6:25 p.m. ET, May 14, 2020
Face coverings are required for all 10 million Los Angeles County residents
From CNN's Alexandra Meeks
A man wears a face mask and gloves on Santa Monica beach on the day Los Angeles County reopened its beaches, which had been closed due the coronavirus pandemic, on May 13 in Santa Monica.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
All Los Angeles County residents must wear face masks when outside their homes, Health Director Barbara Ferrer said at a news conference today.
"Masks are in fact mandatory across the entire county when you are outside of your home, not with members of your household, and in any kind of contact with other people," Ferrer said. "Our health officer orders are very clear."
Ferrer said face coverings are not needed while exercising alone but should be kept nearby at all times.
"As I've noted before, the reason you wear a cloth face covering is so you can protect other people from your respiratory droplets," Ferrer added.
Some context: Mayor Eric Garcetti's announcement yesterday on face coverings applies to nearly 4 million residents in Los Angeles.
The announcement from Ferrer today applies to over 10 million residents in Los Angeles County.
As of Thursday, 1,709 L.A. County residents have died due to Covid-19, Ferrer said.