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Alpine County Health Department, 75-B Diamond Valley Rd., Markleeville, CA 96120 Alpine County Board of Supervisors, Phone: (530) 694-2281 District 1: January Riddle, District 2: Ron Hames, District 3: Irvin Jim, District 4: Terry Woodrow, District 5: David Griffith ORDER OF THE ALPINE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER FOR THE WEARING OF FACE COVERINGS IN COUNTY WORKPLACE SETTINGS INSIDE AND STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR OUTSIDE IN CROWDED CONDITIONS. DATE OF ORDER: AUGUST 30, 2021 Please read this Order carefully. Violation of, or failure to comply with, this Order is a public nuisance subject to citation, abatement, or both, as well as a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both (California Government Code 8634, 8665; California Health and Safety Code 120220, 120275, 120295; California Penal Code 69, 148(a)(1)); Executive Order N-25-20). SUMMARY OF THIS ORDER This Order requires all individuals who are Alpine County employees, contractors, elected officials, volunteers, or visitors to county facilities, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in county facilities or vehicles, with limited exemptions, and recommends that the county make face coverings available to individuals entering any county facility. This Order also strongly recommends that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings outdoors in crowded settings. BACKGROUND Since the statewide transition to Beyond the Blueprint on June 15, 2021, Alpine County’s COVID-19 case rate has risen, with a number of hospitalizations as a result of COVID-19 infection. Area hospitals are experiencing a surge of patients threatening to overwhelm an already exhausted system. Rising case rates, increasing test positivity, and the high numbers of hospitalizations are largely due to the predominance of the highly infectious Delta variant which has been labeled as “younger, sicker, quicker.” The Delta variant is highly contagious and has increased the risk of hospitalization compared to the original virus. The COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the US have been shown to be highly safe and effective at providing protection to individuals and communities, particularly against severe COVID-19 disease and death, and are recommended by the CDC for all populations for whom the vaccine is authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration. In considering options to stem this rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, a continued increase in the proportion of the population vaccinated is necessary but not sufficient. Universal indoor use of face coverings, also known as masking, is the least disruptive and most immediately impactful additional measure to take. All individuals, especially those who are unvaccinated or at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, should take personal measures to reduce risk in addition to masking. This Order is necessary Public Health Brief Richard O. Johnson, M.D., MPH Nichole Williamson Public Health Officer HHS Director Office: [PHONE REDACTED], Ext 249 Office: [PHONE REDACTED] e-mail: [EMAIL REDACTED] 24/7/365 Emergency Contact Number Dispatch: [PHONE REDACTED], Ext 330 ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine County Health Department, 75-B Diamond Valley Rd., Markleeville, CA 96120 Alpine County Board of Supervisors, Phone: (530) 694-2281 District 1: January Riddle, District 2: Ron Hames, District 3: Irvin Jim, District 4: Terry Woodrow, District 5: David Griffith to control and reduce the rate of community spread and to reinforce the need for safe interactions. The Public Health Officer will continue to assess the public health situation as it evolves and may modify this Order, or issue additional Orders, related to COVID-19, as changing circumstances dictate. ORDER UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 101040, 101085, 120175, AND 120220, THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER OF ALPINE COUNTY (“HEALTH OFFICER”) HEREBY ORDERS AS FOLLOWS: 1. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the July 28, 2021 “Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings” issued by the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”), as may be amended from time to time, continues to apply throughout the County. 2. This Order directs that face coverings shall be worn, regardless of vaccination status, over the mouth and nose, in all county facilities, regardless of vaccination status, with the exception of when a person is alone in a private space with the door closed (room or vehicle). In addition, face coverings are strongly recommended to be worn, regardless of vaccination status, outdoors in crowded situations when it is not possible to maintain 6-foot distance from others. 3. Alpine county must: a. Require all visitors to any county facility to wear face coverings for all indoor settings, regardless of their vaccination status. b. Post clearly visible and easy-to-read signage at all entry points for indoor settings to communicate the masking requirements to all patrons. In addition, those responsible for indoor public settings are required upon request to provide face coverings at no cost to individuals required to wear them. 4. Exemptions from face covering requirements – individuals are not required to wear face coverings in the following circumstances: a. Persons under the age of two. b. Persons who are working alone in a closed room or vehicle. c. Persons who are obtaining a medical or cosmetic service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service. d. Persons who are specifically exempted from wearing face masks pursuant to other CDPH guidance. e. Persons who are actively eating or drinking. 5. This Order, which requires face coverings for all individuals in indoor county settings, and strongly recommends face coverings for crowded outdoor settings, regardless of vaccination status, takes precedence over the more permissive Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (“ETS”) and/or the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standards regarding employee face coverings. 6. This Order shall become effective at 12:01 a.m. on August 30, 2021, and will continue to be in effect until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Public Health Officer. The Public Health Officer intends to continually review the need for the Order by monitoring daily COVID-19 ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine County Health Department, 75-B Diamond Valley Rd., Markleeville, CA 96120 Alpine County Board of Supervisors, Phone: (530) 694-2281 District 1: January Riddle, District 2: Ron Hames, District 3: Irvin Jim, District 4: Terry Woodrow, District 5: David Griffith case rates, percent positivity, hospitalizations and variants of concern circulating in the County and neighboring jurisdictions. 7. All State orders and guidance documents referenced in State orders are complementary to this Order. By way of this Order, the Public Health Officer adopts such directives as orders as well. Where a conflict exists between a local order and any State public health order related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the most restrictive provision controls pursuant to, and consistent with, California Health and Safety Code § 131080, unless the State Health Officer issues an order that expressly determines a provision of a local public health order is a menace to public health. 8. The violation of any provision of this Order constitutes an imminent threat and menace to public health, constitutes a public nuisance, and pursuant to California Health and Safety Code § 120275, is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both. Other administrative and judicial remedies are also available. 9. Copies of this Order shall be: made available at the Health and Human Services facility at 75 Diamond Valley Road in Woodfords; posted on the County website (alpinecountyca.gov); and provided to any member of the public requesting a copy of this Order. 10. If any provision of this Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, the reminder of the Order, including the application of such part or provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected and shall continue in full force and effect. To this end, the provisions of this Order are severable. IT IS SO ORDERED: Richard O. Johnson, M.D., MPH Health Officer, Alpine County Dated: August 30, 2021 For reference: guidance for face coverings (ca.gov) Face Coverings Q&A (ca.gov) Get the Most out of Masking (ca.gov) COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS)