Whatcom County Issues Cloth Face Covering Directive

Today we issued a Local Health Officer Directive that directs everyone to wear cloth face coverings while in any public indoor and outdoor locations where a person will be within six feet of someone who they don’t live with. As summer approaches and more worksites, businesses, and public places reopen, wearing face coverings in public will be a part of maintaining the gains we’ve made over COVID-19. 

This Directive takes effect on Friday, May 22nd, and expires when the Health Officer determines mask use is no longer required. 

Cloth face coverings don’t offer full protection against COVID-19. Wearing face coverings in public is another tool that will reduce the spread of the virus. It doesn’t reduce the need to wash your hands frequently and stay six feet apart from non-household members.