After moving into a less-restrictive tier per the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, Los Angeles County was able to allow various businesses to reopen at limited capacity starting March 15.
The move came March 12 after county officials confirmed the state had administered 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in low-income communities. After meeting this threshold, the state eased requirements for counties to move through the four tiers of the blueprint, which allowed L.A. County to move from the most restrictive purple tier to the red tier.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health allowed restaurants, gyms, zoos, and museums, among other businesses, to resume indoor operations at limited capacities.
Each type of establishment has its own set of new loosened restrictions per the county. Restaurants can operate inside at 25% of their maximum capacity, or at a maximum of 100 people, whichever number is fewer.
Bacari, a popular dining spot and hangout for USC students, opened its indoor dining spaces Monday night, and co-founder Robert Kronfli said he and his staff are not worried since many of them have been vaccinated. “Our staff is in pretty good spirits … most of our staff have gotten the vaccine by now as well so we’re good to go in that department,” Kronfli said.
Kronfli also said that amid the pandemic, his customers would often tell him that they are looking for the closest thing to a normal dining experience when they come to his restaurant for outdoor dining before restrictions changed.
“We try to give them as normal of an experience as we can, given the COVID-19 climate,” Kronfli said. He also said that he and his staff are excited to open their dining room doors and amplify that “normal” feeling again.
“It feels dead when the dining room is empty,” Kronfli said. “We’re looking at getting our energy level back. That’s always been very important to us.”
Los Angeles gyms are also now permitted to operate indoors with 10% maximum occupancy and masks are mandatory.
Cecilia Moran, owner of Hardcore Fitness in downtown Los Angeles, said that this green light to start reopening in a more “normal” way is “finally the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“It has been a very long year for the fitness industry and everyone in general,” she added.
She said the business still feels very limited with the restrictions that are in place.
Moran talked about how she plans to implement new safety measures for reopening. She urged that business had made the transition nine months ago when in the summer she and her team had to figure out how to run their fitness studio on the sidewalk outside their facility.
“Now we still have to implement and follow every regulation … you know, checking the temperature of our members and staff … that has been implemented since we opened back in July,” she said.
Moran affirmed that safety is Hardcore Fitness’ top priority, but she is excited to have the sense of community, interaction and family back in her facilities.
Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are advising gym-goers to wear masks and maintain a safe distance after finding that the risk of infection at gyms is higher than many other places due to the often confined spaces and heavy breathing.
The same researchers also found that wearing a mask during the entire time spent inside the gym significantly lowers the risk of infection when compared with individuals who do not wear a mask while working out.
According to a statement released by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, the reopening of indoor gym operations in Los Angeles is contingent on the requirement that all employees and patrons wear masks or face coverings at all times.