Businesses in the city and county of El Paso now require the use of face covering inside their premises.

The requirement, which is part of an amendment of the Fourth Local Emergency Directive, was put into effect first hour of Monday.

“The amended Local Directive to include the face covering requirement will ensure the safety of our community members,” said Mayor Dee Margo in a release. “We will continue re-opening our economy in a judicious and proactive manner, while balancing public health and our economy.”

Individuals, whether they are employees or visitors, must wear face coverings upon entering businesses and must not remove it during their stay unless they are eating or actively engaging in exercise.

Among the other requirements that the Health and Safety Policy for businesses is asking to implement are the following:

• Businesses must post the directive in an areas that are sufficiently visible to give employees and visitors notice before entering the premises.

• Other mitigating measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 may also be implemented by businesses, such as temperature checks and health screenings.

Businesses who fail to develop and implement these measures will be fined no more than $500 for each violation, according to the directive.

The release states that the directive is a “response to Governor Greg Abbot’s plan which allows local governments to require businesses to adopt and enforce health policies that include face-covering requirements.”

The city also recommends the public to not seek use of medical grade masks or N-95 respirators, for they are a resource needed for health care providers and first responders.

The prospector staff may be reached at [email protected].