This memorandum updates facial covering requirements for California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS), and Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) institutions/facilities and supersedes the March 16, 2022, memorandum entitled “Updated: Required COVID-19 Facial Coverings for all Institutional and Facility Staff” and the January 11, 2022 memorandum entitled, “Face Covering Guidance for Residents.”
This updated facial covering guidance applies to all individuals who live in or enter an institution/facility regardless of vaccination/booster status. This includes residents, staff, contractors, volunteers and visitors.
Face covering guidance for staff
N95 respirators, KN95 masks and procedure masks are readily available at each institution/facility and shall be provided to staff and visitors when requested. Individuals must carry a face covering with them at all times in case of entry into an area requiring a facial covering.
Current masking guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Roadmap to Reopening Dashboard can be accessed using the highlighted links. Directives and guidelines will be regularly reviewed and revised as necessary based on response to the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Effective September 23, 2022, individuals entering a CDCR/DJJ institution/facility shall abide by the following facial covering guidance:
| Facility Location/Assignment | One or more housing units of the facility is in OUTBREAK phase AND/OR CDC County Transmissibility is MEDIUM or HIGH | Entire facility is in OPEN phase (no housing units are in Outbreak phase) AND CDC County Transmissibility is LOW |
| Isolation and quarantine areas | N95 respirator** | N95 respirator** |
| Transportation | KN95 mask (N95 respirator ** if transporting patients who are on isolation or quarantine) | KN95 mask (N95 respirator** if transporting patients who are on isolation or quarantine) |
| CTC, OHU, TTA, SNF, dialysis, hospice if not in isolation or quarantine, medical clinics/medical clinic waiting rooms | Procedure mask | Procedure mask |
| Exposed but asymptomatic staff who test negative and continue to work | Procedure mask | Procedure mask |
| Indoors, excluding isolation and quarantine areas, CTC, OHU, TTA, SNF, dialysis, hospice, medical clinics/ medical clinic waiting rooms and transportation | Procedure mask | Facial covering optional but encouraged |
| Outdoors, and administrative areas outside of the secure perimeter | Facial covering optional | Facial covering optional |
** All individuals who ae required to wear an N95 respirator shall be fit tested.
As a reminder, leadership at each institution/facility shall continue to monitor staff for compliance with facial coverings. In the event an employee is out of compliance, supervisors and managers shall utilize the progressive discipline process as outlined in the California Code of Regulations, Title 15, section 3392, Employee Discipline, and the Department Operations Manual (DOM), Article 22, Employee Discipline. Supervisors and managers are also reminded to utilize DOM section 33030.8, Causes for Corrective Action, and section 33030.9, Causes for Adverse Action.
For questions or concerns regarding staff guidelines, please contact your respective supervisor or manager.
Face covering guidance for residents
Effective September 23, 2022, residents of a CDCR/DJJ institution/facility shall abide by the following facial covering guidance:
| Facility Location/Assignment | One or more housing units of the facility is in OUTBREAK phase AND/OR CDC County Transmissibility is MEDIUM or HIGH | Entire facility is in OPEN phase (no housing units are in Outbreak phase) AND CDC County Transmissibility is LOW |
| Isolation and quarantine areas | N95 respirator** | N95 respirator** |
| CTC, OHU, TTA, SNF, dialysis, hospice if not in isolation or quarantine, medical clinics/medical clinic waiting rooms | Procedure mask | Procedure mask |
| Exposed but asymptomatic residents who test negative and continue to work/program | Procedure mask | Procedure mask |
| Indoors, excluding isolation and quarantine areas, CTC, OHU, TTA, SNF, dialysis, hospice, medical clinics/ medical clinic waiting rooms | Procedure mask | Facial covering optional but encouraged |
| Outdoors, and administrative areas outside of the secure | Facial covering optional | Facial covering optional |
| Assigned cell/dorm | Facial covering optional | Facial covering optional |
| Dayroom of assigned housing unit | Facial covering optional but encouraged | Facial covering optional but encouraged |
When staff observe residents failing to adhere to facial covering directives, the resident will be directed to wear their mask as required. Further violations may result in corrective action and progressive discipline.