What To Know About L.A.'s New Mandatory Face Covering Rules

In a new order from Mayor Eric Garcetti, effective Friday, Los Angeles residents must wear covering over their noses and mouths while shopping in grocery stores and other essential businesses. Workers at these businesses must also cover their faces according to the order.

“All essential, nonmedical workers required to wear these face coverings must frequently (at least once a day) wash any reusable face coverings, for the health and safety of themselves and others,” the order reads. “Single-use face coverings must be properly discarded into trash receptacles.”

But if an essential business refuses to provide face coverings for its workers, Garcetti says those business could face fines.

“Our idea is not to be arresting and fining people for the face coverings. Just as if tomorrow everybody decided to jaywalk across the street, we wouldn’t have close to enough law enforcement officers or city workers to stop everybody from jaywalking,” Garcetti said. “This is about self-enforcement mostly.”

According to the Mayors order, essential workers in Los Angeles include:

— Grocery stores, water retailers, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouse stores, food banks, certified farmers markets and other establishments engaged in the retail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet food and medication supply, fresh or frozen meats, fish and poultry, any other household consumer products

— Organizations and businesses that provide food, social services and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals

— Hardware and building supply stores, day labor centers and nurseries

— Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, custodial/janitorial workers, handyman services, funeral home workers and morticians, moving services, HVAC installers, carpenters, day laborers, landscapers, gardeners, property managers and leasing agents and private security personnel

— Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers

— Restaurants and retail food facilities that prepare and offer food to customers, but only via delivery service, to be picked up or drive-through

— Individuals and businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, beverages or goods directly to residences or businesses

— Taxis, ride-sharing services, car rental companies and other private transportation services

— Hotels, motels and shared rental units

Check out all of COVID-19 orders in Los Angeles HERE.