(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)Faced with a startling spike in coronavirus cases, California health officials issued a new mandate this week requiring residents to wear face coverings whenever they're outside their homes, with few exceptions. The latest face-covering rules replace the state's earlier mask mandate, which had been on the books since June. The state recorded 13,412 new cases Monday — a single-day record, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker. Along with the new mask guidance, officials this week announced a dramatic rollback of reopening in much of the state. So we urge you to consider how you engage with friends and family over the weeks to come to keep transmission rates low."
