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Orange County Health Care Agency Director Dr. Clayton Chau, who is also serving as the interim public health officer, is expected on Thursday, June 1, to issue a new order making it a “strong recommendation” people in the county wear a face covering instead of a mandate during the coronavirus pandemic.

The expected change in policy comes days after Dr. Nichole Quick, who issued the mask mandate last month, abruptly resigned Monday following threats and a protest in front of her home, as well as push back from Orange County supervisors.

Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said Chau is expected on Thursday to alter Quick’s order to make mask wearing “strongly recommended” instead of required – the new order would take effect at midnight that day.

Bartlett said she wants to keep in place the county’s mask ordinance adopted in April for grocery stores and other retail businesses.

“I want to keep that in effect, not only to protect the public, but the workers,” Bartlett said. “There are certain businesses where you can’t do the six feet of social distancing.”

Bartlett said the mask order will help boost confidence of diners and shoppers.

“I think the public at-large would feel more comfortable knowing that businesses are taking those extra precautions when they can’t socially distance,” Bartlett said.

During a Board of Supervisor’s meeting on Tuesday, Chau defended Quick’s mask order, which was issued in May as county officials received permission from the state to reopen some businesses, including dining in restaurants.

Quick had said she issued the mask mandate, which is required whenever a resident cannot maintain six feet of social distancing, because she feared an outbreak of cases as more people congregated as stay-at-home orders were relaxed.

On Friday, the county is expected to a further relax restrictions on businesses to allow bars, gyms, family entertainment centers, community pools and others allowed in the beginning of Stage 3 reopenings in the state.

Chau was appointed interim public health officer on Tuesday. At the time, he declined to say when the order might be revised, suggesting it was something he would discuss it with the county’s next permanent health officer.

Chau, who also has a doctorate in clinical psychology, was appointed head of the Health Care Agency in April to succeed Richard Sanchez, who took over as head of CalOptima, the county’s insurance program for low-income residents.

Staff Writer Alicia Robinson contributed to this report.