Life in Los Angeles has sputtered to a halt as COVID-19 curbs the way Angelenos get around—and the places they visit. There’s no curfew and the region has not entirely shut down, but residents across the county have been told to venture outside only when absolutely necessary.
“I know that life feels fundamentally changed,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has said. “But the deeper we abide by the rules, the quicker this can be over... everyone has to keep making these temporary sacrifices for the common good.”
New closures are announced almost daily as the outbreak grows. Below, we’re tracking the latest updates.
What are the basics?
Stay at home as much as possible. Only go outside for limited recreation and trips for critical medicine and doctor’s appointments, or to help friends, family, and neighbors in-need. It’s okay to shop for groceries if it’s truly essential.
“We will see many more cases over the next few weeks. If you have enough supplies in your house, this would be the week to skip shopping all together,” Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer said today. “If you can arrange for medications and groceries to be delivered, this would be the week to put this in place.”
When outside of the home, practice social distancing, meaning keep six feet of separation between you and people not in your household. To protect people around you, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also now advising that people wear face coverings while practicing social distancing. In the city of Los Angeles, the mayor is requiring customers who shop at essential businesses—such as gas stations, banks, and grocery stores—to wear cloth face coverings.
I can still go outside?
Yes, officials have encouraged Angelenos to exercise and get fresh air. But too many people are venturing outside in groups, and away from their neighborhoods. That has prompted the closures of beaches and hiking trails.
“I understand that this is a huge sacrifice,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “But we cannot risk another sunny weekend with crowds at the beach spreading this virus. This closure is temporary and we can always reopen these beaches when it is safe to do so.”
So where should I go to fresh air?
Options are more limited now, but you can still stroll through your neighborhood and around local parks and reservoirs. Stay local and practice social distancing.
Social distancing dos and don’ts
- Do: Go for walks and bike rides on paths that have not closed in your neighborhood—but don’t go in groups and keep your distance from others.
- Do not: Visit friends and family, unless it’s urgent.
- Do: Maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others when you go out.
- Do not: Gather in groups.
- Do: Work from home.
- Do: Wear a non-medical grade fabric face covering, such as a bandana or scarf, while in public spaces and shopping (you don’t need to wear one if you’re outside exercising alone).
How is this different from before?
There are more closures in place now than there were last week, as officials have toughened their “safer-at-home” orders, clamping down on gatherings outside of the home. Initially, the orders told residents to restrict gatherings to 10 people. Now, they’re saying: Do not gather at all.
Additionally, some of the orders to close nonessential businesses to the public only applied to retailers. Now, they apply to all nonessential businesses. Those businesses, however, are allowed to continue operating, as long as employees are working from home.
Where can I read the orders?
Los Angeles County and the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Pasadena have enacted “safer-at-home” health orders.
LA County’s is here. The city of LA’s is here. The city of Long Beach’s is here. The city of Pasadena’s is here.
How long will these closures be in place?
Initially set to expire on April 19, LA County’s health order is now set to lift on May 15. Others are in place until “further notice.”
What’s closed
- On Sunday, all parks in the city of Los Angeles will close to prevent Easter gatherings. The city had already closed trails in and venues in parks, including the Griffith Observatory, but on Sunday, the parks will be closed entirely, except for park restrooms that are being used for people experiencing homelessness. The closure will include lakes and botanical gardens.
- All beaches in LA County: All public beaches, piers, beach parking lots, beach bathrooms, beach bike paths that “traverse sanded portions of the beach, and beach access points within the county of Los Angeles Public Health Jurisdiction” are closed. That includes state beaches. The city of Long Beach, which has its own health jurisdiction, has also closed its beaches and beach bike paths.
- All public trails and trailheads in LA County: A revised order issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health encompasses every trail within its jurisdiction, which includes the vast majority of its 88 incorporated cities, excluding Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own public health departments. The order covers such popular hiking destinations as Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, and Bronson Canyon.
- Some farmers markets in the city of Los Angeles: They’re allowed to reopen, but only after submitting “safe operation” plans to the city’s street services bureau for approval. Those plans must detail how market operators will implement social distancing measures. A list of famers markets that have been allowed to reopen is here, and includes the Culver City Farmers Market, Venice Farmers Market , Hollywood Farmers Market, and Atwater Village Farmers Market.
- Silver Lake Meadow
- The Rose Bowl loop
- Entrada Stairs
- Palisades Park
- Parking lots at state-owned parks, including Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, El Matador State Beach, Leo Carrillo State Park State Park, Los Angeles State Historic Park, Malibu Creek State Park, Malibu Lagoon State Beach State Park, Point Dume State Park, RH Meyer State Park, Topanga State Park, and Will Roger’s State Historic Park.
- Tennis courts, skate parks, baseball fields, and basketball courts at city of Los Angeles-owned parks, which otherwise remain open for walking or running.
- Roads and trails in Angeles National Forest, including Mt. Wilson, Icehouse Canyon Trail, and Sam Merrill Trail.
- The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve
- All nonessential businesses: They can keep running, as long as employees are working from home.
- Museums: You can’t visit them in-person, but many local institutions, including some of country’s most renowned, are putting resources, educational materials, and exhibits online.
- Restaurant dining rooms: Take-out and deliveries, however, are allowed—and even encouraged. Eater LA has compiled a running list of restaurants, by neighborhood, of restaurants with expanded delivery service.)
- County of Los Angeles beach volleyball courts
- Entertainment venues
- Bars and nightclubs
- Gyms
- Movie theaters
- Libraries
- Playgrounds, except those located within childcare centers.
- Golf courses
What’s open
- Metro: But it’s running on reduced schedule due to a big drop in ridership.
- Ride-hailing companies: It’s important to limit car trips right now—even in you personal car—but companies such as Uber and Lyft are still running. If you ride, be sure to wipe down commonly touched surfaces, such as seatbelts and door handles.
- Grocery stores
- Meal delivery companies, such as GrubHub and Postmates.
- Doctor’s offices
- Pharmacies
- Food banks
- Laundromats and dry cleaners
- Banks
- Hardware stores
- Nurseries
- Gas stations
- The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles
Are there punishments for disobeying the order?
Health orders are legally-binding, meaning violators can be cited for a misdemeanor.
But elected officials in the city of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles said they will take a “light touch” to enforcement. They are asking residents to self-comply for the health and safety of the entire community.
The public can report out-of-compliance businesses at coronavirus.lacity.org/reportbusinessviolation.
The city manager of Santa Monica has also said that his first priority is also to educate the public. But he added: “It’s important for people to know that our local orders include the ability to fine individuals and businesses that do not abide voluntarily.”
Comments
how bad this gets is up to all of us. keeping a safe distance from other people and washing your hands etc will make a big difference. if possible, I would not be taking the subway or bus if it is crowded. this is a good time for people to slow down their lives, clean the hell out of their living environments etc. people with no symptoms may have the virus and pass it around so don’t assume you’re okay just because people around you aren’t sick. also, pass on going to the gym. wash everything you can that you purchase at the store – who knows who touched it just before you purchased it.
By LAoneWay on 03.13.20 6:33am
How bad this gets is more up to the virus. Washing your hands and stuff like that is largely the delusion of control to keep people from panicking. To remove a significant portion of a virus from your hands, you have to scrub them under hot water for MINUTES like a surgeon. Hand sanitizer is more effective, but there’s no to be had if you dont already have it. By handling things in order to wash germs off, you will then come into contact with the germs. If the virus is in your living environment, you already have it. The hypochondria with the flu is bad enough, but now with this you have to be worried about giving it to people when you don’t even have it? Sorry, but its largely beyond your control.
By iONu on 03.13.20 8:20am
Your comment is misinformation central. It’s largely within your control for the reasons stated by LAoneway. Keep your distance from other people. Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. Wipe down your cell phone and anything else that you touched with unclean hands with a sanitizing wipe.
And washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water is way more effective than hand sanitizer.
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html
By LADude on 03.13.20 8:40am
direct quotes from your source: "Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are the preferred way to clean your hands in healthcare facilities.", "An alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the preferred method for cleaning your hands when they are not visibly dirty", " Plain soaps have minimal, if any, antimicrobial activity", "…in several studies, handwashing with plain soap failed to remove pathogens from the hands of hospital personnel", " Handwashing with plain soap can
result in paradoxical increases in bacterial counts on the skin". Try doing more than 3 seconds of research next time you want to act like an expert.
By iONu on 03.13.20 9:50am
Yeah bro, you left out the part that those are the recommendations for "Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings" (first link below). How about for normal people in normal settings, which is what we are talking about (second link below). Try not providing people with misinformation next time you want to act like an expert.
https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/science/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/pdf/hand-sanitizer-factsheet.pdf
By LADude on 03.13.20 12:25pm
Those are general hygiene guidelines. They do not pertain to removing coronaviruses from your hands. The version of their information you are showing me is the simplified version for dumb-dumbs that can’t read beyond the 9th grade level. However, important note in there: " Knowing when to clean your hands and which
method to use will give you the best chance of preventing sickness." That is your deficit.
You might check this out if you managed to graduate high school.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5116.pdf
By iONu on 03.13.20 4:57pm
Setting aside my discussion (below) of what you posted and why it supports my position and that you’re so very, very wrong, soap actually kills the coronavirus.
Just read it. There is a reason why these recommendations are for HCWs (health care workers). Pages 11 to 13 discuss the effectiveness and explain that it depends on the type of sanitizer and the amount used, and what you are trying to prevent. Hand sanitizer is most effective against bacteria (what you are concerned about most in the healthcare setting) and requires that a sufficient amount be used (which most people are not going to coat their entire hand in enough sanitizing liquid for it to be as effective as hand washing). Moreover, it explains that sanitizer is not as effective on hands that have a "proteinaceous" liquid such as saliva. Lastly, they learned that HCWs are less likely to wash their hands and dry them thoroughly (drying is very important) than using hand sanitizer that is located at the entry to the door of the room (not sure if you got that deep into it). Bottom line is that nothing in that publication supports that people trying to avoid coronavirus should be using hand sanitizer instead of washing their hands thoroughly.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/12/science-soap-kills-coronavirus-alcohol-based-disinfectants
https://www.thestate.com/news/nation-world/national/article241225781.html
By LADude on 03.16.20 2:55pm
Thanks for being so thorough, LADude. We’ll all be doctors by the time this crap is over, because I think this is a lot for the average person to digest. Think of all the people who never washed their hands the proper way, and all the people who don’t wash their hands before exiting the restroom.
By GJJ3000 on 03.24.20 7:08pm
LADude is correct. The only time hand sanitizers are recommended over washing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds is when soap is not readily available. The issue here is killing the virus, not prepping for surgery.
By mrxman on 03.13.20 2:00pm
You are wrong, plain and simple. Why do you think surgeons scrub up for surgery? It’s to remove bacteria! Washing your hands for 15-20 seconds does not kill anything. That’s straight from the cdc pdf link I posted above. You can find it in there yourself.
By iONu on 03.13.20 5:00pm
Here is a story about how soap washes away the coronavirus:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/health/soap-coronavirus-handwashing-germs.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Health
By Mr Biswas on 03.13.20 6:17pm
Yes, I said above that you can remove a virus from your hands with soap, but you need to scrub your hands for minutes at time, which is what that NY Times article basically says. No one washes their hands like that, and the general guidelines they’re putting out, again see above, are for 15-20 seconds, which does nothing. However, I question their conclusions, because the ones I’m deferring to in the cdc report reference more than a dozen studies specifically comparing various types of hand cleansing, and this NY Times article references nothing other than a random chemistry professor.
By iONu on 03.13.20 8:38pm
Despite the fact that every article and recommendation very clearly says that soap is more effective for protecting from coronavirus, you will not convince iONu – who is very clearly wrong – that he is wrong. Everything he is saying relates to healthcare workers in the healthcare setting. he posted a CDC study above that, if you read it, explains why santizer is more effective in the healthcare setting.
By LADude on 03.16.20 2:59pm
Yeah, maybe he should rent a $750/month 2-bedroom in Alhambra.
By LosFeliz$ean on 03.16.20 3:15pm
$ean if you move to this place and never post on this site again I will pay your rent. You can finally move out of Mommy’s house after 47 years! Win for all.
By Ravid Dyu on 03.18.20 6:52pm
Go ahead, find a $750/month 2-bedroom in Alhambra for me.
By LosFeliz$ean on 03.18.20 9:15pm
It’s called "roommates"
By Entitlement Society on 03.24.20 5:18pm
Yo the coronavirus is not a bacteria. It is a virus. Everybody says wash your damn hands, so wash your hands.
By Greyvagabond on 03.13.20 11:41pm
Numerous sources say the soap and water is more effective than disinfectants, because disinfectants are less than 100% effective; apparently the soap itself will stop the virus from spreading but I don’t think it kills; one person from Australia said there is nothing that can kill the virus.
By GJJ3000 on 03.24.20 7:04pm
Explain how to keep safe distance when you go shopping for food and everyone is breathing the same air.
By myislandXP on 03.25.20 12:33pm
I’ve yet to hear an exit strategy for this. Just hey, let’s try this, wreck everything, and then see what happens. So when everyone sequesters themselves from reality for a month and the virus is still floating around, then what?
By iONu on 03.13.20 8:09am
You seem to keep missing the point. It’s about flattening the curve of infection. No one has said it would be eliminated from the planet in a month. That’s stupid. We all know, just like the seasonal flu, it will be months. And this could come back next year or reappear in the Fall the way the Spanish Flu did 100 years ago.
By mrxman on 03.13.20 2:03pm
I didn’t say anything about the point of the various steps that have been taken. I said exit strategy, which you missed the point on, and will not be able to address because there isnt one.
By iONu on 03.13.20 5:02pm
I feel like your comments get dumber and dumber. There is no exit plan because there is never an exit plan for a virus. The virus will always be around now. As mrxman said, the point is to slow the spread so it doesn’t overwhelm our healthcare system. Eventually the spread will decline (hopefull warmer summer weather will help). Hopefully in a year or two they will have a vaccine so we can avoid another pandemic of COVID-19.
By LADude on 03.16.20 3:03pm
spanish flu???
Racist!!!
By Cream Of Toast on 03.14.20 9:50pm