way.”

Wearing a well-fitting mask, such as an N95 or KN95 respirator, is a healthy choice indoors, particularly in public spaces or around people with whom you do not live, the county said.

Contra Costa’s only standing COVID-related health order requires workers at healthcare facilities to mask seasonally, from Nov. 1 to April 30 each year, to reduce the risk to patients from COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

County officials currently strongly recommend that workers and visitors wear masks in these healthcare settings, including skilled nursing and congregate care facilities.

With the school year beginning this month for most campuses in the county, CCH recommends encouraging students and faculty, particularly those who may be at risk for serious infection, to wear masks inside the classrooms and provide masks to anyone who asks for them when possible.

An updated vaccine to protect against COVID-19 infections is expected to be available in late summer or early fall.

To protect against the virus in the meantime, county officials reminded residents to remain up to date on vaccination, test for COVID-19 when symptoms are present, and stay home from work or school whenever they feel ill.