latimes--2020-03-12--Firefighter tests positive for coronavirus, dozens on leave in hard-hit Santa Clara County

A San Jose firefighter has tested positive for the coronavirus , prompting precautionary actions by the fire department .
“ We don ’ t know how the firefighter contracted the illness , however , he is in a hospital in another city where he resides , being treated by medical professionals , ” the San Jose Fire Department said in a statement .
“ Employees who have been identified as at risk for exposure are on leave.
” Several zone fire officials were on leave .
Santa Clara County has been been particularly hard hit by the virus , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the virus spreads through the region .
The Transportation Security Administration confirmed Tuesday that three of its officers who work at Mineta San Jose International Airport tested positive for coronavirus .
Santa Clara County health officials on Thursday urged people of high risk to consider avoiding travel .
“ As many public health officials have noted , airports present an elevated risk of exposure to # COVID19 given the number of people passing through from different locations .
The risk is likely greater for airport workers , who spend long periods of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health agency said on Twitter .
“ While we are not currently recommending closure of the airport given the societal harms lack of access to travel would cause , we continue to recommend that persons at higher risk of severe illness from # COVID19 avoid air travel & that businesses cancel non-essential travel.
” San Jose officials said the positive case is not affecting operations .
“ We have been able to backfill to maintain operational readiness .
We remain committed to our mission to protect the community through prevention & education , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles Police Department , along with other law enforcement agencies , is already using new guidelines and procedures to help prevent its officers from getting sick .
The department has already ordered 100,000 face masks , but the officers will not wear masks as a routine matter .

Santa Clara County Public Health Department Director Dr. Sara Cody, shown at a news conference on Feb. 28. County health officials on Thursday confirmed a second case of unknown origin of the novel coronavirus.
A San Jose firefighter has tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting precautionary actions by the fire department.
“We don’t know how the firefighter contracted the illness, however, he is in a hospital in another city where he resides, being treated by medical professionals,” the San Jose Fire Department said in a statement. “Employees who have been identified as at risk for exposure are on leave.” Several zone fire officials were on leave.
Santa Clara County has been been particularly hard hit by the virus, with 48 confirmed cases and possibly many more as the virus spreads through the region.
The Transportation Security Administration confirmed Tuesday that three of its officers who work at Mineta San Jose International Airport tested positive for coronavirus.
Santa Clara County health officials on Thursday urged people of high risk to consider avoiding travel.
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“As many public health officials have noted, airports present an elevated risk of exposure to #COVID19 given the number of people passing through from different locations. The risk is likely greater for airport workers, who spend long periods of time in that environment,” the health agency said on Twitter. “While we are not currently recommending closure of the airport given the societal harms lack of access to travel would cause, we continue to recommend that persons at higher risk of severe illness from #COVID19 avoid air travel & that businesses cancel non-essential travel.”
San Jose officials said the positive case is not affecting operations.
“We have been able to backfill to maintain operational readiness. We remain committed to our mission to protect the community through prevention & education,” the department tweeted.
The Los Angeles Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, is already using new guidelines and procedures to help prevent its officers from getting sick.
The department has already ordered 100,000 face masks, but the officers will not wear masks as a routine matter.


latimes--2020-03-12--Woman admits posting Nazi propaganda at two O.C. campuses

A 23-year-old woman accused of posting Nazi propaganda posters at two campuses in Orange County last year was sentenced Wednesday to a year of informal probation and 40 hours of community service .
As part of a plea deal offered by the court , Grace Elisabeth Ziesmer of Fullerton was ordered to pay roughly $ 517 in restitution after she agreed to plead guilty to a count of misdemeanor vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of graffiti , according to the Orange County district attorney ’ s office .
Ziesmer was charged last year after authorities said she posted anti-Semitic fliers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fullerton College and on Newport Harbor High School ’ s campus in Newport Beach .
School officials at Newport Harbor called police in March after they found 10 fliers , each 8 by 11 inches — some bearing swastikas — plastered around the campus .
The incident occurred roughly a week after a viral photo showed while gathered around a swastika formed by red cups .
Prosecutors declined to charge Ziesmer with a hate crimes enhancement because they said there was a lack of sufficient evidence that her postings were directed at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district attorney ’ s office called the situation a “ hate incident ” in a news release .
“ It could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant ’ s conduct was directed at the schools because of their connection with the Jewish people or the Jewish religion , based on evidence and interviews conducted in the case , ” the district attorney ’ s office wrote in a prepared statement .

Nazi propaganda posters were found at Newport Harbor High School on March 11, 2019, a little over a week after students from Newport Harbor and other local high schools attended an off-campus party where some were photographed giving Nazi salutes around a swastika made of drinking cups.
A 23-year-old woman accused of posting Nazi propaganda posters at two campuses in Orange County last year was sentenced Wednesday to a year of informal probation and 40 hours of community service.
As part of a plea deal offered by the court, Grace Elisabeth Ziesmer of Fullerton was ordered to pay roughly $517 in restitution after she agreed to plead guilty to a count of misdemeanor vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of graffiti, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.
Ziesmer was charged last year after authorities said she posted anti-Semitic fliers with Nazi symbols on light poles near Fullerton College and on Newport Harbor High School’s campus in Newport Beach.
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School officials at Newport Harbor called police in March after they found 10 fliers, each 8 by 11 inches — some bearing swastikas — plastered around the campus. The incident occurred roughly a week after a viral photo showed students giving Nazi salutes while gathered around a swastika formed by red cups during a house party .
Prosecutors declined to charge Ziesmer with a hate crimes enhancement because they said there was a lack of sufficient evidence that her postings were directed at a particular victim for being Jewish. The district attorney’s office called the situation a “hate incident” in a news release.
“It could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant’s conduct was directed at the schools because of their connection with the Jewish people or the Jewish religion, based on evidence and interviews conducted in the case,” the district attorney’s office wrote in a prepared statement.


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

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will close Saturday morning through the end of the month in response to Gov .
Gavin Newsom and state health officials ’ recommendation that gatherings of 250 or more people be canceled across the state , company officials said .
“ 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 .
“ 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.
” The company announced it would refund hotel bookings during the closure .
Universal Studios @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 28 .
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. , there were significant estimated wait times for popular attractions , including 55 minutes for the Matterhorn Bobsleds and 45 minutes for Space Mountain , according to the park ’ s mobile app .
People were posting happy pictures of their visits , some with tongue-in-cheek captions .
“ The most magical place on Earth !
” one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it ’ s pouring rain and everyone has coronavirus … maybe not then.
” The news of the popular Anaheim park ’ s impending closure — apparently the first since the 9/11 terrorist attacks — came around 1:30 p.m. 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 the announcement .
“ Late last night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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.
” It remains to be seen whether other theme parks will follow Disney ’ s suit , but Newsom said to “ expect more announcements like this shortly.
” Disneyland was not the only Southern California theme park open for business Thursday morning , even after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not carry the force of law and does “ not apply to essential public transportation , airport travel or shopping at a store or mall.
” 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.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close early Thursday — but because of inclement weather .
Six Flags Magic Mountain opened as scheduled Thursday , 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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.
” 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health agencies.
” The online message said the parks have added additional hand sanitizer stations and increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting “ high guest contact areas.
” This isn ’ t the first time a health scare has rippled through Disneyland , which drew 18.7 million visitors in 2018 .
A measles outbreak originated in the park in 2015 , spreading to dozens of cases stretching beyond U.S. borders .
Earlier this week , the park outlined the steps it was taking to keep its guests safe , including robust cleaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and providing easily accessible hand-washing facilities .
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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole different thing , ” Newsom said .
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 .
The city of Anaheim said on its website 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 [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said .
“ As a major visitor city , the guidelines cover Anaheim ’ s sports , entertainment , convention and other venues , as well as larger events.
” Inquiries to Universal Studios Hollywood and Legoland California were not immediately returned Thursday .
California ’ s new guidelines broadly apply requirements that have been adopted in counties that are struggling to combat community spread of the coronavirus .
Until now , the decision to implement such measures had been left to the discretion of county public health officials , who the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make decisions for their communities .
Public health experts say county health departments make the change when the virus spreads at a scale that makes it difficult to trace everyone who may have been exposed to the disease , allowing officials to focus resources on protecting hospitals , nursing homes and other facilities most at risk .

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--2020-03-12--How does coronavirus spread? How do you get it?

Growing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic in the last 24 hours — with California calling for a ban on many public events , the NBA suspending its season , a ban on travel from Europe and actor Tom Hanks announcing that he and his wife are ill — have raised some basic questions about the infection .
What are the symptoms ?
Here ’ s a closer look at the symptoms associated with the coronavirus that ’ s causing the current outbreak .
Keep in mind that many of these symptoms also can be caused by more common kinds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the common cold .
The body temperature of a healthy person averages 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit ( or 37 degrees Celsius ) .
Some people tend to run a little higher or a little lower , but if you hit 100.4 degrees F ( or 38 degrees C ) , you have a fever .
Sometimes a fever makes you feel hot and sweaty .
Other times it gives you chills , so that you ’ ll shiver and generate more body heat .
Aches , weakness and loss of appetite may also occur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that your body is fighting off some kind of infection .
The higher internal temperature makes it more difficult for disease-causing viruses and bacteria to survive .
A fever also to swing into action .
The elevated temperature triggers the body to switch on genes that regulate the body ’ s inflammatory response .
When inflammation occurs , affected tissues that ingest and neutralize invading pathogens .
Though infections are the most common cause of fevers , they aren ’ t the only ones .
A fever can be a side effect of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be a side effect of some autoimmune diseases , such as rheumatoid arthritis and certain types of cancer .
In general , adults need not be concerned about a fever unless their temperature , according to the Mayo Clinic .
Any fever in an infant or toddler , however , should be taken seriously .
Like a fever , a cough is a way for the body to get rid of pathogens that make us sick .
Sometimes coughs are voluntary ; other times , they happen automatically .
Either way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bacteria and other foreign invaders from the respiratory tract before they reach the lungs , where they can cause more serious problems .
Some coughing is normal , but if a cough lasts for weeks , it may be time to see a doctor , the Mayo Clinic advises .
The same goes for a cough that brings up mucus that contains blood or that is thicker or darker than usual .
Some coughs are so severe that they can induce headaches , dizziness , urinary incontinence and the urge to throw up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
According to experts at Harvard Medical School , air can shoot out from your lungs and through your air passages at a velocity that .
A variety of lung conditions can cause shortness of breath , including pneumonia , asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .
So can cardiovascular problems , such as a heart attack , low blood pressure , abnormal heartbeats or heart failure .
The heart and lungs are responsible for delivering oxygen to organs and tissues throughout the body and removing the carbon dioxide that ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t happening and the amount of CO in the blood gets too high , the brain instructs the body to breathe more often or more deeply .
That may make you , the American Lung Assn .
explains .
A person experiencing shortness of breath — the medical term is — doing something as simple as walking , taking the stairs or even sitting still , according to the Chest Foundation .
The best way to treat dyspnea depends on the cause , which can vary from person to person .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a prescription for blood-thinning medications may be in order .
If it ’ s asthma , a bronchodilator could be the best way to open up the airways .
In the early days of the outbreak , coronavirus patients in China were believed to be sick with pneumonia .
The World Health Organization now says pneumonia can be a symptom of a serious case of coronavirus infection .
An infection in one or both lungs can result in .
A virus can trigger the disease .
So can bacteria , fungi or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are more vulnerable than others , according to the National Heart , Lung and Blood Institute .
For instance , those who already have an underlying health problem are more susceptible to pneumonia .
So are children under the age of 5 and seniors who are at least 65 .
Severe cases require hospitalization — indeed , pneumonia is the No .
1 cause of hospitalizations in the U.S. — but many people can recover at home with the help of antibiotics or other medications .
Severe cases of coronavirus infection may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
A patient is considered to have when at least 85 % of his or her kidney function is gone , according to the National Kidney Foundation .
The kidneys are responsible for cleaning the blood , removing waste products and acids as well as extra fluid .
Without proper kidney function , your blood can ’ t maintain the necessary balance of water , salts and minerals to keep muscles , nerves and other tissues working as they should , says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size of a fist , also produce hormones that make red blood cells , keep blood pressure in check and maintain bone health .
When the kidneys can ’ t filter blood on their own , patients must turn to dialysis treatment to pick up the slack .
With , the blood is removed from the body and cleaned in a dialyzer , or artificial kidney , before being returned .
With , the lining of the abdomen ( called the peritoneum ) does this job with the help of a dialysis solution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent solution for kidney failure is a transplant from a matched donor .
Only one healthy kidney is needed for a transplant to be a success .
How does this coronavirus differ from previous viruses ?
Two other coronaviruses have fueled outbreaks in the 21st century .
This coronavirus is different .
SARS — short for severe acute respiratory syndrome — originated in China ’ s Guangdong province in 2002 and spread to 29 countries .
By the time it was contained in 2003 , it had caused .
MERS — or Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sickened at least 2,494 people in 27 countries .
At least 858 people died in that outbreak .
The new coronavirus is different from SARS and MERS in two respects .
First , it spreads more easily in public .
In less than three months , it has reached more than 60 countries and territories .
Second , it ’ s less deadly .
In a comprehensive study of 44,672 confirmed coronavirus cases in mainland China , 1,023 people died , researchers from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That results in a case-fatality rate of 2.3 % , the study said .
The death rate due to SARS was about 9.6 % , and the fatality rate for MERS is 34.4 % .
The actual fatality rate for the new coronavirus may be quite a bit lower than 2.3 % because people who are infected but experience only mild illness — or no symptoms at all — are massively undercounted , experts said .
The true death rate could be as low as 0.2 % , said Dr. Otto Yang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are four other coronaviruses that produce symptoms no worse than a common cold in most people who do not have severely weakened immune systems , Yang said .
These viruses are responsible for 20 % to 30 % of common colds around the country every year , he said .
There continue to be concerns that visibly healthy people can shed the new coronavirus , which would make the virus more easily transmittable throughout the community .
• The virus is thought to spread mainly through person-to-person contact .
• Between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one another ( within about 6 feet ) .
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes .
• These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs .
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow .
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick .
• Stay away from work , school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough .
Times staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report .

Growing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic in the last 24 hours — with California calling for a ban on many public events, the NBA suspending its season, a ban on travel from Europe and actor Tom Hanks announcing that he and his wife are ill — have raised some basic questions about the infection.
What are the symptoms?
Here’s a closer look at the symptoms associated with the coronavirus that’s causing the current outbreak. Keep in mind that many of these symptoms also can be caused by more common kinds of infections, including something as mundane as the common cold.
Fever
The body temperature of a healthy person averages 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (or 37 degrees Celsius). Some people tend to run a little higher or a little lower, but if you hit 100.4 degrees F (or 38 degrees C), you have a fever.
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Sometimes a fever makes you feel hot and sweaty. Other times it gives you chills, so that you’ll shiver and generate more body heat. Aches, weakness and loss of appetite may also occur.
A fever is usually a sign that your body is fighting off some kind of infection. The higher internal temperature makes it more difficult for disease-causing viruses and bacteria to survive.
A fever also prompts your immune system to swing into action. The elevated temperature triggers the body to switch on genes that regulate the body’s inflammatory response. When inflammation occurs, affected tissues attract immune system cells called phagocytes that ingest and neutralize invading pathogens.
Though infections are the most common cause of fevers, they aren’t the only ones . A fever can be a side effect of certain medications and vaccines. It can also be a side effect of some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and certain types of cancer.
In general, adults need not be concerned about a fever unless their temperature hits 103 degrees Fahrenheit , according to the Mayo Clinic. Any fever in an infant or toddler, however, should be taken seriously.
Cough
Like a fever, a cough is a way for the body to get rid of pathogens that make us sick.
Sometimes coughs are voluntary; other times, they happen automatically. Either way, a successful cough will expel viruses, bacteria and other foreign invaders from the respiratory tract before they reach the lungs, where they can cause more serious problems.
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Some coughing is normal, but if a cough lasts for weeks, it may be time to see a doctor , the Mayo Clinic advises. The same goes for a cough that brings up mucus that contains blood or that is thicker or darker than usual. Some coughs are so severe that they can induce headaches, dizziness, urinary incontinence and the urge to throw up.
How forceful can a cough get? According to experts at Harvard Medical School, air can shoot out from your lungs and through your air passages at a velocity that approaches the speed of sound .
Shortness of breath
A variety of lung conditions can cause shortness of breath, including pneumonia, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. So can cardiovascular problems, such as a heart attack, low blood pressure, abnormal heartbeats or heart failure.
The heart and lungs are responsible for delivering oxygen to organs and tissues throughout the body and removing the carbon dioxide that’s a byproduct of respiration. If this isn’t happening and the amount of CO 2 in the blood gets too high, the brain instructs the body to breathe more often or more deeply. That may make you feel short of breath , the American Lung Assn. explains.
A person experiencing shortness of breath — the medical term is “dyspnea” — can feel winded doing something as simple as walking, taking the stairs or even sitting still, according to the Chest Foundation.
The best way to treat dyspnea depends on the cause, which can vary from person to person. If a blood clot is to blame, a prescription for blood-thinning medications may be in order. If it’s asthma, a bronchodilator could be the best way to open up the airways.
Pneumonia
In the early days of the outbreak, coronavirus patients in China were believed to be sick with pneumonia. The World Health Organization now says pneumonia can be a symptom of a serious case of coronavirus infection.
An infection in one or both lungs can result in pneumonia . A virus can trigger the disease. So can bacteria, fungi or other types of germs.
Certain groups of people are more vulnerable than others , according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. For instance, those who already have an underlying health problem are more susceptible to pneumonia. So are children under the age of 5 and seniors who are at least 65. Severe cases require hospitalization — indeed, pneumonia is the No. 1 cause of hospitalizations in the U.S. — but many people can recover at home with the help of antibiotics or other medications.
Kidney failure
Severe cases of coronavirus infection may result in kidney failure, the WHO says. A patient is considered to have kidney failure when at least 85% of his or her kidney function is gone, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
The kidneys are responsible for cleaning the blood, removing waste products and acids as well as extra fluid. Without proper kidney function, your blood can’t maintain the necessary balance of water, salts and minerals to keep muscles, nerves and other tissues working as they should, says the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
The kidneys, each about the size of a fist, also produce hormones that make red blood cells, keep blood pressure in check and maintain bone health.
When the kidneys can’t filter blood on their own, patients must turn to dialysis treatment to pick up the slack. With hemodialysis , the blood is removed from the body and cleaned in a dialyzer, or artificial kidney, before being returned. With peritoneal dialysis , the lining of the abdomen (called the peritoneum) does this job with the help of a dialysis solution delivered through a catheter.
A more permanent solution for kidney failure is a transplant from a matched donor. Only one healthy kidney is needed for a transplant to be a success.
How does this coronavirus differ from previous viruses?
Two other coronaviruses have fueled outbreaks in the 21st century. This coronavirus is different.
SARS — short for severe acute respiratory syndrome — originated in China’s Guangdong province in 2002 and spread to 29 countries. By the time it was contained in 2003, it had caused 8,096 illnesses and 774 deaths .
MERS — or Middle East respiratory syndrome — began in 2012 and sickened at least 2,494 people in 27 countries. At least 858 people died in that outbreak.
The new coronavirus is different from SARS and MERS in two respects.
First, it spreads more easily in public. In less than three months, it has reached more than 60 countries and territories.
Second, it’s less deadly. In a comprehensive study of 44,672 confirmed coronavirus cases in mainland China, 1,023 people died, researchers from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. That results in a case-fatality rate of 2.3%, the study said.
The death rate due to SARS was about 9.6%, and the fatality rate for MERS is 34.4%.
The actual fatality rate for the new coronavirus may be quite a bit lower than 2.3% because people who are infected but experience only mild illness — or no symptoms at all — are massively undercounted, experts said. The true death rate could be as low as 0.2%, said Dr. Otto Yang, an infectious disease expert at UCLA.
There are four other coronaviruses that produce symptoms no worse than a common cold in most people who do not have severely weakened immune systems, Yang said. These viruses are responsible for 20% to 30% of common colds around the country every year, he said.
There continue to be concerns that visibly healthy people can shed the new coronavirus, which would make the virus more easily transmittable throughout the community.
How is coronavirus spread?
The virus is thought to spread mainly through person-to-person contact.
Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Simple steps to protect yourself
Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough.
Follow guidance from public health officials.
Wash hands with soap and water.
Source: State of California
Times staff writers Karen Kaplan, Melissa Healy and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-12--Shooting leaves Woodland Hills wife dead and husband wounded, police say

A woman was killed and her husband was wounded early Thursday when an assailant opened fire outside of a home in Woodland Hills , police said .
Officers responded to the 23000 block of Gainford Street shortly after 1 a.m. after receiving reports of shots being fired in the area .
When they arrived , they found a woman dead and a man suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound , said Officer Tony Im , a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department .
The woman , who was in her 60s , was outside the home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been identified .
Her husband , who was inside , was injured when a round went through the front door , LAPD Det .
Mark O ’ Donnell said .
He was taken to a hospital for treatment and is expected to survive , O ’ Donnell said .
Authorities are searching for an unknown number of suspects , who fled the scene before officers arrived .
Video from the scene showed investigators scouring the home ’ s front lawn for evidence early Thursday .
Authorities are looking for any houses in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigators think could help them get a description of the suspects .
Anyone with information about the shooting is being asked to contact LAPD ’ s Valley Homicide Bureau at ( 818 ) 374-9550 .

A woman was killed and her husband was wounded early Thursday when an assailant opened fire outside of a home in Woodland Hills, police said.
Officers responded to the 23000 block of Gainford Street shortly after 1 a.m. after receiving reports of shots being fired in the area. When they arrived, they found a woman dead and a man suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound, said Officer Tony Im, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.
The woman, who was in her 60s, was outside the home when the shooting began. She has not been identified. Her husband, who was inside, was injured when a round went through the front door, LAPD Det. Mark O’Donnell said.
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He was taken to a hospital for treatment and is expected to survive, O’Donnell said. Authorities are searching for an unknown number of suspects, who fled the scene before officers arrived.
Video from the scene showed investigators scouring the home’s front lawn for evidence early Thursday. Authorities are looking for any houses in the area with security cameras, which investigators think could help them get a description of the suspects.
Anyone with information about the shooting is being asked to contact LAPD’s Valley Homicide Bureau at (818) 374-9550.


latimes--2020-03-12--California now has 198 confirmed coronavirus cases: What you need to know

The number of coronavirus cases in California has reached nearly 200 , Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced Thursday , with public health officials saying many more people are likely infected .
County health officials think there has been significant spread in some communities , but the total numbers are difficult to determine because so few people have been tested .
“ I now have evidence of widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in San Mateo County , ” Scott Morrow , the county ’ s public health officer , said in a statement .
“ The only way to slow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community transmission is to have everything in our society grind to a halt for an extended period of time , as you have seen done in other countries .
All actions have consequences.
” Here is a rundown of what we know : — California is calling for the cancellation of all gatherings with 250 or more people to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
— The new policy will be in effect at least through March , marking the first time the state has issued a request for all residents across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures and represents a new sense of urgency in the administration ’ s approach to fighting the virus in a state with 198 confirmed cases as of Thursday morning .
— In recent days , counties including Santa Clara , Sacramento and San Francisco have shifted from aggressively tracking and tracing every known contact of a confirmed COVID-19 patient to asking residents to avoid congregating in large groups .
Some counties have warned the elderly and people with underlying health conditions , such as asthma , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , diabetes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other conditions , to remain at home as much as possible .
— An increasing number of both public and private colleges are going online-only .
— The move to online education at some of California ’ s biggest public higher education institutions poses a particular challenge for a large number of underserved students .
Across the Cal State system ’ s 23 campuses , more than half the enrolled students are the first in their families to pursue bachelor ’ s degrees , and a slightly lower percentage receive federal Pell Grants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest school district in Northern California , Elk Grove , has been closed this week .
Several San Francisco and Bay Area schools have also closed .
The private Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles said it will close both its campuses until March 27 , with online instruction beginning Monday .
No Los Angeles Unified School District campus had been closed as of Wednesday .
But all large student and staff gatherings have been canceled .
Student competitions and sports games will continue “ without spectators , ” LAUSD officials said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impose a sweeping reduction in the number of public meetings at City Hall .
The council will go from three meetings per week to one for the remainder of the month .
Also canceled : all council committee meetings , which are devoted to such topics as public safety , planning and the city budget .
— On Tuesday , the California Legislature said it didn ’ t see a need to curtail activities .
But that was before the statewide gathering prohibition was announced by the governor .

Colleen Shalby, Rong-Gong Lin II, Nina Agrawal

Here’s a quick guide to how the novel coronavirus spreads, how likely you are to get it and what you can do to stay healthy.
The number of coronavirus cases in California has reached nearly 200, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday, with public health officials saying many more people are likely infected.
County health officials think there has been significant spread in some communities, but the total numbers are difficult to determine because so few people have been tested.
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“I now have evidence of widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in San Mateo County,” Scott Morrow, the county’s public health officer, said in a statement.
“The only way to slow the spread ... in the light of having community transmission is to have everything in our society grind to a halt for an extended period of time, as you have seen done in other countries. All actions have consequences.”
RELATED: A list of coronavirus cases in California
Here is a rundown of what we know:
Events
— California is calling for the cancellation of all gatherings with 250 or more people to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
— The new policy will be in effect at least through March, marking the first time the state has issued a request for all residents across the state to adopt so-called social distancing measures and represents a new sense of urgency in the administration’s approach to fighting the virus in a state with 198 confirmed cases as of Thursday morning.
— In recent days, counties including Santa Clara, Sacramento and San Francisco have shifted from aggressively tracking and tracing every known contact of a confirmed COVID-19 patient to asking residents to avoid congregating in large groups. Some counties have warned the elderly and people with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, chronic liver disease, blood disorders and other conditions, to remain at home as much as possible.
Schools
— An increasing number of both public and private colleges are going online-only.
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— The move to online education at some of California’s biggest public higher education institutions poses a particular challenge for a large number of underserved students. Across the Cal State system’s 23 campuses, more than half the enrolled students are the first in their families to pursue bachelor’s degrees, and a slightly lower percentage receive federal Pell Grants.
— At the K-12 level, the largest school district in Northern California, Elk Grove, has been closed this week. Several San Francisco and Bay Area schools have also closed. The private Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles said it will close both its campuses until March 27, with online instruction beginning Monday.
No Los Angeles Unified School District campus had been closed as of Wednesday. But all large student and staff gatherings have been canceled. Student competitions and sports games will continue “without spectators,” LAUSD officials said.
Government affairs
— The Los Angeles City Council will impose a sweeping reduction in the number of public meetings at City Hall. The council will go from three meetings per week to one for the remainder of the month. Also canceled: all council committee meetings, which are devoted to such topics as public safety, planning and the city budget.
— On Tuesday, the California Legislature said it didn’t see a need to curtail activities. But that was before the statewide gathering prohibition was announced by the governor.


latimes--2020-03-12--Cruise ship industry reels as Princess Cruises and Viking suspend voyages

Faced with outbreaks of coronavirus on two of its ships and increasing government pressure , Princess Cruises announced Thursday that it will suspend all operations for its vacation voyages for 60 days .
The news comes as federal and California authorities undertake a massive operation to remove 2,400 passengers from the Grand Princess , a cruise ship stricken by the virus , and move them to quarantine sites largely on military bases .
The vessel is currently docked at the commercial Port of Oakland in an effort that has been ongoing since Monday , with most passengers expected to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under intense criticism for its handling of another severe coronavirus outbreak earlier this year on a different ship , the Diamond Princess .
More than 700 of that ship ’ s 3,700 passengers and guests tested positive for coronavirus , and several died .
The vessel was quarantined in a Japanese port on Feb. 4 after a passenger on a previous cruise tested positive for the virus .
Calling it a “ proactive response to the unpredictable circumstances evolving from the global spread of COVID-19 , ” Princess Cruises said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sailing immediately .
It hopes to resume operations in May .
Shortly after the announcement , Viking Cruises followed suit , suspending its ocean and river cruises through April and revealing that guests on one of its ships were also quarantined over virus concerns .
“ In recent days we have had an experience where a river cruise guest in Southeast Asia was exposed to COVID-19 while in transit on an international airline , ” said Viking chairman Torstein Hagen in a statement .
“ While this guest is not exhibiting symptoms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Separately , the remaining 28 guests will also be quarantined.
” Viking said it would offer a full refund or a credit of 125 % of the amount paid to all affected guests .
Princess said it will offer affected guests a credit of the amount paid and an unspecified bonus amount .
For those passengers who do not want a credit , Princess offered an online form where they could request a refund .
Princess Cruises is a subsidiary of Carnival Corp. , which also owns Carnival Cruise Line , Holland America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roger Frizzell , spokesman for Carnival Corp. , said Thursday that there are “ no plans ” for the other brands to cancel operations .
In Cabo San Lucas , two cruise ships pulled into the harbor early Thursday , and passengers got off and milled into town as if little had changed .
One of these ships was the Carnival Panorama , which left Long Beach a day late Sunday after a passenger on the previous cruise got sick .
Passengers Lynette and Greg Martin sat at a waterfront bar , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at lunchtime .
“ We were just concerned our trip would be canceled .
The crew has been wiping everything down .
There is lots of Purell onboard , ” said Greg Martin .
“ I ’ m sure there were cancellations , but all of the cabins around ours are full.
“ While not unexpected , Thursday ’ s announcement by Princess Cruises adds to the economic damage wrought by the coronavirus on various businesses , especially the travel industry .
For the last few weeks , cruise ships have come under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the tight quarters on the ships and a clientele that is largely older and more vulnerable to communicable diseases .
The U.S. State Department on Sunday urged Americans to avoid cruise ships , and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advised caution .
“ U.S .
citizens , particularly travelers with underlying health conditions , should not travel by cruise ship , ” the State Department wrote in a statement on its website .
Saturday , Vice President Mike Pence met with leaders of the cruise ship industry , later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better health and safety measures , and planning for more outbreaks .
“ We made it very clear that we needed cruise lines to be safer , ” Pence said at a media briefing .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom has also advised people , especially the elderly , to avoid cruises .
He has also indicated that he was investigating what powers the state could invoke to prevent cruise ships from docking in California during the outbreak .
Thursday , Newsom said that he hoped other cruise lines would voluntarily stop operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcements similar throughout the day , ” Newsom said .
Newsom also said that the operation to remove people from the Grand Princess , which has been under quarantine for nearly a week , would be extended to Sunday .
On Feb. 4 , the Grand Princess was on a return voyage from Hawaii when passengers learned that a traveler on a previous cruise on the ship tested positive for coronavirus and died .
That man was a resident of Placer County in Northern California .
Passengers were quarantined in their rooms for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as federal , state and local authorities hammered out a plan to bring them ashore .
Monday , the ship docked at Oakland and passengers began to disembark .
The majority of passengers will be quarantined for 14 days at military facilities in California , Texas and Georgia .
Foreign passengers will be repatriated ; more than 200 Canadians who returned home on a charter flight Monday night .
Newsom said 1,963 people had been removed from the boat as of Wednesday night , and 476 were scheduled to leave the ship Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this process.
” The governor said the ship would remain at the Oakland port through Sunday , though originally it had been slated to leave sooner .
A number of foreign passengers remain onboard , including 1,075 crew members from countries including India , the Philippines and Japan .
Newsom said officials were working for some to be repatriated , though he has previously said many crew members would remain on the ship for the quarantine .
Princess Cruises said in a statement Thursday that quarantine plans for the crew were still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Myanmar , and military bases in Texas and Georgia , to transport quarantined passengers and crew , Newsom said .
As of Wednesday night , only eight passengers from the ship remained in the hospital , but Newsom said an unspecified number had tested positive in addition to the two passengers and 19 crew members previously disclosed .
Newsom called the cases needing medical attention a “ very manageable ” number .
The numbers of positive test results could increase : Those passengers heading to quarantines won ’ t be tested until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Newsom said the state was keeping track of the costs associated with the quarantine and could seek reimbursement .
“ Trust me , we have a detailed ledger of costs associated with this , ” Newsom said .
Chabria reported from Sacramento and Cole from Cabo San Lucas , Mexico .

The Grand Princess cruise ship sails past Alcatraz Island as it prepares to dock in Oakland to unload passengers amid the coronavirus crisis on Monday.
Faced with outbreaks of coronavirus on two of its ships and increasing government pressure, Princess Cruises announced Thursday that it will suspend all operations for its vacation voyages for 60 days.
The news comes as federal and California authorities undertake a massive operation to remove 2,400 passengers from the Grand Princess, a cruise ship stricken by the virus, and move them to quarantine sites largely on military bases. The vessel is currently docked at the commercial Port of Oakland in an effort that has been ongoing since Monday, with most passengers expected to be off by Thursday night.
Princess came under intense criticism for its handling of another severe coronavirus outbreak earlier this year on a different ship, the Diamond Princess. More than 700 of that ship’s 3,700 passengers and guests tested positive for coronavirus, and several died. The vessel was quarantined in a Japanese port on Feb. 4 after a passenger on a previous cruise tested positive for the virus.
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Calling it a “proactive response to the unpredictable circumstances evolving from the global spread of COVID-19,” Princess Cruises said in a statement that its 18 cruise ships would cease sailing immediately. It hopes to resume operations in May.
Shortly after the announcement, Viking Cruises followed suit, suspending its ocean and river cruises through April and revealing that guests on one of its ships were also quarantined over virus concerns.
“In recent days we have had an experience where a river cruise guest in Southeast Asia was exposed to COVID-19 while in transit on an international airline,” said Viking chairman Torstein Hagen in a statement. “While this guest is not exhibiting symptoms, she has been placed in quarantine. Separately, the remaining 28 guests will also be quarantined.”
Viking said it would offer a full refund or a credit of 125% of the amount paid to all affected guests. Princess said it will offer affected guests a credit of the amount paid and an unspecified bonus amount. For those passengers who do not want a credit, Princess offered an online form where they could request a refund.
Princess Cruises is a subsidiary of Carnival Corp., which also owns Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Cunard. Roger Frizzell, spokesman for Carnival Corp., said Thursday that there are “no plans” for the other brands to cancel operations.
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In Cabo San Lucas, two cruise ships pulled into the harbor early Thursday, and passengers got off and milled into town as if little had changed. One of these ships was the Carnival Panorama, which left Long Beach a day late Sunday after a passenger on the previous cruise got sick.
Passengers Lynette and Greg Martin sat at a waterfront bar, both wearing balloon hats and enjoying a drink at lunchtime.
“We were just concerned our trip would be canceled. The crew has been wiping everything down. There is lots of Purell onboard,” said Greg Martin. “I’m sure there were cancellations, but all of the cabins around ours are full.“
“We figure it’s blown out of proportion,” added Lynette.
While not unexpected, Thursday’s announcement by Princess Cruises adds to the economic damage wrought by the coronavirus on various businesses, especially the travel industry. For the last few weeks, cruise ships have come under increasing scrutiny from regulators, partly because of the tight quarters on the ships and a clientele that is largely older and more vulnerable to communicable diseases.
The U.S. State Department on Sunday urged Americans to avoid cruise ships, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advised caution.
“U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship,” the State Department wrote in a statement on its website.
Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence met with leaders of the cruise ship industry, later saying he had conveyed the need for better health and safety measures, and planning for more outbreaks.
“We made it very clear that we needed cruise lines to be safer,” Pence said at a media briefing.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has also advised people, especially the elderly, to avoid cruises. He has also indicated that he was investigating what powers the state could invoke to prevent cruise ships from docking in California during the outbreak. Thursday, Newsom said that he hoped other cruise lines would voluntarily stop operations.
“We hope to hear other announcements similar throughout the day,” Newsom said.
Newsom also said that the operation to remove people from the Grand Princess, which has been under quarantine for nearly a week, would be extended to Sunday.
On Feb. 4, the Grand Princess was on a return voyage from Hawaii when passengers learned that a traveler on a previous cruise on the ship tested positive for coronavirus and died. That man was a resident of Placer County in Northern California.
Passengers were quarantined in their rooms for days off the coast of San Francisco as federal, state and local authorities hammered out a plan to bring them ashore. Monday, the ship docked at Oakland and passengers began to disembark.
The majority of passengers will be quarantined for 14 days at military facilities in California, Texas and Georgia. Foreign passengers will be repatriated; more than 200 Canadians who returned home on a charter flight Monday night.
Newsom said 1,963 people had been removed from the boat as of Wednesday night, and 476 were scheduled to leave the ship Thursday, “concluding the most challenging part of this process.”
The governor said the ship would remain at the Oakland port through Sunday, though originally it had been slated to leave sooner. A number of foreign passengers remain onboard, including 1,075 crew members from countries including India, the Philippines and Japan. Newsom said officials were working for some to be repatriated, though he has previously said many crew members would remain on the ship for the quarantine. Princess Cruises said in a statement Thursday that quarantine plans for the crew were still being determined.
Flights are scheduled today to Myanmar, and military bases in Texas and Georgia, to transport quarantined passengers and crew, Newsom said.
As of Wednesday night, only eight passengers from the ship remained in the hospital, but Newsom said an unspecified number had tested positive in addition to the two passengers and 19 crew members previously disclosed. Newsom called the cases needing medical attention a “very manageable” number.
The numbers of positive test results could increase: Those passengers heading to quarantines won’t be tested until they reach their destinations, he said.
Newsom said the state was keeping track of the costs associated with the quarantine and could seek reimbursement.
“Trust me, we have a detailed ledger of costs associated with this,” Newsom said.
Chabria reported from Sacramento and Cole from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.


latimes--2020-03-12--Days of rain on tap for Southern California as storm system returns

After a mostly dry start to the year , March is shaping up to be somewhat of a white knight for Southern California ’ s rainy season .
A slow-moving storm that sprinkled the region with rain for a day earlier in the week barreled back into the area Thursday morning , bringing heavy rain and a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms .
The system ’ s final tour through the area is expected to bring up to 2 inches of rain to the coasts and valleys and up to 3 inches in the San Gabriel Mountains .
Thunderstorms also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and waterspouts , said Joe Sirard , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ Any time we have this kind of pattern , there ’ s a possibility for some urban flooding , ” Sirard said .
“ There ’ s also a potential for some mud and debris flows in recent burn areas.
” The National Weather Service in San Diego issued a flood advisory for Riverside , San Diego and Orange counties through Thursday afternoon , warning of rainfall rates up to three-tenths of an inch per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stream flooding .
The weather service warned that isolated thunderstorms could produce up to half an inch of rain per hour .
The wet weather comes as more people are working from home due to the coronavirus .
Though the storm is expected to clear out Friday , Sirard suggested not stowing the umbrellas yet .
A deep moisture layer lingering over the region could keep things damp through Saturday .
Longer range models show another slow-moving storm creeping into Southern California from the north Sunday .
That chilly system has the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop snow levels to 4,000 feet , Sirard said .
The rain from that storm could linger through Wednesday , and another is expected to move in next Thursday , Sirard said .
“ It ’ s almost like being in Seattle at this point , ” he said .
Forecasters say the series of storms is just in time to help the region rebound from a parched January and February , usually the state ’ s wettest months .
A total of 0.04 inch of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with February 1899 for .
Downtown L.A. also had its fourth-driest combined January and February on record after just 0.36 inch fell during the first two months of 2020 .
So far this month , downtown L.A. has received .31 inches of rain .
Farther north , in Santa Barbara , precipitation totals have reached .79 inches this month , more than the area saw in January and February combined , weather service data show .
“ If the models pan out , one could say this is kind of a March miracle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ It has the potential to vastly exceed what we saw in February .
If that happens , it would go a long way to making up for a dry start to the year.
” While weather experts say it ’ s too early to call it a “ miracle March , ” the rain has helped bolster lackluster winter rain totals in several areas .
However , the recent storms have not been successful in keeping the state out of drought conditions .
A map released by the U.S. Drought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of California is considered to be in abnormally dry conditions .
More than 48 % of the state , including portions of Los Angeles County , is in moderate drought conditions , the map shows .

A pedestrian with an umbrella walks along the beach path in Santa Monica on Tuesday.
After a mostly dry start to the year, March is shaping up to be somewhat of a white knight for Southern California’s rainy season.
A slow-moving storm that sprinkled the region with rain for a day earlier in the week barreled back into the area Thursday morning, bringing heavy rain and a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
The system’s final tour through the area is expected to bring up to 2 inches of rain to the coasts and valleys and up to 3 inches in the San Gabriel Mountains. Thunderstorms also could produce brief heavy downpours, hail and waterspouts, said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
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“Any time we have this kind of pattern, there’s a possibility for some urban flooding,” Sirard said. “There’s also a potential for some mud and debris flows in recent burn areas.”
The National Weather Service in San Diego issued a flood advisory for Riverside, San Diego and Orange counties through Thursday afternoon, warning of rainfall rates up to three-tenths of an inch per hour that could cause urban and small stream flooding. The weather service warned that isolated thunderstorms could produce up to half an inch of rain per hour.
The wet weather comes as more people are working from home due to the coronavirus.
Though the storm is expected to clear out Friday, Sirard suggested not stowing the umbrellas yet.
A deep moisture layer lingering over the region could keep things damp through Saturday. Longer range models show another slow-moving storm creeping into Southern California from the north Sunday. That chilly system has the potential to bring several inches of rain and drop snow levels to 4,000 feet, Sirard said.
The rain from that storm could linger through Wednesday, and another is expected to move in next Thursday, Sirard said.
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“It’s almost like being in Seattle at this point,” he said.
Forecasters say the series of storms is just in time to help the region rebound from a parched January and February, usually the state’s wettest months.
A total of 0.04 inch of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles last month, placing it in a tie with February 1899 for the 10th-driest February on record . Downtown L.A. also had its fourth-driest combined January and February on record after just 0.36 inch fell during the first two months of 2020.
So far this month, downtown L.A. has received .31 inches of rain. Farther north, in Santa Barbara, precipitation totals have reached .79 inches this month, more than the area saw in January and February combined, weather service data show.
“If the models pan out, one could say this is kind of a March miracle in terms of rainfall,” Sirard said. “It has the potential to vastly exceed what we saw in February. If that happens, it would go a long way to making up for a dry start to the year.”
While weather experts say it’s too early to call it a “miracle March,” the rain has helped bolster lackluster winter rain totals in several areas. However, the recent storms have not been successful in keeping the state out of drought conditions.
A map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday shows that 78% of California is considered to be in abnormally dry conditions. More than 48% of the state, including portions of Los Angeles County, is in moderate drought conditions, the map shows.


latimes--2020-03-12--Federal charges against ex-councilman shock the San Fernando Valley. 'It's like a movie!'

The shopper at the Ralphs supermarket in Porter Ranch didn ’ t hold back Tuesday morning when she spotted the front-page newspaper headline about the indictment of Mitch Englander .
“ It ’ s embarrassing , ” she said of the charges facing the former Los Angeles city councilman .
This tight-knit corner of the San Fernando Valley was rocked this week by the allegations against Englander , a well-known politician with a boyish face who twice won election in the council district .
Englander was charged Monday into cash , lavish meals , escort services and other gifts that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during trips .
The former councilman is the only person so far to be publicly charged in connection with a wide-reaching investigation into corruption and pay-to-play schemes at Los Angeles City Hall .
The indictment also marks the first time in decades that a council member from this district has been caught up in a major City Hall scandal .
With its single-family homes , wide boulevards and horse farms , and a relatively large population of Republican voters , this neighborhood in the northwest Valley has the feel of a suburb , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ensnares politicians in other areas of Los Angeles .
“ We stand alone , ” said Granada Hills resident Harold Gugel , sitting in a Starbucks in Porter Ranch on Tuesday .
Englander ’ s alleged crimes have stunned local residents .
At cafes and coffee shops across the district this week , many were both dismayed and amused by the charges leveled at the former councilman , who grew up in the San Fernando Valley and had a home in Granada Hills .
The salacious details outlined in the indictment — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Englander ’ s hotel room in Las Vegas and that he played loud music in his car to thwart potential listening devices — sparked a flurry of conversation across the district .
“ People are calling off the hook , ” said Michael Benedetto , a real estate agent who lives in Granada Hills , serves on a local neighborhood council and is president of a chamber of commerce .
Gugel said the online comments on his Next Door community page “ erupted ” Monday when the news broke about Englander , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who stepped in to help stop a new freeway ramp on a street near his home .
“ I always thought he was bright and trustworthy , ” Gugel said .
“ Now I ’ m not so sure.
” As a council member , Englander represented the neighborhoods of Porter Ranch , Granada Hills , Chatsworth , West Hills and Northridge after first serving as chief of staff for then-Councilman Greig Smith .
Many people in the district know Englander and Jayne , Englander ’ s high school sweetheart who he later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two daughters .
Englander stepped down at the end of 2018 to take a job with a sports and entertainment firm , abruptly leaving the council post before his term ended .
The district has few major business or commercial centers compared to other parts of the city .
Local organizations , such as chambers of commerce , churches and the YMCA , play big roles in the community , and council members are well-known by residents .
A Northridge youth center is named after Smith .
There ’ s also Holleigh Bernson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the late daughter of another former councilman .
Down the street in Porter Ranch , developer Toll Brothers is building a massive new residential community and , in 2018 , unveiled plans for an “ Englander Pavilion ” on the site .
The developer didn ’ t return a call Wednesday about the status of the park .
At Belgium Waffle Haus in Granada Hills on Tuesday , Jill Siciliano listened wide-eyed as her friend explained the allegations facing Englander after a reporter approached the pair to ask about the scandal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ details , which allegedly include perks of $ 24,000 for alcohol at a nightclub and $ 10,000 in cash .
“ Wow , ” said Siciliano , who lives in Chatsworth .
“ Oh my gosh.
” “ The whole story , you couldn ’ t write it !
” said the friend , who declined to give her name .
“ It ’ s like a movie !
” Englander ’ s attorney , Janet Levine , said in a statement this week that her client was proud of the work he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite this setback , with the support of his family and friends , he looks forward to continuing his lifelong contributions to the community that has given him so much , ” Levine said .
Decades ago , a onetime councilman who represented the district , John P. Cassidy , was questioned in a probe focused on city contracts , campaign donations and zoning matters .
He was never charged .
But the broader investigation sent another former councilman , Thomas D. Shepard , to prison after he was convicted in 1969 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with rezoning of 7 acres in Canoga Park .
By some measures , Englander positioned himself as a moral compass on corruption .
He introduced a motion in 2014 to change city rules so that any employee convicted of a felony involving their city job would be required to forfeit their pension .
He sought the new rule after a building inspector sentenced to prison in an FBI corruption case was set to continue to receive his yearly pension of more than $ 72,000 .
Online city records show that Englander ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some residents weren ’ t ready to judge Englander on Tuesday , even as they seemed awestruck by his alleged behavior .
“ He ’ s only been accused , ” said Chatsworth resident Wayne Jones , who was reading about the indictments at the cafe at Shepherd of the Hills church .
He called the allegation of using an escort service “ over the top.
” Clad in a cowboy hat and flannel shirt , Jones said his equestrian club is regularly visited by local politicians .
Englander rode with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media posts .
“ He seemed like such a straight arrow , ” Jones said .

Former L.A. City Councilman Mitch Englander is shown in 2015 in the San Fernando Valley. With him is Marcie Edwards, then-general manager of the Department of Water and Power.
The shopper at the Ralphs supermarket in Porter Ranch didn’t hold back Tuesday morning when she spotted the front-page newspaper headline about the indictment of Mitch Englander.
“It’s embarrassing,” she said of the charges facing the former Los Angeles city councilman.
This tightknit corner of the San Fernando Valley was rocked this week by the allegations against Englander, a well-known politician with a boyish face who twice won election in the council district.
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Englander was charged Monday with obstructing a federal investigation into cash, lavish meals, escort services and other gifts that officials say he accepted from a businessman during trips. The former councilman is the only person so far to be publicly charged in connection with a wide-reaching investigation into corruption and pay-to-play schemes at Los Angeles City Hall.
The indictment also marks the first time in decades that a council member from this district has been caught up in a major City Hall scandal.
With its single-family homes, wide boulevards and horse farms, and a relatively large population of Republican voters, this neighborhood in the northwest Valley has the feel of a suburb, far removed from the City Hall corruption that ensnares politicians in other areas of Los Angeles.
“We stand alone,” said Granada Hills resident Harold Gugel, sitting in a Starbucks in Porter Ranch on Tuesday.
Englander’s alleged crimes have stunned local residents. At cafes and coffee shops across the district this week, many were both dismayed and amused by the charges leveled at the former councilman, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley and had a home in Granada Hills.
The salacious details outlined in the indictment — including allegations that an escort was sent to Englander’s hotel room in Las Vegas and that he played loud music in his car to thwart potential listening devices — sparked a flurry of conversation across the district.
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“People are calling off the hook,” said Michael Benedetto, a real estate agent who lives in Granada Hills, serves on a local neighborhood council and is president of a chamber of commerce.
Gugel said the online comments on his Next Door community page “erupted” Monday when the news broke about Englander, whom he described as a committed councilmember who stepped in to help stop a new freeway ramp on a street near his home.
“I always thought he was bright and trustworthy,” Gugel said. “Now I’m not so sure.”
As a council member, Englander represented the neighborhoods of Porter Ranch, Granada Hills, Chatsworth, West Hills and Northridge after first serving as chief of staff for then-Councilman Greig Smith. Many people in the district know Englander and Jayne, Englander’s high school sweetheart who he later married, and the couple’s two daughters.
Englander stepped down at the end of 2018 to take a job with a sports and entertainment firm, abruptly leaving the council post before his term ended.
The district has few major business or commercial centers compared to other parts of the city. Local organizations, such as chambers of commerce, churches and the YMCA, play big roles in the community, and council members are well-known by residents.
A Northridge youth center is named after Smith. There’s also Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park in Porter Ranch, dedicated to the late daughter of another former councilman.
Down the street in Porter Ranch, developer Toll Brothers is building a massive new residential community and, in 2018, unveiled plans for an “Englander Pavilion” on the site. The developer didn’t return a call Wednesday about the status of the park.
At Belgium Waffle Haus in Granada Hills on Tuesday, Jill Siciliano listened wide-eyed as her friend explained the allegations facing Englander after a reporter approached the pair to ask about the scandal. Siciliano’s friend ticked off the details, which allegedly include perks of $24,000 for alcohol at a nightclub and $10,000 in cash.
“Wow,” said Siciliano, who lives in Chatsworth. “Oh my gosh.”
“The whole story, you couldn’t write it!” said the friend, who declined to give her name. “It’s like a movie!”
Englander pleaded not guilty this week.
Englander’s attorney, Janet Levine, said in a statement this week that her client was proud of the work he had done for his community. “Despite this setback, with the support of his family and friends, he looks forward to continuing his lifelong contributions to the community that has given him so much,” Levine said.
Decades ago, a onetime councilman who represented the district, John P. Cassidy, was questioned in a probe focused on city contracts, campaign donations and zoning matters. He was never charged. But the broader investigation sent another former councilman, Thomas D. Shepard, to prison after he was convicted in 1969 of accepting a $11,000 bribe in connection with rezoning of 7 acres in Canoga Park.
By some measures, Englander positioned himself as a moral compass on corruption. He introduced a motion in 2014 to change city rules so that any employee convicted of a felony involving their city job would be required to forfeit their pension.
He sought the new rule after a building inspector sentenced to prison in an FBI corruption case was set to continue to receive his yearly pension of more than $72,000. Online city records show that Englander’s motion was never heard before the council.
Some residents weren’t ready to judge Englander on Tuesday, even as they seemed awestruck by his alleged behavior.
“He’s only been accused,” said Chatsworth resident Wayne Jones, who was reading about the indictments at the cafe at Shepherd of the Hills church. He called the allegation of using an escort service “over the top.”
Clad in a cowboy hat and flannel shirt, Jones said his equestrian club is regularly visited by local politicians. Englander rode with the group several times, according to social media posts.
“He seemed like such a straight arrow,” Jones said.


latimes--2020-03-12--At USC and UCLA, the coronavirus-forced turn to online classes can get awkward

USC junior Seth Krieger is a technological whiz who has built his own computer , landed a yearlong internship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and designed the power distribution box for his campus club ’ s racing car .
But on Wednesday — the first day that USC and other colleges and universities moved from in-person classes to online learning to guard against the novel coronavirus — there were a few awkward moments even for him .
Krieger , a 21-year-old electrical engineering major , logged into Zoom for a software engineering class easily enough .
But he couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t find the software feature to do so — and he thought it would be rude to unmute his computer and interrupt the lecture .
After class , he figured out that a hand emoji might be the signal for questions .
In his electromagnetics course , the professor usually demonstrates problem-solving by writing on paper projected on the wall .
On Wednesday , however , she talked through the problems using a slideshow .
That was harder to follow , Krieger said , because he likes to learn by watching others .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one has done this before , ” said Krieger , who supports the campus ’ move to online learning .
“ But I figure there ’ ll be a rhythm that settles in and people will get the hang of it.
” As the coronavirus pandemic shuts down in-person classes on campuses throughout California and across the country , students and faculty at USC and UCLA sampled a taste of what could be the new normal in college life for weeks to come .
UCLA had a head start in its transition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thanks to its online teaching and learning initiative launched in 2014 in cooperation with the University of California .
The campus already had developed training and workshops for online instruction across disciplines and invested heavily in the technology to deliver it .
Since the contagion took hold , UCLA ramped up training sessions from a few times a week to every 20 minutes and expanded its capacity for classes via Zoom .
“ We ’ ve taken the infrastructure we had in place and put it on steroids , ” said Patricia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education and senior dean of the College of Letters and Science .
On Wednesday afternoon , the normally bustling Westwood campus was eerily quiet .
The signature Janss Steps were deserted , and Powell Library , a popular study spot , was quiet even by finals-week standards .
“ This is as empty as I ’ ve ever seen it on any school day , ” said student Kiera Laney , 20 .
Scores packed the Bruin Cafe , however , where as many as four students attending different online classes could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shaya Naimi , 19 , was making the best of her online math and chemistry classes , though she said the vibe was less engaging .
“ It was definitely different , ” she said .
“ I can tell my professors are doing their best , but you just can ’ t replicate being in person.
” For Aarushi Kapoor , a neuroscience major , the transition to online learning was easy enough — she got through two remote lectures via Zoom .
“ But everything else is up in the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t sure how to take her finals .
She was uncertain whether to attend an optional in-person class later that day .
Even more pressing were financial questions as to whether she should stay on campus or go home to Bakersfield if all her classes would be online .
“ I ’ m paying for housing and meals , ” she said .
“ It ’ s very expensive as it is , and now that ’ s all going to waste.
” For UCLA student Navkaran Gurm , who is majoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift to online learning has played out differently depending on the class .
After learning of the university ’ s decision Tuesday to move classes online , his professor in a genetic engineering class handed everyone A ’ s on the final and canceled the last class of the quarter .
His economics professor canceled the last day of class scheduled for Thursday and planned an online final .
That , however , caused Gurm to worry that some students might cheat .
“ I ’ m a little bit concerned … that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to get unfair advantages , ” he said .
He also worried about whether he could access Wi-Fi that is strong enough from his home in rural Fresno , so he ’ s returning to campus after spring break .
At USC , students milled about , going to labs and eating together outside restaurants .
The parking lots were nearly full .
Four freshmen , who sat chatting in front of the bookstore , said they had mixed feelings about the school ’ s decision to go to online classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Andrew Li , 19 , a sophomore .
“ It ’ s a lot more convenient because you don ’ t have to go to class.
” But his friend Tiffany Yu , 19 , said it felt “ like such a waste of tuition .
It ’ s so much money to pay for classes online.
” Freshman Victor Fan , 18 , said he had decided to return home to Taiwan until classes resume .
He planned to leave Friday .
“ It doesn ’ t make sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nothing going on on campus , ” Fan said .
Plus , he added : “ It ’ s safer… .
I trust Taiwan more than here .
We have good healthcare.
” Fares Maimani , 25 , a graduate student studying mechanical engineering , sat at a table outside , working on his computer and sipping coffee .
For him , and many other students , the shift to online classes at USC was not much of a change .
In his program , the vast majority of lectures have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so he ’ s used to watching remote classes , he said .
Asked what was different , he looked around at the quiet campus .
“ It ’ s more relaxing maybe , ” he said .
But he was concerned about the possibility that the school would eventually cancel labs and research on campus .
He is working on a robotics project that requires on-campus facilities .
“ I can ’ t do much if I can ’ t come to campus , ” he said .
“ I hope it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” For faculty , the shift to online teaching has been easier for some than others .
Alvin Huang , associate professor of architecture , taught his classes from his design firm ’ s downtown office overlooking Spring Street .
In the minutes before class started , Huang talked about his father , who lives in China , where people have been grappling with the new coronavirus for months .
Anytime his father leaves his gated community and returns , someone takes his temperature before he is allowed to enter , Huang said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ logged on and greeted seven students who were supposed to present design projects they had been working on since last semester .
He waited to make sure each student could hear and be heard , and then told them that they should get used to online meetings — not just for classes but also for professional work in the future .
“ This is maybe a format that is useful for you guys to get used to , ” he said .
“ I ’ m constantly using it for projects.
” For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Family Therapy Program in the USC Rossier School of Education , the switch was trickier .
Her course on couples counseling relies heavily on role-playing before classmates , who take notes on language and nonverbal signals .
She had to figure out how to retain that expressive classroom environment with an online course using a computer program that shows only the faces of her 20 students logged in from different locations .
Andres came up with an idea to ask four students to create a video of themselves gathered in a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the couple and two therapists .
She showed the video in class Wednesday and said she was relieved that the technology worked and student feedback was favorable .
But remote learning , she said , “ would never be my favorite.
” She was hopeful , though , that she and her class would adjust .
“ We ’ re all going to figure it out together , ” she said .

Teresa Watanabe, Paloma Esquivel, Sonja Sharp, Sonali Kohli

USC junior Seth Krieger is a technological whiz who has built his own computer, landed a yearlong internship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and designed the power distribution box for his campus club’s racing car.
But on Wednesday — the first day that USC and other colleges and universities moved from in-person classes to online learning to guard against the novel coronavirus — there were a few awkward moments even for him.
Krieger, a 21-year-old electrical engineering major, logged into Zoom for a software engineering class easily enough. But he couldn’t ask questions because he couldn’t find the software feature to do so — and he thought it would be rude to unmute his computer and interrupt the lecture. After class, he figured out that a hand emoji might be the signal for questions.
The USC campus near downtown Los Angeles was quiet Wednesday as classes are being held online for the first day. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
In his electromagnetics course, the professor usually demonstrates problem-solving by writing on paper projected on the wall. On Wednesday, however, she talked through the problems using a slideshow. That was harder to follow, Krieger said, because he likes to learn by watching others.
“It’s an adjustment — no one has done this before,” said Krieger, who supports the campus’ move to online learning. “But I figure there’ll be a rhythm that settles in and people will get the hang of it.”
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As the coronavirus pandemic shuts down in-person classes on campuses throughout California and across the country, students and faculty at USC and UCLA sampled a taste of what could be the new normal in college life for weeks to come.
Classes have moved to online only at UCLA. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
UCLA student Jessica Kwek, 19, attends a class online at the Bruin Cafe. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
UCLA had a head start in its transition to nearly all remote classes this week, thanks to its online teaching and learning initiative launched in 2014 in cooperation with the University of California. The campus already had developed training and workshops for online instruction across disciplines and invested heavily in the technology to deliver it.
Since the contagion took hold, UCLA ramped up training sessions from a few times a week to every 20 minutes and expanded its capacity for classes via Zoom.
“We’ve taken the infrastructure we had in place and put it on steroids,” said Patricia A. Turner, vice provost of undergraduate education and senior dean of the College of Letters and Science.
On Wednesday afternoon, the normally bustling Westwood campus was eerily quiet. The signature Janss Steps were deserted, and Powell Library, a popular study spot, was quiet even by finals-week standards.
“This is as empty as I’ve ever seen it on any school day,” said student Kiera Laney, 20.
Scores packed the Bruin Cafe, however, where as many as four students attending different online classes could be found crammed around each small table.
Shaya Naimi hangs out on the steps of Powell Library at UCLA where classes have moved to online. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
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Shaya Naimi, 19, was making the best of her online math and chemistry classes, though she said the vibe was less engaging. “It was definitely different,” she said. “I can tell my professors are doing their best, but you just can’t replicate being in person.”
For Aarushi Kapoor, a neuroscience major, the transition to online learning was easy enough — she got through two remote lectures via Zoom. “But everything else is up in the air,” she said.
She wasn’t sure how to take her finals. She was uncertain whether to attend an optional in-person class later that day. Even more pressing were financial questions as to whether she should stay on campus or go home to Bakersfield if all her classes would be online.
“I’m paying for housing and meals,” she said. “It’s very expensive as it is, and now that’s all going to waste.”
For UCLA student Navkaran Gurm, who is majoring in public affairs and economics, the shift to online learning has played out differently depending on the class. After learning of the university’s decision Tuesday to move classes online, his professor in a genetic engineering class handed everyone A’s on the final and canceled the last class of the quarter.
USC Assistant economics professor Jeff Weaver held an informal meeting for prospective PhD students who had traveled from around the world to visit the USC campus this week. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
His economics professor canceled the last day of class scheduled for Thursday and planned an online final. That, however, caused Gurm to worry that some students might cheat.
“I’m a little bit concerned … that there’s potential for students to be able to get unfair advantages,” he said.
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He also worried about whether he could access Wi-Fi that is strong enough from his home in rural Fresno, so he’s returning to campus after spring break.
At USC, students milled about, going to labs and eating together outside restaurants. The parking lots were nearly full.
Four freshmen, who sat chatting in front of the bookstore, said they had mixed feelings about the school’s decision to go to online classes.
“I like it a lot,” said Andrew Li, 19, a sophomore. “It’s a lot more convenient because you don’t have to go to class.”
But his friend Tiffany Yu, 19, said it felt “like such a waste of tuition. It’s so much money to pay for classes online.”
Freshman Victor Fan, 18, said he had decided to return home to Taiwan until classes resume. He planned to leave Friday.
“It doesn’t make sense for me to stay here when there’s nothing going on on campus,” Fan said. Plus, he added: “It’s safer…. I trust Taiwan more than here. We have good healthcare.”
Fares Maimani, a Mechanical Engineering PhD student, came to the campus for some research work at USC campus, where classes are being held online. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Fares Maimani, 25, a graduate student studying mechanical engineering, sat at a table outside, working on his computer and sipping coffee.
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For him, and many other students, the shift to online classes at USC was not much of a change. In his program, the vast majority of lectures have been accessible online for some time, so he’s used to watching remote classes, he said.
Asked what was different, he looked around at the quiet campus.
“It’s more relaxing maybe,” he said.
But he was concerned about the possibility that the school would eventually cancel labs and research on campus. He is working on a robotics project that requires on-campus facilities.
“I can’t do much if I can’t come to campus,” he said. “I hope it doesn’t get to that point.”
For faculty, the shift to online teaching has been easier for some than others.
Alvin Huang, associate professor of architecture, taught his classes from his design firm’s downtown office overlooking Spring Street.
In the minutes before class started, Huang talked about his father, who lives in China, where people have been grappling with the new coronavirus for months. Anytime his father leaves his gated community and returns, someone takes his temperature before he is allowed to enter, Huang said.
Advertisement
At exactly 2 p.m., Huang logged on and greeted seven students who were supposed to present design projects they had been working on since last semester.
He waited to make sure each student could hear and be heard, and then told them that they should get used to online meetings — not just for classes but also for professional work in the future.
“This is maybe a format that is useful for you guys to get used to,” he said. “I’m constantly using it for projects.”
For Mary Andres, co-director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program in the USC Rossier School of Education, the switch was trickier. Her course on couples counseling relies heavily on role-playing before classmates, who take notes on language and nonverbal signals.
She had to figure out how to retain that expressive classroom environment with an online course using a computer program that shows only the faces of her 20 students logged in from different locations. Andres came up with an idea to ask four students to create a video of themselves gathered in a small room, acting out their parts as the couple and two therapists.
She showed the video in class Wednesday and said she was relieved that the technology worked and student feedback was favorable. But remote learning, she said, “would never be my favorite.”
She was hopeful, though, that she and her class would adjust.
“We’re all going to figure it out together,” she said.