City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, acting as the Director of Emergency Services, has issued an emergency regulation making facial coverings mandatory in Costa Mesa as a means to curtail the continuing spread of COVID-19.

The declaration becomes effective midnight tonight April 13.

“We are taking this precaution as the virus continues to spread rapidly in the region and presents an immediate and significant risk to public health and safety,” Farrell Harrison said. “Our previous actions to close non-essential businesses, close parks and stay-at-home are all helping to flatten the curve.  Requiring the use of facial coverings provides one more tool to help reduce coronavirus infections and save more lives.”

Under the emergency declaration, Costa Mesa residents and visitors are mandated to wear facial coverings when entering the geographic boundaries of the City or leaving their homes for essential business.  It also requires essential businesses to require that employees wear facial coverings.

The face mask or covering must be of sufficient size to cover the nose and mouth of the individual to assure the inhale or exhale of air through the mask or covering.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the use of simple cloth face coverings can slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.  The coverings should not be surgical masks or N-95 respirators in order to preserve the limited supply of personal protective equipment for health care workers and first responders on the front lines of this crisis.

Click here for more information from the CDC on the proper use of facial coverings.