Home Contra Costa County Contra Costa Health Officer Issues New “Cover Your Face” Order

Contra Costa Health Officer Issues New “Cover Your Face” Order

by ECT
Contra Costa Health Services

A new health order in Contra Costa County requires anyone working at or visiting an essential business, such as a grocery store or gas station, to wear face coverings to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The order, effective Wednesday, April 22, also requires public transit and government workers to wear masks when they come close to others, or where the public is likely to be present.

Members of the public must mask when they:

  • work at an essential business
  • are inside an essential business, such as a grocery store
  • visit a healthcare provider or facility
  • wait in line for or ride public transportation

Businesses must take reasonable measures, such as posting signs, to remind visitors about masking, and not serve customers who do not observe the order. Workers do not need to mask if they are alone in a personal office but must put them on when others enter.

“We now know that a significant number of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms, or become infectious before they start showing symptoms,” said Dr. Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County’s health officer. “That is why we all need to start wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where it’s sometimes hard to maintain physical distancing, such as standing in line at the store.”

The new order does not extend to people driving in personal vehicles alone or with members of their households. Contra Costa residents are encouraged to continue to observe safe physical distancing when they go out to exercise or for recreation.

When outside, everyone must carry masks or face coverings and use them whenever they come near six feet of others outside their own households.

People engaged in more strenuous exercise, such as running or bicycling, should stay further apart from others while breathing heavily and take steps to avoid breathing on others, such as moving to the other side of the road to avoid pedestrians and wearing a mask if possible.

The new order does not replace the county’s stay-at-home health order or the need to maintain physical distancing, wash hands frequently and cover coughs and sneezes – all fundamental to reducing the spread of COVID-19.

“Stay in place, maintain your space, cover your face,” Dr. Farnitano said. “One key way the COVID-19 virus spreads is through respiratory droplets that people expel when they breathe or sneeze. By masking and observing physical distancing, we can help protect everyone in the community.”

The order does not require children 12 and younger to wear masks. Children 2 years old or younger must not wear them because of the risk of suffocation.

Face coverings can be anything made of cloth, fabric or other permeable material that covers the nose and mouth and the lower part of the face. Medical-grade masks are not required – a T-shirt or bandana works fine, Dr. Farnitano said.

Masks with one-way valves for easy breathing do not qualify as face coverings under the order because they can release respiratory droplets into the surrounding air.

Visit cchealth.org/coronavirus to read the order or for more information about COVID-19. Visit the Centers for Disease and Control at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html for video instructions to make and use cloth face coverings.

Editors Note:

Here is the actual Order — click here.

Penalty:  “Please read this Order carefully. Violation of or failure to comply with this Order is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both. (California Health and Saf. Code, § 120295.)”

Here is the fine:

Any person who violates Section 120130 or any section in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 120175, but excluding Section 120195), is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment for a term of not more than 90 days, or by both. He or she is guilty of a separate offense for each day that the violation continued.

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12 comments

Simonpure Apr 17, 2020 - 1:09 pm

“The order does not require children 12 and younger to wear masks”

I wonder why…

Jg Apr 17, 2020 - 1:29 pm

So they can carry on the assault on our rights. It’s a slippery slope. Control and money are the motto of socialists. Your rights aren’t even considered. You can see by some of far lefter comments who probably have a secure public job. Not all but sayin

Ida Anderson Apr 17, 2020 - 2:07 pm

It may not require it. But I have one for my 12 yr old daughter for when we are about in public. Better safe than sorry.

Julio Apr 17, 2020 - 2:17 pm

Other states require them 2 years and up.

Suzanne angeli Apr 17, 2020 - 3:27 pm

When will houses for sale be allowed to show With safety precautions by owner or agent?

TFlo Apr 17, 2020 - 3:42 pm

they have no authority…if they try to impose this they will be getting sued…i will not be subjected to LIVING my life in fear or being ordered to do something against my will..you can wear a mask if you want to but i won’t be just because the boogeyman changed his name to C0vid19…

TFlo Apr 17, 2020 - 3:43 pm

they have no authority…if they try to impose this they will be getting sued..i will not be subjected to LIVING my life in fear or being ordered to do something against my will..you can wear a mask if you want to but i won’t be just because the boogeyman changed his name to C0vid-19…

Frank Apr 17, 2020 - 8:53 pm

What Bill of Rights? Newsom and his nazi friends are out to control our lives. Next they’re coming for our guns.

Dana Roach Apr 18, 2020 - 7:29 am

Lmao, The boogie man? Are you truly that fucking stupid or you just playing the part? What the fuck does it hurt to wear a mask, stay 6feet away, and not to gather for awhile? I guess wearing a maske will kill you (not a bad thing as it seems) fucking drama queen!!!

Will Spook Apr 18, 2020 - 9:04 am

Sharia Law step # 1.

Had Enough? Apr 23, 2020 - 6:29 pm

Please note Section 9 of the Order which reads as follows:

“A Face Covering is also not required by this Order to be worn by a particular individual if the person can show either: (1) a medical professional has advised that wearing a Face Covering may pose a risk to the person wearing the mask for health-related reasons; or (2) wearing a Face Covering would create a risk to the person related to their work as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines. A Face Covering should also not be used by anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the Face Covering without assistance.”

Get a Doctor’s note – and you won’t need to wear the face covering.

Jg Apr 24, 2020 - 5:02 pm

Some people are just dumb and don’t get it. Yes, the left is trying to change/remove our civil rights using this virus as their political tool. Also yes the virus is dangerous and we could use common sense when around others.

Think hard when you vote. These leaders in California have really gone too far with everything.

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