Mayor of Los Angeles says city will not be completely open 'until we have a cure'

Mayor Eric Garcetti attempted to walk back a public health official's statement on continuing lockdown through August, but reiterated that the city won't be fully open until there is a cure for the virus

By Sophie Mann

Published: May 13, 2020 12:43pm

Updated: May 13, 2020 2:03pm

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer says that stay-at-home orders in the city will “with all certainty” be extended for the next three months, through August.

Mayor Eric Garcetti walked back some of Ferrer’s comments during an ABC "Good Morning America" segment on Wednesday morning. He insisted that the comments were taken out of context and referred mostly to continuing to take precautions like social distancing, working from home, and wearing masks.

LA has “never been fully closed,” and will “never be completely open until we have a cure,” said the mayor.

He added, “we’re not moving beyond COVID-19, we’re learning to live with it."

Coronavirus cases in LA fall just short of 35,000.