Stores with in-person shopping, houses of worship can now reopen in Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County is moving forward into reopening. 

All retailers, both indoor and out, can now reopen to in-person shopping. All retail stores must operate at 50% capacity, according to county health officials.  

Under a revised L.A. County health order, houses of worships can reopen to the public but must operate at 25% capacity or have a maximum of 100 people. 

Flea markets, swap meets and drive-in movie theaters may also resume operations. And pools, hot tubs and saunas that are in a multi-unit residence or part of a homeowners association can now reopen. 

During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said under the new order public protests can resume as long as attendance is limited to 25% of the area's maximum occupancy, or have a maximum of 100 attendees.

This announcement comes after Dr. Ferrer announced an additional 53 deaths and 933 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the county’s total to 2,195 deaths and 48,700 positive cases. 

RELATED: Garcetti announces Los Angeles can reopen for in-person shopping starting Wednesday with safety protocols

Dr. Ferrer said despite stores reopening people still need to practice physical distancing and wear face masks. 

“If there are 2 million more people going to offices, stores and houses of worship and even 2% are infected by COVID-19 we would have 40,000 people moving about spreading this virus,” Ferrer said. 

The county says gatherings of people who are not from the same household are still prohibited.

Additionally, people 65-years-old or older and all people of any age with underlying health conditions should remain home as much as possible.
 

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