County Issues New Public Health Order

As a step toward slowly and safely reopening, the Los Angeles County Public Health Officer issued a new Stay at Home Order on May 13, 2020.

This new Order replaces all previous orders, and similar to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-33-20 does not have an expiration date.

According to this Order, there is evidence that COVID-19 continues to present a substantial and significant risk of harm to individuals health. Therefore, the Order allows for some businesses and public spaces to open with precautions to ensure low person-to-person contact, continued physical distancing and adherence to infection control protocols. Specifically this Order allows the following:

Retail, Manufacturing, and Logistic Businesses May Reopen

Lower-risk retail businesses may reopen only for curbside, outside or door-side pickup, or delivery. Manufacturing and logistic businesses that supply retail businesses may also reopen. However, the public is not allowed to go inside. 

Preconditions/Limitations/Directives: Before retail, manufacturing, and logistic businesses reopen, they are required to prepare, implement and post their plan for adhering to directives including distancing and infection control practices that protect both employees and customers. 

Beaches May Reopen For Active Recreation

Beaches can reopen for active recreation including running, walking, swimming and surfing. 

Preconditions/Limitations/Directives:

Group sports and activities like picnicking and sunbathing are not permitted, and parking lots, bike paths, piers, and boardwalks, remain closed. 

Select Recreational Facilities May Reopen

Select recreational facilities including golf courses, tennis courts, shooting and archery ranges, equestrian centers and community gardens can also reopen.

Preconditions/Limitations/Directives:

Everyone must continue to practice physical distancing of at least six feet apart and wear a clean cloth face covering that securely covers both nose and mouth when around people outside of household. 

Higher-risk Businesses Must Remain Closed, Group Gatherings Prohibited

This Order continues to require higher-risk businesses remain closed and prohibits public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit.

Higher-risks business are those where more frequent and prolonged person-to-person contacts are likely to occur, such as gyms and fitness centers, movie theaters, theme parks, bowling alleys, barbers, hair and nail salons, massage establishments, indoor and outdoor children playgrounds.

Public Health will assess the activities allowed by this Order on an ongoing basis and modify this Order as appropriate. 

Roadmap to Recovery Plan

Currently, Los Angeles County is in stage two of the five-stage Roadmap to Recovery and until the final stage five is reached, Health Officer Orders and directives will continue to ensure the slowing of the spread of COVID-19 to prevent an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 cases at healthcare facilities.

As with the previous health officer orders, everyone is encouraged to stay home as much as possible and only go out for essential activities. These activities include:

• Visiting a health or veterinary care professional
• Obtaining grocery items or other necessary supplies from essential businesses
• Accessing legal or social services, or complying with a court or law enforcement order
• Caring for minors, older adults, or persons with disabilities
• Engaging in active outdoor recreation activity