SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego County officials will detail when and where locals will be required to wear facial coverings starting Friday amid COVID-19.
The order, expected to be released this week, says residents will be required to wear a face covering in public settings, such as:
- Waiting in line to go inside a store;
- Shopping in a store;
- Picking up food at a restaurant;
- Waiting for or riding on public transportation;
- Riding in a taxi or rideshare vehicle;
- Seeking healthcare;
- Going into facilities allowed to stay open; and
- Working an essential job that interacts with the public
Instances facial coverings will not be required include:
- When residents are at home;
- When residents are in the car alone or with members of the same household;
- For children under the age of 2 years old due to the risk of suffocation;
- During individual physical activity such as swimming, walking, hiking, bicycling or running. However, people must comply with social distancing during these activities, including maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from other people. Therefore, people must have a face covering readily accessible to put on in populated areas to avoid droplet spread in a six feet radius when participating in any type of active recreation except with members of the same household; and
- For residents with a health condition whose medical doctor has advised against wearing a face covering and can provide documentation
The county adds that businesses must require their workers to wear face coverings at the workplace and when performing work off-site, inform customers about the mandate and post signage, and refuse service to anyone not wearing a face covering.
While it would be difficult for law enforcement to make sure individuals are adhering to the mandate, anyone who chooses not to wear a face covering and is caught violating the order can be cited and denied access to businesses, transit, and recreational areas, the order says.
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In addition to Friday’s facial covering requirement, residents are also required to continue staying home whenever possible, physically distancing from other people, and using other health measures like frequent hand washing, sanitizing, and staying home when sick.
