FREMONT — In a sweeping executive order, Fremont is now requiring all employees and customers of many essential businesses to wear masks or face coverings to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19, making it the first Bay Area city to take such a step.

City manager Mark Danaj signed the order Wednesday, which went into effect immediately, and the city announced the order Thursday morning.

The order requires face coverings be worn at all businesses in the city “where members of the public may still be visiting for essential services” during the pandemic, including grocery stores, supermarkets, farmers’ markets, gas stations, restaurants, laundromats and dry cleaners, food banks, and convenience stores.

It also applies to hardware stores, auto and bike repair shops, mortuaries or funeral homes, any business that ships or delivers groceries, food, or other goods directly to residences or businesses, and to any worker who services businesses or residences, such as plumbers, electricians, and exterminators, among others.

The order requires that all workers at any of the essential businesses must wear face coverings over their noses and mouths while performing their jobs, and that those coverings must be provided by the employer.

However, the masks or face coverings are “not required to be medical-grade or N95 respirators,” the city said. Cloth coverings, such as scarves and bandanas, will suffice.

Fremont’s rules also require employers to “permit their employees to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer at least every 30 minutes.”

Customers or visitors to businesses may be “refused admission or service if they fail to wear a face covering,” the city’s announcement said Thursday.

The rules will last “until the local emergency is declared over, or unless otherwise stated,” the city said.

“On a daily basis, the men and women who perform essential functions within our community are at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19,” Fremont Mayor Lily Mei said in a statement.

“In this challenging time, I want to thank you for your patience and anticipated cooperation as we take the appropriate safety measures to mitigate the effects of this public health crisis.”

Sonoma County announced a similar order on Monday, which goes into effect beginning Friday at 12:01 a.m., requiring people to wear face coverings when they enter “any indoor facility besides their residence, any enclosed open space, or while outdoors when the person is unable to maintain a six-foot distance from another person at all times.”

Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in Southern California enacted similar orders earlier this month.

Health officials have warned that face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing, and people should still avoid touching their face or their coverings.

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Kristof: COVID-19 is a cataclysm of hunger, disease and illiteracy Sonoma County’s order says people should “wash their hands before applying their facial covering, shortly after touching their facial coverings and after removing their facial covering,” and that the coverings “should be frequently washed or sanitized.”

Violating Fremont’s executive order is not a crime, but is enforceable by administrative citation of $100 for the first offense, according to Cheryl Golden, a spokeswoman for the city of Fremont. Any violations can be reported to fremontpolice@fremont.gov.

A copy of the Fremont executive order, including the full list of businesses and services it applies to, can be found here and can be seen below.