On Thursday, June 18, 2020, Governor Newsom and California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an Order requiring all Californians to wear masks or other face coverings when in high-risk situations, including:
- Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor public space
- Obtaining services from the healthcare sector (in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank)
- Waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi or a private car service or ride-sharing vehicle
- Engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site, when:
- Interacting in person with any member of the public
- Working in any space visited by members of the public, regardless of whether anyone from the public is present at the time
- Working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others
- Working in or walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators and parking facilities
- In any room or enclosed area where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present when unable to physically distance
- Driving or operating any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi, or private car service or ride-sharing vehicle when passengers are present
- When no passengers are present, face coverings are strongly recommended
- While outdoors in public spaces when maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible
The new state guidance exempts:
- Those under 2 years of age
- Persons with medical conditions or disabilities
- Situations in which wearing a face covering “would create a risk to the person related to their work”
- Diners at a restaurant
- Individuals engaged in outdoor recreation, as long as physical distance is maintained
- Individuals receiving a service involving the nose or face
- Persons who are incarcerated
This guidance does not supersede any additional rules or regulations imposed by local counties or municipalities. A full list of county-by-county guidance is available here.