i m stephanie lin today. new indoor masking guidelines go into effect in alameda county. the rules coming after the cdc found higher levels of covid spread and hospitalizations in parts of the bay area. kron four s. charles clifford joins us now from the city of alameda where he spoke with people about this policy charles? hey there. yeah, you know, the mandates here around the bay area for mask-wearing were lifted a couple of months ago. and i think everyone had hoped that the those days were over there, we would have to get back to mask mandates. but here in alameda county, they say there s enough covid spreading in the neighborhood in the community that the mandate is necessary. as of friday, morning masks are now required for most indoor public places across alameda county, regardless of vaccination status. in an order issued on thursday, health officials say the county is experiencing a worsening wave of community transmission. the current wave exceeds the size of th