Los Angeles County announced a relaxation of the public Health Officer Order that would allow certain kinds of non-essential businesses to reopen as  soon as Friday, May 8 for curbside service only.

In addition, county trails and golf courses would be allowed to reopen, while keeping in mind social distancing. At golf courses, pro shops would remain closed and restaurant concessions would only be open for take-out orders. Face coverings must be worn on the trails and at golf courses.

Barbara Ferrer, the director of the county’s Department of Public Health, said that beaches would remain closed for the time being. “We are working on a plan to reopen beaches but it will be a slow reopening in a way that is as safe as possible. We can look forward to that happening pretty soon,” she added.

The county decision, announced by Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger, mirrors much the state guidelines for reopening announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this week. 

Businesses that may resume operating as soon as Friday include florists, book stores, music stores and car dealerships. Ferrer and Barger said more information would be posted in the next 24 to 48 hours on opening guidelines.

In detailing the phases of relaxing in the county health department order, Ferrer said we now going into Stage 2, with Stage 1 being the full “Safer at Home” order at present.

As stage two continues and advances, some cultural institutions like museums may be allowed to reopen. Libraries would be included in this stage. All of these institutions would require social distancing, monitoring crowd sizes and, of course, the wearing of masks.

Under Stage 3, which seems to be some time in the future, what Ferrer terms “high-risk businesses” would be allowed to reopen. Those businesses would include movie theaters, bowling alleys, body art parlors, massage parlors, bars and nightclubs. Again, reduced capacity would be needed.

Stage three would also include schools and colleges but again there was no timeframe for those openings.

Stage 4 would include what she termed “very high-risk enterprises” like sporting events and large conventions.

Stage 5, she said, would be fully normal operations.

The county has posted a roadmap to recovery portal on its website, listing the safeguards necessary for a phased reopening and the process for a successful reopening.

The relaxation of the health department’s orders came as Ferrer reported 58 new deaths in the last 24 hours in Los Angeles County bringing the total of deaths from COVID-19 to 1,367. Of those deaths, 682 have occurred among residents of institutional facilities, mostly at skilled nursing facilities. Those mostly elderly and health-compromised persons now make up a full 50% of the county’s death toll. In addition, in fact, 92% of those who died from COVID-19 in the county had underlying health conditions.

Ferrer also reported 851 new cases bringing the total number of cases in the county to 28,644.

More information on the county totals including breakdowns by city may be found on the dashboard at the county’s website.

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Want to help?

• California is looking for healthy volunteers to safely help their local communities. Go to the Californians for All site to get info on volunteering in the community or from home.
• California is looking for donations of medical resources to respond to COVID-19. Go to the site to see what kind of equipment is needed.
• L.A. County is looking to lease hotel and motels for COVID-19 testing, quarantine, isolation and medical shelters. Contact the Office of Emergency Operations Center. See today’s situation.
• Looking for other ways? National and Community Service, the home of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, have ideas.

Need help?

• Call 2-1-1 for:
  • Homeless services and medical shelters
  • Drive-through COVID-19 testing appointments
  • Any other referrals to county services
• Meals:
  • Critical Delivery Service or 888-863-7411
  • Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services page or 800-510-2020
  • County COVID-19 food resource dashboard
• Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check):
  • Non-filer payment information
• Department of Mental Health or 24-hour help line 800-854-7771
• Domestic Violence
  • Domestic Violence Council or 800-978-3000
  • Violence Against Women Act: Certain non-citizens in abusive situations can apply for permanent residency
  • Hotline: 800-978-3600
• Employment:
  • OnwardCA is working to place people into open positions.
• Info from the county on a face covering, video directions on how to make one.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health page.

For all of the reporting from the Alhambra Source, go to our Stay Healthy page.

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