Los Angeles County Temporarily Bans Most Private and Public Gatherings Between Households As COVID-19 Cases Rise

Almost all private and public gatherings between households will be temporarily banned in Los Angeles County starting Monday, the county’s public health department said on Friday. The ban is just one of the changes to the city’s “Safer at Home” order that is being implemented to slow an outbreak of new coronavirus cases.

The ban does not include protected events such as demonstrations and religious services. Schools will continue to adhere to established reopening protocols.

The extended order goes into effect Monday, November 30, and advises residents “to stay home as much as possible and always wear a face covering their nose and mouth when outside and around their homes. other”. Businesses, including restaurants, non-essential retail stores, libraries, gyms and museums, will all operate within tight occupancy limits, all of which require visitors to wear face coverings and remain socially removed.

In-person meals at restaurants, bars and brasseries are always closed. In a press release detailing the new safety changes, the public health department cited “high rates of transmission in the community” and “lack of mask wearing” while eating as reasons for the continued ban on eating. in person. In accordance with Los Angeles County thresholds, the new order will remain in place for three weeks until December 20, when it will be reassessed with current COVID-19 positivity data.

Recent data from the California Department of Health shows the state has more than 1,171,324 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Los Angeles County has confirmed 387,793 positive cases, with 7,604 deaths. The county also has a seven-day positivity rate of 6.9%.

“With the recent outbreak of COVID-19 in our community, we must take additional safety measures to reduce the risk of illness and death from this terrible virus and protect our health system,” said the director of health public Barbara Ferrer in the press release.

“We know that we are asking a lot of so many people who have sacrificed themselves for months and hopefully LA County residents continue to follow public health safety measures which we know can slow the spread,” Ferrer added. “Acting with the collective emergency now is essential if we are to stop this wave. Please stay home as much as possible and do not get together with other people outside your household for the next three weeks.