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Morning Briefing: LA's Tightening COVID Restrictions
The south coast Plaza Carousel remains closed due to the covid-19 pandemic. Chava Sanchez/LAist
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Good morning, L.A.
If you’ve been following along, you know that L.A. County – along with much of California – is facing yet another surge in coronavirus cases. Yesterday, the county reported 5,031 new positive tests; a record high for a single day.
In response, state officials are shutting down nightlife in L.A., and in all other counties that remain in the purple tier. Starting today, residents must be home between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. — a curfew, for all intents and purposes.
"The virus is spreading at a pace we haven’t seen since the start of this pandemic and the next several days and weeks will be critical to stop the surge,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in a statement (although Newsom himself has had trouble adhering to the restrictions he sets). “We are sounding the alarm."
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The overnight stay-at-home mandate might only be the beginning, though. If the next few days continue to bring such a high volume of new cases, and the five-day average reaches 4,500, officials implied they’d put a full Safer at Home order back in place – just like what we had in March.
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
Coming Up Today, November 20
LAist contributor Rashad Al-Dabbagh writes about why he began pushing for a separate census identity box for the Arab American community. The census went without one this year, again.
In looking at the long-term impact of COVID-19, Jackie Fortiér speaks with Tobin Nichols. Tobin contracted the virus eight months ago and is still dealing with lingering lung and breathing issues, as well as what he calls "COVID brain fog."
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Libby Denkmann will have the latest update in the still-ongoing race for California’s 25th Congressional district.
Director Katie Lindsay figured out a way to create an intimate theater experience in COVID times – not an easy feat. Her new performance, A Walk In My Neighborhood, is an audio tour of the daily walk she's taken each day since the pandemic began, reflecting on what it means to inhabit this land. Gina Pollack will have the story.
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LAist Studios Presents: Servant Of Pod With Nick Quah
In 2014, Lauren Shippen was an aspiring actor in Los Angeles: taking classes, booking intermittent gigs, and waiting tables. Four years later, she’s one of the busiest people in podcasting, thanks to The Bright Sessions, an independent fiction podcast she made on her own. In this week’s episode of Servant of Pod with Nick Quah, Nick talks with Lauren about her steadily rising career in entertainment, which spans multiple podcasts, a multi-project book deal and maybe more.
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The Past 24 Hours In LA
Money Matters: Temporary unemployment benefits provided through the federal CARES Act will end in late December for 750,000 Californians, unless Congress acts. Counting for the 2020 Census might be over, but controversy over the once-in-a-decade tally – which can determine funding for critical local programs – will likely continue.
Explanations, Explanations: As part of our Racism 101 project, our panel answers the question: “What’s the deal with the term ‘cholo’? How did it evolve, and who is allowed to say it?” L.A.-area assembly members explain and defend their trip to Hawaii for a conference with lobbyists.
No Space For U: Palmdale did not make the list of finalists to be the home of U.S. Space Command.
Here’s What To Do: Try a drive-through holiday experience, burn off quarantine calories, watch Hollywood's home movies, and more in this week’s best online and IRL events.
Photo of the Day
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A closed table is seen at The Den Cafe in Santa Ana following reimposed restrictions on indoor dining.
(Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
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