COVID-19: Los Angeles Continues Lockdown, Trump Says It’s Unlawful

The mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, has maintained his stance on the lockdown order in the state, saying he won’t be pushed by politics in risking people’s lives against coronavirus.

US has been the country with the highest cases of the virus and the mortality rate.

Garcetti, dismissed a Trump administration warning that the city’s continued lockdown due to coronavirus could be illegal in a letter earlier Friday by federal authorities.

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Reacting to the letter that said long-term restrictions “maybe both arbitrary and unlawful, Garcetti, the Democratic leader of the United States’ second-largest city, said “we are not guided by politics in this — we are guided by science, we are guided by collaboration.

Speaking about the missive at a press conference, he said there’s no games or any other things going on.

“And that’s the way we’re going to continue to safely open,” he added.

Although the city has begun reopening facilities from beaches and golf courses to restaurants and retail businesses offering curbside pick-up services but lags behind other parts of California.

Los Angeles County, which is densely populated has over 43,000 confirmed cases, with 2,049 deaths — well over half of the state’s fatalities.

“We remain concerned about what may be an arbitrary and heavy-handed approach to continuing stay-at-home requirements,” the Department of Justice letter said.

“The Constitution and federal statutory law prohibit arbitrary, unreasonable actions,” it added.

President Donald Trump, who is eyeing re-election in November, has pressed for a further reopening of the United States as job losses mount from coronavirus shutdowns. He also on Friday demanded state governors allow places of worship to reopen immediately.

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“Let’s not wait one day, longer than we have to. At the same time, let’s not be pushed by politics or some other reasons to go one day earlier than is safe. Because people’s lives are at stake,” said Garcetti.

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