NOTE: This memo is superseded by the February 16, 2023 memo, Revised COVID‑19 facial covering guidance for staff and residents within institutions and facilities.
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 September 23, 2022, memorandum entitled, “UPDATED COVID-19 FACIAL COVERING GUIDANCE FOR STAFF AND
RESIDENTS AT INSTITUTIONS AND FACILITIES.” 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.
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.
Face covering guidance for staff, visitors, volunteers
| Location | Minimum Required Face Covering |
|---|---|
| All isolation and quarantine areas including buildings/units that are in OUTBREAK PHASE | N95 respirator* |
| Transportation | KN95 mask (N95 respirator** if transporting patients who are on isolation or quarantine) |
| CTC, OHU, TTA, SNF, dialysis, hospice | Procedure mask |
| Medical and dental clinics and waiting rooms | Procedure mask |
| Indoors excluding the following: isolation and quarantine areas, buildings/units that are in OUTBREAK PHASE, CTC, OHU, TTA, SNF, dialysis, hospice, medical clinics/ medical clinic waiting rooms and transportation | Face coverings are optional but encouraged |
| Outdoors and administrative areas | Face coverings are optional |
| Exposed but asymptomatic staff who test negative and continue to work | Procedure mask |
For questions or concerns regarding staff guidelines, please contact your respective supervisor or manager.
Face covering guidance for residents
| Location | Minimum Required Face Covering |
|---|---|
| Residents who are housed in isolation | Procedure mask unless on bed |
| Residents who are housed in quarantine including buildings/units that are in OUTBREAK PHASE | KN95 encouraged; procedure mask at a minimum unless on bed |
| Residents who are housed in CTC or OHU and not in isolation or quarantine | Procedure mask when out of cell/dorm |
| All other resident housing areas | Face coverings are optional |
| Residents who are being transported | Procedure mask |
| TTA, SNF, dialysis, hospice | Procedure mask |
| Medical and dental clinics and waiting rooms | Procedure mask |
| Indoors excluding the following: isolation and quarantine areas, buildings/units that are in OUTBREAK PHASE, CTC, OHU, TTA, SNF, dialysis, hospice, medical clinics/ medical clinic waiting rooms, and transportation | Face coverings are optional |
| Outdoors and administrative areas | Face coverings are optional |
| Exposed but asymptomatic residents who test negative and continue to work | Procedure mask |
When staff observe residents failing to adhere to facial covering directives, the resident will be directed to wear his/her mask as required. Further violations may result in corrective action and progressive discipline.