Written by Susan Kohn Ross

City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has issued an order stating that all workers who are deemed exempt by virtue of their services must wear face coverings over their noses and mouths. These face coverings are to be just that, not medical grade, but rather scarves, bandanas and similar coverings. Any which are reusable are to be washed frequently, at least once a day. If single use, they must be properly discarded.

Employers are ordered to allow their employees to wash their hands every 30 minutes, and must have access to clean, sanitary restrooms, stocked with appropriate cleaning products, all at the employer’s expense. Social distancing should be employed with all customers and visitors, and those customers and visitors must themselves engage in social distancing and wear face coverings. Employers are given the right to refuse service to anyone who does not comply.

These requirement take effect today, April 10 2020.

To clarify the requirements, the Dept. of Public Health of Los Angeles County issued its own guidance a few days earlier and explained face coverings consist of: “Acceptable, reusable face covering options for the general public include: • Bandana • Neck gaiter • Homemade face covering • Scarf • Tightly woven fabric, such as cotton t-shirts and some types of towels.”

If you are still not sure where to get or how to make a face covering, we again refer you to the short video prepared by the Surgeon General which can be found here. If you prefer, there are a myriad of how-to videos on the Internet you may also consult. Whatever source you choose to use to make your face covering, be safe out there!