Over the past few days, I’ve heard confusion and concern from people across Los Angeles about what’s next in this crisis –– Angelenos who read the headlines and wonder: “Will we really be in lockdown for the next three months?”

The answer is no. We are taking gradual steps into our new reality –– allowing more businesses and activities to open as it becomes safe to do so. Yesterday, we reopened beaches for active recreation and permitted all retail businesses –– except those inside indoor malls –– to open for delivery and curbside or doorside pickup.

As a city and county, we will continue to monitor public health conditions and act to protect lives and livelihoods.

If you own, manage, or work for a business that was recently allowed to reopen, look up the County’s required protocols for safely resuming work, and use the City’s toolkits to support your operations.

If you return to the beaches, you can swim, surf, run, and walk. But parking lots, piers, beach bike paths, and concessions are closed. No gatherings, or activities like sunbathing and group sports, are permitted –– and face coverings are required except when you’re in the water.

This weekend, we’ll open tennis and pickleball courts, archery ranges, equestrian centers, model airplane areas, and community gardens at City facilities –– and we’ll launch our Slow Streets program to reduce traffic on neighborhood streets and provide more space for you to run, walk, and bike.

While we have made real progress, this virus is still deadly. And every day, we’re learning important lessons on how to safely live with it.

Now, we’re requiring Angelenos, except young children who are at risk of suffocation and people with certain disabilities, to wear face coverings anytime you leave your home, because this simple step can make an enormous difference in protecting the health and safety of our communities. 

Washing your hands, keeping your physical distance, staying safer at home, and putting on your face covering will help us continue to make progress and open more of our city.

And while our Safer at Home Order will remain beyond May 15, if we all keep doing our part, we will be able to keep making changes and modifications that safely allow more activities, more businesses to operate, and more Angelenos to get back to work.

This is not easy. But it will not last forever –– and as long as COVID-19 remains a threat, I will be here for you.

The City will help you through this, and we will continue to take steps together to help fill our souls, give us hope, and remind us why we love living in Los Angeles.

As always, I send strength and love to our entire city.

Thank you for everything you do.

Eric Garcetti
Your Mayor