Los Angeles County business restrictions are set to go into effect at 10 p.m. Friday, with the California order effective on Saturday amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. 

Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of public health, outlined both the county and state restrictions on Friday urging the residents to act immediately to slow the spread of coronavirus. 

Ferrer urged residents, including college students, to cancel travel plans and stay home for the holidays as cases rise across the country and Los Angeles County. 

The public health director warned if cases do not slow, more restrictive “Safer-at-Home” orders could be implemented. 

If the case average rises above 4,500, or hospitalizations are more than 2,000 per day, the county could impose a true curfew via “Safer at Home” order for at least three weeks, limiting business operations and resident activity between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., with essential workers exempt. 

See Related: California Curfew In Place For Counties In ‘Purple Tier,’ Including Los Angeles County

In addition to the county restrictions, Governor Gavin Newsom announced effective Saturday a health order for all “purple” counties in California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, including Los Angeles County.

In light of an “unprecedented, rapid rise” in COVID-19 cases across California, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Thursday announced a limited Stay at Home Order requiring generally that non-essential work, movement and gatherings, according to Newsom’s office. 

The order is set to take effect at 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and remain in effect until 5 a.m. Dec. 21.

During that time, residents are still able to go to the grocery or drug store as well as walk around their neighborhoods and get take-out from a restaurant, according to the state.

Criminal enforcement of the California stay-at-home order is the “extreme last resort” by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“Since the first Stay-at-Home Order was issued in March of this year, we have focused on education and voluntary compliance, with criminal enforcement measures being an extreme last resort,” said the department in a statement. “We trust in the community and rely on people to assess risk and take precautions as appropriate.”

On Friday, 4,272 Los Angeles County coronavirus cases confirmed bringing the countywide total to 357,451, according to the Department of Public Health. 

Dr. Muntu Davis, the Los Angeles County health officer, said on Thursday the county is currently experiencing a larger coronavirus surge than the summer spike in cases seen in July.

If the numbers remain high, a “Safer at Home” curfew for residents could be implemented as soon as Sunday, Davis said adding it is based on the five-day average in cases.

See Related: Criminal Enforcement Of California Stay-At-Home Order ‘Extreme Last Resort’ By L.A. County Sheriff

35 additional deaths were reported Friday, bringing the cumulative total in L.A. County to 7,396 deaths, according to public health.

Over 3,500,000 coronavirus tests have been conducted as of Friday, with about 9 percent of those tests returning positive.

There are 1,298 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, 27 percent of which are in the ICU. This week’s hospitalizations are the highest it has been in nearly two months, and nine days showing an increase in hospitalizations, according to public health. 

On Friday, 117 new cases were reported in the Santa Clarita Valley, with a total of 8,579 cumulative cases of COVID-19 since testing began in March. These include:

• 5,511 in the City of Santa Clarita* (+88)
• 200 in the unincorporated areas of Canyon Country (+2)
• 2,318 in Castaic* (+20)
• 46 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus
  
• 262 in Stevenson Ranch (+6)
• 59 in the unincorporated areas of Valencia
  
• 114 in the unincorporated areas of Val Verde (+1)
  
• 31 in the unincorporated areas of Newhall
• 16 in the unincorporated areas of Bouquet Canyon
  
• 12 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus/Canyon Country
• Seven in unincorporated Sand Canyon
• Three in unincorporated San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon

Additionally, 99 cumulative cases were confirmed in nearby Acton as well as 54 in Agua Dulce.

*As of Thursday, Nov. 19 officials have recorded 1,900 cumulative cases have been reported at the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center, including 1,378 at the North County Correctional Facility. Those cases are distributed between both the City of Santa Clarita and Castaic totals.

An analysis of available data indicates that as of Thursday, Nov. 19,  approximately 22.5 percent of all cumulative cases in and around the Santa Clarita Valley can be attributed to the inmate population at the North County Correctional Facility and the Pitchess Detention Center.

As of Wednesday, Nov. 18, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has conducted 11,502 COVID-19 tests. Of those, 1,188 have tested positive, and 10 tests are still pending with Henry Mayo, according to Patrick Moody, spokesperson for the hospital.

There are 20 patients in the hospital as of Wednesday, Nov. 18 while 348 patients have been discharged since the hospital’s first case was reported in March, according to Moody

There have been a total of 35 coronavirus deaths at the hospital, with at least 80 COVID-19 deaths reported across the Santa Clarita Valley.

See All Coronavirus Coverage: Coronavirus Coverage – COVID-19 Map

Ed. Note: These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

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