City’s ‘Safer at Home’ Order Continues

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread, Long Beach’s Safer at Home order will carry on.

The city’s Safer at Home order was set to be lifted May 15. However, a revised order was issued May 13 indicating beaches and dog parks would reopen for non-stationary, recreational activity. And outdoor museums could open outdoor areas to the public as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.

Essential businesses that were open before can continue to remain open as long as people stay at least six feet apart from each other to prevent the highly contagious COVID-19 disease from spreading.

And May 8, the city allowed various retail businesses that were considered nonessential to reopen for curbside pickup and delivery services, such as home furnishings, floral, book, antique, toy, jewelry, music and sporting goods stores.

“Our decisions to slowly reopen our economy are based on state guidelines, health indicators and data,” Mayor Robert Garcia said in a press release statement May 8. “I am hopeful that with the community’s support and cooperation, we will continue to stay healthy and physical distance.”

The press release adds that “trails and their associated parking lots will reopen, golf courses may open and car dealership showrooms may open, pending adherence to the city’s recommendations and safety protocols.”

Regarding face masks, “Face coverings are required when in close contact with other people but are not required while engaging in physically-distanced exercise,” the release adds.

And street sweeping tickets resumed this week after nine weeks of amnesty.

Meanwhile, the Safer at Home order will remain in effect until further notice.

In the 22-page order signed by City Manager Thomas Modica and available on the city’s LongBeach.gov website, it indicates: “Existing community transmission of COVID-19 in the city continues to present a substantial risk of harm to health of the city’s residents.

“Evidence suggests that the restrictions and requirements imposed by the Health Officer’s prior orders have slowed the rate of increase of COVID-19 community transmission and related hospitalizations by severely limiting person-to-person interactions.

“This order is a measured step to partially move the city into Stage 2 of the Governor’s Roadmap to Recovery, while keeping a low incidence of person-to-person contact, ensuring continued physical distancing by the community and strict adherence to other infection control protocols.”

kirt@beachcomber.news