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Garcetti: Recovery Is 'Debatable,' Next 2 Weeks Are Critical
On the same day the county announced its most new coronavirus cases in a single day, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti urged residents to redouble their efforts to get the region's recovery back on track.
The city, county and state have been gradually relaxing stay-at-home restrictions to relieve some of the pressure on the local economy, even while the number of new cases has continued to rise.
In justifying the reopening of business and recreation, the mayor and public health officials have cited a steady decrease in daily deaths and hospitalization rates, balancing those numbers against the need to resuscitate an economy that has seen unemployment numbers above Great Depression levels, as the mayor noted.
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But today, Garcetti warned that the pandemic was beginning to gain the upper hand again. He pointed to a 27% increase in daily hospitalizations, and he reiterated what the county's public health director, Barbara Ferrer, had reported earlier in the day: that one in every 140 people in L.A. County are now estimated to be infectious with COVID-19:
"Whether we continue on this recovery journey is debatable. COVID-19 is taking control, and we need to take control back."
To help prepare for the Independence Day weekend and discourage gatherings, the county announced today that beaches, piers, and beach bike paths will be closed from July 3-6, and fireworks displays have been prohibited, Garcetti said.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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