Palm Springs Monday ordered businesses that remain open during the coronavirus pandemic to require employees and customers to wear a face covering to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The executive order by City Manager David Ready was aimed at reinforcing a similar order issued by Riverside County’s public health officer last week, requiring anyone leaving home to mask their faces.
Face coverings can be bandannas, scarves, neck gaiters or other clothing that does not have visible holes.
Businesses in Palm Springs must also post signs alerting residents of the requirement, and can be fined if they fail to enforce it.
“We are taking this seriously,” police Chief Bryan Reyes said. ” Palm Springs worked hard early on to get ahead of the virus and flatten the curve, but if residents and businesses become complacent, we will find ourselves in a terrible situation that did not need to happen and lives may be lost. Everyone must wear a face covering — and violators may be fined.”
The order leaves the amount of the fines up to individual officers, who were asked to use their discretion “having taken into consideration the severity of the violation,” the order reads. “In addition, continued violations of this order may result in the closure of any business.”
No additional information about enforcement was provided.
The Palm Springs City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday night to ratify the order, and other emergency actions taken by the city manager due to the coronavirus, which has infected 70 people and led to eight deaths in Palm Springs as of Monday.
Other recent orders that must be ratified include the closure of all parking lots in city parks, which was also aimed at reinforcing a similar county order.