Los Angeles County Is Feelin’ Hot-Hot-Hot, As Record Temps Bake Region

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorLos Angeles County health officials confirmed another 1,401 COVID-19 cases today, the highest daily total recorded in the past two weeks, further fueling concerns of a post-Labor Day surge, but hospitalization numbers were still holding steady.Health officials have been fearing a rise in cases similar to those seen after the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays, when quarantine-weary residents took advantage of newly opened businesses and flocked to beaches and

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday issued an emergency proclamation for the counties of Los Angeles, Del Norte and Mendocino to bolster the response to various fires which have burned thousands of acres, destroyed homes and caused the evacuation of residents.In Los Angeles, the Bobcat Fire had burned close to 114,000 acres on Friday. The fire’s progress has slowed significantly in the past few days.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing Editor“The metrics posted by the state yesterday indicate that we’ve posted number that qualifies us to reopen further,” said L.A. County Director of Health and Human Services Barbara Ferrer.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorLos Angeles County health officials confirmed on Tuesday the county meets the criteria to move into a less-restrictive phase of the California’s economic-reopening roadmap. But there’s a catch.The county must maintain those numbers for two consecutive weeks before the state will move it out of the most-restrictive “purple” tier and into the slightly less onerous “red” tier.If L.A.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsUpon discussions about reopening Los Angeles County, Public Health has confirmed 1,343 new COVID-19 positive cases and 13 deaths on Saturday.The latest update, which also shows 732 in current hospitalizations, comes after Barbara Ferrer said the county is seeing its lowest average testing-positivity rate of the pandemic.While the numbers may show a small let-up, L.A. County is still far from in the clear.

Pat Saperstein Deputy EditorA moderately strong earthquake struck the Los Angeles area late Friday night, rattling nerves already frayed by wildfires and smoke across Southern California. Hitting at 11:38 p.m., the quake registered a magnitude of 4.5 and was centered in the San Gabriel Valley near South El Monte, about 13 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, according to the U.S.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorLos Angeles County could reopening more widely sometime in October, the county’s public health director said on Wednesday. But, said Barbara Ferrer, Labor Day numbers could potentially thwart that move.The county is in the most restrictive, or “purple,” level of California’s four-tier virus-tracking roadmap.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorLos Angeles County’s public health director, Barbara Ferrer, denied on Tuesday that plans for reopening school campuses amid the coronavirus pandemic are politically linked to the upcoming election, saying comments she made on a conference call last week were only referencing an early November time frame.“It had nothing to do with the election per se, as much as it had to do with — we need about six weeks of implementation for the school openings that are going to

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerPresident Donald Trump this morning tweeted that “animals” shot two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies last night in Compton, California.

Two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies were shot and critically wounded late Saturday night in a horrific ambush as they were sitting in their patrol car in the Compton area.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerPresident Donald Trump this morning tweeted that “animals” shot two Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies last night in Compton, California.The two sheriffs were ambushed at point-blank range by an unknown shooter on Saturday night.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsThe Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed a decrease in new coronavirus-related deaths, but an increase in new cases on Saturday.Public Health’s latest count shows a total of 29 new deaths and 1,177 positive cases. Saturday’s update brings Los Angeles County numbers back to around those confirmed before the Labor Day Weekend.

As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues, Halloween is going to look quite different in Los Angeles this year. On Wednesday, county health officialsreleased guidelines for Halloween celebrations, including restrictions on holiday traditions and suggestions for "safer alternatives" that can allow residents to minimize contact with others.

Dave McNary Film ReporterCommunity Organized Relief Effort, the coronavirus-testing organization co-founded by actor Sean Penn, is offering private, for-profit COVID-19 testing services to film and television productions in Los Angeles.“We are eager to offer private testing to film and television productions to not only help fund CORE’s programs that help vulnerable and underserved communities, but also to fortify California’s economy,” Penn said.

Alexandra Del Rosario Associate Editor/Nights & WeekendsThe Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s latest daily COVID-19 update showed a continued decrease in new positive cases and deaths. On Saturday, Public Health confirmed that Los Angeles county saw a total of 1,196 new positive cases and 24 new deaths, boasting a decrease from Friday’s metrics.To date, Los Angeles Public Health has recorded a total of 247,542 positive cases of COVID-19 and 6,000 related deaths.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorAs a weekend of record-breaking heat approaches, Los Angeles County health officials made a final plea today for residents to celebrate the Labor Day holiday safely and without large parties or gatherings.A loop of heat risk across CA as it increases to high/very high levels this holiday weekend. Please use caution during this extremely dangerous heat wave! The combination of hot temps, both during the day & night, will accumulate toward heat stress.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorOn Thursday, Deadline reported on the bombshell news that U.K. production on The Batman had shut down after star Robert Pattinson contracted coronavirus.As production continues to ramp up, Deadline asked Los Angeles County Chief Medical Officer Dr.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorAt Los Angeles County’s Wednesday coronavirus news conference, County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said a small swath of the county’s students would be allowed to resume in-person instruction.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorWhile a decision was expected Tuesday from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on the possible reopening of indoor shopping malls and hair salons, none was forthcoming. The board did, however, approve a sweetheart deal for Gladstone’s restaurant at PCH and Sunset.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle volunteered with the Preschool Learning Center in Los Angeles this week where they gardened alongside young students and read books about the importance of healthy foods and eating. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also planted Forget-Me-Nots in the school's garden, in honor of the 23rd anniversary of Princess Diana's death this week.