LA County’s tighter restrictions aim to reduce crowding and exposure

Stricter COVID-19 restrictions that may take impact Friday — reminiscent of decreasing indoor and out of doors capacities at eating places and retail outlets — in Los Angeles County amid a surge in diagnoses and hospitalizations purpose to cut back crowding and exposures, Public Well being officers stated Tuesday. 

On the identical time, the county introduced practically 4,000 new confirmed circumstances of COVID-19, the very best one-day complete since July.

“We’re centered in two areas: decreasing the likelihood for crowding and decreasing the potential for exposures in settings the place individuals are not all the time sporting face coverings,” stated Public Well being Director Barbara Ferrer. 

On Tuesday, the division released a listing of tightened pandemic safeguards reminiscent of a compulsory closure of all non-essential companies between 10 p.m. and 6 p.m., limiting occupancy to 25% most capability at indoor areas reminiscent of retail shops and places of work, and 50% at out of doors locations like eating places and breweries. Out of doors gatherings stay the one gatherings permitted, and so they should solely embrace 15 individuals most who’re members of not more than three households. 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose fifth District consists of the Santa Clarita Valley, reiterated Tuesday these amendments to the county well being officer order don’t equate to a curfew or lockdown. 

“I perceive that there’s been some confusion over the previous couple of days, however I’d prefer to make clear that this isn’t a curfew or lockdown however a precautionary measure,” she stated. “I wish to emphasize that, in the end, 95% of companies which have reopened have been in compliance with public well being tips. Nevertheless, we’re implementing these precautions to assist stop ongoing transmissions.” 

The tightened restrictions come as officers additionally introduced 3,944 new COVID-19 circumstances Wednesday and a check positivity charge of seven.1%, which has elevated from the 5.1% on Nov. 8 and three.9% on Nov. 1 — proof that neighborhood transmission is growing, stated Ferrer. 

Hospitalizations, which Ferrer stated is “probably the most dependable” metric in understanding how the county is doing in decreasing transmission, are additionally on the rise. On Nov. 1, the common variety of individuals hospitalized marked 791. Two weeks later, that determine rose to greater than 1,010 and as of Wednesday, admissions approached 1,100. In September, the county noticed about 100 new circumstances every day of people that wanted to be hospitalized. Right this moment, that quantity is nearer to 200, in accordance with county Well being Providers Director Christina Ghaly. 

As of Wednesday, the county had ample hospital mattress capability, together with at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, in accordance with spokesman Patrick Moody, who stated, “We aren’t even near capability.” 

A complete of 20 individuals have been reportedly admitted to the native hospital, he stated. 

Ghaly warned that hospitals should change gears, discharging sufferers who don’t require hospital-level care and returning to canceling non-essential surgical procedures, ought to figures proceed to rise. Henry Mayo Chief Scientific Officer Larry Kidd stated the hospital is ready and outfitted. 

“We’re continually monitoring our COVID affected person census. We’re assured in our means to look after a rise in sufferers, ought to it happen, as, if needed, we will put together extra rooms for these sufferers,” Kidd stated in an announcement. “Moreover, we take part in a statewide hospital community that helps direct sufferers to hospitals the place beds can be found. Collectively, we’re ready (to) handle a surge in sufferers ought to we expertise one.”

The county’s five-day common is 2,884 circumstances every day and if that quantity rises to 4,000 or extra, restrictions would restrict eating places and breweries to pickup and supply companies. If numbers improve to 4,500 or extra a “Safer at Dwelling” order would return for 3 weeks. 

With that in thoughts, officers are steering residents again to the fundamentals — face coverings, social distancing and handwashing. 

“What we did prior to now labored, however we have to renew our dedication, and our diligence and slowing the unfold of COVID-19 and the restrictions which are in place,” stated Ferrer.