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County Orders to Wear Face Coverings

April 9, 2020

To: University Community
From: Cory Nomura, Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration
Re: County Orders to Wear Face Coverings

Following recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several local counties have issued orders mandating the use of face coverings. The University requires those essential employees who are reporting to work to follow these orders.

In San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, face coverings are required when leaving home. These orders apply to anyone reporting to work on the Redlands campus, as well as those who may be accessing the U of R Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, and Temecula campuses.

Effective Friday, April 10, L.A. County requires residents to wear a face covering when reporting to work or visiting the majority of essential businesses, affecting anyone accessing the Burbank campus.

San Diego County requires all employees who interact with the public to cover their faces. Marin and Orange Counties recommend the use of face coverings.

According to San Bernardino County, face coverings may include those that secure to the ears or back of the head and encompass the mouth and nose, including homemade cloth ear loop covers, bandanas, handkerchiefs, and neck gaiters. N95 or surgical masks should not be used, as these are limited resources needed for the healthcare community and first responders.

The CDC notes that cloth face coverings can reduce the spread of COVID-19, particularly from people without symptoms. The agency also notes face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

In addition to the use of face coverings in public settings, the CDC advises everyone to:

  • Clean your hands often. This includes washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol; cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact, especially with people who are sick. Stay at home as much as possible. Put distance—at least six feet—between yourself and other people, since some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes. If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash, and then wash your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect. Frequently touched surfaces requiring daily cleaning include tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

The CDC emphasizes that face covering is not a substitute for the above measures.

For more information, see the San Bernardino County order, the Riverside County order, the L.A. County order, San Diego County order, Orange County guidance, Marin County guidance, and current CDC recommendations, as well as the University’s Coronavirus FAQ web page.