Fresno’s rules for wearing masks, and employers with infected workers, just got stricter
The Fresno City Council put stricter guidelines in place Thursday to require residents to wear masks. Plus, businesses must now inform employees and others when one of their workers tests positive for the coronavirus.
With a 5-1 vote, the orders go into effect immediately. Councilmember Garry Bredefeld cast the sole “no” vote, and Councilmember Paul Caprioglio was absent.
The language added to the city’s coronavirus orders that requires people working, even when outside, to wear masks while near others. The masks must be properly worn, covering a person’s nose.
Masks with valves are not considered proper under the new orders, because the covering could expel droplets carrying the virus. The new language was sponsored by Councilmember Nelson Esparza.
The city is already under a state order from Gov. Gavin Newsom that requires masks in buildings, plus when people cannot properly socially distance outside. Fresno’s new order goes a step further.
“These are adjustments that I think will make it more effective,” Esparza said.
The coronavirus case numbers in Fresno County continue to surge. Now at 8,941 cases through Wednesday, Fresno County leads the counties in the central San Joaquin Valley with the most cases, according to numbers from the state Department of Public Health. The county also has 91 deaths.
The situation in the Fresno region and across California — where the numbers of confirmed infections and hospitalizations keep climbing — prompted the Federal Emergency Management Agency to send eight Department of Defense medical teams to the state to augment exhausted doctors and nurses, said Dan Lynch, Fresno County’s director of emergency medical services.
Bredefeld, who has been a vocal opponent of mask orders of any kind, noted people with certain medical conditions can be excused from wearing masks.
Testing positive
The city of Fresno’s new language also requires employers to notify others when an employee tests positive for the coronavirus.
While the employer does not have to make the case public, they have 24 hours to notify other employees, customers and anyone who may have been in contact with the sick person.
It became clear last week following an outbreak at Harris Ranch Beef Company in Selma that in California there are no clear enforceable rules for private companies — or public health officials — to report COVID-19 outbreaks at workplaces.
Employers are also required to sanitize a work place after an employee tests positive for COVID-19.
The council floated an idea for what Bredefeld called a “snitch line” for those businesses out of compliance. Ultimately the council decided to direct calls to the normal code enforcement line, 559-621-8400.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 11:32 AM.
