Masks Required For Orange County's Essential Workers

Ashley Ludwig
Updated ·5 min read

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Orange County's Board of Supervisors approved a mandate for face coverings for workers in grocery stores and food preparation businesses, one week after passing a resolution recommending them. The mandate, proposed by Supervisor Andrew Do, was supported by Supervisors Lisa Bartlett and Doug Chaffee. Board Chairwoman Michelle Steel and Supervisor Don Wagner dissented.

Effective at 12:00 a.m. on Friday, April 24, all employees who may have contact with the public in any grocery store, pharmacy/drug store, convenience store, gas station, restaurant, food preparation establishment, and retail store shall wear a cloth face covering as described in the California Department of Public Health Face Covering Guidance.

"This is a step in the right direction," Do said.

The approved motion calls for face coverings for all Orange County employees who interact with the public in grocery, pharmacy, convenience stores, as well as gas stations, restaurants, and food preparation.

Face coverings are not the N95 masks needed by hospital workers and medical professionals. It was not clear whether business owners would need toprovide masks to workers, or if workers would need to make their own.

While different cities across the county had differing ideas, it was time for them to make a unilateral decision for the county.

"This is limited to employees who have to violate social distancing as part of their work, like a cashier," Do said. "This should be in place to first protect the employees, but also to further our policy of trying to prevent... the risk to transmit (coronavirus) to others."

Two weeks ago, Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do moved to make face coverings mandatory for the food industry workers, but the motion died for lack of a second.

Last week, the supervisors passed a resolution amplifying a recommendation from Orange County's chief health officer, Dr. Nichole Quick, "strongly encouraging" face coverings for workers at essential businesses that remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supervisor Doug Chaffee's resolution called on workers in drug and grocery stores to wear face coverings and wash their hands every 30 minutes or whenever necessary.

Wagner complained he was being "whipsawed" because the board also approved a resolution allowing for golfers to recreate on public and private courses, but with a number of restrictions, such as keeping the restaurants, pro shops, driving ranges and restrooms closed.

"What are we doing? What is our message to the public?" Wagner said. "Are we being consistent here and are we giving respect to our citizens to allow them to lead their lives and do their business? The health department has not said we should do all these masks all the time and be this heavy-handed."

Do said face coverings should be required by law "to stay consistent with our recommendation of social distancing."

He argued that the employees covered in the law "have no choice but to violate social distancing. They have to. There's no way to do a transaction six feet away."

Do said the employees "come into contact with hundreds" of customers during a shift.

"We're seeing it done practically everywhere with the barriers," Do said. "This is not overly burdensome. It is a minimum that we should have."

Tustin city officials have mandated face coverings for retail workers, and the City Council is poised to consider ratifying the order at Tuesday night's meeting.

Two weeks ago, Do moved to make face coverings mandatory for the food industry workers, but the motion died for lack of a second.

Last week, the supervisors passed a resolution amplifying a recommendation from Orange County's chief health officer, Dr. Nichole Quick "strongly encouraging" face coverings for workers at essential businesses that remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supervisor Doug Chaffee's resolution last week called on workers in drug and grocery stores to wear face coverings and wash their hands every 30 minutes or whenever necessary.

Westminster Interim City Manager Sherry Johnson, on Monday, issued an order mandating face coverings at essential businesses with four or more employees who come in contact with the public.

Laguna Beach passed a similar mandate for essential workers to wear masks on April 16. Face coverings, such as scarves (dense fabric, without holes), bandannas, neck gaiter, or other fabric face coverings are allowed.

"All persons, including Essential Workers, are discouraged from using medical grade personal protective equipment, such as N95 masks, for non-medical reasons," the city stated. "Essential businesses must also continue to implement physical distancing measures for employees, customers, and maintain proper sanitation at all times or the facility shall be closed." Residents are also strongly encouraged to wear face coverings when in close proximity to others.

Costa Mesa officials have issued an order requiring face coverings for essential businesses, and the City Council will consider ratifying it Tuesday night.

Irvine has mandated that retail store workers wear face coverings and compel their customers to do so, as well.

Store managers in Irvine are required to maintain 6 feet of distance between patrons and workers. The ordinance remains in effect until May 8, but the City Council may consider extending it depending on the circumstances then, Irvine Mayor Christina Shea said.

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This article originally appeared on the Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch