I know Angelenos are worried and hurting. But as I remind you every night, none of us is powerless. We are all saving lives –– and we will get through this together.

Last week, alongside L.A. County, I announced that we are extending the Safer at Home order through May 15. This means non-essential businesses and activities will remain closed, and we will continue requiring physical distancing and face coverings for workers and customers in grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential businesses.

Here’s the good news: Our collective sacrifice is beginning to show signs of success. But we can’t let up now. We have to keep our foot on the accelerator.

History teaches us that easing up too soon on our restrictions and emergency measures will mean more waves of this virus and more lives lost. That’s what the experts, the science, and the data tell us today too. And if you want to see the facts and figures for yourself, our data is now available to the public.

For my most recent public briefing, I joined LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas, Dr. Cynthia Davis of Charles Drew University, and Sean Penn, Oscar-winning actor and founder of the nonprofit Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), to talk about our partnership to expand COVID-19 testing for our communities.

Expanding COVID-19 testing 
Testing is critical to our ability to track this virus and flatten the curve of this outbreak. So we have rapidly expanded testing across Los Angeles. And where priority was originally given to our highest-risk and most vulnerable populations, we are now offering free same- or next-day appointments to anyone with COVID-19 symptoms.

We have also begun to deploy Los Angeles Fire Department mobile teams to provide testing for the employees, caretakers, and residents of facilities who house the elderly, chronically ill, or debilitated.

Accelerating research and development
While we are laser-focused on responding to the immediate crisis, we are also mapping the path to reopening and rebuilding L.A.’s economy in the weeks and months ahead. 

A new partnership with USC, the L.A. County Department of Public Health, and Lieberman Research Worldwide will help us better understand antibody testing and immunity and teach us more about who can safely return to their workplaces and schools, and how we can move from crisis to recovery.

Delivering assistance to families in need
This week, we launched the Angeleno Card, a new initiative developed through a partnership of the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, MasterCard’s City Possible, and Accelerator for America that provides no-fee debit cards to Angelenos in need. Federal assistance will take time to arrive and will exclude too many people in our city. L.A. families need help now.

In just three days, we received more than 450,000 applications for help — more than we currently have the capacity to assist, showing how important and desperately needed this program is.

If you’re able, please consider donating to the Angeleno Campaign to help us get relief into the hands of as many families as possible.

Honoring our heroes

Every night, City Hall glows blue to honor health care workers and all those on the front lines of this crisis. And all across the city, as the clock strikes 8 o’clock, Angelenos throw open their doors and windows to clap and cheer for our doctors, nurses, and every hero helping to save lives and keep critical operations up and running. The sound echoing through our neighborhoods is a tribute to Angelenos’ trademark spirit of gratitude, compassion, and love.

Please keep up this ritual every night and show your #LALove and #Solidarityat8 on social media.

More key updates:

• Child care for hospital workers: We launched the L.A. Emergency Child Care Connection to provide child care resources to essential employees of participating hospitals.

• Meals for seniors: With our new Emergency Senior Meals Response program, seniors in need can have healthy meals delivered to their homes. City of L.A. residents ages 60 and older who are not currently participating in other meal programs can apply online.

• Library resources for families: Even though our branches are closed, our Public Library continues to offer our kids a broad universe of learning support, such as tutoring assistance and online storytime. More information can be found at LAPL.org.

• Street work: We’re shifting street paving and some street sweeping from residential streets to major corridors. With this change, many projects will be completed more quickly, and those staying at home will be less impacted by noise and disruption.

• Increased trash pick up: We’re helping keep our communities safe and clean during this crisis by increasing trash and recycling pickup. For more details, you can call 311 or L.A. City Sanitation’s 24-hour customer care center at 800-773-2489.
   
• Dispelling rumors: With plenty of myths swirling around, we’ve launched a webpage to dispel disinformation about COVID-19 and empower our communities with the facts.

Keeping you informed

Accurate information is key to making decisions that protect you, your family, and your community during this public health crisis. Every weeknight, I speak directly to Angelenos about our work to respond to COVID-19, deliver resources to our communities, and save lives.

Thank you for joining me each night. You can find my briefings on local TV stations, and online on my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube pages — or subscribe to our podcast on the Apple Store and Google Play.

How you can help

Angelenos are rising to this moment. Each and every one of us is playing an important role in overcoming the COVID-19 crisis simply by remaining at home, wearing face coverings, and making daily sacrifices.

If you can do a little bit more, please consider being a part of our Red Cross blood donation drive or contributing to our L.A. Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund — to help our first responders, homeless neighbors, and other vulnerable Angelenos during this time.

Thank you for everything you do. Thank you for heeding our call to stay healthy, stay safe, and stay home.
 

Strength and love, Los Angeles.

Eric Garcetti
Your Mayor