Brzezny calls on residents to wear masks

RITZVILLE — Adams County Health Officer Dr. Alexander Brzezny has issued a directive suggesting residents and visitors wear face coverings in public.

The county was granted a variance to move to Phase 2 "reopening" Friday, May 22; and Brzezny issued the face covering directive effective May 26.

The directive is voluntary and not enforceable by law.

Brzezny said Phase 2 will result in Adams County residents and visitors being more likely to have interactions with non-household members.

“The frequency of person-to-person contacts will simply go up as more businesses are allowed to open, and traffic in our communities increases again,” he said. “This, in turn, will increase the risk of exposure to persons with COVID-19.”

As of June 1, Adams County had 70 positive cases, of which 53 patients recovered.

Total tested is 566, with 484 negative results and 16 still pending. Of the 63 cases in Othello, 48 patients have recovered.

Three cases occurred in the Lind zip code, with all three recovered. Four cases occurred in the Ritzville zip code, two of which are recovered.

Brzezny pointed out if the number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 increases, it could compromise the county’s ability to stay “open."

“It could also endanger the county’s ability to deliver essential governmental, public health and healthcare services to the public,” Brzezny said.

Adams County commissioners voted May 26 to extend closure of county facilities to June 15.

Brzezny is suggesting individuals at indoor or confined public settings wear face coverings over their noses and mouths if they are likely to be in contact with another individual who does not share their household, and staying approximately 6 feet away is not always possible.

“At this time, because it is still important to conserve medical-grade masks or N95 respirators for health care workers, unless a particular health reasons requires it, individuals should use fabric coverings, such as cloth face masks, scarves and bandanna coverings or other material as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control,” Brzezny said.

He also said cloth masks must be worn properly to avoid contaminating the hands or face of the user.

“Before putting on a mask and after removing a mask, an individual should clean their hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water,” Brzezny said. “Masks should be changed and washed when soiled, moist and after use. Worn masks may be contaminated with infectious agents. While in use, avoid touching the mask.”

Individuals who may be excluded from the directive include any child under age 2; any child under age 12 unless parents and caregivers supervise the use of face coverings to avoid misuse; any individual with a physical disability that prevents easily wearing or removing a face covering; any individual who is deaf and uses facial and mouth movements as part of communication and those communicating with a deaf individual; any individual advised by a medical professional against wearing a mask; and any individual who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.

Brzezny said face coverings do not replace the need to practice physical distancing.

Brzezny is directing all commercial establishments in Adams County to post signage advising individuals to wear face coverings on the premises.

Violation of the directive from the health official is not illegal and does not create grounds to detain, issue a citation, arrest, or prosecute individuals who do not comply.

“This directive may and should be used to educate, encourage, and persuade individuals to wear face coverings,” Brzezny said. “I strongly urge all people in Adams County to voluntarily comply.”

Brzezny said his directive expires when hdby Katie Teachout

the Journal

Ritzville – Adams County Health Officer Alexander Brzezny, MD, has issued a directive for residents and visitors to wear face coverings in public, now that the county has moved into Phase 2 of Governor Inslee’s “Phased Approach to Reopening Washington.”

The county was granted the variance to move to Phase 2 Friday, May 22; and Brzezny issued the face covering directive effective May 26.

Brzezny said Phase 2 will result in Adams County residents and visitors being more likely to have interactions with non-household members.

“The frequency of person-to-person contacts will simply go up as more businesses are allowed to open, and traffic in our communities increases again,” Brzezny said. “This, in turn, will increase the risk of exposure to persons with COVID-19, since we continue to see this disease in Adams County.”

As of June 1, Adams County had 70 positive cases, of which 53 patients were recovered. Total tested is 566, with 484 negative results and 16 still pending. Of the 63 cases in Othello, 48 patients have recovered. Three cases occurred in the Lind zip code, with all three recovered. Four cases occurred in the Ritzville zip code, two of which are recovered.

Brzezny pointed out if the number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 increases, it could compromise the county’s ability to stay “open” or move forward to the next phase of the re-opening plan.

“It could also endanger the county’s ability to deliver essential governmental, public health and healthcare services to the public,” Brzezny said.

The Adams County Commissioners voted to extend closure of county facilities to June 15 at their May 26 meeting.

Brzezny is directing all individuals at indoor or confined public settings to wear face coverings over their noses and mouths if they are likely to be in contact with another individual who does not share their household, and staying approximately six feet away is not always possible.

“At this time, because it is still important to conserve medical-grade masks or N95 respirators for health care workers, unless a particular health reasons requires it, individuals should use fabric coverings, such as cloth face masks, scarves and bandanna coverings or other material as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control,” Brzezny said.

He also advised cloth masks must be worn properly in order to avoid contaminating the hands or face of the user.

“Before putting on a mask and after removing a mask, an individual should clean their hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water,” Brzezny said. “Masks should be changed and washed when soiled, moist and after use. Worn masks may be contaminated with infectious agents. While in use, avoid touching the mask.”

Individuals who may be excluded from the directive include any child under age two; any child under age 12 unless parents and caregivers supervise the use of face coverings to avoid misuse; any individual with a physical disability that prevents easily wearing or removing a face covering; any individual who is deaf and uses facial and mouth movements as part of communication and those communicating with a deaf individual; any individual advised by a medical professional against wearing a mask; and any individual who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.

Brzezny reminds those wearing face coverings that it does not replace the need to practice physical distancing and adhering to all other requirements of the plan, including staying away from ill people.

Brzezny is directing all commercial establishments in Adams County to post signage advising individuals to wear face coverings on the premises.

At this time, violation of the directive from the health official does not create grounds to detain, issue a citation, arrest, or prosecute individuals who do not comply.

“This directive may and should be used to educate, encourage, and persuade individuals to wear face coverings,” Brzezny said. “I strongly urge all people in Adams County to voluntarily comply with this directive without delay.”