Are You Covered? Warnings From Recent Face Mask Litigation

While the use of masks to combat the spread of COVID-19 has become a politicized issue in the United States, the scientific community largely agrees that wearing face coverings is one of the most effective ways to slow infections.¹ State and local governments have issued orders requiring residents to wear masks in public, with some advising employers to provide their employees with face coverings or reimburse the reasonable cost of obtaining one.² Governor Gavin Newsom of California, for example, has issued a number of mandates to slow infections. One of those mandates is that all individuals must wear a mask or face covering in public or common spaces statewide. Federal agencies such as the CDC and OSHA have issued non-binding guidelines that also advise people to wear masks in public.³