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

Officials say celebrations ‘likely’ led to recent surge in cases
Agency warns fans ahead of potential Dodgers championship

With Los Angeles hoping to celebrate another major sports title in a matter of days, the city might be paying a price for one earlier in the month.

As the Lakers progressed through four rounds of playoffs, culminating in the NBA title on 11 October, the Los Angeles county department of health says it’s highly that fans gathering to watch the games – and then taking to the streets to celebrate – played a role in the county’s surge of Covid-19 cases.