Masks still must be worn in Santa Monica under latest supplement to emergency order
By Sam Catanzaro
Masks will still be required in Santa Monica, at least for the next few weeks.
On May 19, Santa Monica’s Interim City Manager Lane Dilg signed the 36th supplement to the city’s local emergency aligning Santa Monica’s guidance for face coverings with Los Angeles County and the State of California.
Under this guidance, face coverings must continue to be worn indoors and around crowds, including for those who have been vaccinated.
“This allows time for the vaccination rate to increase leading up to the full reopening of the state’s economy on June 15, when face coverings will only be required in certain settings,” the City said in a press release.
A crowded space in Santa Monica is defined as a “space outside of one’s residence where a person cannot maintain at least 6 feet of distance from non-household members and it is unknown whether all persons present are fully vaccinated.”
Crowded places include the Santa Monica Pier, Ocean Front Walk, the Third Street Promenade and after 12 p.m. on Fridays.
In announcing the supplemental order, Dilg noted that nearly three-quarters of Santa Monica residents have been vaccinated.
“This supplement further signals the return to normal we’ve worked so hard to reach. We are grateful to the 71 percent of Santa Monicans who have been vaccinated and all community members who have worked together to promote the public health,” Dilg said.