Marin County Makes Face Coverings Mandatory: Coronavirus

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A new public health order requiring Marin County residents to wear face coverings was issued Friday.

Marin is joining other Bay Area counties that have made face coverings mandatory in public settings as officials explore ways to ease restrictions while still working to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

"So the question is how can we safely begin to consider allowing more social interactions and more travel within our community knowing that this virus is still part of our environment," said Dr. Matt Willis, the county's public health officer. "One important measure that we can all take is to cover our faces when we're in situations where there could be transmission of the virus."

According to the new health order, people must wear face coverings when:

• Inside public spaces or waiting in line to enter public spaces
• Seeking health care
• Waiting for or riding on mass transit or other shared transportation
• In common areas of buildings, such as hallways, stairways, elevators and parking facilities
• Workers at businesses physically open and in areas where the public is present, likely to be present, or at any time when others are nearby
• Workers in any space where food is being prepared and/or packaged for sale
• Drivers and operators of public transit

Children 12 or younger are not required to wear a face covering, according to the order. In addition, people engaged in outdoor exercise such as walking, hiking, running or bicycling are not required to wear a face covering but should carry one with them and must continue to practice physical distancing.

The measure is in addition to the shelter-in-place order, which is in place at least until May 3. The health order will go into effect at noon on April 22 to allow residents time to prepare.

"This order amplifies the existing recommendation to cover our face," Willis said. "In essence, this order will require facial covering for public settings when we are coming into contact with people within 6 feet, who we don't live with, particularly indoors."

Willis said the new order will enable officials to lift other more-restrictive orders sooner.

People infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 may not have symptoms, but they can still be contagious, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many people with the virus have mild symptoms and do not recognize they are infected and contagious, and can unintentionally infect others.

"A simple facial covering with cloth will effectively reduce spreading droplets into the environment, which is the main way COVID-19 is spread," Willis said.

Face coverings should cover the nose and mouth, and they can include homemade masks and bandanas. Officials said coverings should not be medical-grade masks, such as N95 and surgical masks, as those are in short supply.

"Covering our faces is something that we do to protect all of us," said Willis, who has recovered from the virus. "The decision to cover your face is a decision to support our well-being as a community."

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Officials reported three new cases of the virus Thursday, bringing the county's case count to 187. The COVID-19 death toll stands at 10.

Marin has tested 2,483 people for COVID-19. This number includes tests conducted at the county's drive-thru testing site as well as tests conducted by commercial labs and hospitals.

Of the people who have tested positive, 32 have been hospitalized since the pandemic first hit the county. Four patients remained hospitalized Thursday. The county also reported that 130 residents have recovered from the virus.

Also see:

• California Coronavirus: Latest Updates On Cases, Orders, Closures
• Coronavirus In Marin County: Latest News
• Coronavirus: Marin County Sees Signs Of Flattening The Curve
• Marin County Prepares For Surge In Coronavirus Patients
• Marin County Public Health Officer Recovers From Coronavirus
• 10th Coronavirus Death Reported In Marin County
• Face Coverings Recommended As Coronavirus Cases Rise In Marin
• Marin County Cancels Classes For Rest Of School Year
• Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Order Extended In Bay Area: What To Know