Stricter Mask Mandate For California | Everyone Must Wear a Mask Whenever They Leave Their Home, Including Skiing

California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued stricter face-covering rules requiring citizens to wear a mask whenever they leave their homes to slow the spread of covid-19. Even while skiing.

When outdoors (i.e., while skiing), you do not have to wear a mask as long as you stay six feet from others, not in your household. You still need to have a mask to put one on should your distance from others changes.

“The risk for COVID-19 exposure and infection remains and will continue to be in our midst for the foreseeable next several months. The use of face coverings by everyone can limit the release of infected droplets when talking, coughing, sneezing, singing, exercising, shouting or other forms of increased respiration, and they can also reinforce physical distancing by signaling the need to remain apart.”

– News Release

Residents must wear a face covering when outside the home, even if exercising if they are within 6 feet of others not in their household. The only exceptions to this rule are:

• Persons in a car alone or solely with members of their own household
• Persons who are working in an office or a room alone
• Persons who are actively eating or drinking provided that they can maintain a distance of at least six feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or residence
• Persons who are outdoors and maintaining at least 6 feet of social distancing from others, not in their household.  Such persons must have a face covering with them at all times and must put it on if they are within 6 feet of others who are not in their household
• Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face-covering is necessary to perform the service
• Workers who are required to wear respiratory protection
• Persons who are specifically exempted from wearing face coverings by other CDPH guidance

Those exempt from the new rules include children younger than two years old; people with a disability, medical condition, or a mental health condition that prevents them from wearing a face-covering; and people who are hearing impaired or are communicating with someone who is hearing impaired. Masks should be worn over your nose and mouth, not under your nose or on your chin.

• Related: 71% of California’s Counties, Including Ski Counties, Just Moved to the Most Restrictive Tier on the ‘Blueprint for a Safer Economy’

So, if you’re skiing within six-feet of someone, you should both be wearing a mask.