The Safer at Home order has been extended to May 15, according to Los Angeles County Public Health. In addition to the extension the public will now be required to wear face coverings while in public. This new portion of the order begins at midnight on April 15.

Barbara Ferrer, LA County Public Health director, said this new face covering requirement is not because social distancing has not bee working but in fact it has been working.

“We still have a ways to go,” she said.

It is still important to continue follow all social distancing guidelines.

Essential businesses are to supply face coverings for their employees and to provide, and post, a plan that explains how the business is implementing social distancing and other guidelines including sanitizing the area.

The public is also required to wear a face covering to enter essential businesses.

“All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit remain prohibited. Beaches, trails and trailheads and non-essential businesses are to remain closed,” according to Public Health.

Ferrer explained how to put on, take off and store face coverings. People are to first wash, or sanitize, their hands prior to touching the face covering, then place it on their face. When taking the face covering off she advised to place it in a paper bag, and to clean hands after removing the face covering. Wash the face covering everyday.

Face coverings are an addition to the Safer at Home order, not a replacement for social distancing or staying home.

“They [face coverings] do not replace the powerful tools of staying at home,” she said.

As of April 10, there have been 8,340 cases of COVID-19 throughout LA County including 241 deaths. Testing capacity continues to increase in LA County, with almost 40,700 individuals tested with 15% of people testing positive.

Of the total number of deaths, 228 deaths were in LA County, eight were in Long Beach and five were in Pasadena.

Of the total number of cases, Glendale has 218 reported, La Cañada has 17, Sunland has 30 cases and Tujunga has reported 15. For the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County: Angeles National Forest remains at zero and La Crescenta/Montrose 10.