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LA County Will Start Fining Businesses For Coronavirus Health Order Violations
A notice at Tak's Coffee Shop in Crenshaw asks patrons to wear a face mask inside the restaurant. Businesses that don't comply with health orders will soon face fines. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Los Angeles County health officials on Thursday announced a new crackdown on businesses that break coronavirus protection protocols.
Starting at the end of August, businesses that don't comply with the rules will be fined between $100 and $500, and multiple offenses will result in a 30-day permit suspension.
Since March, the Public Health Department says its inspectors have investigated more than 24,000 restaurants, grocery stores, pools and other businesses suspected of violating health orders.
Nearly 100 businesses were shut down as a result. The county said most other businesses either complied or were already working on compliance when the investigation was opened.
In a statement, county health director Barbara Ferrer said: "We want to be reasonable and work with business owners, but we also know that time is of the essence to slow the spread of this virus and protect the health of workers, customers, and their families.”
L.A. County's Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis says compliance is paramount for the long-term reopening of businesses and the public's health and safety:
"The hospitalizations among younger adults are increasing, but 75 percent of those who are dying right now are still older adults. This is alarming and all these numbers represent individual people who are missed, who are loved and who are unwell."
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BY THE NUMBERS
L.A. County confirmed 49 new deaths and 2,014 new cases of COVID-19 today.
That brings the county totals to 166,848 positive cases and 4,262 deaths.
Here are a few other key figures for today:
- 92% of people who died had underlying conditions
- Nearly 1.6 million test results are now available, with 10% of all people testing positive
- Nearly 12,000 people have been hospitalized in L.A. County since the pandemic began
- Currently, 2,210 people confirmed to have COVID-19 are hospitalized, with 28% in the ICU and 19% on ventilators
- Hospitalizations have remained at more than 2,200 for five consecutive days
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