Half Moon Bay New Health Office Order Requiring Face Coverings

Press release from the City of Half Moon Bay California:

April 17, 2020

The San Mateo County Public Health Officer issued a new order today requiring members of the public and workers at essential businesses to wear face coverings outside the home for certain activities and in places of business. The order takes effect tonight and will be enforced beginning Wednesday. The order requires members of the public to wear face coverings when they are inside or in line to enter essential businesses such as grocery stores and laundromats, when they are in hospitals, clinics, COVID-19 testing locations, dentists, and facilities providing veterinary care, and when they are waiting for or riding on public transportation, including ride shares, Caltrain, and BART. For businesses, the order requires employees, contractors, owners, and volunteers to wear a face covering in the workplace and off-site when they are interacting in person with the public or working in any public space, like a reception area, restroom or service counter—regardless of whether anyone from the public is present at the time. Face coverings are also required where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution, working in or walking through common areas such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities, and in any room or enclosed area when other people, including co-workers, are present (except for members of the person’s own household or residence).

Wearing a face covering is recommended but not required for outdoor recreation such as walking, hiking, bicycling, or running. But social distancing requirements—including maintaining at least six feet of separation from all other people to the greatest extent possible—still hold. For outdoor activities, the order recommends carrying face coverings at all times, so that they can be readily worn in situations when six-foot distancing is impossible, such as when passing on a narrow path. Runners and cyclists should avoid being directly in front of or behind another runner or cyclist who is not in the same household.

Factory-made or improvised from ordinary household materials face coverings are defined as any type of cloth, fabric, or other soft material that covers only the nose and mouth and surrounding areas of the lower face. Scarves, bandanas, neck gaiters, homemade coverings made from t-shirt material or other fabric and held with rubber bands are appropriate. Purchased masks may also be used but should not be medical grade, such as N95 respirators, which are in short supply and prioritized for health care workers.

To view the order, please click here.

This press release was produced by the City of Half Moon Bay California. The views expressed here are the author’s own.