Los Angeles County health officials announced that gyms, day camps, museums, zoos, campgrounds and various other outdoor recreation facilities will be permitted to reopen Friday, joining other parts of the state in Phase 3.
The earliest such facilities can open is June 12, as long as health and safety protocols are followed, county public health director Barbara Ferrer said. Employees and visitors must wear face coverings and practice social distancing.
Also allowed to reopen are fitness facilities, pro-league arenas and professional sports without live audiences, galleries, aquariums, RV parks and swimming pools, along with music, film and television production. Hotels, lodging and short-term rentals can also resume operations.
Still closed are nail salons, tattoo shops, bars and wineries, movie theaters, live performance theaters, entertainment centers, concert halls and venues, stadiums, arenas, gaming facilities, theme parks and festivals.
For a full list of what is open and what remains closed in the county, see the county’s guidelines. Health officials said they will issue a modified health order on Thursday.
Gatherings and parties remain prohibited, with the exception of political protests and services at houses of worship, according to Ferrer.
The briefing comes as Los Angeles was one of nine counties placed on a watch list by California health officials concerned about their ability to contain COVID-19 spread amid reopening plans.
The county’s metrics tracker shows it’s falling short on the number of coronavirus tests being conducted, likely due to closures of many screening sites last week amid mass protests.
In late May, the county won approval to allow dining inside restaurants and to reopen “higher-risk” businesses such as hair salons and barbershops, after more retail stores and houses of worship were allowed to reopen as well.
County health officials reported 1,275 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday and 61 new deaths, bringing the total to 67,064 positive cases and 2,768 deaths.
However, the overall average daily deaths are decreasing, according to Ferrer.
“We can attribute this decline to the hard work that everyone has been doing to slow the spread of the virus, both in our communities, and at the skilled nursing facilities,” Ferrer said.
Health officials reminded the public that it can take up to 14 days from the time of exposure for a person to test positive for COVID-19. They urged those who have been in large gatherings to self-quarantine for 14 days, monitor their symptoms and then get tested.
Anyone can get tested for free at city and county run testing sites. For a list of locations and to make an appointment, visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.
