Parks Ask Visitors To Wear Face Coverings

LAMORINDA, CA — Anyone who visits a Bay Area park is being asked to wear a face covering or mask to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Five counties, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo, have joined together to issue a "Cover Your Face" order. The order asks that everyone visiting a park bring a face mask, and wear it at any time they're within six feet of someone else. Parks say that includes when visitors are running, hiking and biking, there are no exceptions.

Park District General Manager Robert Doyle says the move is necessary to protect as many people as possible from the coronavirus:

“For the safety of individuals, the public, and park employees, visitors should follow all local health agency recommendations, including the new ‘Cover Your Face’ directive. Visitors should carry cloth face coverings with them when in Regional Parks and wear them whenever six-feet social distancing cannot be maintained.”

The mask requirements include areas near or just outside the parks, like in parking lots, staging areas and entrance gates.

Hikers are advised to wear masks at all times because narrow trails can make it nearly impossible to keep a six foot space. Meanwhile runners are advised to take extra caution because they sweat out extra airborne particles.

The order does not apply to children under 12, and children 2 or younger should never wear a face mask because of the risk of suffocation.

To find out more about which parks are open or closed during the pandemic, you can visit the East Bay Regional Park District at there website here.