THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
April 17, 2020, 7: 47AM
Updated 33 minutes ago
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Do you have your mask? Wearing them when is now mandatory to help curtail spread of the coronavirus.
A directive from the Sonoma County’s top public health official went into effect Friday that requires everyone to wear a face covering when going inside buildings other than your home or when outside if you’re near other people.
“All persons shall wear facial coverings before they enter any indoor facility besides their residence, any enclosed open space or while outdoors when the person is unable to maintain a six-foot distance from another person at all times,” Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase said in her order.
The directive sent some people scrambling to buy masks for their offices or themselves.
Susan Williamson of Sebastopol had a hard time finding masks for her dental office earlier this week, despite being in an industry with established suppliers that provide masks for their core services.
Supply has been prioritized for health care workers and first responders on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, and the availability is even more strained now.
Williamson ventured to Friedman’s Home Improvement in Santa Rosa on Friday, and discovered the retailer still had masks for sale.
“I think it’s appropriate, and it makes sense,” Williamson said of the public health emergency mandate to wear face coverings. “I think it’s just hard to get used to.”
The order does not apply when a person is driving alone or with members of their households, unless the windows in the vehicle are lowered to interact with first responders, food service workers or other people who are not members of their households.
Masks are not intended to protect the wearer from contracting COVID-19, but to prevent the spread of the virus. People have been shown to be infectious up to 48 hours before the onset of symptoms and as many as half of infections seem to occur from asymptomatic people, Mase said.
COVID-19 causes mile respiratory and other symptoms in some people, but dangerous and deadly symptoms in others. There is no vaccine available to protect against COVID-19 and no specific treatment.
As of Friday afternoon, Sonoma County has confirmed 172 cases of COVID-19 and two people have died. Statewide, 973 people have died and 28,157 had tested positive.
The virus is spread through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of others who are nearby or can be inhaled into their lungs. It has been shown to attach to surfaces for days and remain viable in the air for up to three hours after the infected person has left.
When properly worn, masks have the potential to slow the spread of the virus by limiting the spread of these droplets, Mase said.
The order states that medical-grade masks, such as surgical masks and N95 respirators be reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders who come into contact with infected people.
Masks can be any fabric or cloth that covers the mouth and nose. They can be made using household items including scarves, bandanas, T-shirts, sweatshirts, towels, turtlenecks, or other fabric. They can be sewn by hand or factory-made and can be secured to the head with ties or straps or simply wrapped around the lower face.
You can reach Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 707-521-5470 or [email protected]. On Twitter @loriacarter.
