L.A. County strongly recommends indoor masking as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations jump to 10,000 and death rates soar
“Many public places like movie theaters, concerts, gyms, movie theaters, bars and nightclubs have begun to reopen while there are still large numbers of cases, and many restaurants that have remained on lockdown are reopening,” Coronavirus: California to reopen sports and entertainment industry
Los Angeles County officials are recommending that residents and visitors use face masks in public gatherings, restaurants and bars, and other places where people congregate, beginning Thursday.
That comes a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom said he is ordering all Californians to wear a face mask in public.
In an effort to contain the fast-spreading virus, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommends that residents and visitors wear face masks at all times in public places and in all public spaces.
The orders apply in all city and county facilities, but people should avoid congregating in large groups, and should avoid gatherings with more people, places to hold them, such as stadiums with more than 500 people, as well as parks with more than a thousand people.
“Anyone who doesn’t follow our order should be regarded as a person who is in breach of their community’s health and safety order,” Department of Public Health Deputy Director, Dr. Marc Siegel said in a statement. “Our goal is to prevent the spread of this virus by practicing common sense hygiene, but there’s no time to waste.”
The order is aimed at reducing the spread of the virus and to help prevent and control local hospitalizations, according to the press release.
“When it comes to preventing and fighting this virus, your health and the health of your family comes first,” Newsom said in a statement Tuesday. “We have to practice social distancing in our county to slow the spread of the virus.”
He has ordered the closure of all schools, and the cancellation of all noncritical court hearings until the end of April.
Newsom also