SoCo First Responders, Care Home Staff Must Wear Facial Masks

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — In addition to a broader coronavirus-related Sonoma County public health order effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday requiring everyone to wear facial coverings when out in public, the Sonoma County Public Health Officer has now ordered all first responders, and all staff and visitors of congregate-care facilities, to wear facial masks and check their symptoms prior to starting a shift or entering a facility.

Medical care facilities, licensed residential care facilities, nursing and senior care facilities, psychiatric facilities, group homes, residential recovery houses and homeless shelters are all specified as congregate care facilities under the order.

The new requirements are in addition to a countywide public health order that becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday under which members of the general public must wear cloth facial coverings when out in public in any indoor facility — except their home — any enclosed space, or any outdoor space where they cannot keep a distance of six feet away from others at all times.

As of 8 p.m. Thursday, there were 172 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Sonoma County — up nine cases from from Wednesday. Two deaths in the county are also attributed to the virus.

Under the order for congregate-care facilities, all staff and visitors must perform a symptom screen and have their temperature taken prior to starting their shift.

First responders must also have their temperature taken and be screened for symptoms prior to starting a shift, and must wear medical-grade masks anytime they interact with the public or patients.

The order specifies first responders as those who provide 24/7 emergency response and first aid care or other related assistance either in the course of their occupational duties or as a volunteer, including peace officers, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, rescue workers, certain social workers, and certain animal control officers.

"It’s critical that we do all we can to protect our first responders, medically vulnerable patients, and people who must be cared for outside the home in congregate settings," Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin said. "This country has already witnessed how quickly the virus can spread in these settings."

Anyone who is not a patient or resident of such facilities must also take the protective actions of wearing a medical-grade isolation or surgical mask at all times while in the facility, and submit to a temperature and symptom screening upon entry.

Non-clinical facilities that provide care overnight and day services have the option of requiring staff and visitors to cover their nose and mouth with a facial covering made from fabric or cloth. However, if medical-grade masks are available, they are encouraged to be used instead of a cloth or fabric facial covering.

There are additional requirements for patient care facilities requiring social distancing in meal and break rooms, and avoiding, by any means possible, the use of employees or staff who have worked at another facility within the past 14 days in effort to prevent cross contamination.

"This latest Health Order was issued to further protect those at congregate care facilities as well as our first responders, who come into contact with the public," Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase said. "Those at congregate care facilities are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and is a reason we have prioritized testing at these settings."

Visit SoCoEmergency.org to read the order or for more information about COVID-19.