Several officials across California's state have lashed out after Governor Gavin Newsom started requiring the use of face masks as the COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Several high-ranking officials, including a mayor and sheriffs, refused to enforce the mandate, claiming the order was not legitimate.

In a Facebook post, Nevada City Mayor Reinette Senum claimed there "is no law" that orders residents to wear a mask, the Sacramento Bee reports. She also said officers could not cite offenders "because the law does not exist."

Sheriff's departments in Orange, Sacramento, Tulare, Fresno, and Calaveras also refused to enforce the order, citing a lack of resources and the minor nature of the offense. O.C. Sheriff Don Barnes claimed it was not the responsibility of law enforcement officials to impose the order.

Mask Mandate

On Thursday, California health officials reported a dramatic increase in coronavirus infection with 4,804 newly confirmed cases, surpassing a previous record-high single-day growth. The announcements brought the total too of confirmed infection to 161,099, and at least 5,290 deaths.

According to a CNBC report, most of the new cases came from Los Angeles County, where the authorities recorded over 2,115 cases. The state noted that the single-day record stemmed from the 600 positive test results from earlier tests.

The recent numbers led Governor Gavin Newsom to require people across the state to wear face masks in indoor settings and public places, especially when social distancing is not possible.

The state order requires residents to wear masks when queueing for indoor public places and transportation. The rule also applies to workplaces where employees interact with the public, prepare food, and share common spaces, the New York Times reports.

The order came as California is restarting its economy. In most counties, residents are allowed to shop, eat at restaurants, and attend religious services. In Los Angeles County, nail salons, massage parlors, bars, and card rooms were allowed to resume operations on Friday. Racetracks were also allowed to reopen but without spectators.

However, the easing of restrictions led to an increase in cases, with health officials recorded 3,400 hospitalizations as of Wednesday, the state has seen since April.

Kate Folmar, a spokesperson for California's health and human services, said those who do not obey the orders could be charged for a misdemeanor, or receive other penalties. However, the agency's secretary, Mark Ghaly, said the department refused to enforce the orders, saying it expects most residents to follow the mandate.

A study conducted by two professors for the University of Iowa showed requiring face masks could prevent at least 230,000 COVID-19 cases. The peer-reviewed report estimated that 21 days after requiring the use of face masks in public could reduce the daily cases of COVID-19 by two or 230,000 and 450,000 cases, MarketWatch reported.

"As countries worldwide and states begin to relax social distancing restrictions and considering the high likelihood of a second COVID-19 wave in the fall/winter, requiring the use of face masks in public might help reduce COVID-19 spread," the study concludes.


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