Coronavirus: L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti provides update on COVID-19 response

>> Mayor Garcetti: GOOD EVENING, LOS ANGELES.

AS WE END YET ANOTHER WEEK, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO TAKE A SNAP SHOT OF WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE WERE THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

AND I WANT TO THANK EACH ONE OF YOU AS YOU HAVE TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY OVER A MEAL TONIGHT TO REFLECT WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THIS PAST WEEK EVEN AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE HOW DIFFICULT THESE DAYS ARE FOR EACH ONE OF US.

WE'VE DONE SO MUCH AGAINST IN FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19, ONE THAT HAS CHALLENGED US TO RISE TO THIS OCCASION AND TO THIS MOMENT.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE CAN TURN TO AN OLD FRIEND, ONE OF THE GREATEST ANGELINOS TO THE FIRST WESTERN I EVER GAVE A KEY TO THE CITY, OUR BELOVED VINCE SCULLY FOR SOME WORDS OF ADVISE.

HE SAID A FEW WEEKS AGO, FROM THE DEPTHS OF DEPRESSION WE FOUGHT OUR WAY THROUGH WWII AND IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE CAN CERTAINLY FIGHT THROUGH THIS AND HE ADDED IN THE WAY THAT ONLY VIN CAN ADD TO POETRY, IT'S THE LIFE OF THE WORLD, THE UPS, AND THE DOWNs.

VIN I'M SENDING YOU SO MUCH LOVE AND STRENGTH FROM OUR ENTIRE CITY.

FROM YOUR FALL ON TUESDAY, I'M GLAD OTHER YOU ARE RESTING COMFORTABLY.

THE DODGERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE FIELD FROM THIS BATTLE BUT WE SHOULD TAKE OUR CUE FROM THE TEAM YOU NARRATED FOR SO MANY YEARS.

AND ON THIS PLAYING FIELD OF STAYING AT HOME AND HELPING ONE ANOTHER OUT, TURN EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TURN THIS INTO THE MOST INPROBABLE SEASONS AND FOR ALL OF US, LET'S REMEMBER THAT SPIRIT THAT VIN HAS IGNITED IN US FOR MANY YEARS.

YOUR ACTIONS HELP KEEPS ALL OF US HEALTHY AND THE CITY IS NOT GUIDE AS SENSATIONAL OPINION BUT WE LOOK AT SCIENCE AND MEDICINE.

SCIENCE AND MEDICINE HAVE INFORMED EVERYTHING THAT YOU HEAR FROM ME EACH NIGHT.

AS I SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, I'LL SHARE THE INFORMATION I HAVE AS SOON AS I GET IT.

I HOPE SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN CHECKING OUT THIS DAILY DATA SUMMARY THAT WE HAVE A GREAT WAY TO LOOK AT THE TRENDS, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND EVEN MORE DEPTH THAN I HAVE MORE TIME TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS EVENING.

SO TONIGHT'S SNAP SHOT WILL OFFER COMPARISON TO SEE WHERE WE'VE COME AND HOW MANY CHALLENGES WE'VE HAD AND WHAT PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE.

TODAY, THE COUNTY REPORTED, 1035 NEW CONFIRMED POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES HERE IN THE COUNTY, BRINGING OUR TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES 18P517, A 6% INCREASE SINCE YESTERDAY.

ONE WEEK, WE HAD 567 NEW CASES LAST FRIDAY AND 11, 300 NEW CASES.

WE'RE DOUBLING OUR CAYSES ABOUT EVERY NINE DAYS AND EVEN THOUGH WE SAW A BACKLOG, WE ARE STAYING CONSISTENT SEEING THE CURVE BEND AGAIN AND MAKING SURE THAT WE SLOW THE RATE OF INCREASE OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS.

IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES THERE WERE 428 NEW CASES, A 5% INCREASE SINCE YESTERDAY.

BY COMPARISON, WE HAD 241 LAST FRIDAY IN THE CITY AND 5093 TOTAL CASES.

AND AS WE ADD MORE AND MORE TESTS, WE'LL SEE SOME OF THE NUMBERS GO UP.

WE'LL SEE SMFT BACKLOGS OR THE NEW NUMBERS COME N.

AND WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO TEST AND HE WANT MORE HONEST NUMBER OF HOW MANY CASES ARE OUT THERE.

WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 1, 000 CASES A DAY THIS WEEK.

WE AGAIN WITH TRENDING DOWN ON THAT BENDING OF THE CURVE.

BUT THE ONE STATISTIC THAT I ALWAYS SAY IS THE TRUEST AND BY FAR THE SADDEST IS THE DEATHS.

THAT IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT IS ABOUT THE TEST, SOMEBODY THAT WE LOST IS SOMEBODY THAT WE HAVE LOST AND TODAY THAT NUMBER WAS 52 ANGELINOS.

THAT BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ANGELINOS TO 848, A 6% SINCE YESTERDAY.

A WEEK AGO WE HAD 40 NEW DEATHS AND A TOTAL OF 495.

SO DEATHS LIKE OUR CASE RIGHT SIDE DOUBLING ABOUT EVERY 8 DAYS.

IT'S GOOD PROGRESS FROM A WEEK AGO, WHEN WE WERE DOUBLING EVERY SIX DAYS BUT WE WANT TO SEE THAT NUMBER GO UP AND AT SOME POINT TO SEE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS COME DOWN AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY BE AT ZERO.

EACH LOSS IS INCALCUABLE AND I SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES STILL MOURN ANDING THOSE MOURNS FOR THE FIERS TIME.

FAMILIES LIKE THE PE GEES, HE WAS THE AIM AGE AS ME.

HE WAS JUST 49 YEARS OLD.

HE WAS A DE VOTED HUSBAND, TO LAVISIA, THE FATHER OF 7 CHILDREN BUT HIS FLOCK WAS SO MUCH LARGER.

HE TOUCHED SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF ANGELS, FINDING THE FAITH COMMUNITY CENTER IN SOUTH L.

A.

AND TRAVELED THE COUNTRY TO SHARE HIS MESSAGE OF HOPE AND HUMILITY AND COMPASSION.

THE PEOPLE THAT KNEW HIM, SAID THERE WAS NO CEILING TO HIS GIVING SPIRITS.

MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAD ENOUGH FOOD AND PAY THEIR RENT.

ACCOMPANYING MOTHERS TO TEACHER CONFERENCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE NOT ALONE.

HELPING OTHER PASTORS SO THAT FAITH CAN TAKE EVEN GREATER HOLD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY EVEN OUTSIDE OF HIS OWN CHURCH.

THE THINGS WE'RE DOING TO STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS ARE IN HIS MEMORY, AND THE MEMORY OF EACH FALLEN ANGEL IN THIS CITY.

IN THE HONOR OF EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE LOST.

I'VE BEEN WANTING TO SHARE SMFT STORIES AND I KNOW FAMILIES HAVE KEPT THAT PRIVATE BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL THE NARRATIVE SO WE SEE THAT THESE THIS IS ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS WHO WE HAVE LOVED AND TOUCHED US.

EACH NIGHT WHEN I REPORT ON THESE FIGURES, I THINK OF BISHOP BEE GEE, WE'RE ASKING TODAY TO PREVENT MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS PREVENT MORE SICK SES AND PREVENT MORE NEEDLESS DEATHS.

AND MY JOB IS NOT JUST TO THROW NUMBERS AT YOU ABOUT ANY CONTEXT BUT TO TURN THESE STATISTICS THAT MAKE SENSE SO THEY CAN TB FUEL TO PROTECT EVERYONE.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WORKING.

AND WE CAN TELL BY THE INFECTION RATE.

WHAT WE WANT IS AN INFECTION RATE OF BELOW 1, WHICH IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INFECTED BY EACH POSITIVE COVID-19 PATIENT.

WHEN WE STARTED THIS, THAT R-NOT RATE THAT'S A SCIENTIFIC TERM OR MEDICAL TERM OF HOW MANY PEOPLE EACH PERSON REINFECTS WAS ABOVE 2, AROUND 2 AND A HALF.

WE INSTITUTED THE SAFER AT HOME ORDER ON MARCH 18th.

THE TREND WAS UPWARD RAPIDLY AND PROBABLY RIGHT THROUGH AT 2 AND A HALF TO 2.

6.

EXCUSE ME.

BUT BECAUSE WE APPLIED PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND ANGELINOS CONTINUED TO OBSERVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL AND I'M SO PROUD OF EACH ONE OF YOU.

TODAY WE'RE FLUCTUATING AT INFECTION RATE AT 1 AND 2.

WE WILL NOT BE HOME UNTIL WE'RE AT UNDER 1, WHICH MEANS EACH NEW CASE INFECTS LESS THAN 1 NEW PERSON BUT THIS IS REALLY GOOD NEWS AND IT'S A PRODUCT OF YOUR WORK SO.

WHILE CASES SEEM TO BE STUBBORNLY HIGH, JUST BEGINNING TO BEND IT BACK DOWN.

WE DON'T WANT TO JUST FLATTEN THE CURVE, WE WANT TO SEE IT COME DOWN AND THERE IS SOME INITIAL DATA SHOWING THAT.

MAKING SURE THAT OUR HOSPITALS CAN STAY BELOW THEIR CAPACITY AND ARE NOT OVERWHELMED LIKE WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PLACES.

THIS IS CRITICAL TO THIS MISSION, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE SURGES THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR AND MAYBE INTO NEXT YEAR.

YOU SEE, AS WE SAW IN THE USC STUDY 96% OF US HAVE PROBABLY NOT GOTTEN COVID-19 YET SO WE'RE SUSCEPTIBLE AND AS WE CREATE THE RULES OF THE ROAD ON HOW TO REOPEN AND RECOVER, WE KNOW THERE WILL BE TIMES THAT WE'LL HAVE TO GO BACK IN.

SO AS LONG AS WE CAN KEEP THOSE NUMBERS DOWN, WE CAN IMAGINE WHAT THOSE DAYS WILL LOOK LIKE AND BRING THEM TO US.

ACROSS COUNTRY IN OUR GENERAL EMERGENCY HOSPITALS, 1205 BEDS AVAILABLE INCLUDING 963 WHAT CUTE BEDS, 242ICU BEDS AND 125 15* AVAILABLE VENTILATOR.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE'VE SEEN THE MOST CASES, THIS IS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING ADMITTED FOR COVID-19 AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEGIN TO STABILIZE.

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEASURE AND I JUST STARTED TO GET THOSE.

2 TO 300 NEW PEOPLE EACH DAY GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

BASED ON THE NUMBER THAT ARE HEARING, THE NUMBER OF BEDS, THIS IS A GOOD NUMBER FOR US TO STAY UNDER OUR CAPACITY.

AND I WANT AGAIN OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND EVERYBODY WORKING ON OUR HOSPITALS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE PATIENTS GET THE CARE THEY NEED WH.

WE TALK ABOUT FLATTENING THE CURVE, THIS IS WHAT I MEAN DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PREVENT OUR HOSPITALS FROM BECOMING OVERWHELM, AVOIDING A HEALTHCARE STRAIN.

AND AS YOU HEARD ME SAY EACH NIGHT IN OUR FIGHT COVID-19 IS AGGRESSIVE TESTING.

LAST WEEK THERE WERE 30 TESTING LOCATIONS, THIS FRIDAY WE'RE UP TO 33 SITES.

AND ACROSS THOSE CITY AND COUNTY-RUN SITES, LAST FRIDAY, WE TESTED A TOTAL OF 67, 000 PEOPLE.

BUT TODAY WE'VE EXCEEDED 106, 000 PEOPLE TESTED IN THOSE SITES THA.

IS AN INCREDIBLE MARK AND WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TEST 12, 000 PEOPLE A DAY.

BY NEXT FRIDAY WE ESTIMATED WE WILL HAVE TESTED 150, 000 PEOPLE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY THROUGH THOSE CENTERS ALONE.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE OTHER TESTS BEING DONE DIRECTLY BY OTHER PROVIDERS.

SIMPLY PUT WE'RE ADDING MORE TESTS THAN CASE TO SEE OUR COUNTY EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE AMAZING TEAMS THAT HAVE STOOD THIS UP FROM THE COUNTY TO THE CITY, OUR VOLUNTEERS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHERS.

THEY'RE LAYING DOWN THE FOUNDATION.

IN THE UNITED STATES, COVID-19, ESTIMATE THAT THERE IS ABOUT 150, 000 TESTS IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE THE CAPACITY IN L.

A.

COUNTY ALONE TO CONDUCT 10% OF ALL THE TESTS IN AMERICA, THOUGH WE'RE UNDER 3% OF THE POPULATION OF AMERICA IS REALLY ASTOUNDING TESTAMENT TO ALL OF YOU.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THAT HARD WORK AND GET A TEST.

GO TO CORONAVIRUS.

LACITY.

ORG/TESTING.

AND THAT SURGE IN TESTING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE FOR US TO EXPAND TO ANY ANGELINO WITH SYMPTOMS, SECOND ALSO TO ROLL OUT HIGH CAPACITY TESTING TO SOME OF OUR TOUGHEST AND MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FROM SKID ROW, WHICH WE DID THIS WEEK, TO OUR SENIOR CENTERS WHICH I'LL GET TO MORE.

SXL ALLOWING OUR CRITICAL WORKERS WITHOUT SYMPTOMS TO BE TESTED THIS WEEK AND GOING INTO NEXT WEEK.

THESE ARE GROCERY STORE WORKERS AND PHARMACY STAFF, FOLKS WORKING AT HOSPITALS, KEY CITY EMPLOYEES LISTED ALONG WITH SHELTER WORKER AND LA DOT AND METRO BUS DRIVERS.

YOU'RE THE CRITICAL WORKERS THAT ARE HELPING US THROUGH THIS.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS, GET A TEST.

WE CAN OFFER THAT TO YOU AND I HOPE NEXT WEEK WE'LL OPEN THAT APERTURE TO THOSE WORKING IN THE FRONTLINES AND ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES.

THESE CRITICAL WORKERS SHOULD CONTACT YOUR EMPLOYER ON HOW TO GET PRIORITY TESTING AND CHECK IT OUT AGAIN AT CORONAVIRUS.

LACITY.

ORG/TESTING.

AND WE'RE NOT STOPPING THERE.

YESTERDAY I MENTIONED THAT MORE THAN 30% OF L.

A.

COUNTY RESIDENT WHO'S HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19 WERE RESIDENTS OF LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES.

AND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TODAY MANDATING ADDITIONAL HEALTH MEASURES AND I WANT TO THANK DR.

FERRER AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR WITH THE ORDER THAT THEY ANNOUNCED TODAY.

I WANT TO BUILD ON THAT IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND ACT ON EMERGENCY ORDER THAT FURTHER EXPANDS PROTECTION FOR RESIDENTS AND NURSING FACILITIES.

MY EMERGENCY ORDER WILL REQUIRE EVERY NURSING FACILITIES WNT CITY OF LOS ANGELES TO PROVIDE COVID-19 DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FOR ITS RESIDENT, EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTOR EVERY MONTH ADMINISTERED BY TRAINED PERSONNEL.

WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST CITY IN THE COUNTRY TO MANDATE THAT MONTHLY TESTING.

AND ADDITIONALLY OPERATORS MAY REQUEST TESTING KITS FROM OPERATION CENTER IF THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT HO DO IT ON THEIR OWN.

PLEASE HELP GET THOSE TESTING IN THE NURSING FACILITIES BUT WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU IF THAT FALLS SHORT.

YOU CAN VISIT CORONAVIRUS.

LACITY.

ORG/TESTING TO GET THAT DONE TOO AND WE CAN HELP YOU SET UP TESTS BECAUSE WE WANT TO PROTECT THE LOVED ONES THAT WE HAVE IN THESE XAS ILTS.

WE WANT NEM TO STAY SAFE AND WE WANT OUR WORKERS TO BE SAFE AS WELL.

SO WE EXPANDED STARTING MONDAY, OUR MOBILE ROLL OUT TEAM THAT CAN ROLL OUT WHEN WE HEAR FROM AN INFECTION FROM THREE TEAMS TO SIX TEAMS.

AND AGAIN I WANT TO THANK THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HELP WITH THAT.

WHILE THIS PROVIDES TESTING, IT DOES NOT EMPLOYEE ANYBODY TO TAKE A TEST, THAT'S THE LAW.

BUT WORKRS THAT ARE PROTECTING US AND OUR LOVED ONE AND KEEPING OUR MOST VULNERABLE FOLKS SAFE THAT ARE DYING DIS PROPORTIONATELY COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

AND IF WE CAN GET THIS RIGHT, WE CAN SEE CITIES REOPEN PARTS OF OUR LIFE.

ACROSS THE CITY, THERE ARE ABOUT 800, 000 ANGELINOS WHO ARE OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE AND ABOUT 80, 000 OF THEM LIVE UNDER THE POVERTY LINE.

AND EVEN THOSE NOT UNDER THE POVERTY LINE, QUITE OFTEN LIVE ON THEIR OWN, CAN'T PREPARE THEIR OWN MEALS, DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN RESOURCES SO WE HAVE FOCUSED ON EXPANDING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SENIORS ARE FED.

WHEN WE ISSUED THE AT HOME ORDER AND, MANY OF THEM DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GET THEIR NEXT MEAL.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE INCREASING OUR MEALS THAT WE'RE PROVIEEDING OUR SENIORS.

LAST WEEK I ANNOUNCED THAT MY EMERGENCY SENIOR MEALS PROGRAM WOULD TRY TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF SENIORS FROM 5, 000 MORE THAN DOUBLE TO 12, 000, AND ENSURE THAT 7, 000 NEW SENIORS RECEIVED TEN MEALS A WEEK FOR TOUP TEN WEEKS.

LET ME PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, WE WENT FROM 5, 000 SENIORS, 5 DAYS A WEEK GETTING A SINGLE MEAL 25, 000, PRECRISIS TO TRYING TO GET TO 120, 000 MEALS PER WEEK.

THIS IS A HERCULEAN UNDERTAKING.

SO FAR THEY FIELDED THOUSANDS OF CALLS AND BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK, WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE MAYBE TWO OR THREE WEEKS, IN ADDITION TOLL 5, 000 SENIORS WHO NOW HAVE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF MEALS WE GET, WE ENROLLED ANOTHER 6, 000 SENIORS JUST THIS WEEK.

TO 11, 000, CLOSE TO THAT 12, 000-PERSON GOAL THAT WE GOT TO IN SUCH A WEEK.

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO A PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH GOVERNOR NEWSOM AND I WAS SO HAPPY THAT WE'LL HELP THE RESTAURANTS AND OUR HOME BOUND SENIORS, THE FEMA REIMBURSEMENT FOR ORDERING RESTAURANTS FOR SENIORS.

WE'RE WORKING OUT THE DETAILS AND WE TO BE THE FIRST, ADDING MORE TO THOSE 12, 000 SENIORS.

BOTTOM LINE, WE CARE ABOUT YOU.

IF YOU'RE A SENIOR LIVING IN A SKILLED NURSING HOME FACILITY OR WHETHER YOU'RE A SENIOR JUST STUCK AT HOME NOT SURE WHERE YOUR MEAL IS GOING TO BE.

WE'RE HERE TO SAY, WE LOVE YOU, WE'LL PROTECT YOU AND WE'LL FEED YOU.

AND I WANT TO THANK EVERY TABLE THAT IS PARTNERING, MAKING THE MEALS, EMPLOYING PEOPLE OUT OF WORK AND FREEZING THE MEALS AND HELPING US GET THEM DELIVERED.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FROM MY STAFF, MARY HODGE, DEPUTY MAYOR, BARBARA ROMERO AND OF COURSE MATT JOHNSON AND RICK JACOBS AND MY WIFE AMY WHO HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB WORKING THE DETAILS TO MAKE SURE THAT SENIORS IN NEED ARE FED.

THANK YOU ALL.

IF YOU NEED HELP AND WE STILL HAVE AVAILABLE MEALS, IF YOU KNOW A SENIOR THAT NEEDS HELP, MAKE SURE THEY CALL 213-263-5226.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ON A SLIDE RIGHT NOW.

OR JUST GO TO CORONAVIRUS.

LACITY.

ORG/SENIOR MEALS AND WE WILL GET YOU SIGNED UP.

HELPING OUR SENIORS AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE, ARE IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE KNOWING IS FOR GOENT.

WE HAVE TO SAFE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS AND WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES, PROTECTING OUR LABOR FORCE AND PROTECTING BUSINESSES ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE CREATIVITY AND COOPERATION.

AND WE SAW THAT BETWEEN A NEW DEAL, BETWEEN ACLU TO KEEP THOUSANDS OF JANITORS ON THE PAYROLL.

THIS AGREEMENT MEANS THAT JANITORIAL STAFF WILL HOLD ON TO THEIR JOBS, THEIR INCOME, THEIR HEALTHCARE FOR THEMSELVES AND FAMILIES.

AS PART OF THE STATE'S WORK SHARING PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS THESE EMPLOYERS TO REDUCE HOURS WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR BENEFITS.

I'M SURE THOSE WORKER ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT TO MAKE UP FOR LOST HOURS.

THIS IS A VICTORY FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

FOR 8, 000 UNIONIZED JANITORS WHO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, 20, 000 ACROSS CALIFORNIA WHO GET TO KEEP THEIR JOBS AND HEALTH INSURANCE AND EMPLOYERS WHO KEEP A TRAINED EXPERIENCED GREAT WORK FORCE THAT THEY KNOW AND THAT ALREADY DO AN AMAZING JOB IN OUR OFFICE BUILDINGS AND HOSPITALS ALL AROUND THE SOUTHLAND.

–THE STATE SAVES DOLLARS BECAUSE THE JANITORS WILL ONLY APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FOR LOST HOURS NOT THEIR WHOLE WAGES.

SO IT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION A WIN FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR EMPLOYERS.

LET ME TURN TO THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE I KNOW WE ALL NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE TICKING UP, FEELS LIKE SUMMER.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE HERE IN L.

A.

, ONE DAY IT FEELS LIKE WINTER AND THE NEXT LIKE SUMMER.

OUR PRIMATE NATURES WANT TO GET OUT.

UNLESS YOU'RE AT A CRITICAL JOB, PLEASE STAY AT HOME.

NO MATTER WHAT THE TEM PACINGSINGER, OUR TRAILS REMAINS CLOSED, OUR BEACHES REMAIN CLOSED, YOU CANNOT PLAY ON PLAYGROUND AND YOU CANNOT PLAY AT BASKETBALL COURSES OR TENNIS COURTS.

YOU NEED TO STAY AT HOME.

WE CANNOT LET A WEEKEND REVERSE A MONTH OF WORK THAT YOU HAVE INVESTED IN.

BUT WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE HOT.

SO THAT'S WHY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH L.

A.

COUNTY WE'RE STANDING UP COOLING CENTERS FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

WE'RE EXPECTING SOME HIGH TEMPERATURE AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S UNDER THE THRESHOLD WHERE WE TRIGGER, WE THINK DURING THIS CRISIS WE SHOULD OPEN THEM UP.

IN BALDWIN HILLS, LINCOLN HEIGHTS, IN PANORAMA CITY, SHERMAN OAKS, YOU CAN FIND A COOLING CENTER.

THE CENTER OPENED TODAY, TOMORROW FROM 12:00 P.

M.

TO 6:00 P.

M.

AND EVERYONE COMING TO THEM IS SCREENED BEFORE ENTERING, REQUIRED TO WEAR A FACE COVERINGS SO BRING THEM AND MUST FOLLOW STRICT DISTANCING ORDERS.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THE CITY'S REC AND PARK STAFF AND LIBRARY AND OTHERS HELPING OVERSEE THESE FACILITIES.

AS I MENTIONED, THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW THE THRESHOLD BUT THIS MOMENT IS NOT ORDER.

–ORDINARY, WE NEED TO TAKE EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES.

AND LET ME BE KLAE, THE CENTERS ARE ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SURVIVE THE HEAT WAVE AT HOME.

SO DON'T MISREAD OUR ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, DON'T GO OUTSIDE, DON'T GATHER WITH OTHERS AND PUT LIVES AT RISK.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

FROM THE BEGINNING WE ALL HAVE BEEN.

AND IT'S IN THAT SPIRIT THAT I WANT TO THANK THE GET TOGETHER FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROCK SOLID PRODUCTION S AND COUNCILMEMBER JOHN LEE WHO I HAVE KNOWN SINCE I WAS IN 7th GRADE.

GETTING ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE FOR THEIR BASIC NECESSITY.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT EVENT TOMORROW.

BRING THE REST OF THE SUPPORT OF ANGELINO CARDS AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DISTRIBUTING THE FIRST ROUND OF CARDS THAT WILL HELP 45, 000 ANGELINOS MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS.

WE PROVIDED ALREADY 2 MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OEFSH THE LAST THREE DAYS WITH THOUSANDS MORE FAMILIES AND MILLIONS OF MORE DOLLARS LINED UP FOR THIS COMING WEEK.

AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE NEED MORE HELP SO.

PLEASE DONATE, GO TO MAYORS FUND.

BUT TUNE IN FOR THIS GREAT CONCERT, AN INCREDIBLE LINE UP, INCLUDING CAROL KING, SMOKY ROBINSON, TIM ALLEN, AND MANY OTHERS DELIVERING PERFORMANCE THAT'S WILL TAKE OUR MINDS OFF ALL THE STRESS AND ALL THE TENSION OF THIS MOMENT AND ALSO HELP SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE.

VISIT THAT WEBSITE AT ALLTOGETHERNOW LA.

ORG.

FOR MORE INFORMATION TO TUNE IN AND HELP SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE.

ON THIS DATE, IN ANY OTHER YEAR, WE WOULD SEE FLAGS AND MARCHES IN THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES, EACH YEAR WE GATHER TO COMMEMORATE THE 1.

5 MILLION LIVES LOST IN THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.

THE FACT OF HISTORY THAT WE RECOGNIZE HERE EVERY YEAR, BUT IN THIS PAST YEAR IN DECEMBER, WAS FINALLY RECOGNIZED BIT STATE CONGRESS AS WELL AND THOUGH WE CANNOT MARCH THIS YEAR, OUR PROMISE REMAINS THE SAME THAT IN THE FACE OF ANY DENIAL, WE WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH AND HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE PERISHED IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR OUR ARMENIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO STAYED HOME TODAY BUT WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU.

AS I KNOW AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND WE'RE GOING TO BE TEMPTED TO EMBRACE THE WARM WEATHER, BUT I CANNOT SAY IT ENOUGH.

STAY AT HOME, BEACHES REMAIN CLOSED, DO NOT GO TO THE BEACH.

PUBLIC TRAILS DO REMAIN CLOSED, DO NOT GO HIKING.

SKATE PARKS AND POOLS ARE CLOSED.

AND NRS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO THIS WEEKEND AND HOW LONG THIS WILL TAKE AND HOW MANY LIVES WE WILL LOSE.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND AND DO THE RIGHT THING THIS WEEKEND.

IF YOU GO OUT AND HIT THE BEACHES AND THE TRAILS, THE SAFER AT HOME ORDERS WILL LAST LONGER, MORE PEOPLE WILL BE SICK AND MORE WILL DIE.

BUT IF YOU STAY HOME THIS WEEKEND, OUR CASE NUMBERS WILL DROP AND IT WILL STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS AND BE ABLE TO START REOPENING THE CITY SOONER.

SO IF YOU MADE PLANS, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO CANCEL THEM.

BECAUSE BY STAYING HOME YOU PROTECT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY AND CITY.

AND I KNOW THIS IS HARD, I HATE SAYING THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE AS THE MAYOR OF L.

A.

AND FORGET BEING A MAYOR, JUST A FOURTH GENERATION ANGELINO, I LOVE THIS CITY SO MUCH.

I WANT TO BE OUT THERE AS BADLY AS YOU DO.

AND YOUR SACRIFICES ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

AS WE LOOK BACK AT THIS TIME, WE'LL REMEMBER PROUDLY WHAT WE ALL DID TOGETHER.

SO LET'S KEEP IT UP BY STAYING SAFE, BY STAYING HEALTHY AND BY STAYING AT HOME.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND, LOS ANGELES.

ALL STRENGTH AND LOVE TO YOU AS ALWAYS.

I'LL SEE YOU ON MONDAY BUT BEFORE THAT, HAPPY TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.

THANKS.

FIRST QUESTION, PLEASE.

>> OUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM XLAUD I CAN'T WITH KNX NEWS RADIO.

PLEASE GO AHEAD.

>> Mayor Garcetti: HI CLAUDIA.

>> HI, I THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE STILL WORKING OUT THE DETAILS ON HOW THE GOVERNOR'S PROGRAM FOR THE RESTAURANT THAT IS STILL BEING WORKED OUT.

BUT I WONDER IF YOU CAN GIVE US A ROUGH IDEA OF HOW MANY RESTAURANTS MAY BE ABLE TO PURCHASE AND HOW THEY WILL BE CHOSEN.

AND IF YOU CAN GIVES THE IMPACT THAT COVID-19 IS HAVING ON THE CITY'S WORK FORCE, HOW MANY DEATHS, HOW MANY IN QUARANTINE.

>> Mayor Garcetti: .

SURE.

SO LET ME START WITH OUR CITY WORK FORCE, WE'VE HAD TWO DEATHS OF CITY EMPLOYEES, TWO FOR SURE, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND OUR HEART BREAKS NOT ONLY FOR THE FAMILIES BUT FOR A LOT OF CITY EMPLOYEES WHO KNEW THESE FOLKS AS WELL.

AND WE'VE HAD OTHER DEATHS OF CITY EMPLOYEES DIRECT FAMILIES AS WELL DIRECT FAMILIES.

WE HAVE 189 CONFIRMED CASE AND 305 IN ISOLATION.

AND LAPD HAS HAD 75 INCLUDING 59 OFFICERS AND 16 CIVILIANS AND 33 OF THOSE OFFICERS HAVE RETURNED TO DUTY.

AND WE HAVE NOT HAD A DEATH IN EITHER FIRE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH WE THANK GOD FOR.

WE HAVE SEEN SUCH A TERRIBLE CASES AND NUMBERS IN PLACES LIKE NEW YORK.

IN TERMS OF THE MEALS PROGRAM, WE WERE CONSULTED AT THE BEGINNING OF IT, HELPED DO SMFT ARCHITECTURE WITH BIG OTHER CITY MAYORS IN CALIFORNIA.

WE JUST GOT THE GUIDANCE TODAY AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN TO SET THAT UP IN COMING DAYS.

SO WE DON'T HAVE DETAILS YET HOW A RESTAURANT WOULD SIGN UP BUT I HOPE IT CAN ALLOW A LOT OF RESTAURANTS TO GO TO A SIMPLE PLACE, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PUT A WEBSITE THAT WILL ABIDE BY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND TABLES THAT WILL ALLOW SENIORS TO SIGN UP AND ALLOW RESTAURANTS TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A STEADY STREAM OF THOSE MEALS.

AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN PUT PEOPLE TO WORK IN THE DELIVERY OF THESE.

BECAUSE MANY RESTAURANTS DON'T HAVE THAT CAPACITY.

THAT MAY BE THROUGH EXISTING COMPANIES LIKE POSTMATES AND UBER EATS BUT ALSO OUR TAXI DRIVERS WHO MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO WORKOUT THE DETAILS.

IT'S A START DATE TO START.

WE HOPE TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO LAUNCH.

HOLD TIGHT MAYBE ON MONDAY OR TUESDAY, WE'LL HAVE THE NEWS ON THAT.

THANKS CLAUDIA.

NEXT QUESTION.

>> NEXT QUESTION, IS IN THE LINE OF ALEX MICHAELSON WITH FOX 11 NEWS.

>> HI, MAYOR AND HAPPY FRIDAY.

THE CONCERT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FUN.

I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BEACHES, WE'RE SEEING PICTURES FROM ORANGE COUNTY BEACHES THAT ARE JUST PACKED TODAY, DES PIETD ALL OF WHAT YOU AND OTHER LEADERS ARE SAYING.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT MESSAGE IS NOT GETTING THROUGH AND BEACHESED AND OTHER AREAS CONTINUE TO BE PACKED THIS WEEKEND, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT.

>> Mayor Garcetti: WE'LL HAVE POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE, MOUNTED PATROL, AND BICYCLES, WE'RE NOT SEEK TO GO BRING A HEAVY HAND BUT WE WILL LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS A–.

IT CAN BE PREDICTED WHEN WE DO THIS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LEAD OF FUN LEADING TO WEEKS MORE OF BEING HOMES AND NOT ABLE TO GO OUT SIMPLY IS NOT WORTH IT.

IS CONVENED A MEETING WITH THE 88 COUNTY MAYORS THAT I'M A PART OF AND TOGETHER WITH ROBERT MAYOR GARCIA, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE MARCH TOGETHER TO OPEN TOGETHER.

WE'RE TALKING TO THE COUNTY, WE'RE SPEAK TO GO PUBLIC HEALTH, TALKING TO THE SUPERVISORS BUT THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE MAYOR THAT SAID WE SHOULD BE OPENING THAT.

AND I KNOW THERE ARE PETITIONS AND OTHER THINGS, BUT WE CANNOT REACT TO PETITIONS AND SIGNATURES.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE OF WHAT THIS CAUSES.

THERE IS A FEW PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD THAT HAVE DONE THAT.

BUT I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, IT MAY NOT BE A WEEK OR TWO LATER, THAT THEY MAY SEE THE EFFECTS.

PEOPLE GO FROM THE BEACH AND BRING THAT BACK TO THE HOUSEHOLD OR GO SHOPPING AND PASS IT PO PEOPLE SHOPPING, NOT KNOWING BECAUSE THEY'RE ASYMPTOMATIC.

IT'S JUST PLAYING WITH FIRE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING AGAINST OUR ADVISE BECAUSE OUR DICTATE IN L.

A.

COUNTY HAS BEEN THAT THIS IS CLOSED.

AND THE POLICE CHIEF, HE WAS TALKING TO ME EVEN OUTSIDE OF L.

A.

, TO SEE THE BEACHES.

AND ONCE HE SAYS ONE OR TWO PEOPLE, THEY NEEDED TO BE REMINDED BUT STRETCHES THAT NOBODY IS THERE.

SO IT'S PROOF THAT THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BE THERE, THIS IS A SMALL MINORITY AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A PRESENCE TO REMIND THEM WHAT THE ORDER IS IN L.

A.

COUNTY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW NO MATTER HOW BADLY YOU WANT TO BE OUT THERE BESINGER THIS IS NOT A WEEK TO BE AT THE BEACH.

NOT IN L.

A.

COUNTY.

>> CAN THEY GET ARRESTED? >> WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY STRONG ISSUES WITH PEOPLE NOT COMPLYING.

WE MAKE IT PRESENCE.

IF THAT BECOMES A BIGGER PROBLEM, THEY COULD BE.

BUT THAT IS NEVER HOW WE LEAD.

THAT'S NEVER STEP, 1, 2, 3, OR 4.

JUST LIKE WE DID WITH BUSINESSES, WE COULD HAVE GONE TO BUSINESSES OPEN THE FIRST DAY, AND ARREST OR FINE, WE DIDN'T.

AND 99% OF TIME WE GOT WHAT WE NEEDED.

AND THAT 1% WE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT.

AND WE KEEP THAT ON THE TABLE TOO, IF PEOPLE DON'T ABIDE BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD TO DO THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE DO OBEY AND RESPECT THE LAW.

THANKS ALEX.

NEXT QUESTION.

>> NEXT QUESTION WILL BE FROM ROSA WITH KNBC CHANNEL 4.

>> HELLO MAYOR.

YOU TALKED ABOUT SKILLED NURSING HOMES AND THAT YOU'RE MANDATING ADDITIONAL HEALTH MEASURES.

I KNOW THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS STEPPED IN AND THIS IS A QUESTION FOR MY COLLEAGUE PATRICK HEELY, THE NURSING HOMES ARE THE HUNGIER TIGER OF THE GROUP HERE, UNFORTUNATELY, AND THE NATIONAL GUARD IS STEPPING IN.

IS THERE A NEED FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM THE NATIONAL GUARD TO GO TO MORE NURSING HOMES? AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD? >> SO WE'LL TAKE HELP WHERE EVER WE GET IT AND IT WILL BE GREAT TO SEE THE GUARD OUT THERE, TRAINED PROFESSIONALS.

SOME OF THESE HOMES HAVE THEM SO IT'S A MATTER OF TRAINING THEM AND CONNECTING THEM WITH A SOURCE TO GET TESTS AND MANDATING THAT THEY NEED TO DO THIS FOR EMPLOYEES AND FOR RESIDENTS TO MAKE THIS AVAILABLE AT LEAST MONTHLY.

HOPEFULLY IF WE EXPAND TESTS MORE THAN THAT, WE CAN DO IT MORE FREQUENTLY SO.

THEY'RE COMING IN TO HELP WITH THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE DOCTORS AND PERSONNEL FROM THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SHIP MERCY, LEAVING THE SHIP AND GO OUT.

WE'VE HAD PERSONNEL COME IN, IT'S GREAT TO SEE THEM GOING OUT AND HELP OUT IN LOS ANGELES AND IN ORANGE COUNTY.

I SPOKE YESTERDAY WITH THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, ESTHER AND HE SAID THAT WE REMAIN HERE TO HELP.

I KNOW THE COMFORT IS LEAVING NEW YORK BUT WE HAVE NO PLANS TO HAVE THE MERCY GO OUT.

WHETHER WE NEED TO BRING PEOPLE IN OR OUT.

THEY'RE HELPING WITH THOSE SOURCES MEDICAL TASKS, TAKING PEOPLE TEMPERATURES WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE CAPACITY AND THE SEARCH TEAMS STARTING ON MONDAY BUILDING WITH THE THREE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

AND WE HAVE BACK UP FOR NURSING HOMES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS, CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT WHERE WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN CONFIDENTLY HELP THE NUMBER AND INSPIRE THAT ACROSS THE COUNTY AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU, SIR, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> Mayor Garcetti: GOT IT.

NEXT QUESTION.

>> FINAL QUESTION OF THE NIGHT WILL BE IN SPANISH AND IT COMES FROM THE LINE OF ABLE WITH TELEMUNDO 52.

PLEASE GO AHEAD.

>> HOLA ALCALDE.

REGARDING THE HOME MEALS PROGRAM ANNOUNCED BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM, DO WE KNOW WHAT TYPE OF RESTAURANTS CAN BENEFIT? ARE WE LOOKING AT FAST FOOD OR SMALL BUSINESS RESTAURANTS.

>> Mayor Garcetti: WE HOPE THAT IT HITS THE MOM-AND-POP RESTAURANTS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THE FAST FOOD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY AFLOAT.

BUT IT'S THE MOM-AND-POP THAT ARE NOT GETTING THE GENERAL MEALS.

IT'S 75% REIMBURSEMENT FROM FEMA AND THE STATE WILL KICK IN 19% AND WE'LL KICK IN THE 16%.

IT'S THE TIME FEMA HAS DONE IT.

AND WE WILL NOT JUST BE LOOKING AT SENIORS, THERE IS OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS THAT FEMA IS LOOKING TO REIMBURSE.

IT'S BRAND NEW, BUT THE INTENTION IS THAT THIS IS FOR, YOU KNOW, EVERY RESTAURANT THAT CAN BUILD THIS CAPACITY THAT WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

AND WE HOPE THAT IS A SHOT IN THE ARM TO HELP THE SMALL LOCALLY RESTAURANTS, NOT JUST NATIONAL CHAINS TO STAY ALIVE AND GET THROUGH THIS AND PROVIDE SOME GOOD HELP AND BE THERE FOR WHEN WE REOPEN.

I'LL SAY THAT IN SPANISH AS WELL.

GRACIAS POR LA PEPREGUNTA.

SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] GRACIAS.

SO WITH THAT I'M GOING TO GO TO SPANISH AGAIN.

FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE, STAY HOME.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE HOT.

IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, GO TO THE COOLING CENTER.

WE'LL GET THERE SOONER TO THE BEACH IF WE CONTINUE TO STAY SAFE.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

AND WITH THAT I'M GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO SPANISH FOR MY ADDRESS FOR THE EVENING.

MUY BUENAS TARDES, LOS ANGELES.

[SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] QUEDENSE EN BUENA SALUD, QUEDENSE PROTEJIDOS Y QUEDENSE IN CASA.

HASTA EL LUNES.

GRACIAS.

.