The Los Angeles County issued new COVID-19 orders that will take effect starting Monday until Dec. 20. The three-week order aims to reduce COVID-19 cases in the county. 

(Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles County officials announced on Friday new COVID-19 orders that will take effect on Monday and will last for almost a month. The county officials aim to reduce the swelling number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the area within three weeks. 

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released its official statement urging the residents in the county to stay home and wear masks if they go out.

The new stay at home order was released following the increase of COVID-19 cases in the county. 

Read also: CDC Advisers to Decide Next Week on Who Gets COVID-19 Vaccine First 

No private and public gatherings

In addition to that, Los Angeles County also bans all public and private gatherings most especially for individuals who are not living in the same household.

However, there are some exceptions like those who have "constitutionally protected rights" to attend church services and protests, according to a published article in The Hill.

The following orders were also issued in the following businesses:

  • Fitness centers, museums, galleries, and zoos can operate at a 50 percent maximum occupancy.
  • Essential retail can remain open at 35 percent capacity, compared to 20 percent occupancy for non-essential retail including indoor malls. 
  • Nail salons and personal care services must remain below 20 percent occupancy.
  • Playgrounds will be temporarily closed until further notice from the Los Angeles County officials.
  • Restaurants, bars, breweries, and wineries will remain closed to in-person dining and drinking due to the increased chance of virus transmission. However, take-out and deliveries will be allowed. 
  • All schools and day camps will remain open provided that they will follow the set reopening guidelines.
  • Outdoor recreation at beaches, trails, and parks also will remain open, with safety requirements.

Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said, "We know we are asking a lot from so many who have been sacrificing for months on end and we hope that L.A. County residents continue following public health safety measures that we know can slow the spread."

Ferrer also explained that acting with collective urgency is the most important thing right now to stop the increase of COVID-19 infections and transmission in the county.

She also urged everyone to stay at home and not to gather with others who do not live in the same household for the next three weeks. 

Read also: Experts Warn Thanksgiving Could be Start of Dark Holiday Season Amid COVID-19 Surge 

These are just a few of the orders that were released following the surge of COVID-19 infections in the nation's most populous county.

It seems that COVID-19 infections in the county are not showing any signs of slowing down that led to the issuance of new orders. The public health officials said on Friday that there were 4,544 new cases and 23 deaths.

At present, Los Angeles County has recorded 387,793 new positive cases across all areas in the place and a death toll of 7,604. Officials also said that 10 percent of all people in the county tests positive for the virus.