A report in the Los Angeles Times asserts city officials are weighing a prohibition of all concerts and sporting events until 2021 in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Times reported that it obtained an internal Los Angeles Fire Department email summarizing an April 13 briefing between Mayor Eric Garcetti and city departments. In that meeting, Garcetti reportedly said that “large gatherings such as concerts and sporting events may not be approved in the city for at least one year.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in an April 14 speech that any sort of large gatherings aren’t likely to happen anytime soon. Santa Clara County Executive Dr. Jeffrey Smith, who is a medical doctor, told ESPN on April 15 that it would be a “miracle” for Levi’s Stadium, which home to the San Francisco 49ers, to start hosting football games in September. Levi’s is also a concert venue.
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer announced that there were 42 new COVID-19 deaths in the county on April 15, topping the previous day’s record of 40. There were also 673 new cases on April 15, bringing the county total to 10,496 cases and 402 deaths.
