As a result, some counties enforce the rules and some don’t. And because the state hasn’t stepped in to assist with adequate enforcement, some local officials say, businesses are often free to ignore the rules, allowing the virus to run rampant.
“It would be nice to have some air support from the governor,” said Nevada City Councilman Doug Fleming, who backs the city’s new ordinance imposing fines for violating the state mask mandate. “He’s kind of forcing local jurisdictions to enforce his rules without any air support.”
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California is experiencing a surge of coronavirus cases as never before, setting records almost daily for infections and deaths. Hospitals across the state are running dangerously low on intensive care unit beds, with the state reporting 2.5% ICU capacity as of Monday.