PRESS RELEASE

City of Woodland

300 First Street

April 27, 2020 - Yolo County, Please Cover Your Face

Yolo County’s Health Officer has issued an order that requires face coverings be worn when in public with enforcement beginning today, April 27, 2020. The Shelter in Place order remains in effect and continues to require people to stay at home as much as possible and maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet from others.

Yolo County Face Covering Guidance

The use of simple cloth face coverings is to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. When you are wearing a face covering, wash your hands before and after touching and adjusting the mask.

This Order is not a substitute for existing guidance to maintain 6-feet of physical distance from non-household members and performing frequent hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Wearing cloth face coverings will not prevent spread of COVID-19 without these other protective measures.

Guidance

Our best community and individual defense against COVID-19 is:

• Performing frequent hand hygiene,
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands,
• Avoiding being around sick people, and
• Practicing social distancing, especially by staying at home.

What is a cloth face covering?

• A cloth face covering is fabric that covers the nose and mouth. It can be:
• A sewn mask secured with ties or straps around the head or behind the ears
• A piece of fabric tied around a person’s head.
• Made from variety of materials, such as fleece, cotton or linen.
• Factory-made or made from household items such as scarfs, T-shirts or towels.

If you would like to sew your own mask, see How to Sew a Face Mask (New York Times) for step-by-step instructions. Here is an instructional video by the US Surgeon General: Making a No Sew Face Covering from a T-shirt.

Do cloth face coverings prevent the spread of COVID-19?

There is limited evidence to suggest that use of cloth face coverings helps reduce disease transmission. However, they can reduce the release of infectious particles into the air when someone speaks, coughs, or sneezes, including someone who has COVID-19 but feels well. Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing, washing your hands, and staying home when you are ill, but they may be helpful when combined with these measures.

When do I wear a cloth face covering?

Wearing a cloth face covering does not eliminate the need for other preventive measures, such as washing hands and social distancing.

• You must wear a cloth face covering when you are in public for an essential activity,
• such as shopping at the grocery store.
• You do not need to wear a mask when exercising outdoors, while maintaining proper social distancing.

Who does not have to wear a face covering?

• Children under 2 years old must not wear a face covering because of the risk of suffocation. Children 2 years and older should be encouraged to wear a mask when around others closer than 6 feet. When they do, they must be supervised by an adult. Supervision may look different based on the age and maturity of the child. For some children, having a discussion may be enough. For younger children, parents and caretakers should be present during use by the child. Parents and caregivers should use their judgement.
• If you have documentation showing a medical professional has told you not to wear a face covering, you do not have to wear one. Anyone who has trouble breathing, or is not able to take off a face covering without help, should not wear one. If you have a chronic condition, you should get documentation from a medical professional. If it will create a safety hazard for you at work (under established health and safety guidelines) by wearing a face covering, you do not have to wear one.
• If you have a physical disability that prevents you from wearing a face covering, you do not have to wear one. If you are deaf and use face and mouth movements as part of communication, you can remove your mask while signing.

How should I care for a cloth face covering?

Wash your cloth face covering frequently, ideally after each use, or at least daily. Masks should be washed with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. If you must re-wear your cloth face covering before washing, wash your hands immediately after putting it back on and avoid touching your face.

Discard cloth face coverings that:

• No longer cover the nose and mouth
• Have stretched out or damaged ties or straps
• Cannot stay on your face
• Have holes or tears in the fabric

Coronavirus in Woodland and Yolo County

The City of Woodland continues to closely monitor the impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and provide information to assist residents and businesses to respond to the emergency as it evolves.

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Woodland is 81 (as of 5 pm on April 26, 2020). Stay up to date by visiting the Yolo County Novel Coronavirus website.

Additional information can also be found at www.cityofwoodland.org. To receive email alerts from the City of Woodland visit www.cityofwoodland/notifyme. To receive email alerts from the County visit www.yolocounty.org.