Los Angeles Mayor Now Requires Restaurant Workers to Wear Face Masks

Yesterday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a worker protective order requiring restaurants and food delivery employees to wear protective face masks. The announcement also requires essential businesses to provide employees with the protective gear, or reimburse employees for the cost. This order applies to restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, drug stores, and other essential businesses beginning April 10.

It’s a step beyond the LA City Council’s ordinance signed on March 27, which outlined protections and paid leave for essential workers. Garcetti amended the Council’s ordinance “to ensure that the delivery of essential goods can continue without hindrance. Many Angelenos rely on these services for the delivery of essential goods, including those identified as vulnerable to COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control.”

Garcetti’s order brings a new expense for restaurants, which also requires social distancing between the public and employees, employee hand washing every 30 minutes, along with clean restrooms and proper hand sanitizing products for employees. Face masks are also requirements for customers visiting these businesses.

In other news:

—The Larder Baking Co partnered with Dine11 to feed emergency workers at LA area hospitals. Locals can support this collaboration by adding $10 to a pastry or bakery package which provides a meal for one healthcare worker. Lucques Catering also partnered with Dine11 for a similar effort.

—Over at the New York Times, Tejal Rao explores whether dining out puts Los Angeles restaurants workers at risk.

—Button Mash put together “quarantine boredom packs” for purchase. It’s filled with video games, digital comics, game tokens, music, and other items, and all proceeds go to furloughed Button Mash employees.

—In the midst of a pandemic, Interstellar opened in Santa Monica yesterday. The all-day cafe blends Korean and American ingredients together with Japanese and Italian flavors.

—Another restaurant newcomer called Vitalist High Frequency Superfoods opened last Saturday on Melrose. The menu brings plant based meals, juices, cleanses, soups, and snacks.

—Starting this Friday, M. Georgina will produce house made sourdough bread and fresh pastas for pick up. It’s a solid one stop shop, with CSA boxes by County Line Harvest, along with two and four packs of wine by Flask & Field.

• What (and How) to Eat in LA During the Coronavirus Pandemic [ELA]