Sunday, April 19, 2020

Just a More Highly Regulated Walk with Thee

San Mateo County orders us (that's not too strong a verb because the title is "Order of the Health Officer") to wear face coverings beginning April 17th. Section 3: [bold added]
3. All members of the public, except as specifically exempted below, must wear a Face Covering outside their home or other place they reside in the following situations:
(I've omitted paragraphs of descriptions, definitions, and cross-references to health codes. Basically wear a mask outside or when working in an office, going to the DMV, shopping, seeing a doctor, or when waiting for mass transportation or an Uber.)

It all boils down to common sense. Wear a mask indoors if it's not your house, or in an area where people are likely to touch a surface that you have touched.

The weeds can be chest-high for us shorter people.
Section 7 lists some exceptions:
Wearing a Face Covering is recommended but not required while engaged in outdoor recreation such as walking, hiking, bicycling, or running...
It does require some imagination to think of an outdoor activity (hang gliding?) which is not walking, hiking, bicycling or running and therefore requires a Face Covering (as defined).

Before the new order I had been walking with masks anyway.

They serve a dual purpose; protection from COVID-19 and protection against allergies. Pollen concentration is high in the spring, and the weeds are flourishing.

In its more restrained past, government might have issued an advisory in understandable language. Now it's against the law if one doesn't wear a Face Covering (as defined) at an Essential Business or a facility engaging in Minimum Basic Operations or Essential Infrastructure Work or Healthcare Operations.

Go easy on us hapless citizens, Officer. We'll pay the fine.

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