Playgrounds could reopen amid COVID-19 concerns

State health officials have reversed course and will allow outdoor playgrounds to reopen, despite initially being closed under COVID-19 restrictions. However, Los Angeles County’s local health order still keeps them off-limits. County officials are debating whether the local restriction would be changed in line with the state. Individual counties are permitted to enact stricter health regulations than the state. Los Angeles County ordered the closure of indoor and outdoor playgrounds in late November, responding to a local COVID-19 surge that saw the county surpass a five-day average of 4,500 new daily coronavirus cases. The state’s regional stay at home order, which took effect on Dec. 6 across all of Southern California, also ordered them closed.