Cloth Face Covering

We are pleased to report that the County of Alameda continues to flatten the curve. We thank County staff for doing their part to make our communities safer and we honor you during Public Service Recognition month.

In support of the Health Officer’s April 17, 2020, order that employees wear a face covering at work, the County provided employees working in the office or in the field with disposal surgical masks as needed. The Health Officer’s order does not have an end date and disposable surgical masks may not continue to be readily available. And, as good community citizens, it is desirable to preserve disposable surgical masks for health care workers and first responders, because of their need to replace their face coverings many times throughout a shift for health and safety reasons.

For these reasons, we are pleased to announce that the County has secured reusable cloth face coverings in place of issuing disposable surgical masks. Employees working in the office or in the field will be issued a total of two (2) cloth face coverings within the next week. (Some employees may have received their cloth masks last Friday.) The face coverings are made of 100% cotton and are machine washable and intended for long-term use with proper care. Care instructions are attached. By moving to reusable face coverings, the County continues to support the effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, while remaining environmentally conscious, and ensuring adequate supplies of personal, professional equipment for those on the front lines.

In addition to wearing a face covering, be sure to:

• Continue washing your hands frequently;
• Maintain adequate social distancing;
• Use hand sanitizer;
• Avoid touching your face; and
• Clean the surfaces around you.

Thank you all for your continuing commitment to provide vital services to our communities. The County remains committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for our employees as this important work proceeds and as we continue to flatten the curve.