Wednesday, May 27, will mark the day retail stores across L.A. are available for indoor shopping since coronavirus took hold of the city. Los Angeles County Officials announced faith-based services and indoor shopping are now available, but not at full capacity. There are guidelines in place to ensure a safe reopening, the state set up requirements to embody the safer-at-home to the safer-at-work model. The Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer disclosed details behind the rapid reopening and provide the statistics supporting the county’s decision to swiftly adjust economic recovery.
Permitted activities now include the gathering of faith-based services, all retail including those located in-doors can operate at 50% capacity. Flea markets, swap meets, and drive-in movies are open to the community. Pools and jacuzzi accessibility are available to tenants in shared residency. In order to keep all these progressive steps in line, the public health department provided specific guidelines for this alternating experience. Additionally, the county considered the act of protest and made social distancing guidelines to follow under the state regulation, such as the California Pandemic Resilience Roadmap.
Dr. Ferrer provided the latest numbers surrounding coronavirus. As of Wednesday, May 27, there were 53 additional deaths, 35 of these individuals were between the ages of 65 and over, 30 of them with underlining health conditions. 14 people who died were between the ages of 41-65, 12 of these victims had preexisting health concerns. Two people were under the age of 41, one person had underlining health conditions. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in the L.A. County to 2,195. 14% of all positive cases were hospitalized at some point. Fatal cases within congregational settings such as assistant living represent 52% of overall COVID-19 deaths. Nationally, there has been over 100,000 deaths stemming from COVID-19.
Ferrer disclosed as of May 27, there were 933 new COVID-19 reports. In summary, there is a total amount of 48,700 coronavirus cases in the Los Angeles region. 1,605 incidents were reported in the city of Long Beach and 883 cases in the city of Pasadena. The statistics among the unsheltered community report 368 positive cases, 181 individuals were staying at a shelter and properly isolated.
The relationship between COVID-19 effects and ethnicity were provided. The racial background was collected for 1,898 fatal cases, 12% were African American, 17% were Asian, 1% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 40% were LatinX, 29% were white, and 1% identified as a different race or ethnicity. 93% of those who died due to COVID-19 had preexisting health concerns.
The California Pandemic Resilience Roadmap consists of four stages to move towards recovery. It includes reflection from each sector of business, in order to create a custom fit safer-at-work plan. The system is looking to weave social distancing into the economy, in order to build in a fragile place. Developing resources for wage replacement and revising the educational development format is also under consideration. Although this is a statewide compass, there is opportunity within the regional level to operate according to their status of infection.
Supervisor Hilda Solis stated, “This is another big milestone for LA County as, step by step, we begin safely reopening our communities and economy,” Solis said. “But reopening does not mean going back to business as usual. As long as community members follow safety rules, we can continue to make more progress. Our houses of worship can once again welcome people inside. Shopping malls and communal flea markets can get back to business. I am so proud of all the progress we’ve made to protect our loved ones from COVID-19. Given our resilience and collective sacrifice, we are ready to take the next step to reopen our economy.”
