West Hollywood Governor And LA County Announce Closure Of Additional Indoor Sectors Due To Risk Of Coronavirus

Press release from the City of West Hollywood:

July 13, 2020

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City of West Hollywood is getting the word out that Los Angeles County will heed a directive today from Governor Gavin Newsom that, effective immediately, indoor operations for certain sectors in 30 counties in the state must close effective immediately including gyms and fitness centers; places of worship; indoor protests; offices for non-critical infrastructure sectors; personal care services, including nail salons, massage parlors, and tattoo parlors; hair salons and barbershops; and malls. Non-critical infrastructure sectors are identified on the Official California State Government Website at www.covid19.ca.gov.

Additionally, bars, breweries, brew pubs, pubs, wineries, and tasting rooms; indoor dining at restaurants; and indoor museums, among other sectors such as indoor zoo/aquariums, cardrooms, and satellite wagering facilities, remain closed at this time in Los Angeles County. This includes the City of West Hollywood, which is in the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has announced that its Health Officer Order will be modified to align with Governor Newsom’s directive. A forthcoming updated Health Officer Order will be available on the LA County Public Health website at http://ph.lacounty.gov/coronavirus.

According to LA County Public Health, there has been a sharp increase in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and this is, again, a critical moment to flatten the curve. A surge in new cases has followed the reopening of certain sectors, which has promoted the mixing of populations beyond households and made adherence to physical distancing with face coverings difficult.

Officials from LA County Public Health are concerned that people who are not exhibiting symptoms may unknowingly infect others including parents, grandparents, and friends and family who have underlying health conditions and who are at greater risk for serious illness and death.

Scientific evidence notes that face coverings, along with physical distancing and frequent hand washing, are extremely effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Public Health officials recommend avoiding The Three C’s: Crowds, Confined spaces, and Close contact with people you do not live with.

All people in West Hollywood are required to wear face coverings in public, such as scarves (dense fabric without holes), bandanas, neck gaiters, or similar coverings of any other material that reduces transmission of germs anytime they are out in public. Face coverings are not required for young children under two-years-old, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance. Children between two- and eight-years-old should only wear face coverings with adult supervision.

Community members should refrain from using N95 and medical-grade masks; these are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is monitoring compliance of the City’s requirement to wear face coverings in public and will continue to provide education and warnings, and may issue an Administrative Citation — A first violation is $250 plus a fee of $50 for a total of $300 — if someone refuses voluntary compliance to use a face covering. Sheriff’s personnel will hand out face coverings as part of requesting compliance to people who do not have them. For more information, please contact the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station at (310) 855-8850.

In addition, the City of West Hollywood’s Code Compliance Division provides oversight of business compliance and Code Enforcement Officers may issue Administrative Citations to businesses that are not in compliance with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health protocols.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a tutorial about making your own cloth face covering, which is available on its website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html. The CDC makes the following recommendations about cloth face coverings, which should:

• Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face;
• Be secured with ties or ear loops;
• Include multiple layers of fabric;
• Allow for breathing without restriction;
• Be routinely washed; and
• Be able to be washed and machine-dried without damage.

The City of West Hollywood has declared a local emergency in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. When in public, community members should maintain your space with social (physical) distancing of at least six feet, and cover that face to adhere to City requirements for the use of face coverings.

The City encourages residents to remain home as much as is practical and limit close contact with others outside of a household. Additionally, people 65 years old or older and all people of any age with underlying health conditions should remain at home whenever possible; people in these categories should only leave their residences to seek medical care, exercise, or obtain food or other necessities.

West Hollywood City Hall is currently closed to the public and has suspended all in-person transactions. Most public City buildings, playgrounds, and facilities remain closed. City Hall remains accessible for business and essential services with transactions to be conducted by phone (323) 848-6400 and via the City’s website at www.weho.org.

This press release was produced by the City of West Hollywood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.