As Sunny Skies Beckon, Residents Reminded To Stay Inside

LOS ANGELES, CA —A more insidious scourge than first imagined, the new coronavirus is now forcing people to organize their closets, clean out their trunks, call their parents, do their own taxes and even draft their long-procrastinated wills. With the warm weather coming, the Office of Emergency Management warned residents against shedding their COVID-19 precautions, advising them, instead, to stay home and tackle various housebound projects.

As gorgeous spring weather shines upon the Southland, health officials worry that residents may tire of stay-at-home restrictions, and they cautioned against "behavioral fatigue." Maintaining the statewide "safer at home" restrictions and social distancing will could mean life or death for thousands during the pandemic.

On Wednesday, Los Angeles County officials warned the public Tuesday to continue to stay inside and keep practicing social distancing. Toward that end, The Office of Emergency Management provided a handy list of projects to tackle at home.

"All L.A. County residents should continue to remain inside their homes unless it is absolutely necessary to leave in order to perform an essential function," authorities said. "Each time you leave your home, you are putting yourself and anyone near you at risk for contracting and spreading COVID-19."

Acknowledging that remaining indoors as the weather gets warmer can be a challenge -- even as the number of reported cases and deaths from coronavirus accelerate rapidly -- the OEM offered some ideas about how to keep busy:

• Foster a pet through Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control at https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/become-a-foster-parent;
• Connect virtually with loved ones by call, text or video chat;
• Use free online county resources for young children available at http://prekkid.org/resources/parents-tool;
• Take online professional development courses;
• Find ideas for art activities at home at http://createca.org/createathome;
• Organize closets, home offices, cupboards, drawers and vehicles;
• Keep a routine, scheduling time to eat, sleep, perform self-care rituals and pursue at-home hobbies;
• Stay tuned in with yourself by monitoring your mental and physical health every day; and
• Make a "crisis deal" with family members, using the coronavirus crisis to talk about what truly matters, clarify essential wants and needs and set family priorities.

More information and resources are available at https://covid19.lacounty.gov.

City News Service contributed to this report.