Pasadena Issues Order Requiring Face Coverings

City of Pasadena Public Health Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh has issued a revised order for control of COVID-19 [see here] requiring face coverings for essential workers, along with customers patronizing essential businesses. The new order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until further notice.

“This order by no means replaces the need for physical distancing and everyday hygiene precautions, such as frequent hand washing,” said Dr. Goh. “When you do need to venture out for groceries or other essentials, wearing a face covering can help reduce community spread of COVID-19, especially by those who are asymptomatic and don’t even know they have the virus.”

All workers who work at essential businesses or perform essential services, as defined in the order [see here] , must wear face coverings over their noses and mouths while performing their work. These face coverings must be provided by the employer at the employer’s expense. Essential businesses have until 11:59 p.m. on April 15 to implement this new requirement and provide evidence [ see here ] of implementation to the Pasadena Public Health Department.

Additionally, all customers and visitors of essential businesses must wear face coverings over their noses and mouths. The face coverings should not be medical-grade masks or N95 respirators reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders. Instead, the general public should wear fabric coverings, such as scarves and bandana coverings, or single-use face coverings.

At this time, the face coverings required by this order for workers are not medical-grade masks or N95 respirators, but rather fabric coverings, such as scarves and bandanas. All workers required to wear face coverings must wash any reusable face coverings daily for the health and safety of themselves and others. Single-use face coverings must be properly discarded into trash receptacles.

As per the order, an essential business owner may deny service to anyone not wearing a face covering.

All employers must continue to implement social distancing measures for employees, customers, and visitors that provide a six-foot buffer, to the extent possible, between individuals.

Violation or failure to comply with this order is a crime punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both. (California Health and Safety Code 120295.)