Summertime. That means relaxing on the beach, pool parties, cross-county vacations, pot-luck style barbecues, outdoor concerts and….the coronavirus. While stay at home orders are lifting across the US, summer is finally here and COVID-19 cases are surging in the United States.
Washington Joins an Increasing Number of States Requiring Masks in Public
Washington Governor Jay Inslee, in an effort to combat this troubling increase while allowing the phased re-opening to continue, announced a statewide mandate to wear face coverings in public that will take effect Friday, June 26, 2020. This mandate requires face coverings while in public facilities that are indoors and wearing them outdoors when in public and six feet distance cannot be maintained.
Other states already mandating face masks in public include: Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Kentucky, Illinois, Hawaii, District of Columbia, Delaware and California.
Why is this requirement in place?
According to the Washington State Coronavirus Response (COVID-19) website “Cloth face masks protect other people from getting COVID-19 from us when we talk, cough or sneeze. Between 20-40 percent of people with COVID-19 don't show any symptoms but can still spread the virus to others. Recent research suggests wearing a face covering can significantly reduce the incidence of COVID-19. Until a vaccine or cure is developed, face coverings will be our best defense.”
ABC Legal’s Continued Commitment to SAFE Process of Service
While there is no play-book on how to handle life during a pandemic, ABC Legal has taken every step to establish a safe and reliable process of service during the COVID-19 pandemic. As this pandemic increasingly shows its strength, concessions must be made in order to maintain an open, functioning and safe society. This is why ABC Legal will follow recommendations put out by leading authorities in the CDC on how to best prevent the transmission and spread of COVID-19.
As the leading provider of process service nationwide, we are prioritizing the health and safety of process servers and the public, as well as safeguarding the liability and quality of service our customers depend on.
What is ABC Legal Doing to Protect Employees, Process Servers and the Public?
This is why ABC Legal has developed a unique Pandemic Response Plan in accordance with CDC guidelines followed in all 50 states, not just in those where mandatory mask requirements are in place. Additionally, ABC Legal requires COVID-19 safe-service training for all process servers and has been providing COVID-19 Safety Kits (which include masks as well as other protective gear) upon completion.
In addition, in-office staff at ABC Legal has been reduced to the minimum necessary, with all others working remotely. Visitors are not permitted on-site to ensure the safety of our staff and service recipients, while essential or field workers are required to report any symptoms, positive test results, or known contact with a person who has tested positive to COVID-19 so proper protective measures and state regulated tracing may take place.
An increase in demand for safe service of process is predicted to continue for the foreseeable future. Rising to meet this demand, ABC Legal remains committed to safe service procedures that reduce transmission risk, while prioritizing the safety of our entire staff as well as the communities we serve.
