latimes--2020-03-12--Boris Yaro, Times photographer who took iconic image of mortally wounded RFK, dies

As Robert F. Kennedy was leaving the Ambassador Hotel on June 5 , 1968 , following his victory in that year ’ s California Democratic Presidential primary , a part-time Los Angeles Times photographer , working on his own time in hopes of catching a shot for his wall , followed .
“ The idea went further than I had expected , ” Boris Yaro would write more than 40 years later in a reminiscence of the night he became one of the world ’ s celebrated photographers .
In the pandemonium of the hotel ’ s pantry following Kennedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the crowd parted from the fallen candidate , Yaro snapped the enduring black-and-white image of a distraught busboy trying to console a mortally wounded hero .
Yaro , who shot news photos for The Times for more than 40 years and along the way tutored the actor who played the news photographer on the TV series “ Lou Grant , ” died Wednesday at his home in Northridge of natural causes .
He was 81 .
Although Yaro ’ s career became defined by the Kennedy photo , he was known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news hound .
Always going to work in a blazer and tie , Yaro presented an amusing contrast to the slovenly , rumpled photographer known as Animal on “ Lou Grant.
” In preparing for that role , actor Daryl Anderson tutored under Yaro , learning how to use a camera and going on assignments to absorb the daily rhythm of the photojournalist .
“ It struck me as comical that here was this character he got hanging around with Boris , ” said Times photographer Al Seib .
In a 1996 book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” author Douglass K. Daniel quoted Yaro as saying , “ You can ’ t walk into a newsroom dressed as a damn bum.
” Beneath Yaro ’ s sharp appearance was an intense commitment to his craft .
“ It was like meeting a rock star , ” said Rick Meyer , another longtime Times photographer , of his first meeting with Yaro in 1973 , when Meyer was fresh out of journalism school .
“ His company car sprouted numerous antennas for police radios .
Boris would respond to news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night.
” “ He knew everybody : every fireman , every policeman , ” said colleague Joel Lugavere .
“ They all knew him on a first-name basis.
” Yaro ’ s children , Michael Yaro and Nicole Good , said that dedication was part of their lives too .
“ We all lived with that , ” Good said .
“ He had scanners on his nightstand .
He never left home without some form of connected communication .
He always had one , maybe two maybe three cameras with him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his children , Yaro joined The Times in the mid-1960s as a part-time photographer in the paper ’ s San Gabriel Valley office .
In his 2010 recollection of the night of the Kennedy assassination , Yaro said he did not take photos during the shooting .
“ It was dark , and I think I was afraid , ” he wrote .
When he saw Kennedy sinking to the floor , he realized , “ I had better make pictures.
” Then a woman grabbed his sleeve and pleaded with him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Dammit , lady , this is history , ’ ” Yaro wrote .
“ I pulled my coat sleeve loose from her grasp but lost some visual space because people began crowding around the fallen Kennedy.
” The photo , which is part of the permanent collections of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and Museum of Modern Art in New York , did not win the Pulizer Prize , which went that year to an equally enduring shot of the execution of a Viet Cong prisoner in Saigon .
Pulitzer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he thought two Pulizers should have been given that year .
“ When you look at Boris ’ picture of Kennedy from head to foot , with the kitchen worker leaning over him , that is a completely perfect composition with all the necessary elements , ” Bartletti said .
“ His picture is and will remain fantastic.
” Besides his two children , Yaro is survived by his wife , Jill , and a brother .

Boris Yaro, who was a Los Angeles Times photographer, was at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles the night Robert F. Kennedy was shot.
As Robert F. Kennedy was leaving the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968, following his victory in that year’s California Democratic Presidential primary, a part-time Los Angeles Times photographer, working on his own time in hopes of catching a shot for his wall, followed.
“The idea went further than I had expected,” Boris Yaro would write more than 40 years later in a reminiscence of the night he became one of the world’s celebrated photographers.
In the pandemonium of the hotel’s pantry following Kennedy’s shooting by Sirhan B. Sirhan, as the crowd parted from the fallen candidate, Yaro snapped the enduring black-and-white image of a distraught busboy trying to console a mortally wounded hero.
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Yaro, who shot news photos for The Times for more than 40 years and along the way tutored the actor who played the news photographer on the TV series “Lou Grant,” died Wednesday at his home in Northridge of natural causes. He was 81.
Although Yaro’s career became defined by the Kennedy photo, he was known to colleagues as a hard-driving but dapper news hound.
Always going to work in a blazer and tie, Yaro presented an amusing contrast to the slovenly, rumpled photographer known as Animal on “Lou Grant.” In preparing for that role, actor Daryl Anderson tutored under Yaro, learning how to use a camera and going on assignments to absorb the daily rhythm of the photojournalist.
“It struck me as comical that here was this character he got hanging around with Boris,” said Times photographer Al Seib.
Busboy Juan Romero comforts a mortally wounded Robert F. Kennedy after he was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. (Boris Yaro / Los Angeles Times)
In a 1996 book on the making of “Lou Grant,” author Douglass K. Daniel quoted Yaro as saying, “You can’t walk into a newsroom dressed as a damn bum.”
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Beneath Yaro’s sharp appearance was an intense commitment to his craft.
“It was like meeting a rock star,” said Rick Meyer, another longtime Times photographer, of his first meeting with Yaro in 1973, when Meyer was fresh out of journalism school. “His company car sprouted numerous antennas for police radios. Boris would respond to news stories all hours of the day and night.”
“He knew everybody: every fireman, every policeman,” said colleague Joel Lugavere. “They all knew him on a first-name basis.”
Yaro’s children, Michael Yaro and Nicole Good, said that dedication was part of their lives too.
“We all lived with that,” Good said. “He had scanners on his nightstand. He never left home without some form of connected communication. He always had one, maybe two maybe three cameras with him, film in every single pocket.”
According to his children, Yaro joined The Times in the mid-1960s as a part-time photographer in the paper’s San Gabriel Valley office.
In his 2010 recollection of the night of the Kennedy assassination, Yaro said he did not take photos during the shooting.
“It was dark, and I think I was afraid,” he wrote.
When he saw Kennedy sinking to the floor, he realized, “I had better make pictures.”
Then a woman grabbed his sleeve and pleaded with him to stop.
“My response was, ‘Dammit, lady, this is history,’ ” Yaro wrote. “I pulled my coat sleeve loose from her grasp but lost some visual space because people began crowding around the fallen Kennedy.”
The photo, which is part of the permanent collections of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and Museum of Modern Art in New York, did not win the Pulizer Prize, which went that year to an equally enduring shot of the execution of a Viet Cong prisoner in Saigon.
Pulitzer Prize-winning former Times photographer Don Bartletti said he thought two Pulizers should have been given that year.
“When you look at Boris’ picture of Kennedy from head to foot, with the kitchen worker leaning over him, that is a completely perfect composition with all the necessary elements,” Bartletti said. “His picture is and will remain fantastic.”
Besides his two children, Yaro is survived by his wife, Jill, and a brother.


latimes--2020-03-12--Teachers' union calls on L.A. schools to close because of coronavirus; board to meet Friday

The L.A. teachers union is calling on the nation ’ s second-largest school district to close all its schools as quickly as possible to combat the coronavirus outbreak .
The Los Angeles Unified School Board is scheduled to meet Friday morning in emergency session for a status report from L.A. Unified Supt .
Austin Beutner .
Based on the experience of other countries , a “ proactive approach ” is necessary , said Alex Caputo-Pearl , president of United Teachers Los Angeles .
The school system has resisted shutting down campuses so far but is preparing for that step .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked to an L.A. public school at this time .
Despite mounting cries on Thursday afternoon for LAUSD to close , officials said it would not — at least not yet .
While schools are engaging in contingency planning that includes granting the superintendent , and planning for lessons , public health and school officials said they planned to keep schools open unless a confirmed case reaches a campus .
Board President Richard Vladovic said Thursday it was important to rely on the advice of health officials in making the call on whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision is to take direction from the doctors and the healthcare providers that happen to know , ” he said .
“ I can ’ t second-guess a pandemic and how it ’ s spread .
If there ’ s ever a doubt , the safety of children will come first.
” Officials from the governor on down have avoided calling for closing schools , citing the hardships for families , the difficulty in providing academic services and even the school meals that children depend on .
But Vladovic acknowledged there was widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was best .
“ I ’ m very sensitive to that , and I ’ m in that group that is very susceptible , and I know that many of our employees are as well , ” said Vladovic , who is 75 and has battled health issues in recent years .

The L.A. teachers union is calling on the nation’s second-largest school district to close all its schools as quickly as possible to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
The Los Angeles Unified School Board is scheduled to meet Friday morning in emergency session for a status report from L.A. Unified Supt. Austin Beutner.
Based on the experience of other countries, a “proactive approach” is necessary, said Alex Caputo-Pearl, president of United Teachers Los Angeles.
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The school system has resisted shutting down campuses so far but is preparing for that step. No case of the virus has been linked to an L.A. public school at this time.
Despite mounting cries on Thursday afternoon for LAUSD to close, officials said it would not — at least not yet.
While schools are engaging in contingency planning that includes granting the superintendent broad emergency powers , canceling large events and planning for lessons delivered on TV , public health and school officials said they planned to keep schools open unless a confirmed case reaches a campus.
Board President Richard Vladovic said Thursday it was important to rely on the advice of health officials in making the call on whether to close schools. “The prudent decision is to take direction from the doctors and the healthcare providers that happen to know,” he said. “I can’t second-guess a pandemic and how it’s spread. If there’s ever a doubt, the safety of children will come first.”
Officials from the governor on down have avoided calling for closing schools, citing the hardships for families, the difficulty in providing academic services and even the school meals that children depend on. But Vladovic acknowledged there was widespread debate among parents and employees about what was best.
“I’m very sensitive to that, and I’m in that group that is very susceptible, and I know that many of our employees are as well,” said Vladovic, who is 75 and has battled health issues in recent years.


latimes--2020-03-12--L.A. County coronavirus warning: Avoid communal food, nonessential travel, large gatherings

Los Angeles now has 32 coronavirus cases , with more evidence of community spread .
On Thursday , public health officials offered new guidance for the public on how to protect themselves .
CASES : Officials confirmed three new cases , health officials said .
Two of the three have an unidentified source of exposure , further evidence of community spread .
The third new case was a person who was exposed by a close contact who tested positive after attending a conference in Washington , D.C. One of the patients is hospitalized .
The additions bring the total number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; this includes four cases in Long Beach and one in Pasadena .
WHAT TO AVOID : People are advised to avoid communal eating , meetings or gatherings with more than 50 attendees and all nonessential travel , both international and domestic , Dr. Barbara Ferrer , director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health , said Thursday at a news conference .
Those who are immunocompromised , pregnant or elderly should consider avoiding gatherings of even 10 people , she said .
On the communal food front , Costco has stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some Las Vegas casinos have closed their buffets .
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION : Those who take public transit should wash their hands before getting on a bus or train and after arriving at their destination , and people should take care to wipe down gym equipment and wash their hands before and after working out , she said .
Group fitness classes where people aren ’ t able to stay 6 feet apart should be avoided entirely , she said .
GOVERNMENT : All city departments were being ordered to postpone or cancel public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or more people .
Mayor Eric Garcetti also called for a ban on all public events and conferences on city-owned properties expected to draw 50 or more people .
He also said visitors were effectively banned from City Hall .
EVENTS : The state has recommended canceling all large group events .
As a result , the Los Angeles Police Department will postpone its graduation ceremony for new officers , which was scheduled for this week at the Los Angeles Police Academy .
Pasadena officials announced that the city was canceling all “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further notice .
Long Beach announced similar rules .
THEME PARKS : Both Disneyland and Universal Studios will temporarily close .
SCHOOLS : L.A. Unified School District , which has close to 78,000 employees and serves about 700,000 students — including preschoolers and adults — has not closed any schools so far .
But Santa Monica and Malibu schools will be closed at least into next week .

Inclement weather and coronavirus kept crowds sparse at Disneyland in Anaheim on Thursday. The park will close Saturday through the end of the month.
Los Angeles now has 32 coronavirus cases, with more evidence of community spread.
On Thursday, public health officials offered new guidance for the public on how to protect themselves.
CASES: Officials confirmed three new cases, health officials said. Two of the three have an unidentified source of exposure, further evidence of community spread. The third new case was a person who was exposed by a close contact who tested positive after attending a conference in Washington, D.C. One of the patients is hospitalized. The additions bring the total number of cases in L.A. County to 32; this includes four cases in Long Beach and one in Pasadena.
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WHAT TO AVOID: People are advised to avoid communal eating, meetings or gatherings with more than 50 attendees and all nonessential travel, both international and domestic, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health, said Thursday at a news conference. Those who are immunocompromised, pregnant or elderly should consider avoiding gatherings of even 10 people, she said. On the communal food front, Costco has stopped providing food samples at stores, while some Las Vegas casinos have closed their buffets.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Those who take public transit should wash their hands before getting on a bus or train and after arriving at their destination, and people should take care to wipe down gym equipment and wash their hands before and after working out, she said. Group fitness classes where people aren’t able to stay 6 feet apart should be avoided entirely, she said.
GOVERNMENT: All city departments were being ordered to postpone or cancel public events and meetings expected to draw 50 or more people. Mayor Eric Garcetti also called for a ban on all public events and conferences on city-owned properties expected to draw 50 or more people. He also said visitors were effectively banned from City Hall.
EVENTS: The state has recommended canceling all large group events. As a result, the Los Angeles Police Department will postpone its graduation ceremony for new officers, which was scheduled for this week at the Los Angeles Police Academy. Pasadena officials announced that the city was canceling all “nonessential” city-sponsored events and activities until further notice. Long Beach announced similar rules.
THEME PARKS: Both Disneyland and Universal Studios will temporarily close.
SCHOOLS: L.A. Unified School District, which has close to 78,000 employees and serves about 700,000 students — including preschoolers and adults — has not closed any schools so far. But Santa Monica and Malibu schools will be closed at least into next week.


latimes--2020-03-12--Coronavirus: What you should know right now, Thursday evening edition

Here ’ s what you need to know right now about what ’ s going on with the coronavirus outbreak .
This is the first in a regular series that will be published online daily without a paywall .
We know there is a ton of news out there .
We want this to be a resource for everyone so that they have the essential information they need to stay informed , safe and healthy .
Some of the content linked here may be behind a paywall .
Please consider subscribing to support our journalism .
Right now we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latimes.com/subscriptions .
Here ’ s the latest from the L.A. Times .
• Community spread is continuing , with 32 total cases of COVID-19 in L.A .
The governor wants you to .
Coronavirus is here and it ’ s spreading .
Two of the three new cases announced in L.A. on Thursday were people who had no known exposure to the virus — aka cases of so-called “ community spread.
” There are currently 32 known cases of coronavirus in L.A. County , including four in Long Beach and one in Pasadena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California as of now : 198 .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced last night that the state recommended canceling any gathering of 250 or more people .
L.A. is trying to set an example by .
Parents and school districts in L.A. are debating whether it ’ s time to shut down schools .
No decision has been made yet .
• Workers : You have regarding sick leave and the coronavirus .
Many low-wage workers in the U.S. do not have access to paid sick days , as federal law does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s not the case in California .
Employees that are entitled to at least three days of paid sick leave .
Los Angeles , Santa Monica , Berkeley , Emeryville , Oakland , San Diego and San Francisco all have local laws that mandate additional paid sick time .
You do not need to have been diagnosed with coronavirus to be eligible to take sick leave .
You may take paid family leave to care for a sick family member .
If you run out of sick leave in California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you lose hours or your job , you are eligible to file for unemployment .
• Disneyland and California Adventure and through the end of March in an abundance of caution to prevent further outbreaks .
“ While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort , after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the governor of California ’ s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees , we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure , beginning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the month , ” Walt Disney Co. wrote in a statement Thursday afternoon .
Downtown Disney will remain open .
Hotels at the resort will stay open through Monday so guests can make travel arrangements .
The company will refund current hotel bookings .
Cast members — what the company calls the park employees — will continue to be paid during the shutdown .
A lot of movie studios are pushing back release dates , assuming people won ’ t be flocking to sit in a movie theater in the near future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been pushed back Over in sports , uh , pretty much everything is canceled .
.
Coachella : Postponed .
E3 : Canceled .
The that are not happening because of coronavirus .
What we ’ re wondering right now : Is it safe to use the shared laundry facilities in my building ?
Yes .
Laundry detergent will kill the virus .
Use normal precautions with shared surfaces .
Mainly , don ’ t touch the shared washing machine and then touch your face .
Wash your hands after .
Maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the U.S. government and other scientists have shown the virus can live as long as four hours on copper , 24 hours on cardboard , and up to three days on plastic and steel .
Worth noting that there ’ s no evidence that anyone has contracted the virus from touching a contaminated surface at this point .
Do I need to take any special precautions when I ’ m walking my dog ?
Keep your distance from coughers and sneezers .
Don ’ t touch your face while you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you get back inside .
Can I still go to the gym ?
Yes , but exercise ( ha-ha ) caution .
Don ’ t touch your face .
( A tip from one of my co-workers : A sweatband will aid your efforts on this front by keeping sweat out of your eyes and your hair off your face . )
Don ’ t get too close to anyone else .
Many gyms have set up hand sanitizing stations ; make liberal use of them .
Wash your hands .
Wash your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are you wondering ?
More from around the internet ( some stories may be behind paywalls .
Please consider paying for journalism you value . )
: • Trump ’ s Europe travel ban conveniently exempts any country with a Trump resort property in it .
( ) • Public health officials and many others are calling to “ flatten the curve.
” .
If a cat-related visual would help you understand : .
• The virus is not spreading as fast in Taiwan and Singapore .
Here ’ s what they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another less-than-stellar day on the stock market .
It was the market ’ s worst day since … Monday .
( ) ( Update : Scratch that .
Worst day since 1987 . )
• Anchors on Fox News : Coronavirus isn ’ t a big deal .
Internal memos at Fox News : It kind of is .
( L.A. Times ) • An aide to Jair Bolsonaro , who met with Trump earlier this week , has tested positive for coronavirus .
Bolsonaro himself is awaiting test results .
( ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And sign up for our , also paywall-free , helmed by my colleague Diya Chacko .
Is there a link I should add ?
Drop it in the comments or email me at jessica.roy @ latimes.com .

A combination of weather and the coronavirus kept crowds sparse at Disneyland on Thursday. The park shuts down Friday.
Here’s what you need to know right now about what’s going on with the coronavirus outbreak.
This is the first in a regular series that will be published online daily without a paywall. We know there is a ton of news out there. We want this to be a resource for everyone so that they have the essential information they need to stay informed, safe and healthy.
Some of the content linked here may be behind a paywall. Please consider subscribing to support our journalism. Right now we are offering four weeks for $1 at latimes.com/subscriptions.
Advertisement
Here’s the latest from the L.A. Times.
Coronavirus is here and it’s spreading. Two of the three new cases announced in L.A. on Thursday were people who had no known exposure to the virus — aka cases of so-called “community spread.” There are currently 32 known cases of coronavirus in L.A. County, including four in Long Beach and one in Pasadena.
The total number of infections in California as of now: 198.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last night that the state recommended canceling any gathering of 250 or more people . L.A. is trying to set an example by scaling back meetings at City Hall .
Parents and school districts in L.A. are debating whether it’s time to shut down schools . No decision has been made yet.
Workers: You have labor rights in California regarding sick leave and the coronavirus.
Many low-wage workers in the U.S. do not have access to paid sick days, as federal law does not require employers to provide them.
But that’s not the case in California. Employees that meet certain requirements are entitled to at least three days of paid sick leave. Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, San Diego and San Francisco all have local laws that mandate additional paid sick time.
You do not need to have been diagnosed with coronavirus to be eligible to take sick leave. You may take paid family leave to care for a sick family member.
If you run out of sick leave in California, you are eligible to file for disability. If you lose hours or your job, you are eligible to file for unemployment.
Disneyland and California Adventure will close starting tomorrow and through the end of March in an abundance of caution to prevent further outbreaks.
“While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the governor of California’s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month,” Walt Disney Co. wrote in a statement Thursday afternoon.
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Downtown Disney will remain open. Hotels at the resort will stay open through Monday so guests can make travel arrangements. The company will refund current hotel bookings. Cast members — what the company calls the park employees — will continue to be paid during the shutdown.
A lot of movie studios are pushing back release dates, assuming people won’t be flocking to sit in a movie theater in the near future. The full list of what’s been pushed back
Over in sports, uh, pretty much everything is canceled. Complete coverage .
Coachella: Postponed. E3: Canceled. The complete running list of events that are not happening because of coronavirus.
What we’re wondering right now:
Is it safe to use the shared laundry facilities in my building?
Yes. Laundry detergent will kill the virus. Use normal precautions with shared surfaces. Mainly, don’t touch the shared washing machine and then touch your face. Wash your hands after.
Should I cancel my library book holds?
Maybe consider wiping down library books. Tests by the U.S. government and other scientists have shown the virus can live as long as four hours on copper, 24 hours on cardboard, and up to three days on plastic and steel. Worth noting that there’s no evidence that anyone has contracted the virus from touching a contaminated surface at this point.
Do I need to take any special precautions when I’m walking my dog?
Keep your distance from coughers and sneezers. Don’t touch your face while you’re out, and wash your hands when you get back inside.
Can I still go to the gym?
Yes, but exercise (ha-ha) caution. Don’t touch your face. (A tip from one of my co-workers: A sweatband will aid your efforts on this front by keeping sweat out of your eyes and your hair off your face.) Don’t get too close to anyone else. Many gyms have set up hand sanitizing stations; make liberal use of them. Wash your hands. Wash your hands. Wash your hands.
(Update on Friday, March 13 at 3 p.m.: Updated precautions from L.A. officials about going to the gym.)
What are you wondering? Submit your coronavirus questions here.
More from around the internet (some stories may be behind paywalls. Please consider paying for journalism you value.):


latimes--2020-03-12--Disneyland and Universal Studios to close for the rest of the month because of coronavirus

At first , Thursday seemed like it was shaping up to be a typical — and typically busy — day at the “ Happiest Place on Earth.
” Just before 10 a.m. , the wait times for Disneyland ’ s popular attractions at its Anaheim theme park were significant — 55 minutes for the Matterhorn Bobsleds and 45 minutes for Space Mountain , according to the park ’ s mobile app .
Guests were posting happy pictures of their visits , although some acknowledged that there was more than the threat of weather that could rain on their parade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” one Instagram user wrote .
“ Except for when it ’ s pouring rain and everyone has coronavirus … maybe not then.
” Then , Thursday afternoon , the news came : In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and Gov .
Gavin Newsom and health officials ’ recommendation that gatherings of 250 or more people be canceled across the state , the park that essentially never closes would temporarily shut down .
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will close Saturday morning through the end of the month , company officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotel bookings during the closure .
“ While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort , after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the governor of California ’ s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees , we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure , beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month , ” Walt Disney Co. said in a statement Thursday afternoon .
“ The hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements ; Downtown Disney will remain open .
We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies .
Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.
” About two hours after Disneyland ’ s announcement , Universal Studios Hollywood announced it would close Saturday and reopen March 28 .
( Universal CityWalk will remain open . )
It remains to be seen whether other California theme parks will follow suit , but Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this shortly.
” Newsom — who during a news conference earlier in the day had said the state ’ s guidelines excluded large parks like Disneyland and places such as casinos , card rooms and movie theaters because of “ the complexity of their unique circumstances ” — applauded Disneyland ’ s announcement .
“ Late last night , California put out a new policy on mass gatherings and engaged in deep conversations with Disney and other companies about how to meet it , ” he said .
“ Using that policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest of public health and agreed to shut down their California parks.
” Disneyland was not the only Southern California theme park open for business Thursday morning , even after the guidance from the governor , which does not carry the force of law .
Six Flags Magic Mountain opened as scheduled , with officials emphasizing the measures they were taking to clean and sanitize the park .
Mike Spanos , president and chief executive of the Six Flags Entertainment Corp. , previously wrote a public note emphasizing “ the top priority at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-being of our guests and team members.
” He said Six Flags has “ significantly enhanced ” its cleaning and sanitation efforts and is asking employees who are sick to stay home .
“ If anyone has a fever or becomes sick while at work , we will immediately release them to see their medical provider , ” he wrote .
“ We hope that these measures give you confidence that we are taking the necessary precautions in this evolving situation.
” Legoland California also was open for business , though officials released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postponing its grand opening of The Lego Movie World .
SeaWorld San Diego also remained open .
On Facebook , the park ’ s most recent post was about its Seven Seas Food Festival this weekend .
“ SeaWorld San Diego is currently operating on its normal hours of business but have canceled scheduled shows , ” Kelly Terry , SeaWorld spokeswoman , said in a statement .
“ We will continue to monitor the situation for changes , collaborate with health officials and take the necessary steps to address the health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals.
” Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier will remain open , weather permitting .
Park management said in a statement that they ’ ve amplified their maintenance schedule , including pressure-washing tables , handrails and counters with hot water .
“ We are working closely with the City of Santa Monica and Los Angeles County and its Department of Public Health and have not received direction to alter our operations in any way , ” park management said in a statement .
A representative of Knott ’ s Berry Farm said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ is aware of the new guidance issued by the state of California last night regarding large events based on the COVID-19 outbreak .
Knott ’ s Berry Farm is open today as we understand and evaluate what this means for our park , our guests and our associates.
” Knott ’ s did announce it would close early Thursday — but because of inclement weather .
The governor also has been in talks with movie theater companies , which he said already are making efforts to deal with lines and introduce social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from crowded areas to reduce the spread of an infectious disease .
Until now , the decision to implement limitations on large gatherings had been left to the discretion of county public health officials , who the governor previously said are best equipped to make decisions for their communities .
The new state group gathering advisory , which does not carry the force of law , stops short of asking Californians to change their work , travel or leisure habits .
A document provided by the governor ’ s administration said the limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to essential public transportation , airport travel , or shopping at a store or mall.
” The new directive also reflects guidelines issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week to cancel large gatherings greater than 250 people in communities with minimal to moderate community spread .
Newsom said Thursday that theme parks were not going to be completely exempted from the state ’ s guidelines , and that officials were working on a policy that accounts for their unique needs .
He also said he talked Wednesday with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO , Bob Iger .
“ Disneyland , I think , has a thousand people on a ride every hour , and concerts and theaters .
They have parades .
That ’ s a nation-state campus environment .
I mean , that ’ s a whole different thing , ” Newsom said .
The news of Disneyland ’ s impending closure — apparently the first since the 9/11 terrorist attacks — came around 1:30 p.m. Thursday .
Before announcing the closure , Disney had said in an online message that Disneyland and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open and “ we continue to implement preventative measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , as well as state and local health agencies.
” The online message said the parks added additional hand sanitation stations and increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting “ high guest contact areas.
” The city of Anaheim said on its website that it is closely watching the coronavirus outbreak in order to determine whether locations should be closed .
“ We expect to see changes in Anaheim in coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ] policy , ” officials said .
“ As a major visitor city , the guidelines cover Anaheim ’ s sports , entertainment , convention and other venues , as well as larger events.
” The financial effect on Anaheim and hotels , shops and tour companies that rely on the resort could be steep .
A study released last year by the Cal State Fullerton ’ s Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting estimated that the resort generates $ 8.5 billion in economic activity each year for the Southern California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mostly in Orange County .
The resort also generates $ 510 million in state and local taxes , with nearly $ 162 million going to the city of Anaheim , according to the study .
Times staff writers Phil Willon , Taryn Luna and Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report .

Luke Money, Hugo Martín, Jaclyn Cosgrove

Walt Disney Co. announced that the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim will close amid continuing fears surrounding the coronavirus, as well as its California Adventure park.
At first, Thursday seemed like it was shaping up to be a typical — and typically busy — day at the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
Just before 10 a.m., the wait times for Disneyland’s popular attractions at its Anaheim theme park were significant — 55 minutes for the Matterhorn Bobsleds and 45 minutes for Space Mountain, according to the park’s mobile app.
Guests were posting happy pictures of their visits, although some acknowledged that there was more than the threat of weather that could rain on their parade.
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“The most magical place on Earth!” one Instagram user wrote. “Except for when it’s pouring rain and everyone has coronavirus … maybe not then.”
Then, Thursday afternoon, the news came: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and Gov. Gavin Newsom and health officials’ recommendation that gatherings of 250 or more people be canceled across the state, the park that essentially never closes would temporarily shut down.
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will close Saturday morning through the end of the month, company officials said. The company said it will refund hotel bookings during the closure.
“While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the governor of California’s executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month,” Walt Disney Co. said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
“The hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16, to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open. We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.”
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About two hours after Disneyland’s announcement, Universal Studios Hollywood announced it would close Saturday and reopen March 28. (Universal CityWalk will remain open.)
It remains to be seen whether other California theme parks will follow suit, but Newsom said to “expect more announcements like this shortly.”
Newsom — who during a news conference earlier in the day had said the state’s guidelines excluded large parks like Disneyland and places such as casinos, card rooms and movie theaters because of “the complexity of their unique circumstances” — applauded Disneyland’s announcement.
“Late last night, California put out a new policy on mass gatherings and engaged in deep conversations with Disney and other companies about how to meet it,” he said. “Using that policy, Disney made the right call in the interest of public health and agreed to shut down their California parks.”
Disneyland was not the only Southern California theme park open for business Thursday morning, even after the guidance from the governor, which does not carry the force of law.
Six Flags Magic Mountain opened as scheduled, with officials emphasizing the measures they were taking to clean and sanitize the park.
Mike Spanos, president and chief executive of the Six Flags Entertainment Corp., previously wrote a public note emphasizing “the top priority at Six Flags is the safety and the well-being of our guests and team members.”
He said Six Flags has “significantly enhanced” its cleaning and sanitation efforts and is asking employees who are sick to stay home.
“If anyone has a fever or becomes sick while at work, we will immediately release them to see their medical provider,” he wrote. “We hope that these measures give you confidence that we are taking the necessary precautions in this evolving situation.”
Legoland California also was open for business, though officials released a statement Thursday evening that it was postponing its grand opening of The Lego Movie World.
SeaWorld San Diego also remained open. On Facebook, the park’s most recent post was about its Seven Seas Food Festival this weekend.
“SeaWorld San Diego is currently operating on its normal hours of business but have canceled scheduled shows,” Kelly Terry, SeaWorld spokeswoman, said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor the situation for changes, collaborate with health officials and take the necessary steps to address the health and safety needs of guests, ambassadors and animals.”
Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier will remain open, weather permitting. Park management said in a statement that they’ve amplified their maintenance schedule, including pressure-washing tables, handrails and counters with hot water.
“We are working closely with the City of Santa Monica and Los Angeles County and its Department of Public Health and have not received direction to alter our operations in any way,” park management said in a statement.
A representative of Knott’s Berry Farm said Thursday morning that the Buena Park attraction “is aware of the new guidance issued by the state of California last night regarding large events based on the COVID-19 outbreak. Knott’s Berry Farm is open today as we understand and evaluate what this means for our park, our guests and our associates.”
Knott’s did announce it would close early Thursday — but because of inclement weather.
The governor also has been in talks with movie theater companies, which he said already are making efforts to deal with lines and introduce social distancing, the practice of staying away from crowded areas to reduce the spread of an infectious disease.
Until now, the decision to implement limitations on large gatherings had been left to the discretion of county public health officials, who the governor previously said are best equipped to make decisions for their communities.
The new state group gathering advisory, which does not carry the force of law, stops short of asking Californians to change their work, travel or leisure habits.
A document provided by the governor’s administration said the limit on large gatherings does “not apply to essential public transportation, airport travel, or shopping at a store or mall.”
The new directive also reflects guidelines issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week to cancel large gatherings greater than 250 people in communities with minimal to moderate community spread.
Newsom said Thursday that theme parks were not going to be completely exempted from the state’s guidelines, and that officials were working on a policy that accounts for their unique needs. He also said he talked Wednesday with Disney’s executive chairman and former CEO, Bob Iger.
“Disneyland, I think, has a thousand people on a ride every hour, and concerts and theaters. They have parades. That’s a nation-state campus environment. I mean, that’s a whole different thing,” Newsom said.
California What coronavirus fears? Disneyland visitors pour in and focus on fun Disneyland visitors take reasonable precautions but are determined not to let coronavirus fears get in the way of having enjoying the Anaheim theme park.
The news of Disneyland’s impending closure — apparently the first since the 9/11 terrorist attacks — came around 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Before announcing the closure, Disney had said in an online message that Disneyland and its Disney World resort in Florida were still open and “we continue to implement preventative measures in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state and local health agencies.”
The online message said the parks added additional hand sanitation stations and increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting “high guest contact areas.”
The city of Anaheim said on its website that it is closely watching the coronavirus outbreak in order to determine whether locations should be closed.
“We expect to see changes in Anaheim in coming days based on the [governor’s] policy,” officials said. “As a major visitor city, the guidelines cover Anaheim’s sports, entertainment, convention and other venues, as well as larger events.”
The financial effect on Anaheim and hotels, shops and tour companies that rely on the resort could be steep.
A study released last year by the Cal State Fullerton’s Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting estimated that the resort generates $8.5 billion in economic activity each year for the Southern California economy and is responsible for 78,000 jobs, mostly in Orange County.
The resort also generates $510 million in state and local taxes, with nearly $162 million going to the city of Anaheim, according to the study.
Times staff writers Phil Willon, Taryn Luna and Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-13--L.A. County reports new community-spread coronavirus cases as state total hits 198

Coronavirus cases continue to mount across California as counties big and small reported new tallies on Thursday and Disneyland took unprecedented action to close the theme park for the rest of the month .
Los Angeles County health officials confirmed three new cases , two of which had an unidentified source of exposure , suggesting that the virus is actively spreading in the community .
Over the past week , county leaders have stressed the importance of personal responsibility as coronavirus is believed to be active throughout Los Angeles County , which has 32 confirmed cases .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down all activities for everybody , ” Ferrer said .
“ But we are at the point of saying you know who you are .
You know how much you can help at this point .
We ’ ve asked for everyone ’ s help and that means modifying pretty much everything you do outside of your house every day.
” California officials are calling for the cancellation of all gatherings with 250 or more people to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
The state has recorded 198 cases of the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 177 the day before .
Meanwhile , the United States has surpassed 1,300 coronavirus cases , with most in Washington state , New York and California .
President Trump suspended travel from Europe as the coronavirus continues its spread across the globe Wednesday , claiming its first life in L.A. County and causing the World Health Organization to refer to the outbreak for the first time as a pandemic .
“ This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus , ” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said .
“ We have rung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This week , the outbreak brought significant disruption , with a growing number of school closures , event cancellations and travel restrictions .
The new mass gathering policy from the California Department of Public Health , which will be in effect at least through March , marks the first time the state has issued a request for all residents across California to adopt so-called “ social distancing ” measures and represents a new sense of urgency in the administration ’ s approach to fighting the virus .
The recommendations have the potential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the state : community meetings , sports events and school theater performances .
In response to the governor ’ s order , Disneyland announced it will close its Anaheim theme park and California Adventure , beginning Saturday through the end of the month .
Additionally , the Los Angeles Police Department will postpone its graduation ceremony for new officers , which was scheduled for this week at the Los Angeles Police Academy , to avoid a large gathering , according to officials .
Such a graduation typically draws 300 people to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Changing our actions for a short period of time will save the life of one or more people you know , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom said in a statement .
“ That ’ s the choice before us .
Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease .
Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects — saving dozens of lives and preserving critical healthcare resources that your family may need a month from now.
” In recent days , public health officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advising people to avoid communal eating , meetings or gatherings with more than 50 attendees and all nonessential travel , both international and domestic .
They ’ ve also advised those who are immunocompromised , pregnant or elderly to consider avoiding gatherings of even 10 people .
Dr. Barbara Ferrer , director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health , said Thursday at a news conference that those who take public transit should wash their hands before getting on a bus or train and after arriving at their destination , and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment and wash their hands before and after working out , she said .
Group fitness classes where people aren ’ t able to stay 6 feet apart should be avoided entirely , she said .
L.A. County health officials continued to urge people — particularly older residents , pregnant women and those with underlying health problems — to be cautious in large crowds or avoid them altogether , but they said the number of cases did not yet warrant closing schools or stadiums .
“ We will get to a point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where we will be asking for events to close , ” Ferrer said .
“ But we ’ re not there yet.
” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Thursday announced sweeping measures to try to limit the spread of the virus .
Garcetti said all city departments were being ordered to postpone or cancel public events and meetings expected to draw 50 or more people .
He also called for a ban on all public events and conferences on city-owned properties expected to draw 50 or more people .
He also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are closing City Hall to all non-city employees.
” Guests , however , are allowed to attend City Council meetings , he said .
The directive prompted the Griffith Observatory to close , starting Friday .
The tourist attraction typically sees 4,000 visitors a day , so limiting that number to 50 “ just doesn ’ t make sense , ” said Department of Recreation and Parks General Manager Mike Shull .
“ It ’ s just safer .
We could create other issues with lines forming.
” The Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public beginning Friday .
Employees will continue to report to work to care for the animals .
The closure is expected to last through March 31 .
Pasadena city officials announced the city was canceling all “ nonessential ” city-sponsored events and activities until further notice .
Santa Monica announced its city hall building would be closed to the public starting Monday , and its libraries closed starting this weekend , with the facilities remaining closed at least through the end of the month .
Cities across the Southland , including Beverly Hills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Santa Ana , have taken similar measures .
Frustration mounted in Manhattan Beach after city leaders learned from a resident that they had coronavirus and were self-quarantined in their home .
The city issued a news release Thursday , noting that local leaders had repeatedly contacted the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Supervisor Janice Hahn ’ s office to find out whether any Manhattan Beach residents had tested positive for coronavirus .
Hahn ’ s office advised them that the public health department will not confirm COVID-19 to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known public exposure or need to cancel an event or close a facility , according to the news release .
Further , under state and federal law , public health investigations are confidential .
“ This is very disturbing and seriously disappointing to say the least , ” Mayor Richard Montgomery said in a statement .
“ Not being able to obtain information about COVID-19 cases in our own community is counterproductive to our common goal of protecting our residents.
” Malibu city leaders , faced with questions from residents about whether any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent out a news release Tuesday explaining how local leaders aren ’ t provided with specific details about coronavirus activity .
Meanwhile , San Francisco , which reported 18 cases , up from 14 on Wednesday , and Seattle announced bans on large gatherings , and a growing number of universities moved to hold classes online .
Three L.A. County sheriff ’ s deputies and five L.A. County Fire Department personnel are now under quarantine after answering a Monday call to Walnut to attend to a woman who later died of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The woman was taken by ambulance to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in full cardiac arrest , the hospital said in a news release .
After arriving at the hospital , she was placed in isolation but died shortly afterward , officials said .
“ Our highly trained staff followed all appropriate infection control protocols and took every precaution in caring for this patient , who tragically succumbed to their complications , ” Dr. Daniel Gluckstein , the hospital ’ s medical director of infectious disease , said in a statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patient and family.
” The hospital has identified all staffers who came into contact with the patient and is following guidelines issued by the county department of public health regarding healthcare worker exposure , the news release said .
Rapid-fire developments come as the virus continues to spread elsewhere in the state .
Karen Elliott , public health director for Tulare County , said at a news conference that the infected person was tested at Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville and was being kept in isolation at home .
The person was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope for a quick recovery , ” Elliott said .
“ The individual does not fall within a vulnerable population , ” she said .
Health officials believed the person contracted the virus outside the county , she said .
Riverside County also announced an additional locally acquired case of the virus , bringing the total number of confirmed cases there to eight .
It was announced Thursday that a San Jose firefighter had tested positive and might have exposed other firefighters , city manager David Sykes said .
By Thursday afternoon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sean Kaldor , president of IAFF Local 230 , which represents San Jose firefighters .
They worked in different stations , on different shifts , performing different roles , he said .
“ As far as how they got exposed , the challenge with COVID-19 is that it ’ s starting to become prevalent in our community , ” he said .
“ So any patient , any call , any time could be symptomatic with it.
” Two other San Jose firefighters were awaiting results after being tested for the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave to see if they developed symptoms , Kaldor said .
Contra Costa County reported a total of 16 cases , up from 10 the day before .
Ventura County now has 3 cases , up one from yesterday .
The San Mateo County health officer issued an order Thursday banning all mass gatherings of 250 or greater .
The order is effective Friday at 11:59 p.m. through April 3 but exempts houses of worship , museums , malls , hospital and medical facilities , and the normal operations of hotels and airports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus could be seen across the country : empty subway cars , quiet streets , a longtime Houston rodeo canceled , tours of the Capitol stopped in Washington , and the Dow Jones industrial average entering bear territory after an 11-year bull market .
In a televised address to the nation Wednesday night , Trump imposed stringent new restrictions , barring foreign nationals traveling from Europe from entering the country for 30 days , beginning Friday .
The ban does not include the United Kingdom and does not affect travel by U.S. citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of U.S. citizens .
It applies to any foreign national who has been in Europe during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival in the U.S. “ The European Union failed to take the same precautions ” as the United States did in barring travel from China , he said , claiming that U.S. clusters of the disease were “ seeded by travelers from Europe.
” Trump said he was instructing the Small Business Administration to provide new low-interest loans for some businesses hurt by the outbreak and asked Congress to approve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that purpose .
And he asked Congress again to approve payroll tax relief , a proposal that neither party on Capitol Hill has favored .
In Washington state , Gov .
Jay Inslee banned events involving any gathering of more than 250 people in the Seattle metro area — be it Sunday church , a wedding , a concert or a political fundraiser .
The ban does not extend to airports , grocery stores or transportation systems such as buses and ferries .
Sen. Dianne Feinstein said she was closing her California offices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus .
“ I don ’ t want people unnecessarily hurt , ” she said in a brief interview .
“ It ’ s a big decision.
” She said Senate Democrats were advised in a healthcare meeting to close their offices .
Faced with two outbreaks of coronavirus on its ships and increasing government pressure , Princess Cruises announced Thursday it would suspend all operations for its vacation voyages for 60 days .
The news comes as federal and state authorities undertake a massive operation to disembark 3,500 passengers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them infected by the virus , and move them to quarantine sites largely on U.S. military bases .
By Tuesday evening , 1,452 passengers had been transferred from the Grand Princess cruise ship to be quarantined at Air Force bases or flown to their home countries .
On Wednesday , officials continued to allow passengers to leave the ship , on which at least 21 people had tested positive for the coronavirus .
That same day , officials announced that 120 people showing signs of illness would be quarantined separately at an otherwise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sign of how surreal the disruption of American life looks to become , NCAA tournament games for men ’ s and women ’ s basketball have been canceled .
The NBA ’ s announcement of the indefinite suspension of its season came after a player for the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus .
In a bizarre scene , the game in Oklahoma City between the Thunder and the Jazz was delayed seconds before tip-off and canceled minutes later .
“ The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the league said in a statement .
“ The test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of tonight ’ s game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena .
At that time , tonight ’ s game was canceled .
The affected player was not in the arena.
” In an announcement that brought the spreading public health crisis to Hollywood , Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson said they had tested positive for the virus .
“ Hello , folks , ” Hanks said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are down here in Australia .
We felt a bit tired , like we had colds , and some body aches .
Rita had some chills that came and went .
Slight fevers too .
To play things right , as is needed in the world right now , we were tested for the coronavirus and were found to be positive.
” The big conundrum public officials are facing is whether to close school systems .
Seattle announced plans to shut its public schools for two weeks starting Thursday .
But Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are holding off such closures , at least for now .
“ In children , the illness has been very mild , ” said Dr. Grant Colfax , health officer for San Francisco , adding that they were either showing no signs of physical illness or experiencing mild flu-like symptoms .
In a study of nearly 45,000 lab-confirmed coronavirus cases , no one under the age of 10 had died of the virus .
Colfax and other health experts raise the possibility that closing schools could actually cause more deaths , as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly caretakers who are much more likely to succumb to the disease .
Santa Clara County , which has the state ’ s largest outbreak with 48 confirmed cases , is keeping its schools open for now .
But others are closing .
Catholic schools run by the Diocese of San Jose will close Friday for at least two weeks , and begin distance learning on Tuesday .
The West Contra Costa Unified School District and San Mateo Union High School District also announced closures beginning Monday ; both said instruction would continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Marin County is closing on Friday ; Carmel Unified in Monterey County is shutting schools Friday and intends to begin remote instruction Wednesday .
Classes at Berkeley High School are canceled starting Friday , and classes for Berkeley Unified ’ s elementary and middle schools are canceled starting Monday .
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District announced Thursday evening that it would close schools from noon Friday until April 3 .
“ Schools will be open for students and staff Friday , March 13 , 2020 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email .
“ During this time , students who do not have a device at home , may sign-out a Chromebook at the main office for use during this closure and other students may stop in briefly to pick up any items ( i.e.
, textbooks , workbooks , etc . )
that they may have left behind .
We understand that school closure affects all families , and we are committed to addressing the needs of all our learners.
” All public schools in Santa Cruz County have been ordered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus was confirmed at Rio Del Mar Elementary School .
In the Sacramento suburb of Elk Grove , public schools were closed after two family members of students at several campuses tested positive for the coronavirus .
Cases of respiratory illness continued to be reported across the San Francisco Unified School District , which ordered a district wide shutdown Thursday to begin Monday .
Besides the four students suffering from pneumonia , suspected to be caused by the coronavirus , at Lakeshore Elementary , which closed earlier this week , the district Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Glen Park Elementary , where seven students were suffering from respiratory illness .
Sacramento County health officials announced Tuesday that a resident at an Elk Grove senior-living facility had become the county ’ s first fatality from COVID-19 .
The woman , 90 , was among about 140 patients at the facility .
Dr. Peter Beilenson , Sacramento County ’ s health director , said other residents of the Elk Grove facility were now subject to special protective measures , including having meals delivered to rooms and not being allowed to congregate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was changing its goal from trying to keep the virus contained to simply slowing its spread .
That is the approach of the World Health Organization as well .
“ Even those countries with community transmission or larger clusters can turn the tide on this virus , ” said Tedros , the director-general of WHO .
He said his agency ’ s calling the disease a pandemic — a word many experts have been using for weeks — doesn ’ t change the need for more aggressive government responses .
“ WHO has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we ’ re deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction , ” Tedros said .
The coronavirus outbreak has now sickened at least 127,000 people on six continents and caused more than 4,700 deaths .
The objective now is to spread out the inevitable infections so that the healthcare system isn ’ t overwhelmed with patients .
Public health officials have a name for this : flattening the curve .
Left alone , the virus would race through the population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoot skyward and then fall , resembling the shape of a mountain peak .
But with containment measures , the curve can be squashed into a wide hill .
The outbreak would take longer to run its course .
But if the strategy works , the number of people who are sick at any given time will be greatly reduced .
Ideally , it would fall below the threshold that would swamp hospitals , urgent care clinics and medical offices .
That ’ s why public health officials will continue the labor-intensive work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensuring that infected individuals stay home and guarding the borders against the arrival of new cases .
At the same time , they ’ ll expand their mitigation efforts , such as canceling events and encouraging people to work from home .
Many universities are moving their classes online ; on Wednesday , Cal State Long Beach , Cal State L.A. , Cal State Northridge , Pepperdine and Chapman universities announced such measures .
In some ways , mitigation is just containment on a larger scale .
Instead of focusing on a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected people .
Buildings , city blocks or whole neighborhoods might be identified as infected , then walled off .
That ’ s why New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo dispatched the National Guard to suburban New Rochelle to enforce a “ containment zone ” around a community with more than 100 infected residents .
Even when infections are unavoidable , pushing them into the future will increase the chances that a treatment will be available by the time a patient needs it .
Some might even benefit from a coronavirus vaccine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at best .
“ What we have to do right now is to put a lid on this epidemic , to flatten the curve of infection and buy ourselves some time to get a vaccine , ” said Georgetown University ’ s Lawrence Gostin , an expert in public health law .
“ We are going to have to think about bringing all the interventions we have up to scale.
” Times staff writers Jennifer Haberkorn and Noah Bierman in Washington , Rong-Gong Lin II in San Francisco , Anita Chabria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Melissa Healy in New York and Josh Rottenberg , Dan Woike , Soumya Karlamangla and Jaclyn Cosgrove in Los Angeles contributed to this report .

Alex Wigglesworth, Richard Winton, Dakota Smith, Hailey Branson-Potts, Joe Mozingo

NBA referees Marc Davis, left, and Justin Van Duyne wait on the sideline before the New Orleans Pelicans-Sacramento Kings game in Sacramento was called off Wednesday.
Coronavirus cases continue to mount across California as counties big and small reported new tallies on Thursday and Disneyland took unprecedented action to close the theme park for the rest of the month.
Los Angeles County health officials confirmed three new cases, two of which had an unidentified source of exposure, suggesting that the virus is actively spreading in the community.
Over the past week, county leaders have stressed the importance of personal responsibility as coronavirus is believed to be active throughout Los Angeles County, which has 32 confirmed cases.
“We’re not at the point of closing down all activities for everybody,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “But we are at the point of saying you know who you are. You know how much you can help at this point. We’ve asked for everyone’s help and that means modifying pretty much everything you do outside of your house every day.”
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California officials are calling for the cancellation of all gatherings with 250 or more people to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The state has recorded 198 cases of the new coronavirus as of Thursday, up from 177 the day before.
Meanwhile, the United States has surpassed 1,300 coronavirus cases, with most in Washington state, New York and California.
President Trump suspended travel from Europe as the coronavirus continues its spread across the globe Wednesday, claiming its first life in L.A. County and causing the World Health Organization to refer to the outbreak for the first time as a pandemic.
“This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear.”
This week, the outbreak brought significant disruption, with a growing number of school closures, event cancellations and travel restrictions.
× The WHO has officially declared the coronavirus a pandemic. This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus. Infectious disease physician Timothy Brewer of UCLA compares the novel coronavirus to other pandemics, like H1N1, MERS, SARS and influenza.
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A call for ‘social distancing’
The new mass gathering policy from the California Department of Public Health, which will be in effect at least through March, marks the first time the state has issued a request for all residents across California to adopt so-called “social distancing” measures and represents a new sense of urgency in the administration’s approach to fighting the virus.
The recommendations have the potential to touch virtually all corners of social life across the state: community meetings, sports events and school theater performances.
In response to the governor’s order, Disneyland announced it will close its Anaheim theme park and California Adventure, beginning Saturday through the end of the month.
Additionally, the Los Angeles Police Department will postpone its graduation ceremony for new officers, which was scheduled for this week at the Los Angeles Police Academy, to avoid a large gathering, according to officials. Such a graduation typically draws 300 people to the training facility near Dodgers Stadium.
“Changing our actions for a short period of time will save the life of one or more people you know,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “That’s the choice before us. Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease. Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects — saving dozens of lives and preserving critical healthcare resources that your family may need a month from now.”
In recent days, public health officials have modified their requests to the public, advising people to avoid communal eating, meetings or gatherings with more than 50 attendees and all nonessential travel, both international and domestic. They’ve also advised those who are immunocompromised, pregnant or elderly to consider avoiding gatherings of even 10 people.
Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health, said Thursday at a news conference that those who take public transit should wash their hands before getting on a bus or train and after arriving at their destination, and people should take care to wipe down gym equipment and wash their hands before and after working out, she said. Group fitness classes where people aren’t able to stay 6 feet apart should be avoided entirely, she said.
L.A. County health officials continued to urge people — particularly older residents, pregnant women and those with underlying health problems — to be cautious in large crowds or avoid them altogether, but they said the number of cases did not yet warrant closing schools or stadiums.
“We will get to a point, unfortunately, here in L.A. County, where we will be asking for events to close,” Ferrer said. “But we’re not there yet.”
City halls closed, events canceled
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Thursday announced sweeping measures to try to limit the spread of the virus. Garcetti said all city departments were being ordered to postpone or cancel public events and meetings expected to draw 50 or more people. He also called for a ban on all public events and conferences on city-owned properties expected to draw 50 or more people.
He also said visitors were effectively banned from City Hall.
“We are closing City Hall to all non-city employees.” Guests, however, are allowed to attend City Council meetings, he said.
The directive prompted the Griffith Observatory to close, starting Friday. The tourist attraction typically sees 4,000 visitors a day, so limiting that number to 50 “just doesn’t make sense,” said Department of Recreation and Parks General Manager Mike Shull. “It’s just safer. We could create other issues with lines forming.”
The Los Angeles Zoo also will close to the public beginning Friday. Employees will continue to report to work to care for the animals. The closure is expected to last through March 31.
Pasadena city officials announced the city was canceling all “nonessential” city-sponsored events and activities until further notice. Santa Monica announced its city hall building would be closed to the public starting Monday, and its libraries closed starting this weekend, with the facilities remaining closed at least through the end of the month. Cities across the Southland, including Beverly Hills, Glendale, Malibu, Redondo Beach and Santa Ana, have taken similar measures.
Frustration mounted in Manhattan Beach after city leaders learned from a resident that they had coronavirus and were self-quarantined in their home.
The city issued a news release Thursday, noting that local leaders had repeatedly contacted the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office to find out whether any Manhattan Beach residents had tested positive for coronavirus.
Hahn’s office advised them that the public health department will not confirm COVID-19 to a local entity unless there’s a known public exposure or need to cancel an event or close a facility, according to the news release. Further, under state and federal law, public health investigations are confidential.
“This is very disturbing and seriously disappointing to say the least,” Mayor Richard Montgomery said in a statement. “Not being able to obtain information about COVID-19 cases in our own community is counterproductive to our common goal of protecting our residents.”
Malibu city leaders, faced with questions from residents about whether any residents had tested positive with COVID-19, sent out a news release Tuesday explaining how local leaders aren’t provided with specific details about coronavirus activity.
Meanwhile, San Francisco, which reported 18 cases, up from 14 on Wednesday, and Seattle announced bans on large gatherings, and a growing number of universities moved to hold classes online.
Counties take precautions
Three L.A. County sheriff’s deputies and five L.A. County Fire Department personnel are now under quarantine after answering a Monday call to Walnut to attend to a woman who later died of the coronavirus, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Thursday.
The woman was taken by ambulance to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in full cardiac arrest, the hospital said in a news release. After arriving at the hospital, she was placed in isolation but died shortly afterward, officials said.
“Our highly trained staff followed all appropriate infection control protocols and took every precaution in caring for this patient, who tragically succumbed to their complications,” Dr. Daniel Gluckstein, the hospital’s medical director of infectious disease, said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to the patient and family.”
The hospital has identified all staffers who came into contact with the patient and is following guidelines issued by the county department of public health regarding healthcare worker exposure, the news release said.
Rapid-fire developments come as the virus continues to spread elsewhere in the state.
Tulare County announced its first case late Wednesday.
Karen Elliott, public health director for Tulare County, said at a news conference that the infected person was tested at Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville and was being kept in isolation at home. The person was in stable condition, “and we hope for a quick recovery,” Elliott said.
“The individual does not fall within a vulnerable population,” she said. Health officials believed the person contracted the virus outside the county, she said.
Riverside County also announced an additional locally acquired case of the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases there to eight.
It was announced Thursday that a San Jose firefighter had tested positive and might have exposed other firefighters, city manager David Sykes said.
By Thursday afternoon, four firefighters had tested positive, said Sean Kaldor, president of IAFF Local 230, which represents San Jose firefighters. They worked in different stations, on different shifts, performing different roles, he said.
“As far as how they got exposed, the challenge with COVID-19 is that it’s starting to become prevalent in our community,” he said. “So any patient, any call, any time could be symptomatic with it.”
Two other San Jose firefighters were awaiting results after being tested for the coronavirus, and a total of 77 were on leave to see if they developed symptoms, Kaldor said.
Contra Costa County reported a total of 16 cases, up from 10 the day before.
Ventura County now has 3 cases, up one from yesterday.
The San Mateo County health officer issued an order Thursday banning all mass gatherings of 250 or greater. The order is effective Friday at 11:59 p.m. through April 3 but exempts houses of worship, museums, malls, hospital and medical facilities, and the normal operations of hotels and airports.
Trump announces travel restrictions
The mounting side effects of the virus could be seen across the country: empty subway cars, quiet streets, a longtime Houston rodeo canceled, tours of the Capitol stopped in Washington, and the Dow Jones industrial average entering bear territory after an 11-year bull market.
In a televised address to the nation Wednesday night, Trump imposed stringent new restrictions, barring foreign nationals traveling from Europe from entering the country for 30 days, beginning Friday. The ban does not include the United Kingdom and does not affect travel by U.S. citizens, permanent residents or immediate family members of U.S. citizens.
It applies to any foreign national who has been in Europe during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival in the U.S.
“The European Union failed to take the same precautions” as the United States did in barring travel from China, he said, claiming that U.S. clusters of the disease were “seeded by travelers from Europe.”
Trump said he was instructing the Small Business Administration to provide new low-interest loans for some businesses hurt by the outbreak and asked Congress to approve $50 billion in additional funding for that purpose. And he asked Congress again to approve payroll tax relief, a proposal that neither party on Capitol Hill has favored.
In Washington state, Gov. Jay Inslee banned events involving any gathering of more than 250 people in the Seattle metro area — be it Sunday church, a wedding, a concert or a political fundraiser. The ban does not extend to airports, grocery stores or transportation systems such as buses and ferries.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein said she was closing her California offices and considering closing her Washington office because of the coronavirus.
“I don’t want people unnecessarily hurt,” she said in a brief interview. “It’s a big decision.”
She said Senate Democrats were advised in a healthcare meeting to close their offices.
Faced with two outbreaks of coronavirus on its ships and increasing government pressure, Princess Cruises announced Thursday it would suspend all operations for its vacation voyages for 60 days.
The news comes as federal and state authorities undertake a massive operation to disembark 3,500 passengers from the Grand Princess, a number of them infected by the virus, and move them to quarantine sites largely on U.S. military bases.
By Tuesday evening, 1,452 passengers had been transferred from the Grand Princess cruise ship to be quarantined at Air Force bases or flown to their home countries.
On Wednesday, officials continued to allow passengers to leave the ship, on which at least 21 people had tested positive for the coronavirus. That same day, officials announced that 120 people showing signs of illness would be quarantined separately at an otherwise empty hotel in San Pablo.
In a sign of how surreal the disruption of American life looks to become, NCAA tournament games for men’s and women’s basketball have been canceled.
The NBA’s announcement of the indefinite suspension of its season came after a player for the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus. In a bizarre scene, the game in Oklahoma City between the Thunder and the Jazz was delayed seconds before tip-off and canceled minutes later.
“The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19,” the league said in a statement. “The test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of tonight’s game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. At that time, tonight’s game was canceled. The affected player was not in the arena.”
In an announcement that brought the spreading public health crisis to Hollywood, Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson said they had tested positive for the virus.
“Hello, folks,” Hanks said in a statement. “Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus and were found to be positive.”
The big conundrum public officials are facing is whether to close school systems.
Seattle announced plans to shut its public schools for two weeks starting Thursday. But Los Angeles, Santa Clara and San Francisco counties are holding off such closures, at least for now.
“In children, the illness has been very mild,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, health officer for San Francisco, adding that they were either showing no signs of physical illness or experiencing mild flu-like
symptoms.
In a study of nearly 45,000 lab-confirmed coronavirus cases, no one under the age of 10 had died of the virus.
Colfax and other health experts raise the possibility that closing schools could actually cause more deaths, as a number of those children stay home with elderly caretakers who are much more likely to succumb to the disease.
Santa Clara County, which has the state’s largest outbreak with 48 confirmed cases, is keeping its schools open for now. But others are closing.
Catholic schools run by the Diocese of San Jose will close Friday for at least two weeks, and begin distance learning on Tuesday. The West Contra Costa Unified School District and San Mateo Union High School District also announced closures beginning Monday; both said instruction would continue with remote learning.
Ross School District in Marin County is closing on Friday; Carmel Unified in Monterey County is shutting schools Friday and intends to begin remote instruction Wednesday.
Classes at Berkeley High School are canceled starting Friday, and classes for Berkeley Unified’s elementary and middle schools are canceled starting Monday.
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District announced Thursday evening that it would close schools from noon Friday until April 3.
“Schools will be open for students and staff Friday, March 13, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m,” Superintendent Alex Cherniss wrote in an email. “During this time, students who do not have a device at home, may sign-out a Chromebook at the main office for use during this closure and other students may stop in briefly to pick up any items (i.e., textbooks, workbooks, etc.) that they may have left behind. We understand that school closure affects all families, and we are committed to addressing the needs of all our learners.”
All public schools in Santa Cruz County have been ordered to shutdown beginning Monday after a case of coronavirus was confirmed at Rio Del Mar Elementary School.
In the Sacramento suburb of Elk Grove, public schools were closed after two family members of students at several campuses tested positive for the coronavirus.
Cases of respiratory illness continued to be reported across the San Francisco Unified School District, which ordered a district wide shutdown Thursday to begin Monday.
Besides the four students suffering from pneumonia, suspected to be caused by the coronavirus, at Lakeshore Elementary, which closed earlier this week, the district Thursday afternoon also ordered a shut down of Glen Park Elementary, where seven students were suffering from respiratory illness.
Sacramento County health officials announced Tuesday that a resident at an Elk Grove senior-living facility had become the county’s first fatality from COVID-19.
The woman, 90, was among about 140 patients at the facility.
Dr. Peter Beilenson, Sacramento County’s health director, said other residents of the Elk Grove facility were now subject to special protective measures, including having meals delivered to rooms and not being allowed to congregate in communal areas.
He said the county was changing its goal from trying to keep the virus contained to simply slowing its spread.
That is the approach of the World Health Organization as well.
“Even those countries with community transmission or larger clusters can turn the tide on this virus,” said Tedros, the director-general of WHO.
He said his agency’s calling the disease a pandemic — a word many experts have been using for weeks — doesn’t change the need for more aggressive government responses.
“WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock, and we’re deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction,” Tedros said.
The coronavirus outbreak has now sickened at least 127,000 people on six continents and caused more than 4,700 deaths.
The objective now is to spread out the inevitable infections so that the healthcare system isn’t overwhelmed with patients.
Public health officials have a name for this: flattening the curve.
Left alone, the virus would race through the population, and the number of cases would shoot skyward and then fall, resembling the shape of a mountain peak. But with containment measures, the curve can be squashed into a wide hill.
The outbreak would take longer to run its course. But if the strategy works, the number of people who are sick at any given time will be greatly reduced.
Ideally, it would fall below the threshold that would swamp hospitals, urgent care clinics and medical offices. That’s why public health officials will continue the labor-intensive work of recording and tracking new infections, ensuring that infected individuals stay home and guarding the borders against the arrival of new cases.
At the same time, they’ll expand their mitigation efforts, such as canceling events and encouraging people to work from home. Many universities are moving their classes online; on Wednesday, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State L.A., Cal State Northridge, Pepperdine and Chapman universities announced such measures.
In some ways, mitigation is just containment on a larger scale. Instead of focusing on a single infected individual, officials target clusters of infected people.
Buildings, city blocks or whole neighborhoods might be identified as infected, then walled off. That’s why New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo dispatched the National Guard to suburban New Rochelle to enforce a “containment zone” around a community with more than 100 infected residents.
Even when infections are unavoidable, pushing them into the future will increase the chances that a treatment will be available by the time a patient needs it. Some might even benefit from a coronavirus vaccine, though that is nearly a year away, at best.
“What we have to do right now is to put a lid on this epidemic, to flatten the curve of infection and buy ourselves some time to get a vaccine,” said Georgetown University’s Lawrence Gostin, an expert in public health law. “We are going to have to think about bringing all the interventions we have up to scale.”
Times staff writers Jennifer Haberkorn and Noah Bierman in Washington, Rong-Gong Lin II in San Francisco, Anita Chabria, Taryn Luna and John Myers in Sacramento, Melissa Healy in New York and Josh Rottenberg, Dan Woike, Soumya Karlamangla and Jaclyn Cosgrove in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-13--California coronavirus cases rise to 247, 5 deaths: Here is what you need to know

With schools closing , people staying home and supermarkets mobbed , the coronavirus is dramatically changing life in California .
The state now reports 247 confirmed cases and five deaths .
But officials say many more have the virus but have not yet been tested .
There is now a concerted effort across the state toward social distancing — staying at least 6 feet apart to help avoid transmission .
LOS ANGELES : County Public Health Department officials confirmed eight new cases of the virus , bringing the total to 40 , as community spread intensified .
Three of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of community transmission , as the source of exposure is unknown .
Two of the individuals are hospitalized , public health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said .
Officials say they expect those cases to expand significantly as more people get tested .
Ferrer said L.A. County got more test kits this week , and noted that initial testing limitations have made estimates difficult to gather .
SANTA CLARA COUNTY : Calling the outbreak “ one of the most historic public health challenges of our time , ” the health officer for Silicon Valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public gatherings — restricting gatherings of 35 or more unless organizers warn attendees that it poses a heightened risk of infection and banning all public and private gatherings of 100 or more .
The number of cases approached 100 .
SAN FRANCISCO : The city ’ s health officer has issued a public health order banning all non-essential events of 100 or more people .
Restaurants that have a capacity of more than 100 people can continue operating if they reduce their occupancy in half .
For instance , a restaurant with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it reduces its occupancy in half to 75 .
ORANGE COUNTY : Orange County on Friday reported three suspected coronavirus cases , bringing its total to nine .
The new tally came as the Orange County superintendent of schools said he supported suspending all school operations for at least two weeks .
5 Deaths ( including one non-California resident ) 247 Positive cases ( not including the Grand Princess cruise ship ) 24 Cases of positive tests related to federal repatriation flights 223 Cases not related to repatriation flights 65 Travel related 52 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under investigation 11,400+ Number of people self-monitoring who returned to the U.S. through SFO or LAX

Alex Wigglesworth, Colleen Shalby, Rong-Gong Lin II, Richard Winton

A shopper is among the first to exit Costco in Burbank after hundreds of customers lined up before doors opened, most looking for water, toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning supplies on Friday. Water and other necessities were out of stock within 20 minutes after the store opened.
With schools closing, people staying home and supermarkets mobbed, the coronavirus is dramatically changing life in California.
The state now reports 247 confirmed cases and five deaths. But officials say many more have the virus but have not yet been tested.
There is now a concerted effort across the state toward social distancing — staying at least 6 feet apart to help avoid transmission.
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Regional view
LOS ANGELES: County Public Health Department officials confirmed eight new cases of the virus, bringing the total to 40, as community spread intensified. Three of those cases are thought to be the result of community transmission, as the source of exposure is unknown. Two of the individuals are hospitalized, public health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said. Officials say they expect those cases to expand significantly as more people get tested. Ferrer said L.A. County got more test kits this week, and noted that initial testing limitations have made estimates difficult to gather.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY: Calling the outbreak “one of the most historic public health challenges of our time,” the health officer for Silicon Valley has issued a new aggressive ban on public gatherings — restricting gatherings of 35 or more unless organizers warn attendees that it poses a heightened risk of infection and banning all public and private gatherings of 100 or more. The number of cases approached 100.
SAN FRANCISCO: The city’s health officer has issued a public health order banning all non-essential events of 100 or more people. Restaurants that have a capacity of more than 100 people can continue operating if they reduce their occupancy in half. For instance, a restaurant with an occupancy of 150 can continue operating if it reduces its occupancy in half to 75.
ORANGE COUNTY: Orange County on Friday reported three suspected coronavirus cases, bringing its total to nine. The new tally came as the Orange County superintendent of schools said he supported suspending all school operations for at least two weeks.
Cases
5 Deaths (including one non-California resident)
247 Positive cases (not including the Grand Princess cruise ship)
Age breakdown
0- 17 4
18-64 143
65+ 98
Unknown: 2
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Details
24 Cases of positive tests related to federal repatriation flights
223 Cases not related to repatriation flights
65 Travel related
52 Person to person
56 Community transmission
50 Under investigation
11,400+ Number of people self-monitoring who returned to the U.S. through SFO or LAX