L.A. County Introduces COVID Compliance Program for Businesses

Business owners can now sign up for a COVID-19 safety compliance program through Los Angeles County, the Public Health Department said on Thursday. “The program is a no-cost online training course that educates business owners on the essentials of the County Health Officer’s orders and what they need to do to ensure that their business practices are aligned and in compliance with infection control and physical distancing requirements,” according to the county. Upon completion of the course, a business can post a COVID-19 Safety Compliance Certificate at its premises to inform consumers about its safety measures. If business owners don’t take the voluntary online course, they must post county protocols in their storefronts — or face citations and fines from the Health Department. The compliance course is offered in 13 languages. The Public Health Department also said its inspectors visited 331 businesses over Labor Day weekend and found “reasonably good compliance with many aspects of Public Health protocols, but also that there is room for improvement. Inspectors noted many gyms and hotels need to work on ensuring that their patrons are wearing a face covering and many restaurants need to work on physical distancing.” The department noted that the compliance checks “are focused on educating business owners that they have a responsibility to their employees and patrons to open responsibly,” but they can result in citations for non-compliance. “I encourage all businesses and institutions to reach out to Public Health if they need assistance complying with Health Officer Orders and offering services to the community as safely as possible,” Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “Business and institutional compliance is a cornerstone of our efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus.”