Five Bay Area counties began enforcing the use of face coverings in essential businesses and on public transit Wednesday. In Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties, people can be refused service or even cited for not covering their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth when conducting essential business.
Children under the age of 12 are exempt from wearing a mask, while children under 2 years old are advised not to wear masks because of the risk of suffocation.
Sonoma County’s face mask order went into effect last Friday.
Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom indicated that he is considering a statewide order to wear face masks, but has yet to issue a directive.
— Monica Lam (@monicazlam)