Last week Los Angeles County Department of Public Health inspectors visited 1,874 businesses and issued only five citations — representing a fraction of 1 percent of businesses visited.Between Aug. 14 and Aug. 20, inspectors checked on restaurants, bars, breweries, hotels, gyms, retail stores, shopping malls, personal care businesses, and food and garment manufacturers, according to a county statement.
The citations were issued to gyms and an office site.
“We are glad the majority of businesses are following the Health Officer Order on masking and other common-sense, best practice recommendations. Getting people vaccinated as quickly as possible is essential, particularly in places where people are at the highest risk,” Dr. Muntu Davis, an L.A. County Health Officer, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, over the past 18 months of the pandemic, COVID-19 has been the leading cause of death, surpassing coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and all other leading causes of death.”Public Health inspectors attempt to educate business owners and share information to gain compliance prior to filing violations, though enforcement officers issue citations when businesses remain non-compliant, the county said in a statement.Public Health reported 3,226 new COVID-19 cases on Aug. 26, along with 31 new deaths. The seven-day testing positivity average was 2.86 percent of an average of 131,495 tests during the prior week.“We must continue to work on having multiple layers of protection across the entire county as we start to move into influenza season,” Davis said. “By increasing COVID-19 vaccinations and wearing masks in indoor settings, at worksites, and in crowded spaces, we can slow the spread of the virus.”
L.A. County Inspectors Find 99 Percent of Businesses COVID Compliant
