According to an announcement released on Friday, June 5 by the Alameda County Health Department, face coverings must now be worn at all times by all members of the public, including outdoors while engaged in physical activities (walking, running, biking, etc.) and within 30 feet of people outside of their household. (Note: If you are not within 30 feet of other people, you don’t have to wear one, but should have a face covering accessible just in case.) The stricter face covering order goes into effect on June 8.
“A face covering helps prevent transmitting the virus that causes COVID-19.” said Dr. Erica Pan. “Everyone should wear a face covering anytime they are outside the home and around other people. This helps decrease the exposure for all of us and is one of the few tools we have that will allow us to decrease risk as we gradually allow for more activities outside the home.” {Note: Children aged 12 and younger are not required to wear a face covering, and any child two years old or younger should not wear a face covering.)
Effective June 8, 2020, the Health Officer Order also includes the following:
Small gatherings of individuals from different households to take place in outdoor settings, subject to certain conditions;
Childcare providers to provide care to all children, not just children of essential workers, and establishes conditions under which youth extracurricular activities may resume;
Educational institutions to resume career internship and pathways programs;
Libraries to open for curbside pickup of books and other media;
Certain businesses providing services with limited person-to-person contact, including appliance repair, and pet grooming services, to resume operations.
The small outdoor gatherings are permitted for people belonging to the same Social Bubble.
• A Social Bubble is defined as a group of 12 or fewer people from different households
• A Social Bubble should be maintained for a minimum of 3 weeks
• Participation is restricted to only one Social Bubble at a time
• Members of a Social Bubble are strongly encouraged to comply with Social Distancing Requirements and wear face covering to the extent feasible.
Residents can expect that outdoor museums, outdoor restaurant dining, religious services, and additional outdoor activities (like outdoor fitness classes) will resume in phases in upcoming relaxations to the Shelter-in-Place restrictions.
In a Facebook post, the City of Piedmont said it is “examining these orders and will provide guidance early next week as to how they will affect Piedmonters and businesses located within our City.”