Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA County Announces Some Businesses, Spaces Can Reopen Friday; Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Top 28K
Certain businesses and recreational spaces in Los Angeles County will be allowed to reopen beginning Friday, county officials announced at today's media briefing.
According to County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the list includes:
- Hiking trails (Barger said county staff "will be deployed to prevent crowding.")
- Golf courses
- Florists
- Car dealerships
- “Stores that sell toys, books, clothing, sporting goods and music”
Curbside pick-up remains in effect for those soon-to-reopen retail businesses, officials said.
Support for LAist comes from
Barger said the easing of restrictions in L.A. County aligns with the directives at the state level, adding:
"This list is less about what products are sold and more about the ability to maintain social distancing. We are finalizing the details and we'll have all the information and guidelines for businesses up on our website before the order goes into effect."
In the coming weeks, more businesses deemed low-risk — like manufacturing and certain office spaces and retailers — will also be allowed to reopen. Stage 2 reopenings will eventually include libraries, art galleries and museums — all in a "much-modified way," Ferrer said, to ensure proper social distancing and infection control. She also noted that companies are encouraged to allow workers to continue to work from home "wherever that's possible."
Stage 3 will see some higher-risk businesses reopen their doors at limited occupancy levels — while observing all of the same social distancing and public health measures, Ferrer said. Those businesses include tattoo shops, massage parlors, bars, movie theaters and bowling alleys. It will eventually include K-12 schools, colleges and universities.
Businesses deemed "highest-risk" can begin to reopen in Stage 4. Those include concert venues, convention centers and sports stadiums.
This slide from L.A. County's May 6 media briefing outlines the five-stage plan for reopening businesses and public spaces countywide. (Courtesy County of Los Angeles)
()
Ferrer also outlined steps businesses will be required to take to limit the spread and protect both workers and customers:
Support for LAist comes from
"As we move through the stages of recovery, we will be issuing protocols for each sector, on what measures they must take to slow the spread of COVID-19, and these do include... limiting in-person work and ensuring that vulnerable workers have alternate assignments, providing cloth face coverings and personal protective equipment to all employees, and asking that anyone entering the business, also wear a cloth face covering. And, of course, developing policies that make it easy for employees to stay home when they're sick, or they're under a mandatory quarantine."
L.A. County officials reported 851 new confirmed cases of coronavirus today, bringing the total to at least 28,644 cases countywide. In total, 789 cases have been reported in Long Beach and 482 in Pasadena (those two cities operate their own health departments).
County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer also reported 55 new deaths of COVID-19 patients. The total number of deaths countywide now stands at 1,367.
Of the 55 people who’ve died in the past 24 hours, 41 were over 65 and, of those victims, 27 had underlying health conditions, Ferrer said. Twelve victims were between 41 and 65 and 11 of them had underlying health conditions.
So far, 92% of those who have died had underlying health conditions, Ferrer said.
Ferrer also provided a racial breakdown of the confirmed deaths, based on information confirmed for 1,260 of the victims. According to the latest available information:
- 12% African American [9% of county residents]
- 19% Asian [15.4% of county residents]
- 39% Latino / Latina [48.6% of county residents]
- 28% White [26.1% of county residents]
- 1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander [0.4% of county residents]
- 1% identified as belonging to a different race or ethnicity
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
Support for LAist comes from
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
-
Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen Erin Brockovich warned about in the 1990s, but researchers say more study is needed on the potential health effects of nanoparticles detected earlier this year. Experts will answer questions at a webinar this evening.
Best of LAist