Those who don’t cover their faces in public will now face fines and fines in Manhattan Beach.
The move, authorized under an emergency order that took effect on Wednesday, comes as California continues to see record levels of coronavirus infection and authorities emphasize that residents must do their part to prevent the virus from spreading.
“The drastic increase in positive COVID-19 cases in our city and throughout Los Angeles County has shown us that additional steps must be taken to make it clear to the public that facial coatings are essential at this time,” he said. Mayor Richard Montgomery in a statement. Thursday. “The time for warnings is over. Face covers should be worn when you are away from home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 “.
Under the order, not wearing a face covering is subject to an administrative citation, with fines of $ 100 for the first violation, $ 200 for the second violation, and $ 350 each for thereafter.
As of Thursday, there had been 217 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Manhattan Beach and four deaths, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
The city order stipulates that “all people must wear a cloth face that covers both the nose and the mouth every time they leave their place of residence”, except for children under 2 years of age, those who have hearing problems or communicate with someone who is, and those with disabilities or medical or mental health conditions that prevent them from wearing masks.
The masks also do not have to be worn when swimming or participating in other water activities.
“If we don’t take this step, Governor Gavin Newsom could expand the closings of the business sector and subsequently close our precious beaches once again,” said Montgomery. “We want to do the right thing and be proactive to avoid additional negative consequences.”
The wearing of masks in public has been required in Los Angeles County since mid-May. On June 18, Newsom ordered all Californians to cover their faces while in public or high-risk places, including when shopping, traveling on public transportation, or seeking medical attention.
Although health officials say wearing face shields is a vital tool in the fight against COVID-19, as they can help prevent infected people from passing the disease on to others, the mandates have proven controversial, and some residents and owners Business are personally opposed or politically motivated.
The app has also remained an open question. Some local governments and county-level law enforcement agencies have said that would not enforce mask the requirements, and instead focus on educating the public to encourage compliance.
However, Manhattan Beach is not alone in taking the opposite direction. Other cities, such as West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills, have also said that mockers covering their faces will be subject to fines and fines.
Captain Edward Ramirez, of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, said Friday that deputies so far “have issued a total of 12 citations to people without masks” in the city.
“That said, each person cited was provided with a mask for use by attached personnel,” he wrote in an email.
Beverly Hills spokesman Keith Sterling said a subpoena has so far been issued there.
“Our law enforcement officers and police have had hundreds of contacts with the public in the past few days and most have complied when informed of our facial coverage rules,” he wrote in an email Friday.
This is not the first time that residents and visitors to Manhattan Beach have faced possible fines if they do not follow coronavirus-related health orders.
Authorities issued 129 citations and closed four construction projects in early April for violations related to social distancing.
A surfer in town was also fined $ 1,000 in March after police and first responders accused him of ignoring warnings not to get in the water.
