Los Angeles County News Release

Media Contact: media@ph.lacounty.gov - (213) 240-8144

For Immediate Release:
March 12, 2021

 

Grades 7-12, Indoor Dining, Movie Theaters, and Other Sectors May Reopen on Monday with Safety Measures in Place
101 New Deaths and 947 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

Today, the State announced 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered to people in the most under-resourced communities across the state which now allows L.A. County to move to the less restrictive red tier.

 

The Los Angeles County Health Officer Order has been updated today to closely align with the State’s re-opening framework and reflect the changes allowed in the red tier.  Additional safety modifications are required or recommended for certain sectors. The changes go into effect on Monday, March 15 at 12:01 a.m.

 

The modifications to the Health Officer Order include the following:

 

1. Museum, Zoos and Aquariums can open indoors at 25% capacity.
2. Gyms, Fitness Centers, Yoga and Dance Studios can open indoors at 10% capacity with masking requirement for all indoor activities.
3. Movie Theatres can open indoors at 25% capacity with reserved seating only where each group is seated with at least 6 feet of distance in all directions between any other groups.
4. Retail and Personal Care Services can increase capacity to 50% with masking required at all times and for all services.
5. Restaurants can open indoors at 25% max capacity under the following conditions:  8 feet distancing between tables; one household per table with a limit of 6 people; the HVAC system is in good working order and has been evaluated, and to the maximum extent possible ventilation has been increased. Public Health strongly recommends that all restaurant employees interacting with customers indoors are provided with additional masking protection (above the currently required face shield over face masks); this can be fit tested N95 masks, KN95 masks, or double masks and a face shield.  In addition, Public Health strongly recommends that all employees working indoors are informed about and offered opportunities to be vaccinated. Outdoor dining can accommodate up to six people per table from 3 different households.
6. Indoor Shopping Malls can increase capacity to 50% with common areas remaining closed; food courts can open at 25% capacity adhering to the restaurant guidance for indoor dining.
7. Institutes of Higher Education can re-open all permitted activities with required safety modifications except for residential housing which remains under current restrictions for the Spring semester.
8. Schools are permitted to re-open for in-person instruction for students in grades 7-12 adhering to all state and county directives.
9. Private gatherings can occur indoors with up to 3 separate households, with masking and distancing required at all times.  People who are fully vaccinated can gather in small numbers indoors with other people who are fully vaccinated without required masking and distancing. 

 

Businesses must implement all the requirements in the sector specific Public Health protocols. It is critical that directives and infection protocols are followed to minimize COVID-19 spread as much as possible. The comprehensive protocols for all sectors that reopen will be posted online later today.