At one minute past midnight today, facial coverings became the law of land in Humboldt County under an order announced Tuesday by county Health Officer Teresa Frankovich.
The ideal is simply: By wearing a mask you help protect others from a possible transmission of COVID-19 and when other people wear facial coverings, they help protect you and your family for the same reason. Those under 2 years old, who have breathing issues or who cannot take off a mask on their own are exempt.
Read the full order here.
Masks must be worn:
- Inside an indoor facility (except for a person’s residence)
- Any enclosed space
- In outdoor spaces where individuals are unable to maintain a distance of 6 feet from others at all times
Find the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) facial covering guidelines below:
- Masks should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- Be secured with ties or ear loops
- Include multiple layers of fabric
- Allow for breathing without restriction
- Should be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
Find a DIY template for how to make one here.
Violations of the mask order constitute misdemeanor offenses, punishable by imprisonment, a fine or both. Humboldt County District Attorney has said her office will prosecutors “flagrant” violations of the order.
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal described the order as a “key step in reopening our businesses while continuing to protect the members of our community from the virus.” He also said local law enforcement will be “actively engaged in educating the public on the importance of facial coverings.”
This article appears in Front Window.
After being ravaged by SARS, Taiwan learned to freeze all exports of personal protective equipment and medical supplies, focused resources on the Covid-19 epicenters and everyone was wearing masks…ALL OCCURRING LAST JANUARY!!!
Result: They never closed their schools or businesses and powerful industries had no pretext to loot their treasury.
What is it about the U.S. and our people that we will not demand our “representatives” learn from others?
How much longer can the people of the U.S. tolerate a “wealthcare” system that keeps poverty a primary factor in the spread of a contagion at a needless cost of millions of homes, jobs and lives?
I have lived in Taiwan for more than 20 years to present (after 10 years in Humboldt). You’re right, Taiwan has been phenomenally successful in responding to COVID19.
Its been partly the government’s outstanding response, blocking all visitors from China very early, then from other countries, and imposing mandatory 14-day quarantines on all visitors, tracking their movements and imposing hefty fines on violators.
But it’s also universal public awareness and caution here, from students and street vendors up to the president— EVERYONE has taken it seriously from day one (the first news from China), everyone voluntarily engaged in social distancing, word masks, washed hands, etc from the beginning.
Our President believes in science, is not a sel-centered moron concerned only about the stock market and her reputation. She is not supported by a phalanx of idiot governors claiming it’s all a hoax and encouraging folks to go out and mingle, and we lack millions of moron citizens whining about their rights and taking to the streets to spread the infestation.
I love the US and hope to return some day, but it saddens me to see how far it has fallen, from its imbecile president to his throngs of idiot followers dragging it down and needlessly killing tens of thousands of innocent victims. 🙁
Please stay home folks, wear a mask, and wash hands often. We have fewer than 430 cases (total!!!) in Taiwan and schools and businesses are open, because we did it right here. The US blew it, but it’s never too late. Act now to get it under control. Thanks.
Well said, and thanks for the outside perspective on group think. It has its place and purpose in such dramatic circumstances.