Coronavirus: Los Angeles residents must stay at home amid COVID-19 surge, mayor rules

The mayor of the city of Los Angeles announced an emergency order late on Wednesday directing all residents within the city to remain in their homes effective immediately.

Mayor Eric Garcetti, temporarily withdrew the earlier “safer-at-home” order, and issued the new order “necessary for the protection of life and property” in the city.

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“We must refrain from gathering with people from outside our household, wherever possible,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement, adding that his emergency order was necessary for the protection of life and property.

“This most recent surge in COVID-19 cases presents us with an opportunity to work together, again, to reduce its spread and flatten the curve.”

He also directed city businesses requiring the presence of workers to close and set restrictions on travel, but specified some exceptions to both.

People may “lawfully” leave homes to engage in exempted activities, the directive said.

Los Angeles county has recorded 414,185 infections and a death toll of 7,740 in the pandemic, says LA Public Health.

The order comes amid a surge of coronavirus cases in the area, with Los Angeles County reporting a record 7,593 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday.

Before the announcement of the lockdown, Los Angeles County was forecasting up to 8,000 new daily COVID-19 cases by the end of this week, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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