L.A. County Health Officer Order Updates Effective Tomorrow

21 New Deaths and 287 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 21 new deaths and 287 new cases of COVID-19.  Of the 21 new deaths reported today, six people that passed away were over the age of 80, 10 people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, three people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and two people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49.

To date, Public Health identified 1,234,372 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 23,948 deaths.

There are 400 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 25% of these people are in the ICU. COVID-19 testing results are available for nearly 6,535,000 individuals with 18% of people testing positive. Today’s daily test positivity rate is 0.7%.

The Los Angeles County Health Officer Order will be updated today to reflect newly permitted activities allowed in the yellow tier, beginning tomorrow, Thursday, May 6 at 12:01 a.m. Additional safety modifications are required or recommended for some sectors.

The modifications to the Health Officer Order include the following:

• Amusement/Theme Parks/Fairs can increase capacity to 35%.  Fully vaccinated out of state visitors are permitted.
• Bars that do not provide meals can operate indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Masking always required, except when eating or drinking; drinking and eating only while seated. Tables must be at least 6 feet apart and no counter seating/service. Maximum of 6 people from one household per table; if everyone in a group is vaccinated, 6 people can sit together from up to 6 different households.  TV viewing is permitted. No live entertainment permitted indoors. Outdoors tables can have a maximum 8 persons per table from up to 3 different households; if everyone in a group is vaccinated, 8 people sit together from up to 8 different households.  Live entertainment and TV viewing permitted outdoors. No counter seating/service.
• Breweries, Wineries, Distilleries that do not serve meals can increase indoors capacity to 50% or 200 people, whichever is fewer. No live entertainment permitted indoors. These establishments will follow the same public health directives as bars for their outdoor areas.
• Restaurants can increase capacity for indoor dining to 50% capacity with continued safety modifications. There must be 6 feet distancing between tables.  Maximum of 6 people from one household per table; if everyone in a group is vaccinated, 6 people can sit together from up to 6 different households
• Cardrooms/Racetracks/Satellite Wagering Facilities can operate indoors at 50% capacity. There must be 6-feet of distancing between tables and masks are always required. Food and beverages remain banned at the tables.
• Fitness Centers can operate indoors at 50% capacity. Masks are always required unless swimming.
• Movie Theatres can operate at 50% capacity. Reserved seating only where each group is seated with at least 6 feet of distance between any other groups (in all directions); capacity is limited to ensure that there is at least 6 feet of distance between groups. Seating sections can be established for fully vaccinated people without 6 feet distancing requirements provided there is 3 feet of distance between these sections and other seats in the theatre. Eating is allowed in only designated areas or in your reserved seat.
• Family Entertainment Centers can operate at 50% capacity, 75% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. Masks are required.
• Grocery and Retail Stores capacity remains limited to 75% with continued requirement for distancing of at least 6 feet between customers.
• Hair Salons, Barbershops and Personal Care Services can operate at 75% capacity with masks required, except for services where customers need to remove their masks. For services where customers must remove their face coverings, staff must wear a fitted N95 mask or a face covering with a face shield.
• Museums, Zoos and Aquariums can be open indoors at 75% capacity with safety modifications.
• Waterparks can operate at 40% capacity with safety modifications.
• Youth and Adult Recreational Sports and Community Sporting Events can apply to Public Health for approval for athletic events, tournaments or competitions that involve more than two teams or multiple individuals.  Indoor moderate and high contact sports are permitted following Collegiate Sports Protocols, which includes regular testing.
• Live Event and Performance Indoor venues up to 1,500 guests can operate at a maximum of 25% capacity or 50% if guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. Venues with 1,501 guests and above can operate at 10% capacity of 2,000 people; whichever is fewer or 50% capacity for tested or fully vaccinated guests.
• Live Event and Performance Outdoor venues can expand to 67% capacity with safety modifications.

Public Health reminds everyone to celebrate Cinco de Mayo safely.  Please avoid large crowds, celebrate outdoors, and wear your mask at all times except when eating and drinking. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, please drink responsibly and safely to protect yourself and others and never drink and drive. There continues to be higher risk of COVID-19 transmission among unvaccinated people. Intermingling with others who are not vaccinated and unmasked increases the possibility of virus transmission.

“To the families grieving the loss of a loved one to COVID-19, we send you our deepest sympathies and keep you in our thoughts every day,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “The best way to participate in more activities is to be vaccinated if you are 16 years old or older. This makes it much safer to enjoy graduations, celebrations, and gatherings with family and friends. This is also how we prevent more variants from circulating and threatening our recovery.”

COVID-19 vaccinations are available at County-run sites and many community sites without an appointment. Visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) to find a vaccination site near you, to make an appointment at vaccination sites, and much more. If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment. There may be an extended wait time to speak with an operator for help making an appointment during high demand times. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

County Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional actions you can take to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Please see additional information below: