Los Angeles County Announces a Second Death Related to 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and 40 New Cases of Confirmed COVID-19 in Los Angeles County 

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed a second death and 40 new cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The State of California, County of Los Angeles, and various cities have also issued “Stay at Home” orders similar to the orders to shelter in place at home already in place in the Bay Area.

West Hollywood cases rose to 12 from yesterday, which may reflect the positive test of Mayor John D’Amico announced late last night. To date, Public Health has identified 231 cases across all areas in LA County,

Under the “Safer at Home” guidelines, L.A. County has directed residents to refrain from gathering in an enclosed space with more than 10 people. First responders and those in healthcare, government, food services, and other essential industries will still be on the job. The order directs businesses deemed nonessential, such as retail stores and malls, to close temporarily.

“This is the next step in protecting our communities from the coronavirus and will have invaluable long-term effects,” Supervisor Katherine Barger said. “This order will increase social distancing while still enabling residents to shop for essential items at the market, pharmacy, and hardware store, and still be able to visit the bank or gas station.”

The death in L.A. County occurred in an individual in their 30’s with underlying health conditions from an unincorporated area outside of Pasadena.  Because there are positive cases across the entire County, the public should not think one location is safer than the other.  Additional information regarding some of the new cases are pending completion of an investigation.

California Governor Newsom issued a statewide order tonight, March 19, 2020, for all Californians to “stay at home” until further notice. Also today, Los Angeles County issued a mandatory Order in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 within the County.  The County Order limits the gathering of people and requires the closure of malls, shopping centers, children’s playgrounds, and non-essential retail businesses. The County Order is in effect beginning at 11:59 p.m. on March 19, 2020 and continues through April 19, 2020.

The City of Culver City will likely issue a similar order tomorrow, March 20, 2020, although the City residents and businesses are also subject to the State and County Order.

The full text of the State Order and the County Order are available online.

State Order Summary

Essential services will remain open such as:

• Gas stations
• Pharmacies 
• Food: Grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, take-out and delivery restaurants 
• Banks
• Laundromats/laundry services

Essential state and local government functions will also remain open, including law enforcement and offices that provide government programs and services.

The following will be closed:

• Dine-in restaurants
• Bars and nightclubs
• Entertainment venues
• Gyms and fitness studios
• Public events and gatherings
• Convention Centers

County Order Summary

The County Order Prohibits:

• All public and private group events and gatherings of 10 or more people.
• Events and gatherings with less than 10 people are subject to social distancing and other public health requirements.

The following types of businesses are immediately ordered to close:

• Non-essential retail businesses
• Indoor malls and shopping centers
• Playgrounds

More Details on the County Order

Businesses that are considered essential and are not ordered to close include:

• Grocery stores, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, and other establishments engaged in the retail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, pet supply, water, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other household consumer products (such as cleaning or personal care products). This includes stores that sell groceries and sell other non-grocery products, and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences;
• Food cultivation, including farming, livestock, and fishing;
• Businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals;
• Newspapers, television, radio, magazine, podcast and other media services;
• Gas stations, and auto-supply, auto-repair, car dealerships and related facilities;
• Banks, credit unions, and related financial institutions;
• Hardware stores, nurseries; building supplies;
• Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, custodial/janitorial workers, handyman services, funeral home workers and morticians, moving services, HVAC installers, carpenters, vegetation services, tree maintenance, landscapers, gardeners, property managers, private security personnel and other service providers who provide services to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation to properties and other Essential Businesses;
• Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes;
• Educational institutions (including public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities) for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing essential functions, provided that social distancing of 6-feet per person is maintaining to the greatest extent possible;
• Laundromats, dry cleaners, laundry service providers, personal grooming services;
• Restaurants and other food facilities that prepare and serve food, but only for delivery, drive thru or carry out;
• Businesses that supply office or computer products needed by people who work from home;
• Businesses that supply other Essential Businesses with the support or supplies necessary to operate;
• Businesses that ship, truck, provide logistical support or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences, Essential Businesses, Healthcare Operations, Essential Infrastructure;
• Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for activities of daily living and other purposes expressly authorized in this Order;
• Businesses that provide parts and service for Essential Infrastructure;
• Home-based care for seniors, adults, disabled persons, or children;
• Residential facilities and shelters for seniors, adults, disables person, and children;
• Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities;
• Military/Defense Contractors/FFRDC (Federally Funded Research and Development Centers);
• Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in the Order to work as permitted. To the extent possible, childcare facilities must operate under the following mandatory conditions:  (1) Childcare must be carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer (“stable” means the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day); (2) Children shall not change from one group to another; (3) If more than one group of children is cared for at once facility, each group shall be in a separate room.  Groups shall not mix with each other; (4) Childcare providers shall remain solely with one group of children.
• Hotels, motels, shared rental units and similar facilities.

The limitations on events and gatherings contained in the Order do not apply to the following essential services:

• attendance at regular school classes, work at Essential Businesses, or essential governmental services;
• places where people are in transit or waiting for transit including airports or bus or train stations or terminals;
• congregate living situations, including dormitories; or
• hospitals and healthcare facilities.

The Order does not apply to the following essential infrastructure or operations:

• Healthcare Operations (hospitals, clinics, laboratories, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, other licensed healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare service providers, mental health providers, cannabis dispensaries with a medicinal cannabis license, medical or scientific research, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services, manufacturers, distributors and servicers of medical devices, diagnostics, and equipment, veterinary care, and all healthcare provided to animals. This exemption shall be broadly construed to avoid any impact to the delivery of healthcare, broadly defined.  Healthcare Operations does not include fitness and exercise gyms and similar exercise or training facilities.
• Essential Infrastructure, including but not limited to, public works construction, construction of housing (in particular affordable housing or housing for individuals experience homelessness), airport operations, port operations, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, road and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet and telecommunications systems  (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services), provided that they carry out those services or that work in compliance with social distancing requirements, to the extent practicable.

More details can be found by reading the County Order.