Face coverings are essential during uncertain times.

Matthew Leslie

An important item appears on the agenda for the Fullerton City Council’s April 21 meeting requesting direction to city staff “regarding mandatory face covering guidance within the City of Fullerton” and, potentially, “for essential businesses, employees, customers and residents outside of their residence.” The agenda’s Recommendation section includes an option that the council’s direction could take the form of an “issuance of a Director of Disaster Services proclamation,” suggesting that a decision could be made that evening. One hopes so. With the numbers of people in the city known to be infected by the COVID-19 virus rising daily, an immediate decision critical if such a measure is to be effective. 

To date, four cities in Orange County have passed measures requiring that workers in essential businesses wear face coverings to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The cities of Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Buena Park now each require the wearing of face coverings by workers and patrons in grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, gas stations, and other businesses remaining open during California’s mandated Stay at Home order.  Fullerton has yet to take any such action, despite having met for a special meeting on March 26 and a regularly scheduled one on April 7.

The city issued a press release on April 9 instructing residents to call the Fullerton Police Department to report individuals not complying with the County of Orange’s recommendation “strongly encouraging” the wearing of face coverings, but with no actual requirement in place, one had to wonder how Fullerton police were supposed to respond to such a complaint, other than with their own strong suggestions.

The unfolding patchwork adoption of laws across the county is a result of the failure of the Orange County Board of Supervisors to adopt one that would apply countywide. Although there was some support on the Board for such a measure earlier this month, 4th District Supervisor and Fullerton resident Doug Chaffee, among others, opposed it. The counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino have both adopted rules requiring face coverings in essential businesses. One wonders why Orange County has dragged its feet, leaving OC’s 34 cities to deal with the problem individually when viruses don’t respect city boundaries.

There is no reasonable way for a significant number of Fullerton residents to avoid close proximity to people who may be carrying the virus, even if they show no signs of it. Shopping in a store, visiting a gas station, picking up medications, among other sometimes unavoidable errands, have become perilous experiences, both for customers and for workers. Though many—increasingly most—shoppers wear face coverings, some still do not. And neither do many in the businesses that serve them, needlessly putting others at risk. Requiring people to keep their faces covered to avoid sharing a sometimes deadly virus is justified, even if some will claim it to be an infringement of their rights.

If we really want to do all we can to stop the spread of COVID-19, we should support requiring people to wear face coverings when they leave their residences too (although the way the report is written, it isn’t clear whether or not it would apply to someone standing in the yard of their own house). Some will consider it a draconian response, but in the midst of a pandemic, the council should at least discuss it. A second wave of infections is a real possibility, even as we’re still experiencing the first.

A city council that takes the unprecedented step to meet virtually from their own residences because it is too dangerous to meet in person shouldn’t consider a face covering requirement in businesses too extreme for everyone else.

And, fear not, the agenda promises that “The City Attorney’s office will opine on legal issues surrounding potential direction as such direction is discussed by the City Council.”

City Attorney: Pinin’ to opine…