LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Supervisor Kathryn Barger authored a motion that guides the directors of Public Health, Health Services, Mental Health and other appropriate departments to develop an action plan detailing measures needed to contain COVID-19 and outlining the prerequisites for relaxing the Safer at Home Public Health Order. This motion, co-authored by Supervisor Hilda Solis, was unanimously approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
“Decisions at the state and local level to protect the public health by instituting physical distancing were necessary, but asked more of our communities than ever before,” Supervisor Barger said. “We are all eager to return to some sense of normalcy, but to do so, we must have an action plan that outlines how we move toward our goal.”
The motion also directs the County’s Office of Emergency Management to engage the business community, labor partners, and county and city representatives to develop plans to relax restrictions of the Safer at Home directive, which will include physical distancing and face covering guidelines. This enables businesses and organizations ample time to prepare for reopening with physical distancing infrastructures and safety precautions in place.
Last week, Supervisor Barger and Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of the Department of Public Health, announced the criteria L.A. County must meet before easing restrictions under the Safer at Home order. This includes: the capacity to care for those who are sick; protection for the most vulnerable; increasing the ability to test, isolate and quarantine; and ensuring ongoing physical distancing. L.A. County is working to increase testing and prevent a huge surge in cases that would overwhelm hospitals.
Today’s action by the Board of Supervisors further defines how the County can meet these prerequisites and ease Safer at Home restrictions in coordination with the state.
“From the start, I have recognized that saving lives is how we save our economy in the long run. I thank everyone who continue to stay home, wear face coverings, and practice physical distancing when visiting essential businesses,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, co-author of the Board motion. “Our Safer at Home Order included the painful decision to close non-essential businesses. It was not easy, but there is no doubt that decision saved lives. Now, the next step is to begin clearing a path to safely reopen LA County’s economy. For that, we will engage with our business community and labor partners. We will all be guided by the scientific data shared by our public health experts. We will be deliberate and mindful in this process.”
The report back to the Board on the development of these plans is due in seven days.
A link to the full motion adopted by the Board of Supervisors can be found here.