The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Monday suspended jury trials through Jan. 24, citing “an alarming surge of COVID-19 cases,” including inside its own courthouses.

“Given the increased rate of transmission of COVID-19 in the Central District of California due to the Omicron variant, conducting jury trials would place court personnel, attorneys, parties, and prospective jurors at undue risk,” according to the order, which warns the suspension “may be extended as necessary.”