The updated guidelines from the California Department of Public Health require citizens to don masks in most indoor settings and at any outdoor venues when social distancing is not possible. Anyone riding public transportation or traveling in a ride share vehicle is also required to cover their face, as well as any workers who must interact with the public.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb The new ordinance comes as face coverings are becoming increasingly politicized, despite recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Simply put, we are seeing too many people with faces uncovered—putting at risk the real progress we have made in fighting the disease,” Newsom said in a statement. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. California’s decision appears to be based on the advice of medical experts who have continuously made the argument that another lockdown and second wave of infections can be avoided entirely by wearing face masks and practicing social distancing. “Science shows that face coverings and masks works,” Newsom also said in the statement. “They are critical to keeping those who are around you safe, keeping businesses open, and restarting our economy.” And for more on where you’re legally required to cover up, check out The 10 States With the Strictest Face Mask Laws.
