The importance of our #reCOVERgoleta campaign continues to be vitally important. Recently, the California Department of Public Health has issued updated guidance on face coverings. People in Santa Barbara County, and all of California, must wear face coverings when outside of the home and unable to maintain six feet of distance from those not in your household, unless an exemption applies. California’s guidance is in addition to Santa Barbara County Public Health Department’s Health Officer Order No. 2020-10.5 which requires individuals in the County to continue to wear face coverings when in high-risk situations that may contribute to the spread of COVID-19, unless an exemption applies.

The City of Goleta wants to reiterate the importance of following Public Health guidelines and wearing a face covering to minimize the spread of COVID-19. In July of 2020 we released our #reCOVERgoleta campaign to remind everyone of the need to consistently wear face coverings to protect each other and allow our community to safely get back to business. We hope that #reCOVERgoleta will continue to resonate with you as we try to get our community open again.

We previously released a safety video helping to clear up some confusion about how and when to wear face coverings, and other important COVID-19 safety tips. Please take a few minutes to re-watch it, or watch it for the first time, here: https://youtu.be/Er0RkyJo8Fs.

The use of face coverings by everyone can limit the release of infected droplets when talking, coughing, sneezing, singing, exercising, shouting, or other forms of increased respiration, and they can also reinforce physical distancing by signaling the need to remain apart. 

According to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, face coverings are required in the following situations unless an exemption applies:

• Indoor public space where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present when unable to physically distance by six or more feet from those others.
• Obtaining services from the healthcare sector.
• While outdoors in public spaces when maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible.
• When waiting in line, whether indoors or outdoors.
• Waiting for, or riding, on public transportation or paratransit, or while in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle.
• Driving, or operating, any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi, or private car service or ride-sharing vehicle when passengers are present.
• Engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site.

Exemptions apply to persons younger than two years old and persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering.

For additional information on situations face coverings are required, and on exemptions, please read the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department Health Order 2020-10.5 and the California Public Health Department guidelines on face coverings.

Pictured: Mayor Perotte, Mayor Pro-Tempore Richards, Councilmembers Aceves, Kasdin and Kyriaco