By LILY TINOCO | Reporter
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge in California and Los Angeles County, Public Health is reminding businesses to operate as safely as possible.
LA County Department of Public Health reported that compliance teams continue to visit businesses to review protocols with business owners and issue citations for businesses out of compliance.
A total of 143 citations were issued to businesses including restaurants, gyms, salons, places of worship and shipping for noncompliance with Health Officer Orders from December 6, 2020, through January 3.
One citation was issued to Rick Caruso’s Palisades Village on Wednesday, December 16, for an unregulated facility, noncompliance to COVID-19 HOO.
A representative from Caruso did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
“Businesses that are not adhering to safety protocols to protect workers and customers contribute to increased risk for COVID-19 spread,” according to Public Health. “Because COVID-19 is spreading throughout LA County at an alarming acceleration, businesses are reminded they have a duty to protect employees, customers and residents from transmission of COVID-19 as much as possible and implement all safety measures in the business protocols that prevent COVID-19 transmission.”
Public Health reported that on average, 10 people in LA County test positive for COVID-19 every minute, at least 10 to 12% of infected people end up hospitalized, and more than 1% of people diagnosed with COVID-19 end up dying.
Two residents at Atria Park of Pacific Palisades, a senior living facility located on Sunset Boulevard, have died after previously testing positive for COVID-19, according to data from Public Health.
From its most recent full-community test on January 5, a representative from Atria Park reported all residents at the facility received negative results. One additional employee tested positive.
“On a weekly basis, we continue to test all residents and staff, under the guidance of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and as we continue the other rigorous infection control protocols we have undertaken since the pandemic began,” Jane Germaine, regional vice president of Atria Senior Living, said to the Palisadian-Post.
As the Post went to print Tuesday, January 12, Public Health had identified 944,319 positive cases of COVID-19 across the county when factoring in Long Beach and Pasadena, with a total of 12,674 deaths.
Public Health reminded the community that now, more than ever, is the time to avoid contact with others who aren’t in your household.
“The damaging impact to our families and our local hospitals from this surge is the worst disaster our county has experienced in decades,” according to Public Health. “The biggest single factor contributing to the surge comes down to the actions individuals are taking.
“We need everyone to do the right thing—to protect each other so we stop the transmission that is now occurring at epic proportions.”
The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Pacific Palisades had reached 560, with 107 additional in the Palisades Highlands, as the Post went to print Tuesday evening.
Nine deaths have been reported in the Palisades.
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