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Morning Briefing: Doctors Brace For A Surge

Wash your hands, friends. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

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Coronavirus is roaring back into L.A. with a vengeance, and the situation is getting serious (again). Speaking to Elly Yu, an emergency room doctor who works in downtown L.A. said that hospitals are bracing for a surge (... again).

“Patients being held in the emergency room waiting to go upstairs to a bed” is now an everyday occurrence, said the doctor, who did not want to be identified. “We are about to enter a very, very difficult several weeks.”

This news comes as more than 2,000 Angelenos are currently hospitalized with the virus – an all-time high, up from 1,400 four weeks ago. In California, 11,694 new cases were reported on Tuesday.

Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County’s public health director, said the region has reached a “critical juncture.”

Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and wear your damn mask.

Jessica P. Ogilvie

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Coming Up Today, July 9

Wealthier, whiter areas of L.A. County received far more Paycheck Protection Program loans than lower-income areas, where residents are primarily people of color, reports Emily Guerin.

Get your pop art fix, catch Atom Egoyan's latest movies, learn how to dance in the Bollywood tradition and more. Christine N. Ziemba has this week’s best online and IRL events.

Live animal markets (a.k.a. wet markets) fill a need for thousands of L.A. residents, reports Yingjie Wang. City officials want to ban them – but first, they need to figure out what they are.

Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts are offering rebates on business sewer charges.Turns out you flush the toilet a lot less when you’re closed. Sharon McNary has the story.

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The Past 24 Hours In LA

#JusticeForAndresGuardado: An independent autopsy commissioned by Andrés Guardado's family found that the 18-year-old was shot five times in the back by an L.A. County Sheriff’s deputy.

Coronavirus Roars Back: More than 2,000 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in L.A. County – an all-time high. The county’s public health director said the region is at "a critical juncture in our pandemic.” Fourteen firefighters with LAFD have tested positive, and there were 11,694 new COVID-19 cases yesterday in California.

The State Of The Pod(cast): In Episode 6 of LAist Studios' podcast, "Servant of Pod with Nick Quah," Nick chats with veteran YouTuber and podcaster Hank Green about what will happen to the industry, now that it’s flush with cash.

Saving The Citrus: UC Riverside scientists have found the first substance capable of controlling citrus greening disease, which has devastated farms in other states and now threatens California.

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Photo Of The Day

A young couple strolls through Ascot Hills watching the city light up in with DIY fireworks displays, which later caused air quality to plummet in L.A.

(Chava Sanchez/LAist)

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