Face Masks, What Are The Rules You Need To Know

The current rules in regards to face coverings, as stated by San Diego County, are as follows. You must wear a face covering anywhere that you will be within six feet of other people. You do not have to wear face coverings with members in your household, children under 2 are also not required to wear face coverings. If you are swimming, running, walking, or biking with members of your family or alone, you don’t have to wear a face covering, but you should bring one with you in case you come within six feet of others.’

In regards to businesses, San Diego County instructs that businesses should, “Require their employees, contractors, owners, and volunteers to wear a face covering at the workplace and when performing work off-site.” They also encourage businesses to inform their customers that they should wear face coverings by posting signs and advising it within the store.

If you choose not to wear a face covering, you can be cited or not allowed into businesses and other establishments.

Face Coverings

Protect yourself and others

As of May 1, the County is requiring you to wear face coverings in many public settings. The coverings help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and are part of our path to reopening San Diego.

Face coverings can be made of cloth. Homemade coverings, bandanas, scarves and neck gaiters are all OK. Medical grade masks should be saved for healthcare workers.

When to wear

In general, you must wear face coverings anywhere you come within six feet of others. That includes:

• Waiting in line to go inside a store.

• Shopping in a store.

• Picking up food at a restaurant.

• Waiting for or riding on public transportation.

• Riding in a taxi or other ride service vehicle.

• Seeking health care.

• Going into facilities allowed to stay open.

• Working an essential job that interacts with the public.

When they’re not required

Face coverings are not required:

• At home.

• In the car alone or with members of your household.

• For children under 2 years old, because of the risk of suffocation.

• Swimming, walking, hiking, bicycling or running by yourself or with household members. You should have a face covering ready and wear it if you come within six feet of other people.

• For residents with a health condition that prevents wearing a mask.

Businesses

Businesses must:

Require their employees, contractors, owners, and volunteers to wear a face covering at the workplace and when performing work off-site.

Inform customers about the need to wear a face covering, including posting signs and advising those in line or in the store.

Enforcement

Everyone should help protect others by following health orders. We can’t expect law enforcement to make sure every person is wearing a face covering. But if you don’t wear one, you can be cited or not allowed into businesses, on transit or in other areas.

Why we’re doing this

Many people who test positive for COVID-19 have no symptoms and could be spreading the virus to others without knowing it. A face covering blocks droplets when a person coughs, sneezes, sings or breaths.

Countries that advised or require their citizens to wear face coverings in public have been shown to be more successful in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When compliance is high, spreading of the virus slows.