Orange County Issues Face Covering Mandate For Essential Employees

Press release from the City of Newport Beach:

Employees of essential businesses in Orange County will be required to wear face coverings beginning Friday, April 24. The County Board of Supervisors approved the directive on Tuesday.

As of 12 a.m. Friday, all employees of any grocery store, pharmacy/drug store, convenience store, gas station, restaurant, food preparation establishment, or retail store in Orange County who may have contact with the public must wear a cloth face covering while at work.

County officials said the directive aligns with state guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 by those who are asymptomatic. The order is enforceable.

While customers are not required to wear face coverings, the state and County have strongly encouraged residents to wear face coverings while conducting essential activities in public.

Face coverings can be any cloth material that covers the nose and mouth. Residents should not purchase medical-grade masks, such as N95 and surgical masks, that are needed by healthcare workers.

Click here for the County news release.

This press release was produced by the City of Newport Beach. The views expressed here are the author’s own.