Opposing L.A. County lockdown orders

L.A. County's new health mandate draws opposition from some local officials

Cars driven by fear line up for testing (Getty).

(City News Service, 12/1/20) - Tightened restrictions imposed by Los Angeles County amid soaring [false positive] COVID-19 cases and [co-morbidity] hospitalizations are prompting pushback from some L.A. residents, business owners, and even elected officials, including the Lancaster City Council, which will hold a special meeting this week to consider a “no-confidence'' vote in county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer and discuss creating a municipal health department.

The county's new regulations began Monday, including a ban on most gatherings and strict capacity limits on most businesses, while forcing closures of playgrounds and card rooms. A handful of residents staged a protest outside Ferrer's Echo Park home on Sunday, challenging the need for strict health orders.

Ferrer, however, pointed to continued alarming numbers of [test results of] new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations as necessitating the new restrictions, saying the virus “is running rampant through almost every part of our county.'' “Contrary to the sentiments expressed by some, many of these cases could have been prevented if individuals and businesses were following the straightforward public health measures of masking, distancing, and infection control,'' she said.

No more outdoor dining; go broke (Getty).

“As we're all seeing, when even relatively small numbers of businesses and individuals fail to adhere to sensible precautions, many others experience the consequences of these lapses. “We are at the most difficult moment of the [plandemic]. But we're aware there are many that are tired of repeated requests to sacrifice and others that are unhappy and frustrated with the latest safety modifications, particularly those modifications that have had a detrimental impact on businesses and their employees. We don't really have any choice but to use all the tools at hand to stop the surge. Until there's a [money-making] vaccine, each of us needs to protect all of those around us.''

The new “Health Officer Order'' that took effect Monday bars all public and private gatherings with people of multiple households, except for constitutionally protected outdoor church services and protests.

It also sets occupancy limits at various businesses, while also mandating face coverings and six feet of physical distancing. The capacity limits are:

• essential retail: 35% maximum occupancy;
• nonessential retail (includes indoor malls): 20% maximum occupancy;
• personal care services: 20% maximum occupancy;
• libraries: 20% maximum occupancy;
• fitness centers operating outdoors: 50% maximum occupancy;
• museums, galleries, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens operating outdoors: 50% maximum occupancy; and
• mini-golf, batting cages, go-kart racing operating outdoors: 50% maximum occupancy. More