Irvine City Manager John Russo, in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, released an Executive Order requiring all retail personnel and retail patrons in the City of Irvine to wear face coverings.
Effective Wednesday, April 8, 2020, the Order states that essential businesses within the City that provide sales of retail goods and/or food and/or banking services, and remain in operation during this time, shall require their employees to wear face coverings such as scarves, bandanas, neck gaiters, or other fabric face coverings.
“This Order is for the overall protection of our community. The health and well-being of our residents, families, and business employees must be our top priority,” stated Mayor Christina L. Shea. “Many of our essential business are unable to exercise physical distancing due to the nature of their work. By wearing face coverings, we are protecting each other from this horrible virus.”
This executive order applies to all essential retail businesses including, but not limited to:
- Grocery stores
- Pharmacies
- Restaurants providing take-out or delivery services
- Home Improvement stores
- Gas Stations
- Convenience stores
- Banks, Savings and Loans, and Credit Unions
It is important to note that face coverings are not a substitute for social distancing and hand washing. The use of cloth face coverings could reduce the transmission of COVID-19 by individuals who do not have symptoms and may reinforce social distancing.
Additionally, on Friday, April 10 the Irvine City Council held a special meeting to ratify the Executive Order. Five amendments were added to the Order.
- “Strong Encouragement” for all people in Irvine to wear masks when outside the home.
- Commercial Services (including without limitation dry cleaners, storage companies, and postal services (i.e., UPS)) must also require employees to wear masks.
- All stores must cause their patrons (in addition to their employees) to observe social distancing and infection control requirements.
- Failure to enforce face covering obligation can ultimately result in store closure.
- Employers must cause patrons to wear masks (this is a mandate, applicable to retail, food sales, banks, and commercial services).
Read the full Executive Order here.
For more information about the use of face coverings or to find a provider, visit cityofirvine.org/covid19.