The West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce joined members in the business community with a call to action in an effort to stop the Los Angeles Health Department’s from implementing a ban on outdoor dining and other restrictions amid an alarming rise in coronavirus cases.
The Chamber urged community members to send a letter to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor before they held a meeting on Tuesday, November 24th, to discuss possible changes to the Health Officer Order during its board meeting.
However, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors rejected the calls to pull back the restrictions restrictions on outdoor dining as coronavirus cases continue to rise at an alarming pace.
“The Los Angeles County business community and the entire population CANNOT economically afford another Safer at Home Order or more unnecessary #restrictions being placed on businesses,” The Chamber posted via their social media. “The business community has shown increased #compliance with all Health Officer Orders and have invested their livelihoods in keeping their #business afloat and supporting their employees. More restrictions on businesses will result in additional job loss and decreased community morale. We must find a balance between economic recovery and protocols to keep the public safe. Take action and tell the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors that you do not support further unnecessary restrictions on businesses.”
Los Angeles County Public Health Officials issued an order shutting down all outdoor dinning at restaurants effective Wednesday, November 25, 2020, at 10 p.m. Restaurants are back to only offering curbside pickup and deliveries.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 51 new deaths and 3,692 new cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday, Tuesday, November 24. This is the highest number of deaths reported since September 9.
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to accelerate at alarming speed. There are 1,575 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 26% of these people are in the ICU. Just two weeks ago, there were 888 people with COVID-19 hospitalized.
The increases in cases and hospitalizations must slow to avoid overwhelming our hospitals and healthcare staff, and save lives.
New proposed public health directives include:
- A ban on all gatherings among people who don’t live in the same household, with exceptions for outdoor church services and outdoor protests. Currently, small gatherings are allowed outdoors, but capped at up to 15 people with no more than three households allowed.
- A reduction in occupancy of essential retail stores to 35% of capacity; for grocery stores, that would be a reduction from the current cap of 50% capacity.
A reduction in capacity at nonessential retail stores and libraries to 20%; currently, they can hold up to 25% of capacity. - The ordered closure of playgrounds that are not part of a school or child-care center; swimming pools that serve members of more than one household, although regulated lap swimming can continue; and card rooms.
- Beaches, trails and parks would remain open, as would outdoor venues like golf courses, tennis courts, skate parks, and community gardens.
The new updated Order barring restaurants from offering outdoor dining will remain in place for at least three weeks.
