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PORT ANGELES – Just a reminder, Monday, June 8 is the day that all employees in Washington state are required to wear a mask or other face covering at work under the Governor’s “Safe Start” proclamation.

At Monday morning’s covid-19 briefing, County health Officer Dr. Allison Berry Unthank began by reporting that there are no new positive cases in Clallam County, no tests pending and the last known patient recovering at home. She then spoke about today’s mandate for employee face masks.

“One of the things that I always want folks to remember is that there are a variety of people who can’t wear a mask for a variety of reasons. Whether that’s because of a disability that makes it hard for them to breathe when they’re wearing a mask or because they can’t tolerate something on their face or because…there are plenty of folks who don’t feel safe when they’re wearing a mask in a public space. So just being understanding of each other, if people aren’t wearing a mask and assuming goodwill, that there must be a reason that they aren’t doing so.”

Exceptions to wearing a mask at work are for people who work alone in a room or a job site. Customers and visitors entering a business are not required to wear a mask.

Unthank made it clear last week that she personally is not in favor of a mask mandate for all people, but pointed out that the Department of Labor and Industries does have the power to cite business owners who don’t comply as the mandate falls under the heading of health and safety at the workplace.

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