Like the spread of COVID-19 cases around the globe, Mayor Eric Garcetti’s resolve is just as relentless, and his actions just as swift. With an early lockdown and a stringent stay-at-home order, Los Angeles is seeing a decreasing rate of coronavirus infections at the moment—and Garcetti is a big reason why.
Exactly how do you keep a sprawling metropolis safe from a public health emergency that thrives in confined spaces?
For Mayor Garcetti, it was all about springing into action at the earliest possible moment. After all, the early bird catches the worm but not the virus.
“It’s my fervent belief that every city that does this one day earlier saves lives, and one day before that saves more,” Garcetti tells Vanity Fair. “I looked at history and what was unfolding and realized you could never get those days back. My mantra became, ‘when it feels wrong, it’s right. When it feels right, it’s too late.’”
There are now over 7,530 cases in Los Angeles with 198 deaths, and this critical week is crucial when it comes to keeping people in their homes and flattening the curve. While previous testing criteria for the coronavirus included underlying health conditions and age, anyone with symptoms can now get tested in L.A. county.
Apart from this, here are just some of the consistent and actionable measures Garcetti is taking to keep Los Angeles safe:
1. “Safer at Home” Initiative
Earlier than other metro hotspots across the country, the mayor issued a “Safer at Home” Emergency Order for all L.A. residents. Everyone is to stay inside their homes, leaving their residences only to conduct affairs that are absolutely necessary when it comes to essential goods. Residents are allowed to pick up groceries or attend to important healthcare necessities. They can buy medications at the pharmacy or show up for medical appointments. They are still allowed to take a walk outside for exercise, as long as they stay six feet away from other people.
As for the daily grind, residents state-wide are allowed to work if their operations involve essential services.
The order was effective until April 19, then later extended until May 15, and still can be subject to extensions if deemed necessary.
According to the Mayor’s official website, Garcetti stared, “Based on what we can predict, now is the time to do everything we can to prevent the situation from getting much worse in a matter of days or weeks. Every hour counts. We need and appreciate the cooperation of everyone who lives and works in the City of Los Angeles to act immediately.”
2. The U.S. Navy Hospital Ships
As a former Naval Officer, Mayor Garcetti’s military contacts have not gone to waste. The USNS Mercy is taking on coronavirus patients to alleviate the burden in hospitals. Meanwhile, the USNS Comfort has allotted 500 beds for patients infected with the coronavirus, and treatment is completely free of charge.
“These ships are basically a robust community hospital. They have modern I.C.U. equipment, a very complete laboratory capability. They can make their own oxygen, they have digital radiography and advanced operating rooms,” retired vice admiral Matthew L. Nathan tells The New York Times. “They can still sequester large numbers of patients who are known to be infected.”
3. The Los Angeles Convention Center and Caring For the Homeless
Emergency beds have been set up at the Los Angeles Convention Center to transform it into a federal field hospital. This is in anticipation of surging coronavirus cases in the area. The Mayor has also recently opened various parks and rec facilities for the homeless. “The homeless population in our city is the population that is most vulnerable. Many already have pre-existing medical conditions which are going untreated and they have the least access to treatment and are the ones most susceptible to contracting and spreading the virus,” he continues. “At each of these facilities, the people will be evaluated by medical professionals for signs of possibly having COVID-19. If they are showing signs of having the virus, they will be housed in isolation and monitored at various hotels and motels throughout the city.”
4. Additional Healthcare Facilities
Mayor Garcetti’s strength is as steadfast as his faith, as he continuously speaks with the city’s pastors and rabbis regarding the welfare of the citizens. He has also been working tirelessly from sun up to sun down to improve the healthcare facilities in the city.
“From everything we’ve looked at, we will need about another 5,500 hospital beds and another 2,300 ICU beds,” he tells the Los Angeles Sentinel. “Not just for virus patients, but to also provide medical treatment for all of the patients who need treatment within the city.”
5. No Rent / No EvictionAs for those with homes, the Mayor is also taking steps to look out for them. He recently signed an order that will prevent new increases in rent when it comes to residential units, which will be in effect through 60 days after the local emergency period has expired. A new city ordinance has already placed a moratorium on evictions for the duration of the crisis. “This is a common sense action on top of the eviction moratorium that will help folks stay in their homes and make ends meet,” Garcetti tells the LA Times.
6. L.A. Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund
Frontline healthcare personnel are today’s modern heroes, and the L.A. Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund is one way of supporting their critical needs. The fund also covers childcare services, meals, counselling, healthcare equipment, relief goods, as well as services like hygiene stations and emergency shelters for the homeless.
The fund will also look out for vulnerable families and small businesses. For instance, isolated seniors can receive home-delivered meals, while frontliners can receive personal protective equipment and easy access to testing kits. Everyone is encouraged to donate where they can.
7. Angeleno Campaign
The Mayor launched the Angeleno Campaign as a means to raise $10 million—this will directly contribute to the welfare of the most vulnerable citizens via cash assistance. The cash assistance will be given via no-fee debit cards.
This includes provisions for those who have lost their jobs somehow due to the COVID-19 crisis, or those who have suffered through furloughs or reductions in work hours. The crisis heavily impacts low-wage workers who are paid by the hour, such as day laborers and street vendors.
This not only protects people who are qualified to receive federal and state assistance, but it also looks out for those who are ineligible for benefits, such as immigrants and other independent workers.
8. “Inspiring Service” InitiativeThere is also an urgent call to action for anyone who has the resources to provide voluntary services during this trying time. The Mayor’s office has partnered with the platform “Inspiring Service”, where eager volunteers can connect with organizations in need via an online non-profit directory.
9. “L.A. Protects” Initiative
The fashion and garment industry has also responded to the call. Garcetti recently launched “L.A. Protects” as an initiative to manufacture five million non-medical masks, protective gear, and other supplies for grocery store staff and other citizens providing vital services.
In line with this, the Mayor encourages Angelenos to wear non-medical, reusable, and washable face coverings when out in public for extra protection. This is to reduce the need for medical grade masks for ordinary citizens who aren’t working in the front lines. N95 masks are currently in short supply, and those who have the highest risk of infection need them most.
10. Care for Food Delivery Staff
When it comes to food, delivery drivers and employees at supermarkets are also considered front-liners themselves. They are part of the most vulnerable sectors of the population, and Garcetti hasn’t forgotten them. New rules dictate that employers should allow their staff to reschedule shifts when needed so that they can take care of their immediate family members who may be sick. Employers are also required to approve any requests for days off for any employee who doesn’t feel well. These employees are shielded against any kind of pay reduction, cuts in their work hours, or discrimination should they decide to use these new provisions.
All of these measures are in effect because Garcetti refused to get lulled into a false sense of security from the get-go. “Just because we have an abundance of open space, we still have 10 million people who want to share that,” he tells The Atlantic. “People think in certain environments—they kind of get ahead of themselves and think, ‘Oh, well, I’m out in a park, so it’s okay to be two feet away from my fellow 20-something friend, or at the beach, oh, it’s clean and the air’s blowing; I can’t get anything here.’ And that’s precisely where super-spreaders can have an effect and kill people.”
There seems to be a fine line between paranoid panic and reasonable preparedness these days, and in the face of a pandemic, it’s hard to tell which is which. For the mayor of Los Angeles, the latter is his weapon of choice—and, optimistically, it seems to be working.
For more Information and daily updates visit corona-virus.la
[/ihc-hide-content]
