Morro Bay considers requiring face masks in public spaces. Here’s what City Council decided
The Morro Bay City Council on Tuesday opted not to mandate the wearing of face coverings in busy public spaces.
Instead, the council unanimously voted to pass a resolution that encourages the use of masks, especially in busy areas such as shops, where businesses may choose to enforce their own private rules.
Council members recognized that tourists have been visiting the city on recent weekends against statewide orders banning nonessential travel. Some visitors have come from surrounding areas with higher rates of coronavirus infection than in San Luis Obispo County.
But multiple council members said a mask mandate is too difficult to enforce adequately.
“It puts police in an untenable situation,” said Councilmember Marlys McPherson, adding that the city should steer clear of the divisive political debate surrounding face masks. “We should leave it up to individuals and individual businesses.”
McPherson said that selective enforcement based on a complaint-driven system would create problems. She added that it would further complicate the jobs of law enforcement agencies, already facing scrutiny during local and nationwide protests over police brutality.
She also cited conflicting information about the public health effectiveness of the use of masks, saying that used improperly they could present more harm.
SLO County: Do face coverings prevent coronavirus spread?
In a city staff report, Morro Bay officials cited a May 3 report by San Luis Obispo County public health officer Penny Borenstein stating that “there is no incontrovertible, compelling or even a preponderance of evidence to support an order to wear a cloth mask in the community setting at this time.”
Borenstein added in the report that “I am supportive of cashiers and customers wearing cloth masks inside a grocery store or any essential business if social distancing is difficult to maintain...consumer preference is already accomplishing this inmost parts of the county.”
Borenstein’s white paper states that San Luis Obispo County residents are effectively flattening the curve through social distancing, and that penetration of particles in cloth masks is possible.
Medical masks also are far more effective than cloth masks, the report notes, and people may neglect hygiene or face irritation from certain materials used to make the masks.
Arguments in favor of wearing a mask include indication of reduced risk of infection, particularly in areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain; providing a level of personal comfort and helping to reinforce social distancing practices.
People should still practice social distancing and hand washing even when using masks, Borenstein said.
Morro Bay could adopt mask mandate if cases rise
Morro Bay council members left the door open to adding a mask mandate if the city experiences a spike in COVID-19 cases. As of Wednesday, the city had seven confirmed cases of coronavirus; a total of 306 patients have tested positive for the virus in San Luis Obispo County.
In May, the San Luis Obispo City Council opted not to adopt a face covering mandate. Meanwhile, the cities of Grover Beach and Pismo Beach have passed ordinances requiring workers at local businesses to wear masks.
“Let’s make sure to recognize this is a public health issue, not a political issue,” Councilmember Dawn Addis said. “Masks help you keep other people healthy. That’s a fact.”
Morro Bay Mayor John Headding said Morro Bay may see a spike in cases in the next few weeks.
“We will know whether tourists have had impact,” Headding said. “If we begin to see an increase that looks anything like a spike, we’re prepared to come back with an emergency ordinance.”
The council received a handful of letters arguing both in favor of masks and against the idea of requiring masks citywide.
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