California orders residents to wear masks outside

California ordered residents on Thursday to wear masks at nearly all times outside the home. The new mandate is one of the broadest of any U.S. state. Gloria Tso from Reuters reports that “Exceptions will be made for people eating in restaurants or exercising outdoors, so long as they maintain 6 feet of physical distance. According to officials, state or local authorities would be able to charge Californians who don't wear a mask with a misdemeanor.

Governor Gavin Newsom said the strict new rule was necessary because quote "we are seeing too many people with faces uncovered, putting at risk the real progress we have made."

However, Newsom did not say how the state planned to enforce the order, which even recommends masks for people driving alone in their cars.

But most U.S. states have less strict mask guidelines -- and some have none -- including Montana and South Carolina.

But California is leading the way in implementing more stringent measures as cities across the country face a resurgence of the global health crisis amid the relaxation of stay-at-home restrictions.