A CALIFORNIA sheriff warned that people could be fined $1,000 and even jailed for not covering their faces in public.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announced the tougher measures after the department lost two deputies to Covid-19.

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4 Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said that everyone must cover their faces when they are outside their homes Credit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.

4 Two deputies from the department have died after contracting Covid-19 Credit: Alamy Live News

The mandate went into effect on Sunday after Riverside University Health System indicated 946 confirmed coronavirus cases in the county.

"This is a valid order and enforceable by fine, imprisonment or both," Bianco said on Monday in a video statement.

He added: "Not everybody's getting the message.

"It started with staying at home, social distance and covering your face. But now we change from saying that you should to saying that you must.

"Right now, you could be a carrier of this virus, spreading it to your family and friends."

Despite these toughened rules, Bianco said that no vehicular checkpoints or driver stoppages are planned to enforce the new facemask rule.

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The sheriff said: "We will not be stopping you while you're on a walk with you kids or while you're out running or hiking."

In the county, 25 people have died from Covid-19.

On Sunday, Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county's public health officer, banned all gatherings of "any number of people" other than relatives living together in the same home.

He also ordered "everyone" to wear facial protection whilst outside of the home.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that facemasks were "the new look" as he urged people to cover their faces.

Not everybody's getting the message. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco

Last week, he tweeted that “early data suggests many who are infected are not symptomatic, which is why we are recommending you use cloth face coverings plus physical distancing for essential activities."

“Do not use surgical and N95 masks, which are reserved for first responders and medical workers.”

Garcetti added: “To be clear, you should still stay at home. This isn’t an excuse to suddenly all go out.”

"This will be the look," he said at a press conference while wearing a black mask.

"I know this looks surreal. We're going to have to get used to seeing each other like this."

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The coronavirus death toll in the US stands at 12,291.

The amount of confirmed cases is currently 387,547 in the country.

However, at least 20,395 have recovered from the deadly virus.

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