Infections are up; hospitalizations are up; testing is down, and death rates are four times as high in poor areas as they are in high-income neighborhoods. Low income, multi-generational families with essential workers are just getting slammed by the virus.
The Governor has reinstituted closing of bars and indoor dining, nail and hair salons, large gatherings, indoor fitness centers and indoor church services. The Mayor has said we are on the edge of orange turning to red in terms of threat levels, and additional restrictions may be in the offing. The local schools will reopen in the middle of August, but only for distance learning. Restaurants are opening up outdoor dining, and some small, local stores are closing for good — a huge loss to the community and the owners.
I’m beginning to see the young put their masks back on when in the company of others. The beaches are not crowded during the week, at least. People are being more cautious about physical distancing in grocery stores, and everyone there is wearing a mask. We’ll see in a couple of weeks whether this is making any difference.
Meanwhile the spread in the adjacent suburban counties like Orange and the Inland Empire is moving even more quickly than in LA. The OC Board of Education, which has no line authority, recently advised local school boards in the OC to reopen with in person classes next month. OC has hot spots of anti-maskers echoing the misleading advice of President Trump that are fueling the local spread.
Stay safe and stay well.
Lucien