Santa Barbara County: Mask mandate goes into effect Friday
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Santa Barbara County's renewed mask mandate will go into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday.
The mandate was issued by the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and applies to all people, regardless of vaccination status, countywide.
In a statement written by county public health officer Dr. Henning Ansorg, everyone two years old and older will have to wear a mask in indoor public settings and shared work places.
Gym goer Mark Moritsch is frustrated with the returning mask mandate.
"It’s disrespectful to me that I can’t do the things that I wanna do I can’t travel I’m old but I have a shot," said Moritsch.
The Santa Maria Valley YMCA has been preparing for this day.
"The reaction from our members have been very mixed. Frustration from those who got vaccinated thinking yay we made it," says CEO Shannon Seifert of the Santa Maria Valley YMCA.
Seifert says they’re frustrated knowing that most of the COVID patients hospitalized are unvaccinated.
"I have to be honest I have it too ... I think it’s just human nature ... we don't want to take a step back," says Seifert.
Seifert says the good news is crews have put more exercise equipment outdoors where you don’t have to wear a mask.
"I don’t know if I have any hope right now I think this is going to continue for a while I think we’re gonna have this virus around in some form or another," says Moritsch.
One of the concerns is with memberships.
"I just really hope people choose to continue to the Y I know that the mask is bad news to a lot of people ... we just want to do our part in keeping everybody safe," says membership marketing and wellness director Michael Specht of the Santa Maria Valley YMCA.
"We know we’re on the homestretch of the pandemic no people are weary we are too and we want to be part of the solution," says Seifert.
The mask mandate applies to all public services indoors.
