LA County Official Calls Anti-Vax Dodger Stadium Protest ‘Intentional Sabotage’

L.A. County health officials on Sunday confirmed 5,925 new cases of coronavirus and 124 new deaths. Currently, there are 5,328 people hospitalized with COVID-19, and 27% of them are in an ICU.

Today’s update brings the total number of cases to 1,116,892, and deaths to 16,770.

Officials recently confirmed L.A.’s second case of a coronavirus variant initially found in the U.K., as experts wonder whether the region will be able to fend off the more contagious strains of the virus.

Some health workers, high-risk and older Angelenos have already received a COVID-19 vaccination, while others are waiting to get their second dose.

Restaurants are slowly reopening, although they face considerable restraints.

L.A. County has confirmed the second local case of the more contagious COVID-19 variant that was first discovered in the U.K.

The first case of the variant was found in Southern California at the end of December. In L.A. County, the first case was confirmed on Jan. 16.

Health officials say they believe that variant, and others, are already spreading in the county.

The new strain — B.1.1.7 — has an “unusually large number of mutations,” according to the county’s public health department. Despite being more contagious than the strain that first emerged in California last January, there’s still no evidence that the illness it causes is any more severe.

The first person to test positive for the U.K. mutation in L.A. County traveled to Oregon and is currently isolating there.

COVID-19 variants have also emerged in Brazil and South Africa.

Health experts have been quick to reassure the public that virus mutations are normal, however it’s not clear how well the U.S. will be able to respond to a rapidly spreading variant.

Frustration over the slow vaccine rollout and a prolonged lockdown have fueled efforts to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Christina Bellantoni, director of the USC Annenberg Media Center, said that in some parts of L.A., support for the recall is evident.

“You see a lot of it in [yard] signs, the lack of confidence” in the governor, she said.

Nevertheless, as recently as December, Newsom’s ratings were good.

“In October, [the Public Policy Institute of California] had him at 58%,” said Zach Courser, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College. “In December, measuring him on jobs and economic performance, still 58%. Over half of independents [said] they approved of Newsom.”

The recall campaign has until March to submit enough signatures to get on the ballot. Newsom’s term, his first as governor, ends in 2023.

Dodger Stadium, which is operating as one of L.A.’s largest coronavirus vaccination sites, was shut down for about an hour on Saturday afternoon when a crowd of approximately 50 people blocked the entrance.

L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis called the protest an “intentional sabotage of an effort to keep our community healthy.”

Individuals who were already inside the stadium gates when the protest began were able to get their shots in a timely manner. Those who were still outside the gates were forced to wait for their vaccines until the demonstrators were moved to the sidewalk.

A Facebook post made by the group Shop Mask Free Los Angeles described the demonstration as an “all things COVID protest/march.”

Most protesters were not wearing masks.

Officials in Manhattan Beach are ramping up an effort to enforce all state and local laws that apply to electric bicycles.

Local police will be on the lookout for riders not wearing helmets, riding on sidewalks, failing to stop at posted stop signs, and riding on The Strand — a walking path that runs parallel to the waterfront — and the nearby bike path.

“Over the last several months, electric bikes — e-bikes — have become very popular throughout the South Bay and Manhattan Beach,” police Sgt. Tim Zins said in a statement. “With the popularity of these e-bikes, we have had some safety concerns and violations of the law.”

Only pedestrians are allowed on The Strand, and only non-electric bikes can be used on the bike path.

The first vaccination clinic in Riverside, located in a parking lot at the city’s convention center, opened on Saturday.

Riverside Fire Department Captain Brian Guzzette said the city is partnering with the company Curative and its staff to administer vaccines.

“We have been allocated 500 vaccinations from the county of Riverside for our site,” Guzzette said. “We’re hoping that will increase in days to come as vaccines become more available, and we believe that the capacity at that site is 1,500 a day.”

Some cities, including Los Angeles, have petitioned to receive the vaccine directly from the federal supply. If that happens, said Guzzette, Riverside is prepared to assume distribution.

Vaccinations at the Riverside Convention Center are by appointment only. Eligible residents are those over 65, hospital workers, first responders, teachers and some agricultural workers.

A new hiking trail in the Coachella Valley will stretch 12 miles through Joshua Tree, ending in Yucca Valley on the north side of the national park.

The Long Canyon Trail will start just outside the town of Desert Hot Springs.

Erin Rode, a reporter for the Desert Sun who has been following the region’s plans for the trail, said that Desert Hot Springs officials hope the area will attract tourists from Joshua Tree and Sand to Snow National Monument.

“They’re really hoping to use [the trail] to position themselves as another gateway to Joshua Tree National Park,” said Rode, “and a destination for outdoor recreation and outdoor tourism in the desert.”

The Long Canyon Trail’s southern trailhead is scheduled to open in the spring.