SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Today, the City of Santa Monica issued the eleventh supplemental order to its local emergency in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), requiring all individuals who work or provide services at “covered” businesses to wear face coverings while performing their work. The order requires employers to either provide or cover the cost of face coverings for employees as well as access to hand washing at least every 30 minutes. Under the order, customers of businesses are also required to wear face coverings to provide additional protection for workers and other visitors to businesses.

“We have to take every mitigation measure we can right now to flatten the curve and protect our residents, businesses, and workforce,” said City Manager and Director of Emergency Services Rick Cole. “While a majority of us stay home, many people are providing essential services and we need to protect them. We all have immense gratitude for everyone who is working during this crisis.”

Face coverings or a scarf (dense fabric, without holes), bandana, neck gaiter, or other mask or covering made of cloth or other fabric that covers a person’s nose and mouth. Single-use face coverings must be properly discarded into trash receptacles. Medical grade face masks are not part of this definition and should be limited to use by healthcare and essential service workers.

The order defines essential business under the term “covered business,” which include:

Grocery stores, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, warehouse stores, and other establishments engaged in the retail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, pet supply, water, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other household consumer products (such as cleaning or personal care products), including stores that sell groceries and sell other non-grocery products, and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences; Organizations and businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals (including gang prevention and intervention, domestic violence, and homeless service agencies); Hardware stores, nurseries; building supply stores; Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, custodial/janitorial workers, handyman services, funeral home workers and morticians, moving services, HVAC installers, carpenters, vegetation services, tree maintenance, landscapers, gardeners, property managers, private security personnel and other service providers who provide services to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation to properties and other Essential Businesses, as that term is defined in County of Los Angeles’s Safer at Home Order; Laundromats, dry cleaners, laundry service providers; Restaurants and other food facilities that prepare and serve food; Businesses that ship, truck, provide logistical support or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences, Essential Businesses, Healthcare Operations, and Essential Infrastructure, as those terms are defined in County of Los Angeles’s Safer at Home Order; Airlines, taxis, ride sharing services and other private transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for activities of daily living and other purposes expressly authorized by the County of Los Angeles’s Safer at Home Order; and Hotels, motels, shared rental units and similar facilities.

All residents of the City are encouraged but not required to wear face coverings whenever they go outside their homes to obtain essential services and goods, as defined by the Governor’s Stay at Home Order and the County Department of Public Health’s Safer at Home Order.

The City of Santa Monica’s covered business orders are enforceable by the Santa Monica Police Department and any City Officer or employee granted authority to issue written notices.

The Order is effective on April 10, 2020, and will remain in effect through April 30, 2020.

Eleventh Supplemental Order >

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