LA County officials warn those with health risks shouldn’t dine inside

Last week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced the reopening of indoor catering in the area as part of the county’s move from the purple level to the red level. Even though indoor dining can resume at 25% capacity, LA County health official Dr Muntu Davis warned people who dined inside, saying there are had a higher risk of eating a meal in an enclosed space. He also warned that those at higher risk of coronavirus illness or death should avoid indoor dining areas altogether.

Surrounding counties in Southern California will also drop to the least restrictive red level this week, including Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura. According to Los Angeles Times, health experts wonder if the reopening of schools, museums and gymnasiums in the region will lead to a further increase in COVID-19 cases. There’s also the new, more contagious variant appearing in LA County, prompting Dr Davis to remind residents that people are still susceptible to infection.

Dr Davis also warned that failure to follow safety guidelines could lead to a further rise in hospitalizations and urged people to continue using face masks and county-mandated social distancing to help keep them down. open restaurants and healthy residents.

Today, LA County Director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer also noted amended guidelines to be followed to ensure safe indoor meals, including a heating, ventilation and cooling system. air conditioning (HVAC) rated, and maintain a distance of eight feet between tables. With an indoor dining area, a single household can dine with up to six people. Three different households can dine together outside, with a limit of six people at the table as well.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Coronavirus infection rates and deaths have dropped dramatically since early February, and after wealthier residents accessed appointments for communities heavily affected by the pandemic, the state is administering more vaccines in those areas. areas.

The LA County Department of Health has posted the following warnings on its website and has designated low to high restaurant meal categories:

The risk of the spread of COVID-19 increases in a restaurant, as described below, as individuals remove their face masks while eating and drinking and there is increased interaction with those who do not live in the same household.

• Lowest risk: Food service limited to drive-thru, delivery, take-out and curbside pickup.
• More risk: Emphasis on drive-thru, delivery, take out and curbside pickup. On-site catering limited to a terrace. Reduced seating capacity to allow tables to be more widely spaced.
• Higher risk: Dining room on site with reduced seating capacity inside to allow tables to be more widely spaced. And / or on-site dining with outdoor seating, but tables are no further apart.
• Highest risk: Dining room on site with indoor seating. The seating capacity is not reduced and the tables are not more spaced.

• What to Know About All of LA County’s Newly Relaxed On-Site Dining Rules [ELA]