Face coverings will be mandated in public places throughout Santa Barbara County beginning Tuesday with exceptions for children under 13, in an effort to continue slowing the spread of COVID-19 as the county moves farther into Stage 2 of reopening businesses, officials announced Friday.
The mandate begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday and will remain in place until at least June 30, unless lifted earlier by Public Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg, according to the Public Health Department.
"The intent of this health officer order to require the use of face coverings, as Santa Barbara County moves further into Stage 2, is to slow the spread of COVID-19," said Public Health Director Van Do-Reynoso.
Failure to comply with the order may constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment, or both, the order states.
Since Wednesday’s move to reopen the county, nearly 600 businesses have begun the process by completing self-certification forms, according to 2nd District Supervisor Gregg Hart.
Face covering requirements
Face coverings will be required at all businesses including grocery stores, pharmacies, laundromats, restaurants, and government agencies, for individuals inside the building, waiting in line, and those conducting business via drive-thru.
They will also be required for those receiving healthcare services at hospitals, clinics, dentist and veterinary offices, as well as in any form of public, rented or ride-share transportation.
Businesses are instructed to require all employees, contractors, owners and volunteers to wear face masks while in the workplace and at off-site work locations.
Exceptions are made for employees who work in a private office, work in an office not accessible by the public, have no contact with packaging or distributing food, work in an office with a stable group of 12 or less people, and can maintain six feet of distance between others.
Face coverings are recommended but not required while engaging in outdoor exercise such as walking, hiking, bicycling or running.
The order does not apply to children under 13, and coverings will not be required for those advised by a medical professional not to wear one for health reasons.
Cities within Santa Barbara County will be required to offer masks free of charge to members of the public, and those not in possession of or unable to purchase a face covering may call 211 to be connected with a community group offering supplies.
COVID-19 cases
Along with announcing the face covering directive, public health officials Friday confirmed 11 additional COVID-19 cases among county residents and one additional inmate case at the federal penitentiary in Lompoc.
The county also confirmed an additional COVID-19 related death, a Santa Maria resident in their 70s who had underlying health conditions.
The death is the tenth among county residents and the third death in Santa Maria.
The total number of cases among county residents is now 580, of which 98 remain active.
Santa Maria has the highest number of cases among county regions, with 254 cases confirmed thus far and 63 still active.
The total number of cases among inmates at the Lompoc federal penitentiary is 971, with 90 cases still active. Two inmates have died.
One previously reported case that was incorrectly counted has also been removed, public health officials said.
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Lompoc Valley Medical Center employees watch and wave as private airplanes fly over the hospital in a show of support for front-line workers.
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A private airplane flies over the Lompoc Valley Medical Center in a show of support for front-line workers.
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Winemakers Kyle Arrowood and Layne Johnson check a wine in the production area at Montemar Winery in Lompoc on Monday.
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Anastacio del Rio assembles burgers inside The Shift food truck on Monday in the Santa Maria Valley YMCA parking lot.
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Family members who drove from Visalia on Monday to participate in a vehicle parade for Bill Cady’s 80th birthday included, from left to right, Michael and Lisa Jordan, and Zachary and Lindsay Rainey.
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Bill Cady and his wife, Kathy, celebrate Bill’s 80th birthday Monday with a drive-by parade and Hawaiian-themed celebration in his front yard in Vandenberg Village.
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A carryout patron on Tuesday walks past the closed indoor eating area at Jim's Burgers in the 700 block of South Broadway in Santa Maria. Restaurants could reopen for on-site dining soon if they meet certain state and county guidelines for social distancing.
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A Dick's Sporting Goods employee carries an order to a customer for curbside pickup Tuesday at the Enos Ranch retail development in Santa Maria. Retail stores could see relaxed restrictions soon if they meet state and county social distancing requirements.
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Santa Maria firefighters put out a blaze in a simulated airline disaster during Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting training Tuesday at the Santa Maria Public Airport.
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Flames roar as Santa Maria firefighters put out a blaze in a simulator during Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, or ARFF, training Tuesday at the Santa Maria Public Airport.
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Officials examine a parachute near where a plane crashed Wednesday morning at Dunlap Elementary School, killing the pilot.
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Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino poses next to her poster during the “Protect. Respect. Wear Your Mask” campaign kickoff Wednesday at the Maldonado Youth Center in Santa Maria. As Santa Barbara County begins to reopen after COVID-19 shutdowns, officials hope to encourage the practice of wearing a mask to prevent community spread and provide confidence.
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A notice that the Solvang Brewing Company's liquor license has been suspended was posted by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control department in Solvang on May 15.
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The Solvang Brewing Company is shown in Solvang on Thursday.
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Alfonso Curti, owner and chef at Trattoria Uliveto restaurant in Orcutt, talks to Santa Barbara County health inspector Scott Whyte about his plans to reopen on Tuesday. Curti has moved out half of the tables to allow social distancing. Whyte was visiting area businesses to help them reopen.
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Wendy Steller, owner of Deja Vu Antique Mall, cleans up a countertop on Thursday. Her store reopened last week.
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Deja Vu Antique Mall in Orcutt offers masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to customers.
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Lompoc High School's Jacob Nunez and Ryan Morgan lift weights in preparation to play on Arizona State University's football team. Nunez was attending ASU in person earlier this year after graduating from high school in December. But he's back home with his cousin Morgan after Arizona State canceled in-person classes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Laura Place covers city government for the Santa Maria Times.
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