KEY POINTS

  • The state of Los Angeles is requiring all residents to wear face coverings
  • The new ruling comes after Governor Gavin Newsom issued a state-wide stay at home order to prevent the spread of COVID-19
  • Essential business employees are also required to wear face coverings to mitigate person-to-person spread of the virus

After California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statewide stay at home order to curb the spread of COVID-19, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti followed suit with a mandatory face covering order to all residents.

Garcetti said Tuesday that all Los Angeles residents are required to wear face coverings whenever they leave their homes to buy supplies, medicines and the like.

The “responsibility” will also be shared by essential businesses who were allowed to serve the public amidst quarantine and lockdown orders, said NBC News.

A New Yorker wears a face mask on the street
A New Yorker wears a face mask on the street AFP / Angela Weiss

“We are requiring customers to wear face coverings to enter those businesses,” said the Chief Executive.

The facial covering rule will take effect Friday.

Essential businesses “can refuse” to give service to residents who are not covering their faces by Friday morning, said NBC News, citing Garcetti's statement.

Garcetti added that essential business employees are also tasked to do the same to prevent “person-to-person spread” of COVID-19.

Riverside County was one of the first to observe the new mandate and can fine violators up to $1,000 in fine if they are caught without face coverings.

“It's about saving lives so that we can stop or slow the spread of the disease,” county spokesperson Brooke Frederico told CBS Los Angeles.

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