San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow issued a new public health order requiring members of the public and workers at essential businesses to wear face coverings outside the home for certain activities and in places of business. The health order goes into effect at 8 a.m., Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

Many people with the COVID-19 virus have mild symptoms and do not recognize they are infected and contagious, and can unintentionally infect others. Wearing a face cover helps prevent the spread of droplets that might be infectious. Wearing a face covering, when combined with physical distancing of at least 6 feet, staying home when sick, and frequent hand washing, can help minimize the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Everyone is asked to wear a face covering when they are interacting with others who are not members of their household in public and private spaces.

• Inside public spaces or waiting in line for essential businesses
• Seeking health care
• Waiting for or riding on mass transit or other shared transportation
• In common areas of buildings, such as hallways, stairways, elevators and parking facilities
• Workers at businesses  in areas where the public is present, likely to be present, or at any time when others are nearby
• Workers in any space where food is being prepared and/or packaged for sale
• Drivers and operators of public transit