If masks or face coverings haven't been a part of your COVID-19 shutdown routine, they should be by now. 

Last month, the Los Angeles County Department of Health expanded its current stay-at-home order to require that members of the public wear face coverings when entering any essential businesses in Los Angeles County. (Essential businesses include grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, hardware stores, laundry services, and restaurants.) The order also requires essential businesses to provide a cloth face covering for all of their employees.

In addition, the of Manhattan Beach is strongly encouraging residents to wear face coverings at any time while in public, especially during exercise activities.

“We have a highly active community that prides itself on physical fitness. During these times, everyone should take additional precautions where possible," said Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery in a statement. "The entire City Council and I encourage the community to go beyond the county’s orders and wear face coverings while in public. Additionally, those engaging in vigorous activities, such as biking and running, are strongly encouraged to use face coverings to reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus through increased respiration levels. Finally, essential businesses are reminded that they play an important part in these public health orders, and are required to enforce social distancing and face covering requirements."

Additionally the CDC still recommends wearing a face covering in any "community setting."

(Note that N95 medical-grade masks are not required or recommended for the general public, because those masks need to be reserved for those working on the front lines.)

So given that masks have been in short supply, how do you acquire a mask or face covering? 

For starters, the CDC has instructions here for making your own mask. You don't need fancy fabrics; you can begin with even a bandana or a t-shirt. Many local residents have been sewing their own and giving them out or donating them to businesses or hospitals.

But if you'd prefer to purchase a pre-made mask - and support local merchants in the process - a few shops in Manhattan Beach are offering masks for sale. (Again, not that these are not medical-grade masks; these are geared toward the general public.)

Bacchus Wine is offering a tempting package deal: For $65 you can get a basket with a Lapis Luna red wine, Benziger Winery chardonnay, Wet Ones sanitizing wipes, and two locally made masks. To order the full basket, call Bacchus at 310-372-2021. (They will take the order and walk it right to the car for pickup.) The masks are made by Coolie Surf, a local maker of rash guards for surfers. If you want just the masks, message @coolie_surf on Instagram.

Birdwell Beach Britches is making a general-use, reversible mask constructed with two layers of their breathable SurfStretch™ fabric. The masks are $19.95; for each mask you purchase, a mask will be donated to CORE, a non-profit founded by Sean Penn working in partnership with the LA Mayor’s Office and the LA Fire Department to provide free drive-through testing for high-risk individuals.

Greigh Goods is offering handmade masks in 100% silk or cotton. The masks are $22 apiece, with a portion of sales donated to communities in need.

Lahive (the fashion line of Manhattan Beach designer Lizzy Lahive) is selling "Operation Blue" masks made of cotton with a silk charmeuse lining and a hemp flax pocket to hold a filter. The masks are $22, with proceeds from the sales to benefit L.A. fashion workers.

Lulu's Nouvelle is offering masks made by designer Karen Luu in washable cotton. The next shipment arrives April 30. Call 310-545-8800 or email info@lulusnouvelle to pre-order or for more information.

Marine Layer is selling packs of two-layer cotton reusable masks - a pack of five masks for $25. They are also accepting donations for masks for frontline workers through laprotects. (Marine Layer donates the materials; your contribution pays for the labor.) Every $25 donated will produce 10 masks.

Nikau Kai is selling "Together We Shall Ride Again" custom blue bandanas. The bandanas are $20 for two - If you buy one, they will send one to anyone you choose (shipping included).

Player's Liquor in El Porto has been selling disposable masks, at $16.99 plus tax for a ten-count package. They are currently out of stock but are expecting more - Check in with them on their current stock.

Two Guns Espresso - North Manhattan Location has been selling cloth masks at its North Manhattan location for $10 apiece (with the proceeds going toward materials to make masks to donate to health care workers). There is limited stock available; refilled as shipments come in.

Waterleaf Home has both linen and cotton masks in a variety of styles. They come with a pocket to insert a filter (filter not included). Buy them here for $15 apiece.

The Waste Less Shop is sellling lightweight up-cycled cotton face masks with wire nose band and elastic ear loops. The masks are $12, with 50 percent of proceeds going to the Richstone Family Center in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

William B has cotton reusable face masks in pink, black or blue - Buy a set of three for $22.

DigMB has been hearing of other sources in the South Bay for masks. If you hear about some you want to share, please let us know.

Beach and Beverly of Hermosa Beach has masks that are made with linen on the outside and cotton on the inside. For each mask purchased, they will donate one. Masks are $22 apiece.

Hitter's House, a state-of-the art indoor baseball hitting facility and retail center based in Torrance, has protective anti-microbial Micropoly (88% poly/12% spandex) masks in kid and adult sizes for $12 apiece. Several styles bear the "GBG" - Garciaparra Baseball Group logo. Hitter's House will donate a mask to hospitals and front lines for every mask purchased. Purchase their masks here.

Jack's Surfboards is selling washable face masks in grey or blue. The unisex masks are made from 49% rayon, 42% polyester and 9% spandex. Masks are $5 apiece.

Lucky Brand apparel is offering a free cotton face mask with any order. Their reusable cotton masks are made to the specifications of LAProtects.org.

Nu Shuz of Redondo Beach has masks for $10 apiece. They include a rotating variety of prints, including white masks that kids can decorate, and "bling" masks. They offer curbside pick up from noon to 5:00 p.m. every day at 207 Avenida Del Norte in Redondo Beach. Call 310-926-3179 for more information or delivery options.

South Bay Artist Studio is offering face masks and face mask kits. Face masks are $17 or $18 for child or adult sizes; and $19 or $20 for child or adult masks that include a cotton drawstring carrying bag. A DIY face mask kit with pre-cut pieces (and cotton drawstring bag) is available for $15. See available selections here.

Stringking, a sporting goods company and apparel manufacturing company based in Gardena, has shifted much of its resources into manufacturing cloth face masks in its Los Angeles office. This company of 20 people is producing approximately 6,000 cloth face masks by hand per day, and donating about 500 per day. Cloth face masks are $6.99 apiece. Purchase a Stringking mask here.

Triton Surf is selling cotton masks with elastic ear bands. Buy one mask for $20 and Triton will donate another mask to an essential worker.