Laguna Beach revises mask requirement to include customers as well as employees of essential businesses

Laguna Beach has revised its emergency order requiring face coverings to include customers as well as employees of essential businesses.

The revision, announced Wednesday night, is intended to provide additional protection for workers and the public as efforts continue toward inhibiting the spread of the coronavirus that causes the respiratory disease COVID-19.

The original order was issued April 9 and put into effect the following day.

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Laguna Beach issues order requiring essential workers to wear face coverings

Starting Friday, the order requires all essential workers providing non-medical services to wear a face covering while at work.

April 10, 2020

Essential businesses include grocery stores, pharmacies, home improvement stores, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants that provide takeout or delivery services, banks and credit unions.

“The city of Laguna Beach is taking every measure we can to protect our residents, essential workers and businesses from the spread of COVID-19,” City Manager John Pietig said in a statement. “We appreciate the public’s efforts to help us flatten the curve together.”

Violations of the order are subject to civil enforcement actions and penalties of up to $500 per violation per day.

The requirement will be in effect until the governor’s stay-at-home order expires.

Laguna Beach’s order followed a recommendation from Orange County that all those involved in essential activities wear a face covering in alignment with guidelines by the California Department of Public Health.

Costa Mesa this week also ordered residents and visitors to wear face coverings in town when in public for essential purposes and that essential businesses require employees to cover their faces.

Face coverings are defined as “material that covers the nose and mouth ... secured to the head with ties or straps, or simply wrapped around the lower face.”

The coverings may be factory-made, folded or sewn and can be improvised using items such as scarfs, T-shirts, sweatshirts or towels.

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