Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Masking Requirement in Fresno County is Not Mandatory

For quite some time now I have been avoiding going to businesses in the city of Fresno, because they had mandatory mask requirements. Also, every time I drove by about a million people were standing in line to get inside the business.  So I said to hell with that and started patronizing business in the city of Madera, in Madera County.

Today I had no choice but to go to the Lowes in Fresno. Imagine my surprise when I saw no one standing in lines to get in, and not everyone inside is wearing a mask, and no employees are yelling at them to "Put your mask on! Dammit!" as I was yelled at when I had no choice but to go to Fresno Ag Hardware 2 weeks ago, where I "politely" told the guy I didn't have to wear a mask and went on about my way.

Anyway, curiosity has gotten the better of me, and I searched and found the Fresno County Health Officers order, and read the part about mask requirements.

Here is what it says:
9. County-wide Masking Requirement Effective May 22, 2020: 
To facilitate safe business reopening in Phase 2 of the State Roadmap to Modify the Stay-At-Home Order, 

all residents should use cloth masks or equivalent face covering while indoors at work, while visiting a business, or while coming into close contact with someone who is not a family member, 
in accordance with CDC guidelines to prevent spread of respiratory droplets when physical distancing cannot be maintained. 
i. Face coverings with one-way exhalation valves are not sufficient to comply with this order.  

ii. Adults with respiratory illnesses, certain medical conditions, and children under 12 years old are excused from use of face coverings due to suffocation risk; however, they should still comply with social distancing of at least 6 feet from others outside their households. 

iii. Hands should be clean when masks are being placed or removed, and hand-to-face activity kept to a minimum to prevent the introduction of viral droplets to the airway. 

iv. This requirement is to help slow the spread of novel coronavirus in situations where social distancing is not maintained due to social spacing or professional conditions. 

v. Voluntary compliance from the residents of the county is requested, and businesses are encouraged to inform employees and post signage about their specific masking policy or preferences. 

vi. Individuals dining at restaurants are exempt from this requirement. 

vii. Additional guidance related to masking in schools and those businesses permitted to reopen in Phase 3 will be made separately. 

10. This order shall supersede the previous orders issued on March 27, April 14, and May 18, 2020. The County Public Health Officer may amend this order as needed. This Order shall remain in full force and effect until terminated, superseded, or amended. 
11. The CDPH and the CDC may recommend further guidance. 

I, as Interim Health Officer for the County of Fresno, encourage voluntary compliance with this Health Officer’s Order. However, violation of this order is subject to fine, imprisonments or both (California Health and Safety Code Section 120295.) 

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