Torrington, Wyo. December 6, 2020 —
The mask mandate for Goshen County has been extended through January 8th, 2021.
The Order reads:
It is hereby ordered that persons within Goshen County, Wyoming, shall wear Face Coverings as described below:
1. “Face Covering as used in this Order, means a covering made of cloth, fabric, or other soft or permeable material, without holes, that covers the nose and mouth and surrounding areas of the lower face.
2. “Business” means any business entity (retail or commercial) that employs or engages workers or volunteers.
3. Except as specifically exempted below, all members of the public must wear a Face Covering outside of their home or other place of residence in the following situations:
a. When any person is inside, or in line to enter, any business, or any government facility open to the public, including county and municipal buildings but excluding state and federal buildings; or
b. When any person is obtaining services at, or visiting healthcare operations, including, but not limited to, hospitals, clinics, and walk-in facilities, dentists, pharmacies, blood banks, other healthcare facilities, behavioral health providers, and facilities providing veterinary and similar healthcare services for animals; or
c. When any person is waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit, or while they are riding in a taxi, private car service, shuttle, tour, or ride-sharing vehicle. The driver shall also wear a Face Covering when passengers are in the vehicle.
4. All businesses must post notices stating that Face Coverings are required in a clearly visible location at or near the entrance of the business.
5. All government facilities open to the public, including county and municipal buildings, but excluding state and federal buildings, must post notices stating that Face Coverings are required in a clearly visible location at or near the entrance of the building.
6. All employees, owners, and volunteers of businesses and employees and volunteers of government facilities open to the public, including county and municipal buildings but excluding state and federal buildings, shall wear Face Coverings at their business or government facility when they are within 6 feet of customers, clients, other staff/workers, or volunteers. They must also wear a Face Covering when working or volunteering in a space that could be visited by members of the public, such as by way of example, but not limited to: reception areas, hallways, grocery store aisles, service counters, public restrooms, cashier and checkout areas, waiting rooms, service areas, and other spaces that could be used by members of the public.
7. For clarity, state buildings are governed by the State Building Commission’s policy titled “Face Covering Policy for State Buildings in Wyoming” which requires all individuals to wear a Face Covering when entering a state building and in any shared or public space within the state building. The policy also requires the occupant agency to post notices stating that Face Coverings are required in a clearly visible location at or near all entrances and public lobbies of the state building that they occupy.
8. A Face Covering is not required under the following circumstances:
a. When a person is in a personal office (a single room) where others outside of that person’s household are not present as long as the public does not regularly visit the room, but that individual must put on a Face Covering when they are within 6 feet of a client, customer, volunteer, worker, or other member of the public.
b. Children who are under 12 years of age. Children 3 to 11 years of age are encouraged to wear Face Coverings.
c. When a person is seated at a table of a restaurant or other food service venue, the person is separated by at least 6 feet from other patrons at other tables, and no more than 8 people in total are seated at the table. If more than 8 individuals are seated at the table, but all individuals are members of the same household, this exception applies. This exception also applies if a person is seated at a booth. However, individuals shall wear a Face Covering while entering, exiting, or otherwise moving about the establishment
d. When a person is inside or obtaining services at a location engaged primarily in providing congregate care, residential health care, or shelter care, and the individual is engaged in activities not conducive to wearing a Face Covering, such as eating or drinking, or the individual is in an area of that facility that is not designed for community gathering, such as sleeping areas.
e. If a person has a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents him or her from wearing a Face Covering. This includes, by way of example, but is not limited to, persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a Face Covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a Face Covering without assistance. A person is not required to provide any documentation demonstrating that the person cannot wear a Face Covering for any medical condition, mental health condition, or disability.
f. Individuals who are hearing impaired, or communicating with an individual who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
g. Individuals for whom wearing a Face Covering would create a risk to the individual related to their work, as determined by local, state or federal workplace safety guidelines.
h. Individuals who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the Face Covering is necessary to perform the service.
i. Individuals who are purchasing a product or receiving a service that requires identification may briefly remove a Face Covering as necessary, so that the retailer or service provider can verify identity.
j. When actively exercising in a gym in accordance with Statewide Public Health Orders, as amended.
k. When law enforcement asks an individual to remove a Face Covering for identification purposes.
