City council recommends face coverings

The Las Cruces City Council voted unanimously at a Monday, June 8, special meeting to approve a resolution that “encourages the general public to use face coverings in accordance with recommended practices contained within the existing New Mexico public health orders and CDC guidelines when in or accessing retail and commercial businesses.”

The New Mexico Department of Health issued a public health emergency order May 15 requiring employees to wear a face covering or masks “when in the presence of others,” the city resolution said, and to “require individuals to wear a face covering or mask in public settings except when eating, drinking or exercising.”

The city said a face covering “means a covering made of cloth, fabric or other soft or permeable material, without holes, that covers the nose and mouth and surrounding areas of the lower face. A face covering may be factory-made or may be handmade and improvised from ordinary household materials. The face covering should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face, include multiple layers of fabric, allow for breathing without restriction, and be able to be laundered and machine-dried without damage or change to shape.