The State of California is now requiring everyone to wear face masks.

Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide order on Thursday, June 18th, 2020.

All residents will need to don a face covering in most indoor settings and also outdoors when social distancing is not possible.

Until now, the governor was letting local governments decide whether masks would be mandatory.

Riverside County stopped mandating face masks several weeks ago but was still urging people to wear them.

Several cities in the Coachella Valley then issued their own orders for people to wear masks.

The statewide mandate requires residents to wear masks in “high-risk situations,” which cover virtually all scenarios outside the home.

It specifically requires them:

— inside or in line to enter any indoor public space;

— while obtaining health services at locations including a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic or blood bank;

— while waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle;

— in the workplace while interacting with people or in areas where

food is being prepared, in common areas such as hallways and elevators and parking structures; and

— in outdoor public spaces when it is not feasible to maintain six

feet of distance from people outside your own household.

The statewide mandate includes exemptions for children under age 2, people with medical or other disabilities that prevent the wearing of a mask, people eating in a restaurant while socially distanced,  and people working outdoors or engaged in outdoor recreation while alone or with members of their own households.

You have to wear a  face mask when you enter a restaurant, but can take it off to eat and drink, then put the mask back on when you are done.

 

Photo by Alpha Media USA Portland OR

More about: