Statewide Mandatory Face Covering Guidance

[Video Description: Ian Sanborn is wearing a black beret and blue buttoned blouse. He’s standing in front of a window with light-colored closed curtains as a background.]

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On June 18, 2020, the Governor announced an updated order from the California Department of Public Health requiring Californians to wear face-covering in public areas.

Californians must wear face coverings when they leave their homes:
• To go inside of, or in line to enter businesses, any indoor public space
• To go to the doctor’s office, pharmacy, clinics, medical lab facilities, etc.
• To use public transportation (bus, taxi, trains) or ride-sharing vehicle (Uber, Lyft)
• When you cannot be at least 6 feet apart from other people in public (i.e. park, beach, outdoors)
• Provide direct services while working:
– Office space;
– Food service (restaurants or grocery stores)
– Working in public transportation or service

Those NOT required to wear a face-covering:
• Children aged two and under Persons with medical, mental health, or developmental disability
• Persons eating or drinking at a restaurant provided that they are able to maintain a distance of at least six feet away from persons who are not from the same household (families or roommates)
• Persons who are engaged in outdoor work or recreation such as swimming, walking, hiking, bicycling, or running, when alone or with household members and when they are able to maintain a distance of at least six feet from others;
• Persons who are in prisons.
• Persons who are “hearing impaired”, or communicating with a person who is “hearing impaired”, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication

[Video Description: Amy Gomme is standing in front of an adobe wall wearing a v-necked black sleeveless blouse with her hair down.]

DCARA would like to make an opinionated statement regarding the last bullet point in the California Department of Public Health Order regarding “hearing impaired people” being exempt from wearing masks. DCARA acknowledges that HI is an inappropriate label as we (the Deaf community) do not recognize this label. We acknowledge that our definition of Deaf* means Deaf, DeafBlind, late-Deafened, Hard of Hearing, and the like.

If you need additional information, please contact us via VP at 510-343-6670 or via email at info@dcara.org

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