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Los Angeles City Hall. | Photo courtesy of the Office of the Controller
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The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to extend separate declarations of local emergencies for COVID-19 and monkeypox.
The council also voted to continue allowing remote meetings under Assembly Bill 361, which allows meetings to take place virtually due to the risk of COVID-19.
Councilmen John Lee and Joe Buscaino voted against continuing the state of emergency for COVID-19. Buscaino voted against continuing remote meetings.
On Wednesday, the number of COVID-positive patients in LA County hospitals increased by 52 people to 492, according to the latest state figures — continuing a recent uptick that has health officials concerned about another possible cold-weather surge in transmission.
As of Tuesday, there were 1,433 new coronavirus infections reported in the county, along with eight additional virus-related deaths. The seven-day average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus rose slightly, reaching 5.9% as of Tuesday.
County health officials last week noted some slight increases in virus-tracking metrics, including the average daily case numbers. Combined with an earlier-than-usual flu season, health officials have been urging residents to get vaccinated against COVID and influenza.
“With recent unusually high levels of flu and other respiratory diseases, there are signs the county could be headed toward a COVID surge this fall and winter,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Friday.
Last month, the council held three meetings remotely after two council members tested positive for coronavirus.
The council must vote on extending each item every 30 days.
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