Not wearing mask in public is 'act of domestic terrorism,' mayor declares

The mayor of Lancaster, California, said that those who don't wear masks in public in response to the coronavirus pandemic are guilty of an "act of domestic terrorism," the Los Angeles Daily News reported.

What are the details?

"If it were up to me, anybody not wearing a mask when they are out in public would be arrested," Mayor Rex Parris said last week, according to the paper. "That's an act of domestic terrorism and should be treated like one."

Parris' declaration came as county public health officials have been faced with "dramatically increased rates of transmission and potentially exponential growths of deaths in the coming weeks" as "hospital rooms fill up again and depleted hospital staffs scramble to keep up," the Daily News noted.

The paper also said health officials worry that such resources could be overwhelmed across the county as more people ignore public health guidelines.

Indeed, county supervisors last week barred outdoor dining at restaurants — not that it prevented Supervisor Sheila Kuehl from doing just that only hours after her vote for the ban.

The Daily News added that county projections show COVID-19 present in roughly one in every 145 people — many of whom may not know it.

Anything else?

The county also issued a new health order that went into effect Monday, saying "residents are advised to stay home as much as possible and always wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when they are outside their household and around others."

The new order also included the following changes to the "existing Health Officer Order":

• Gatherings: All public and private gatherings with individuals not in your household are prohibited, except for faith based services and protests, which are constitutionally protected rights.
• Occupancy limits at various businesses; all individuals at these sites are required to wear face coverings and keep at least 6 feet of distance:
  • Essential retail – 35% maximum occupancy
  • Non-essential retail (includes indoor malls) – 20% maximum occupancy
  • Personal care services – 20% maximum occupancy
  • Libraries – 20% maximum occupancy
  • Fitness centers operating outdoors – 50% maximum occupancy
  • Museums galleries, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens operating outdoors – 50% maximum occupancy
  • Mini-golf, batting cages, go-kart racing operating outdoors – 50% maximum occupancy

• Outdoor recreation activities all which require face coverings (except for swimming) and distancing:
  • Beaches, trails, and parks remain open; gatherings at these sites with members outside your household are prohibited.
  • Golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball, archery ranges, skate parks, bike parks, and community gardens remain open for individuals or members of a single household. Pools that serve more than one household may open only for regulated lap swimming with one person per lane.
  • Drive-in movies/events/car parades are permitted provided occupants in each car are members of one household.

• Schools:
  • All schools and day camps remain open adhering to re-opening protocols. K-12 Schools and Day Camps with an outbreak (3 cases or more over 14 days) should close for 14 days.

• Closed non-essential businesses/activities:
  • Playgrounds (with the exception of playgrounds at childcare and schools)
  • Cardrooms

The new order also said that "restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries remain closed for in-person dining and drinking, as customers are not wearing face coverings during their visit which results in an increased chance of transmission of the virus. Restaurants, wineries and breweries remain open for pick-up, delivery, and take-out. Breweries and wineries remain open for retail sales at 20% occupancy."

This story has been corrected to reflect an update in the Los Angeles Daily News' article. The Daily News' update reads, "An earlier version of this story was unclear in its attribution of a quote. The article has been updated to be clear that it was Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris who said: 'If it were up to me, anybody not wearing a mask when they are out in public would be arrested. That’s an act of domestic terrorism and should be treated like one.'"