Luxury linen maker shifts overnight to face masks

A Los Angeles company that normally produces luxury sheets and bedding has quickly shifted to creating cloth masks. The move comes as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered essential business that remain open to turn away customers who are not wearing masks.

Garcetti also has ordered that the businesses provide their workers with masks or reimburse them for purchasing their own.

That order took effect on Friday.

Linen Salvage et Cie owner Andrea Bernstein said they are producing 9,000 masks a day using excess cloth, just two days after their first prototype.

Bernstein said she does not know how long the mask production will continue.

"I really actually can't wait 'till we never make masks again, ever," she said.

California's top public health official said the spread of coronavirus throughout the state might not be as high as state officials had anticipated.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said detailed planning is already underway on how best to reopen the state.

But he stressed the importance for California residents to stay home and stay away from each other over the Easter weekend so as not to undo the state's progress.

The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.