Barbara Ferrer, County Public Health Director, announced today that Los Angeles County’s stay-at-home orders will “with all certainty” be extended for the next three months, despite the fact that the county has already started to ease some restrictions and reopen the local economy under a five-step plan.
Ferrer’s comments came shortly before Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he was modifying the state’s stay-at-home orders to allow individual counties to approve the reopening of malls for curbside pickup service only. The order also allows for the reopening of some offices if teleworking is not feasible.
"Until the final stage five is reached, Health Officer Orders and directives will continue to ensure the slow of spread of COVID-19 to prevent an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 cases at healthcare facilities", said officials.
The update to L.A.'s stay-at-home orders comes as officials try to meet two needs: restarting the economy under a new normal while also ensuring that the resurgence in activity doesn’t upend progress in the fight against the coronavirus.
Ferrer said that timeline would shorten only if there was a “dramatic change to the virus and tools at hand.” “It’s safer to stay at home. COVID-19 has not changed,” Ferrer reminded residents on Monday.
