Los Angeles Coronavirus Update: County’s new stay-at-home order takes effect Monday, a day after 5K new cases of COVID were notified

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – The new Los Angeles County home stay restrictions took effect Monday, a day after the county reported more than 5,000 new cases of COVID-19.

The county on Sunday announced 5,014 new cases and 16 more deaths. There are 2,049 hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county.

As the numbers continue to rise, the county’s new home security ordinance goes into effect on Monday, placing new limits on gatherings, activities and occupation of businesses.

The order is accompanied by a warning from county public health director Dr Barbara Ferrer who says further restrictions could follow if things do not improve.

“If that doesn’t work and in two to three weeks we find ourselves in a worse situation than we are, we will have to go back and look at what else we have as options,” Ferrer said.

As part of the new order, the playgrounds and arcades will also close again on Monday, having been allowed to reopen in October.

The new order says people shouldn’t get together with anyone outside of their own homes. It also orders essential retail stores limited to 35% capacity and 20% for non-essential retail. Gyms can remain open at 50% of their capacity, but are only allowed to operate outdoors.

The order lasts at least until December 20.

In a separate order, restaurants last week were ordered to close again for an in-person meal.

The county has reported more than 395,000 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, with more than 7,600 deaths.