ROADMAP TO REOPENING LOS ANGELES
Safer at Home: March 19 order to ‘Stay at Home’ during COVID-19 outbreak
On March 19, in response to the urgent need to protect Angelenos from COVID-19 and save lives, Mayor Garcetti joined L.A. County leaders in issuing an emergency Safer at Home order. The order called on Angelenos to stay in their residences and limit all activities outside of their homes beyond what is necessary for essential tasks.
L.A. residents have also been required to wear a face covering when they leave their homes and are near other people and are urged to practice safe physical distancing, wash their hands often, and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Our actions under the Safer at Home order have helped to flatten the curve and prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Collectively, our efforts also made it possible for us to avoid overwhelming our hospitals to continue ensuring that patients — whether diagnosed with COVID-19 or experiencing other conditions — get the care they need.
We need to continue our collective efforts to flatten the curve and protect Angelenos from this virus.
Safer L.A.: Making adjustments to Safer at Home
COVID-19 continues to be a serious threat to public health — and will be until there is a vaccine or effective treatment.
Guided by State and County public health experts, and working collaboratively with regional leaders, Mayor Garcetti and the City of Los Angeles are approaching our response to COVID-19 in stages.
We’re not moving past COVID-19, but learning how to live with it safely. On May 8, we implemented the first adjustments to the Safer at Home restrictions. In the weeks that followed, we have made additional modifications to align with the State and County and continued to monitor public health and economic data to ensure that every step forward is safe.
As Mayor Garcetti has said, the path forward will not always be linear. At times, we will take steps forward — at other times, we may have to pause or even take steps back if needed to save lives.
The only way to open our economy is to do it gradually and dial things back if the disease spreads so quickly that it risks overwhelming our hospitals.
COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
Stage I of the COVID-19 crisis in Los Angeles — the period between when the Safer at Home order was implemented on March 19 and May 8 — was crisis management mode, focused on saving as many lives as possible.
On May 8, the City and County of Los Angeles entered Stage II, beginning the process of slow and gradual adjustments to the Safer at Home order.
On June 12, Los Angeles County entered the third stage, and has begun the transition to a state of monitoring with the goal of lifting additional restrictions in this and the fourth stage. In the fifth and final stage, the City will be fully reopened and turn to reimagining itself in a post-COVID-19 world.
On July 1, the State issued an order to temporarily close indoor activities at restaurants, wineries, zoos, and cardrooms in 19 counties in California, including L.A. County. This followed the closure several days earlier of bars in L.A. County. Governor Newsom ordered the closures in counties with troubling trends in hospitalizations, community transmission, and hospital capacity.
On July 13, the State ordered the closure in 30 counties, including L.A. County, of indoor operations at fitness centers, places of worship, offices for non-critical sectors, personal care services (nail, massage, and tattoo), hair salons and barbershops, and malls.
Mayor Garcetti will continue collaborating to make decisions with leaders at the County, State, and Federal levels and will keep the public informed at each stage of the process.
REOPENING LOS ANGELES’ ECONOMY IN STAGES
On May 8, the City and County of Los Angeles transitioned to Stage II and began making a series of gradual adjustments to the Safer at Home order. Five days later, on May 13, Mayor Garcetti announced an order requiring Angelenos to wear face coverings when outside their homes. A growing body of research shows that the routine use of face coverings can significantly slow the spread of COVID-19.
In Stages II and III, more businesses reopened. You can find a full list of businesses that are open and those that remain closed here.
Comprehensive guidance for businesses on the County’s reopening protocols and requirements can be found here. Business toolkits are also available to simplify the reopening process.
PROTOCOLS AND GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESSES
KEY INDICATORS
Public health data and the guidance of experts will continue to guide the City of Los Angeles through each stage of our response and recovery. The State of California and Los Angeles County have defined key public health indicators to assist public health experts and government officials in determining whether the COVID-19 crisis is improving, staying the same, or worsening — and to then take action accordingly.
These indicators are being used to monitor and guide future decisions about when to loosen or strengthen restrictions. Mayor Garcetti is also monitoring a wide array of detailed economic, public health and safety data and will continue making this information available to the public. You can also visit the County’s recovery dashboard here.
HOW ANGELENOS CAN HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN LOS ANGELES
We are asking all Angelenos to stay at home as much as possible — especially those who are over the age of 65 or who have underlying health conditions. You should practice good hygiene by washing your hands and disinfecting high touch surfaces frequently. You should also practice physical distancing by staying 6 feet from other people and stay out of groups. You are still required to wear a face covering when outside of your home and near other people.
We will get through this, but we must all do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
