Outrage over Planned New Year’s Eve Gatherings As Los Angeles Faces Crush Of Covid-19 Cases

By Staff, Agencies

News of planned New Year’s Eve parties in Los Angeles is sparking outrage as the region faces a catastrophic Covid-19 crisis, record deaths and a crushed healthcare system.

In the lead up to the New Year, LA has become the new center of America’s out-of-control pandemic, with one Covid-19 death now happening every ten minutes and hospitals faced with unthinkable choices as they run out of intensive care unit [ICU] beds. But doctors’ warnings of “apocalyptic” scenes at hospitals have not stopped some businesses from planning in-person events to ring in 2021, drawing sharp criticism from health officials.

After an image of a restaurant invitation went viral on Christmas day, the city of Beverly Hills said in a statement that it had reached out to the restaurant to remind representatives that current local orders prohibit indoor and outdoor dining. In an Instagram post on Monday, the restaurant said its message was meant to “add some levity” and that it was taking reservations for outdoor dining.

But with the current surge, which officials predict will only get worse amid holiday travel and gatherings, all in-person dining is banned, and authorities say they will likely extend the stay-at-home order into the New Year.

LA residents have raised alarms about a number of other secretive in-person parties planned for Thursday, as well as businesses that continue to openly flout regulations.

In Burbank, just outside of the city, residents have complained to local officials about Tinhorn Flats, a restaurant that has repeatedly posted anti-mask messages and reopened in protest of health restrictions.

Most LA hospitals have been forced to turn away ambulances due to the crush of Covid-19 cases over the weekend, California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, said in a briefing on Monday. “Routine emergency care is being slowed down. You think you’re immune to the impact of Covid-19 … God forbid you have a stroke, a car accident or other acute care need.”