Because of a recent increase in new COVID-19 infections, the Ventura County Superior Court has implemented a mask mandate for all persons entering any courthouse, courtroom or other court facility, regardless of their vaccination status, beginning Monday.
Ventura County remains in the highest COVID-19 risk tier, as ranked by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State data on Friday show daily case rates in the county averaged 34.5 infections per 100,000 people.
“The mask order is a precaution to reduce the spread of the virus in an effort to keep the court operating during this period of increased cases,” said Robert Sherman, assistant court executive officer/chief financial officer of Ventura Superior Court.
“Since June 20, 2022, 38 court personnel and courthouse visitors have tested positive for the virus,” reads the order, issued Thursday. “Three court departments are in ‘outbreak status’, according to the California Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA guidelines.”
Since the July 14 order, six more employees have tested positive, court officials said.
Outbreaks are defined as three or more employee COVID-19 cases in an “exposed group” within a 14-day period, according to Cal/OSHA’s emergency temporary standards on COVID-19 prevention. Since June 20, 18 courtrooms have had a COVID-19 exposure, according to the court order.
Individuals who do not wear a mask and do not have a court order for an exemption under the Americans with Disabilities Act or California Rules of Court will be reminded to wear one. If they refuse, they will be denied entrance and may have to reschedule their legal matters.
In the event a visitor removes their mask within the courtroom they will be asked to replace it. Upon refusal, they will be asked to leave voluntarily or be escorted out of the courthouse by the Ventura County Sheriff’s deputy and may be subject to punishment for contempt.
In addition to masking, visitors will be seated in every other seat to maintain distance.
Ventura County public health officials have recently described the COVID-19 rise as moderate and said they won’t consider a countywide indoor masking mandate or other restrictions unless hospitalizations and intensive care cases jump significantly.
Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme and CSU Channel Islands outside of Camarillo have already initiated mandates in response to the CDC ranking.
The increase in cases seems to be the result of virus subvariants, said Ventura County Public Health Director Rigoberto Vargas last week at a county Board of Supervisors meeting.
Local transmission rates began to rise in April. A majority of the infections are now caused by the highly contagious omicron subvariant, BA.5, believed to be more evasive to antibodies from vaccines or natural immunity. Vaccines still reduce chances of severe illness and death.
Though omicron subvariants appear to cause less severe illness, more will be known about BA.5 as it continues to spread across the region, public health officials said.
Victoria Talbot is a courts and breaking news reporter with The Star. Reach her at victoria.talbot@vcstar.com or 805-437-0258.
