THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES: Residents in city of Los Angeles ‘ordered to remain in their homes’ amid COVID-19 surge.

Flashback: Lakers title celebrations likely added to California’s Covid-19 spike, agency says.

Also possibly contributing: “Protesters gathered outside Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s home Wednesday for the ninth consecutive day in an attempt to persuade President-elect Joe Biden not to appoint Garcetti to his cabinet. Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and Ground Game LA have vowed to conduct a demonstration every day until Biden commits to not appointing Garcetti to the cabinet. They are critical of Garcetti’s handling of homelessness, public transportation and other issues.”