Effectively immediately per order of the State government, the following sectors in L.A. County, including Long Beach, must close indoor operations due to the risk of spreading COVID-19: restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, museums and cardrooms. This regulation is expected to remain in place for 3 weeks. Bars must remain closed. This action applies to 19 counties throughout the state.
In these counties, all parking facilities at State beaches will be closed over the holiday weekend. In Long Beach, per order of the City, beaches will also close.
The State will enforce its public health orders with “Multi-Agency Strike Teams” that will work with county and local health agencies to target non-compliant workplaces.
Please note: The City of Long Beach released a revised health order later on the evening of July 1 that is largely in line with the Governor’s order. It also bans the use of face masks with one-way breathing valves, which increase the risk of spreading COVID-19 by allowing droplets to escape the mask. Click here to view the Health Order.
Context for this action: According to California Governor Gavin Newsom, 5,898 new cases of COVID-19 were reported yesterday, June 30. The positivity rate is 6% among those tested (87,000 people). Fourteen days ago, the positivity rate was 4.6%. In the past 24 hours, 110 lives were lost in California due to COVID-19. Newsom emphasized the importance of wearing masks and avoiding group gatherings to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Open Streets Resources for Downtown Long Beach businesses: To learn how to apply for expanded outdoor operations through the Long Beach Open Streets Initiative, including in public spaces such as sidewalks or parking spots, click here. DLBA is assisting Downtown businesses who wish to apply for expanded outdoor operations by connecting them with appropriate City staff. Please contact DLBA Placemaking Manager Mariah Hoffman for questions or additional information: MariahH@dlba.org.
A note from DLBA President & CEO Kraig Kojian: In order to protect the health and safety of the residents, businesses, and workers who make up our Downtown community – and to ensure we do not experience further closures – we must take these guidelines seriously. We do not have a vaccine yet. Community solidarity is the best medicine we have right now. It is our best and only path forward. That means wearing face coverings. It means standing six feet apart. It means not gathering in groups. Let’s show each other and the communities around us that in Long Beach, we stand apart to stick together. We cover our faces to protect our friends. And we hold each other to the same standards we hold ourselves. This is how we will continue on the road to recovery: together.