Berkeleyside is sharing this message from city of Berkeley Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez. It was published Friday evening and appears listed below in full.
Today, I provided an Order mandating using face coverings for everyone particularly clients and workers in essential services so that infected people without symptoms do not inadvertently spread out COVID-19
While we have seen many individuals cover their faces in public since the CDC and Bay Area Health Officers first suggested face coverings two weeks ago, it has not sufficed.
While individuals ought to follow this required immediately, we are offering a grace duration on enforcement up until 8am on Wednesday, April 22.
Face coverings are not an alternative for staying home, remaining 6 feet apart, and washing your hands regularly.
This order applies to everybody in the City of Berkeley. Health Officers in Contra Costa, San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma counties in addition to the rest of Alameda County have also provided similar orders today.
Why cover your face
Masks play an important role in fighting COVID-19, which spreads out quickly amongst individuals less than 6 feet from each other. This brand-new coronavirus takes a trip through the air by sneezing, coughing or just talking near another person. You can be contaminated even if you have no symptoms. In addition, those who do end up being noticeably ill can be infectious as early as 48 hours prior to they reveal symptoms.
When you’re needed to use a mask
Everyone needs to cover their face when out in public such as visiting a vital organisation, seeking health care, or while utilizing shared transportation, including buses, BART, cabs, rideshare, or paratransit.
Workers at vital services need to cover their face most of the time while at work, including:
- when connecting with the public
- in any space visited by the public
- anywhere food is prepared
- in typical areas
- in any space where other individuals are present
Drivers of public transit, ride share or taxis should use a mask the entire time they remain in the automobile, regardless of whether or not travelers exist.
You don’t require to cover your face when house alone or when around people you live with.
Really couple of are exempt
There are some extremely specific individuals who do not need to wear a face covering:
- Anybody who has trouble breathing, is incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance.
- Anybody who has actually been encouraged by a medical professional not to wear a face covering.
- Any worker to the level using a face covering develops a security danger at work under established health and wellness standards.
Children
- Face coverings are optional for children 3-12 years old.
- Children 2 years or younger should not use masks, as they might create a risk of suffocation.
- Parents and caregivers should supervise use of face coverings by kids to prevent misuse.
Outdoor workout
You’re not required wear a mask while exercising outdoors, but you should carry one with you and put it on when it is not possible to remain 6 feet apart from others.
When exercising, take additional preventative measures to stay away from others around you, such as crossing the street to avoid pathways with pedestrians. Running and cycling causes people to expel airborne particles more forcefully, that makes the normal minimum 6 feet distance less adequate.
Picking and looking after your mask
Your mask needs to be made from cloth, material, or other soft material and cover the lower part of your face just, including your nose and mouth. Don’t utilize surgical masks or N-95 s– medical grade masks are required for health care employees and very first responders.
Easy do-it-yourself face coverings are great. You can improvise a face covering utilizing a scarf, bandanna, neck gaiter, tee shirt, or towel. The CDC has actually developed tutorials on how to make a mask in your home:
- Step-by-step directions for sew and no-sew masks
- Video presentation: make a no-sew a mask from a tee shirt
Your mask should be comfortable and enable you to breathe typically through your nose. Make sure it fits well– you should avoid touching your face or changing your mask as soon as you have actually put it on.
Wash face coverings after each use.
Efforts to slow the spread are working
As of today, Berkeley residents have actually been under a stay home order for one month.
Data reveals that our cumulative action is working. We are slowing the spread of COVID-19 in the Bay Area. We need to take extra actions to secure ourselves and specifically our vital employees who run the risk of exposure day in and day out.
The formula for keeping our neighborhood safe is easy. Stay at home. Cover your face. Wash your hands. Keep your distance.
Thank you to all who have been, and continue to practice these steps.
Lisa B. Hernandez, MD, MPH
City of Berkeley Health Officer
