Coronavirus: Exercising With Face Masks Strongly Encouraged In LA

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Los Angeles County residents are now required to wear face coverings at all essential businesses and in public in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Manhattan Beach city officials announced Wednesday. Health and city officials are strongly encouraging people to keep social distancing, maintaining 6-feet distance from people, and asking people to wear face coverings while exercising in public.

All essential businesses must enforce the face coverings requirement as the county works to help "flatten the curve" amid the coronavirus pandemic. Runners, cyclists, walkers and anyone exercising in public are encouraged to take the important safety precautions amid the coronavirus pandemic and cover their faces outdoors.

"We have a highly active community that prides itself on physical fitness. During these times, everyone should take additional precautions where possible. The entire City Council and I encourage the community to go beyond the County’s orders and wear face coverings while in public, said Mayor Richard Montgomery in an advisory message.

"Additionally, those engaging in vigorous activities, such as biking and running, are strongly encouraged to use face coverings to reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus through increased respiration levels. Finally, essential businesses are reminded that they play an important part in these public health orders, and are required to enforce social distancing and face covering requirements," Montgomery said.

Patch readers have commented with concerns in Neighbor Posts in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach about seeing people exercising in beach communities without face masks or coverings.

"I was just running near the beach with a bandanna mask on while running and there are so many people out without masks. It’s very frustrating," Maddy in Redondo Beach wrote.

The CDC recommends that people use face coverings and continue social distancing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. There is information on how to make your own face covering or mask.

Recent research says that 6-feet distance might not even be enough for runners. And in an interview with NPR, Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech who specializes in airborne disease transmission, Marr suggests 10-feet. Other health experts think it should be 12-feet.

Testing centers for the coronavirus are now available in Los Angeles County, including a drive-up location at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach, but not everyone can get tested yet.

"Testing is open to all residents of Los Angeles experiencing symptoms," Pono Barnes of the Los Angeles County Fire Department told Patch.

Los Angeles County residents are continuing the state's stay-home order. Manhattan Beach announced a local state of emergency in March.

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