The Los Angeles County move, affecting nearly 200 million people in and around the country’s second-largest city, went beyond the curfew imposed last week by California Governor Gavin News – excluding most social news and other non-essential activities. State during 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Together, they represent the toughest Covid-19 measures imposed on the Los Angeles area since the start of the epidemic, the first nationwide lockdown in California in March. They are also among the most restricted people in the nationwide impact.
State and local authorities have set, or re-enforced, huge limits on social and economic activity in the hope of releasing waves of coronavirus infection out of control across the country in the wake of the end of the summer.
Political leaders and health officials have also in recent days stepped up public appeals to Americans fed up with the epidemic to stay home, avoid gatherings and reduce Christmas purchases as they wait for promised vaccines.
Announcing the latest temporary barriers, LA County health officials said the daily number of newly documented cases exceeded the previously set threshold for additional measures to curb the infection, exceeding 50,000 in five days.
Under the new LA County Order, which runs through Dec. 20, residents are advised – but not necessarily – to stay home as much as possible and always wear a face mask outside their home and around others.
But any social gathering of people from more than one household is prohibited, whether in public or in private, and indoors or outdoors. The latest order still allows some measure of commercial activity, albeit at a lower level.
It lowers the maximum business level for “essential” retailers, including grocery stores, up to 35% capacity, while non-essential retail locations such as indoor shopping malls and personal care services like nail salons can remain open at 20% capacity. .
Beaches, roads and parks remain open, as long as individuals keep a distance from others outside their home and wear masks. The same applies to golf courses, tennis courts, skate parks and other outdoor recreational areas.
All indoor and outdoor service at bars, restaurants, wineries and breweries is prohibited under a previous county order that limited them to withdrawal and delivery only.
Health officials across the country have warned that the start of the holiday travel season and cold weather – leading to a massive social mix and people gathering indoors – will increase the number of covid-19s that have sent infections, hospitalizations and deaths to record levels.
About 388,000 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in Los Angeles County to date, including more than 7,600 deaths, with a 10% positive in all diagnostic tests, which is counted twice by health officials.
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