WEARING FACE MASKS in public are now recommended by Orange County health officials as another way to stem the growth of the coronavirus (Shutterstock).

You may soon be that masked man or woman.

Orange County Health Officer Dr. Nicole Quick on Thursday recommended that people should start wearing a mask – or something else that covers their mouth and nose – when going out in public.

This advisory brings Orange County into line with Riverside, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, who earlier recommended the face covering to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The recommendation states that residents shouldn’t buy medical-grade masks, which should be reserved for doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.

Adding a mask to your protections doesn’t change other guidelines including frequent hand-washing, maintaining social distancing and staying at home whenever possible. Also, masks should be washed regularly and hands should be washed after touching the masks.

Most health experts had been saying that the masks weren’t necessary, but new evidence has come forward suggesting that the virus might be spread from talking or breathing.

People should wear the masks “if they feel comfortable wearing them in public,” she said at a press conference.

GGUSD schools to stay closed

The Garden Grove Unified School District will keep its campuses closed through June 12, conforming with directions from Gov. Gavin Newsom and county Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond that in-person instruction continue shuttered through the end of the academic year.

GGUSD will continue to offer “distance learning” for students through computers and the internet.

Thursday’s action has the district joining the Huntington Beach Union High School District in keeping campuses closed.

The GGUSD serves most of Garden Grove along with parts of Anaheim, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster.

Westminster offices will close Fridays

Westminster’s City Hall and Community Services building will be closed on Fridays, effective next week.

The decision was made Thursday by Interim City Manager Sherry Johnson to bolster social distancing. Those offices had been open on alternate Fridays, but instead hours will be extended Monday through Thursday to 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Free masks available on Saturday

UPDATE: We have received this from Mr. Bui. Pre-register as listed below. On Saturday, you are requested to write your name, address, e-mail/phone number on a piece of paper and hand it to the volunteer.

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NOTE: The initial information we received on this event made no mention of pre-registration. However, we now have received some input referring to that. You can contact Mr. Bui at PhatBuiOfficial@gmail.com/Text message: (714) 713-4079.

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A give-away event featuring washable and reusable face masks and cases of Ramen noodles will be held on Saturday in Garden Grove Park.

This drive-through only event will start at 10 a.m. until the items being donated are exhausted.  Garden Grove Councilmember Phat Bui is organizing this program. He is also chairman of the Vietnamese American Federation of Southern California.

Twenty thousand masks will be given out, along with 10,000 cases of the noodles.  Ten thousand bottles of wine will be sold for $1 per bottle, and a total of $10,000 will be donated to the VAFSC.

The park is located at 9301 Westminster Ave., next to Bolsa Grande High School.