Sheriff addresses Plumas residents about the importance of mask wearing
Plumas County Sheriff Todd Johns addressed the new state mandate to wear masks in public during a video posted on Facebook yesterday, Nov. 18. His announcement can be viewed on the Plumas County Sheriff’s Facebook page and it is also printed here for our readers’ convenience. Details of the new state guidelines are available on the Public Health Agency’s page https://www.plumascounty.us/2669/Novel-Coronavirus-2019-COVID-19
Following is the text of Sheriff Johns’ remarks:
Good evening. I come to you today, not only as the Plumas County Sheriff, but also as a son, husband, father, friend, and 53-year resident of Plumas County. It has always been my experience that in this county when we are faced with catastrophe, difficult circumstances or unknowns, that we as citizens come together as a family.
Today I want to discuss COVID-19. Regardless of politics. Regardless of our feelings towards government officials. Regardless of whether you believe or don’t believe that masking works. Regardless if the testing for COVID 19 is accurate or inaccurate. Regardless if the statistics related to COVID deaths is true or false. Our way of life is being challenged right now by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is time to put our differences aside. Today, I am simply asking you to look into your hearts and to come together as a county. To start, understand that although we have different opinions regarding this pandemic; please recognize that individually we can have a positive impact in each other’s lives. What I am asking you to do is please take the simple precautions to protect yourselves, your family, your friends, your employees, and anyone else who visits our communities by taking a few simple steps.
- Wear a mask when outside of your residence around others not in your family when you cannot social distance.
- Wash your hands with soap regularly.
- Limit gathering with people from outside of your home. If you do choose to gather, please consider making every effort to do so outside of the residence or in as safe a manner as possible.
There are exceptions to the masking rule like age and pre-existing health conditions. If you have questions about masking guidelines please visit the Counties COVID-19 web page or the new guidance put out by the California Health Department at www.CDPH.ca.gov under “Guidance for the use of face coverings.”
Additionally, I am asking employers to please talk with your employees. Ask them to routinely monitor their health prior to coming to work. This should include checking for a slight temperature and acknowledging that a cough, body aches, runny nose and chills may not be a simple cold or allergies.
I would also ask that business owners, managers and employees have kind, courteous conversations with your patrons that are not wearing masks. Ensure they understand the significance of protecting our community, which will greatly help keep our businesses open.
If you have the symptoms of COVID-19, consider isolating yourself as much as possible until you can contact your local healthcare provider for directions on how to get tested for the virus. Please self-quarantine and have others outside of your household assist you with your shopping or other daily needs.
In closing, I would like to thank you for taking the time to listen to this message. I encourage and ask that you share this message with your family and friends to the best of your ability. Please, help me and my officers keep our communities safe and our businesses open.
Thank You Sheriff Todd Johns
