As a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, on March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency in California and Mayor Eric Garcetti declared a State of Emergency in the City of Los Angeles. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared the health crisis a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic (Pandemic) has rapidly forced the closure of schools and many businesses, including, but not limit to, movie theaters, bars, restaurants and venues holding group events. On March 19, 2020, Mayor Garcetti issued a “Safer at Home” emergency order, ordering all residents to stay inside their homes and immediately limit all movement outside their homes beyond what is necessary to take care of essential needs. On March 19, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom also ordered all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at the place of residence with certain exceptions.
The pandemic has resulted in the closure of many businesses throughout the City. Supermarkets, grocery stores, warehouse food stores, and drug retail stores have remained opened during this health crisis, giving many residents the only means to purchase necessary and essential food and household items. The pandemic has resulted in long customer lines and often large numbers of customers inside the stores.
Many people rely on food delivery platforms such as Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Postmates, Uber Eats, Grub Hub, and Doordash to purchase their groceries and restaurant foods. Delivery drivers and the consumers they service are doing their best to practice social distancing to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
Workers at grocery and drug retail stores and food delivery platforms have joined the front-line responders to the public health emergency, ensuring the public continues to have access to essential needs. These workers are taking precautions to minimize the risk of exposure to themselves and the public they serve, including employing social distancing, while they also face the same hardships most Angelenos now face regarding child care needs during school closures and caring for sick and/or elderly family members. Through this ordinance, the City seeks to enhance the protection of the public health and safety of workers and residents.