BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Kern County Chief Administrative Officer Ryan Alsop spoke about the importance of following Governor Gavin Newsom's mask mandate when out in public. He implored the business community to require patrons to wear a mask in order to receive service.

Alsop said he believed that the local business community following the guidance provided by the state to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but he said that they could do more.

"But we would ask today a big favor of our business community. Please have people coming to your businesses wear a mask. It is an easy thing to do. Post a sign on the door: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Mask, No Service," he said.

Alsop said that wearing a mask, in addition to the other guidelines such as good hand washing, distancing, not touching your face, cleaning surfaces, staying away from people if you are sick would be a big part of making sure the community is safe.

"If someone doesn't want to wear a mask coming into your business they can come back later. You can tell them kindly that you might want to come back at a different time, you might want to check us out online and provide some other options. Maybe you want to supply them with a mask," said Alsop.

This follows on the heels of the public health announcing nearly 3,000 people locally have recovered from COVID-19 and nearly 4,200 people who have contracted COVID-19. The death toll has now risen to 64. Public health saying 29 of those deaths have come from skilled nursing facilities.