by Daniel Nielson, Director
As the COVID-19 virus spreads and more testing becomes available, more staff will be in the workplace wearing face masks because they have been determined to have had close contact with someone who has tested positive yet they are asymptomatic. Additionally, more staff will be choosing to wear masks or other forms of face coverings in the workplace to supplement their efforts with physical distancing and frequent hand washing. Please click Read More for more information.
Asymptomatic staff who choose to come to work and wear a face mask (required for 14 days from date of possible exposure) after being in close contact with someone who has tested positive are helping us to achieve our work. They should not be ostracized nor the subject of gossip.
People who have tested positive, and those who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive and are displaying symptoms themselves, will not be in the workplace until the appropriate amount of time has passed and they are not displaying any symptoms of respiratory problems.
Further, as face coverings of the mask or homemade variety are now recommended by the CDC as referenced in the email to you from the EOT on Saturday (see highlighted below), many people will be wearing masks or face coverings of some sort out of an abundance of caution to keep from infecting others if they in fact happen to be carrying the virus themselves.
"USE OF FACE COVERINGS:
The California Department of Public Health issued guidance to the general public on April 1, 2020 recommending face coverings for times when you are in public or unable to maintain physical distancing, such as at the grocery store, but does not mandate their use. If any of you are wishing to cover your face at work, you are welcome to do so, but DSS does not have masks to provide except in certain situations. You are welcome to wear your own face coverings and you are reminded to please be cautious as they are not a substitute for physical distancing, washing hands, and staying home when ill. In the Resources/References section below you will find detailed guidance to learn more if this interests you."
In short, you do not know why someone is wearing a face mask, so please don’t treat someone differently because they are choosing to do so. Anyone who has tested positive or who has been determined to have had close contact with someone who has tested positive is following the guidelines established by the Public Health Department.
Thank you for your mindfulness on this matter and your consideration of your co-workers. We are all in this together.