Wednesday, May 13, Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti clarified what the Safer at Home order Extension means for the livelihood of each Angeleno. May 12, there were reports of the Safer at Home directives being extended. That was later delineated as a new health order in place that shares the same name, Safer at Home, but there is new flexibility within this directive. This information was released through the L.A. County COVID-19 Briefing by LA County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer, May 13. Mayor Garcetti explained massive amounts of people reached out to him concerned about the initiative. Garcetti broke down the new directive to a digestible size and shared the data supporting the future movements in recovery for Los Angeles.
Garcetti Stated, “…It is the job of Public Health Officials…to tell us the news and tell it straight,” the mayor continued, “… Los Angeles County is not going to be on lock down for three months.” Garcetti expressed all the progress L.A. has made, beginning with the local businesses and communal opening this past weekend. He announced that as May 13, L.A. beaches are now open for public use. The Los Angeles City Mayor reiterated the threat of COVID-19 is still an extremely pressing matter and has not waivered since the day of the outbreak.
The Slow Streets Program has been initiated; this weekend specific neighborhood streets will temporarily close. This will give people more room as they park and prevent the spread of COVID-19 within a crowded area. Within this new health order, there is a section on the use of masks, requesting that Angeleno’s always have their mask when they are outside confronted with people who do not live in their household. Depending on the test results within the following week, public officials look to continue adjusting the Safer at Home initiative.
The mayor reconfirmed throughout the briefing that Los Angeles will not be on lockdown for the next three months. L.A. has already moved forward in the new reality of post pandemic recovery, specific shops have been open since May 8, for curbside pickup services. Garcetti announced all retail stores will now be open for delivery and pickup. In addition to those businesses, manufacturing and allocation-based firms will be able to open to service smaller businesses. The initiative also includes active recreation at the beaches, one can swim, surf, and exercise along the trails of the beach. Communal spaces including tennis and pickleball courts, model airplane areas, equestrian locations, and community gardens will be opening soon.
After Today’s initiative, the next steps will be to monitor the data very closely. Within the next 4-6 weeks Los Angeles should be able to see the impact of the adjusted initiative. The L.A. elected official provided the latest updates behind the COVID-19 outbreak. Nearly 320,000 people have been tested for COVID-19. Garcetti shared as of May 13. there were 47 additional deaths. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in the L.A. County to 1,659. There were 1,264 new cases reported, bringing the total of positive COVID-19 reports to 34,428. The latest numbers reflect a 4% increase, since May 12. There is a daily average of 858 new cases. Within the city of L.A., the new report reflects 16,610 COVID-19 cases. Garcetti summarized the mission for all L.A. County officials, he stated, “How do we keep each other healthy, and safe.”
Garcetti acknowledged first responders risking their lives to keep everyone safe. The Los Angeles City Mayor announced the expansion of the emergency personnel childcare connection program. L.A. County emergency workers can enroll in childcare at one of the 18 recreation centers designated to be of assistance. Mayor Garcetti Stated, “This crisis has hit us all, in different but in deep ways across our marvelous city,” He continued, “…It is not all bad news, we are still going to have a summer, we can hit the beach, see the beautiful views from Griffith Park or one of our iconic parks…do those things that ensure even in tough times we have an outcome of a good life around us.”
