Full Compliance Alongside Straight-Forward Safety Measures Are Necessary to Slow the Surge

LOS ANGELES — Daily case numbers are unlike any ever seen in L.A. County. Activities people were able to do just a couple of weeks ago now present too much risk for virus transmission.

There are 2,988 people with COVID-19 hospitalized with 24% of these people in the ICU. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has surpassed all-time highs every day since Dec. 1, and has increased nearly every day since Nov. 1. 

As of Dec. 6, the Southern California region has 10.9% staffed adult ICU capacity remaining.

As hospitalizations increase sharply, their remaining capacity is becoming a concern. Increased cases in the community directly translates to higher case numbers among healthcare workers. As of Dec. 7, Public Health has reported an additional 1,745 new cases among healthcare workers — more than twice the number reported last week and the highest weekly number ever reported.

Testing results are available for nearly 3,930,000 individuals with 11% of all people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 11.6%. One month ago, on Nov. 7, the test positivity rate was 5%. 

As of Dec. 6, the State’s new stay at home order is in effect in Southern California and will remain in effect for at least three weeks. The order prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes sector operations, limits occupancy at various businesses, and requires 100% masking and physical distancing. The order also includes the following:

Gatherings of any size are prohibited.

Critical infrastructure, like public transportation and businesses that keep our utilities running, remain open.

Worship services and political expression continue to be permitted outdoors, with face coverings and distancing requirements.

Schools that have previously reopened for either high-need students or through the waiver program can remain open.

All retail can remain open, but these businesses must operate at 20% occupancy or below at all times.  Stand alone grocery stores where the principal business activity is the sale of food may operate at 35% capacity.

On-site consumption of food, beverages and alcohol at any business is not permitted.

Hotel and lodging entities are not permitted to accept out-of-state, non-essential reservations are not permitted unless the reservation is for the minimum period of quarantine and that person is quarantining at that lodging.

Businesses still open include:

Essential critical infrastructure including government, healthcare, courts, food and agriculture production, communications, and essential manufacturing

Grocery stores, retail stores and shopping centers (all at very limited occupancy)

Restaurants for take-out and delivery only

Outdoor fitness facilities

Parks and trails

Day care and schools

Health care facilities, including clinics and dental offices; everyone should continue to seek needed healthcare.

Businesses that must temporarily suspend operations include:

Cardrooms

Wineries, breweries, distilleries except for retail

Museums, botanical gardens, zoos, aquariums

All Personal care including hair salons, barbershops, and nail salons

Playgrounds

Family entertainment centers

L.A. County has asked local business partners to take extra steps to be fully compliant with the safeguards and modifications set forth in the stay at home order and existing Public Health protocols. Public Health’s compliance teams are visiting businesses across the county daily. During recent business compliance checks only 59% of businesses inspected were in full compliance with required safety protocols. www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/locations 

To date, Public Health identified 457,880 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 7,936 deaths. Upon further investigation, 57 cases reported earlier were not L.A. County residents.