Fresno County urges mask-wearing indoors at business and work starting Friday
Fresno County’s interim health officer is urging all residents to wear a face covering while indoors at work, visiting a business or when coming into close contact with someone who isn’t family beginning Friday.
The new requirement was handed down in a new County Health Officer order signed by Dr. Rais Vohra. The new order is posted to Fresno County’s website.
While the original version of the health order made the new rule a requirement using the word “shall,” county officials quickly updated the order making the changes a recommendation, instead using the word “should.”
Plus, a spokesman for Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said deputies wouldn’t be enforcing the rule by issuing any tickets to residents without masks.
“While this masking guidance is not a mandate, we continue to urge the public to voluntarily comply with the masking recommendations in the interests of public health and safety and to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” an email from a county spokesman said after the health order was updated.
Adults with respiratory illnesses and certain medical conditions and children under 12 years old are excluded, but those groups should still practice social distancing from people who don’t live with them.
The health order says that hands should be clean when masks are put on and removed, and people should try to limit touching their face as much as possible when wearing a mask.
The requirement is to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in situations where social distancing is not maintained because of spacing or professional conditions, the health order reads.
This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 12:07 PM.