July 2, 2020 9:25 am
SANTA MONICA, California – Acting City Manager and Director of Emergency Services Lane Dilg has issued a twentieth supplement to the local Santa Monica declaration of emergency to strengthen and clarify the requirements for wearing face covers and to establish penalties for those who do not use them when necessary. Facial coatings are critical in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“As public health experts have widely shared this week, we are in a dangerous period with dramatic increases in cases and hospitalizations,” said Lane, the city’s acting administrator. Dilg. “Facial coatings are essential. I encourage everyone to try different styles to find what works for you. But it is a critical time to save lives using face covers whenever we are out of our homes and do not meet with people outside of our homes. “
According to the Twentieth Supplement, companies can reject the service to anyone who does not cover his face or does not comply with social distancing. Businesses should also take all reasonable steps to ensure that people in line or entering their business wear face coats and meet physical distance requirements. The supplement authorizes administrative appointments for not wearing face covers, for individuals, such as $ 100 for the first violation, $ 250 for the second violation, and $ 500 for the third violation. For companies, administrative appointments are $ 500 for a first violation, $ 750 for a second violation, and $ 1,000 for a third violation.
The supplement clarifies that the facial coverage requirement applies:
- When people are or may be in contact or walk near others who are not members of the household in public and private spaces, including, but not limited to, walking through common areas such as hallways, stairs, elevators, and parking lots, which means that face must be covered and ready to be put on immediately when a moving person approaches within 30 feet of a member who is not a member of the household;
- By sponsoring a business, even while queuing to enter any business;
- When obtaining health care operations services, unless otherwise directed by the health care provider;
- By obtaining services from and within or at any location or facility that performs essential government functions;
- When you are waiting or traveling on public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service, or carpooling;
- When you drive or operate any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi or private car service or car sharing when passengers are present;
- When you participate in a protest in person; and
- When you are engaged in work, whether in a business or off-site (other than in your own residence) and (me) interacting in person with any member of the public; (ii) work in any space visited by members of the public, regardless of whether someone from the public is present at the time; (iii) work in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to third parties; (iv) work or walk in common areas, such as hallways, stairs, elevators, and parking lots; or (v) in any room or closed area where people who are not members of the household are present and cannot maintain a minimum separation of six feet from each other.
Exemptions from the facial coverage requirement apply to the following:
- People under two years old;
- People with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents the use of a face covering;
- Hearing impaired or communicating with a hearing impaired person, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication;
- People for whom wearing a face mask would create a job-related hazard for the person, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines;
- Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the facial covering is necessary to perform the service;
- People who are (me) outdoors alone or with household members; (ii) stationary; and (iii) keep at least six feet between the edge of the area they are in and the edge of the next closest person’s area;
- People who actively participate in a water-based activity, including but not limited to swimming and surfing.
- People who comply with the County Health Department Protocol for restaurants that open for on-site meals under which customers who are seated at a restaurant or other establishment that offers food or beverage service are not required to wear covers facials while eating or drinking;
- People who wear personal protective equipment (“PPE”), such as a medical-grade N95 respirator or similar mask that is more protective than a face covering;
- People who comply with any other reopening protocol issued by the County Health Department that authorizes people to remove covers from their faces.
- The Santa Monica order is in effect until July 31, 2020.
To keep the community informed about the importance of facial coatings, residents and businesses can collect free grass posters and retail signs to help inform friends, neighbors and customers. Free signs are available to pick up at the Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market Information Booth (Saturdays and Wednesdays, 8 am to 1 pm) or at the Main Street Visitor Information Center located at 2427 Main Street (Wednesdays to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm).
Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday announced the closure of indoor dining and entertainment, including museums, aquariums, wine-tasting rooms, and more throughout Los Angeles County and other counties heavily affected by COVID-19. For the latest information on this, visit covid19.ca.gov.
For the latest information, visit santamonica.gov/coronavirus, or call the city’s coronavirus hotline at (310) 458-8400.
20th order of supplement>
Facial coverage signage>
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