Story by GINA POLLACK, LAist.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced today that he will amend L.A.'s stay-at-home order to allow some low-risk businesses to reopen for curbside pick-up on Friday.
He also announced that on Saturday all city-owned hiking trails and golf courses will re-open for public use. The exception is Runyon Canyon, which will remain closed.
Strict rules will be in place: Garcetti said anyone using the open trails and golf courses must wear a face mask at all times.
"We know that we've all been dying, not just to walk around the block one more time, but to see some of the natural beauty of the city, to be able to get out there and do it in a responsible and healthy way," he said but added, "this is not some sort of green light to slack off."
He said this modification of the stay-at-home order doesn't mean all businesses should open.
"It's not an obligation of any business to open. Do what you need to do to make sure you are safe, that you feel secure and that your people are protected as well as your customers... While you can open as early as this Friday, you don't have to yet until you feel right," he said.
Here's a list of businesses that will be allowed to reopen on Friday (for curbside pick-up only):
Florists
Toy stores
Music stores
Bookstores
Clothing stores
Sporting goods stores
Car dealerships
Here's what will reopen on Saturday:
All trails in the city of Los Angeles, except Runyon Canyon
All city of Los Angeles golf courses
Restrictions:
Face coverings must be worn at all times on trails and golf courses and people must maintain proper physical distance.
"If you're 65 and older, you cannot go out to those places if you have pre-existing conditions," the mayor said.
Gatherings, even small ones, are still not permitted.
Hikers and golfers can go by themselves or with someone from their household.
Beaches, recreation centers and facilities for group sports, like basketball and tennis, will remain closed.
Other updates:
Two more testing centers opened today, bringing the total number of sites to 36. L.A. now has the capacity to test 20,400 people a day and 225,000 Angelenos have been tested so far.
Face coverings are still required at all essential businesses.
Starting Monday, all bus riders will be required to wear face coverings (includes L.A. transit and city DASH buses). As for Metro riders, the mayor said "I support Supervisor Janice Hahn's request that Metro adopt this for Metro riders, as well, at our next meeting."
Also starting Monday, all travelers at LAX will be required to wear face coverings.
"If the data shows us that we're taking too many steps backward, we're going to have to stop and even retreat," the mayor warned. "To paraphrase Winston Churchill, this is not the beginning of the end but it is perhaps the end of the beginning."
In response to a question about enforcement, the mayor said he is following his policy of "the three E's – educate, encourage and enforce, in that order." Violators of the order will be referred to LAPD and addressed in court by the city attorney.
Retailers can find some guidelines on how to open with curbside service at coronavirus.lacity.org/saferLA.
The mayor said his change of heart from yesterday, when he said retail businesses would not be allowed to open this Friday, was not the result of political pressure.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Cover photo by Jeff Gunn
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