L.A. County restricts public gatherings in response to rising COVID-19 cases

Los Angeles County officials released a new stay at home order Friday, November 27. The order came as a response to a sudden surge of positive COVID-19 cases.

The county has confirmed an additional 24 deaths due to COVID, as well as 4,544 new confirmed cases.

The stay at home order will go into effect Monday, November 30 and will last for three weeks.

This stay at home order will not be as strict as the order released in March; however, it is still expected to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Under the new restrictions, people are required to stay home as much as possible. The order also bans individuals from gathering with those who are not in their immediate household.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health commented on the new guidelines, “Residents are advised to stay home as much as possible and always wear a face-covering over their nose and mouth when they are outside their household and around others.”

Although social gatherings are restricted, religious gatherings and protests are still permitted. These gatherings are “constitutionally protected rights,” said the Department of Public Health.

The new guidelines will also affect business operations. Essential retail stores will have to limit occupancy to 35%, while non-essential retailers will limit 20%.

The stay-at-home order is expected to be lifted on December 20, granted there is a decline in COVID-19 cases.