latimes--2020-12-15--California expects 1 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses this month

California stands to receive at least 1 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the month , an influx that will help arm the state ’ s healthcare workforce against the most intense and severe wave of the disease yet .
The additional 393,900 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine , as well as potentially 672,000 doses of the Moderna therapeutic — should it receive U.S. authorization , as expected — would supplement the state ’ s previously announced first allocation of about 327,000 .
But that stream of vaccines , though welcome , will do little to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has flooded California in recent weeks .
The supply remains limited and initially will be steered toward frontline healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities .
With a vaccine not expected to be available to the general public until at least the spring , Gov .
Gavin Newsom emphasized Tuesday that Californians need to remain vigilant and double down on infection-prevention measures as the state wrestles with “ the most challenging and difficult surge we ’ ve experienced since the beginning of this pandemic.
” “ This is a deadly disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where we are in this current journey , together , to the vaccine , ” he said during a briefing .
“ We are not at the finish line yet.
” Still , the arrival of vaccines provides a glimmer of optimism in a year that has had little and portends a time when the pandemic will be in the rearview mirror .
Facilities in four California cities — Los Angeles , San Diego , San Francisco and Eureka — received vaccines Monday .
Twenty-four other sites were expected to get shipments Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco started administering the vaccine to frontline healthcare workers Tuesday , distributing a first batch of 12,675 doses to hospitals across the city .
“ We are embarking on a vaccine distribution effort unlike anything this country or San Francisco has ever seen , ” said Dr. Grant Colfax , the director of public health .
“ While this is a significant moment that we should celebrate , we have a long road ahead of us.
” Nearly 5,000 doses arrived Tuesday morning at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento .
Eva Teniola @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department , was the first employee to receive it .
Teniola , 47 , has been working at UC Davis for almost 10 years and said she has never seen anything as severe as COVID-19 .
“ People die alone , and it ’ s so sad , ” she said .
“ They don ’ t have family because it ’ s strictly no visitors , so we have to stay with them.
” Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles also received its first vaccine shipment Tuesday .
“ The arrival of the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change for our community after months of fear , exhaustion and illness , ” Chief Operating Officer Dr. Jeffrey A. Smith said in a statement .
“ Until today , the vaccine was the missing tool in our ever-growing toolkit of treatments and prevention methods against the virus.
” Keck Medicine of USC and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital are scheduled to receive about 2,500 vaccine doses between them this week .
Officials said they anticipate picking up the doses Thursday and starting vaccinations within four hours .
The priority will be those caring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in high-risk settings or in areas where patients are being tested , according to Dr. Neha Nanda , medical director of infection prevention at the USC Keck School of Medicine .
“ We have the vaccine ; that ’ s amazing , ” Nanda said .
“ It took more than 10 years to get the polio vaccine .
... Now , within nine months , we have a vaccine .
It is going to change our lives.
” Belying the hope that accompanies the vaccines , though , is the horror of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and killing unprecedented numbers of Californians .
Over the last week , an average of 164 Californians have died from COVID-19 every day , roughly quadruple the level seen a month ago , according to data compiled by The Times .
Amid the rising fatalities , Newsom said , the state purchased and distributed 5,000 additional body bags .
“ It ’ s not the flu .
This is not something to trifle with , ” he said .
“ This is a deadly disease , a deadly pandemic.
” More than 21,200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,000 of them in the last two weeks .
The pandemic is wreaking havoc on healthcare systems up and down the state as the number of hospitalized patients continues to reach new heights .
On Monday , there were 14,283 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in California ; 3,081 of them were in intensive care .
Both figures are record highs , representing increases of 73 % and 63 % , respectively , from two weeks ago .
As harrowing as those totals are , officials remain concerned about what may come next .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it typically takes an infected person about two weeks to fall ill enough to require hospitalization .
Over the last week , California has averaged almost 33,000 new cases per day , up 133 % from two weeks ago .
The state shattered its daily record for new cases Monday , with 42,129 .
Officials warn that if those recently infected require care at the same levels as those who preceded them , California is barreling toward disaster , with hospitals that are overwhelmed and professionals who are overworked .
Already , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the Southern California region — which the state defines as Imperial , Inyo , Los Angeles , Mono , Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino , San Diego , San Luis Obispo , Santa Barbara and Ventura counties — ICU capacity Tuesday had shrunk to 1.7 % , officials said .
In the San Joaquin Valley , ICU capacity was at 1.6 % , a meager figure but an improvement from Monday , when it was at 0 % —meaning some critically ill patients had to be housed in hospital areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Many folks may be thinking that this is just not anything to be really worried about , because hospitals can just add more beds .
The reality is , every bed needs to be staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare workers , and we don ’ t have an endless supply of healthcare workers , and those that are here saving lives every day are exhausted , ” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Monday .
While the future seems brighter , Newsom warned that there are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do everything in their power to stymie the ongoing surge — including wearing masks in public , washing hands regularly , staying home when sick and keeping physical distance from , and avoiding gatherings with , those outside their household .
“ Mark my words : We will come out of it stronger than ever , ” he said .
“ We want to come out of it healthier than ever .
We want you to be there to experience the resurgence , this recovery , California ’ s comeback .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it ’ s also inside us .
It ’ s our decisions , again , not just conditions , that will determine that fate and future.
” Times staff writers Brittny Mejia , Maura Dolan and Rong-Gong Lin II , as well as the Associated Press , contributed to this report .

California stands to receive at least 1 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the month, an influx that will help arm the state’s healthcare workforce against the most intense and severe wave of the disease yet.
The additional 393,900 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, as well as potentially 672,000 doses of the Moderna therapeutic — should it receive U.S. authorization, as expected — would supplement the state’s previously announced first allocation of about 327,000.
But that stream of vaccines, though welcome, will do little to dam the river of new infections that has flooded California in recent weeks. The supply remains limited and initially will be steered toward frontline healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities.
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With a vaccine not expected to be available to the general public until at least the spring, Gov. Gavin Newsom emphasized Tuesday that Californians need to remain vigilant and double down on infection-prevention measures as the state wrestles with “the most challenging and difficult surge we’ve experienced since the beginning of this pandemic.”
“This is a deadly disease, and we need to be mindful of where we are in this current journey, together, to the vaccine,” he said during a briefing. “We are not at the finish line yet.”
California With vaccine, California enters new phase in the coronavirus pandemic But while the vaccine offers promise, it comes as the U.S. is facing the darkest moment of the coronavirus crisis. On Monday, the U.S. death toll topped 300,000, and California, like much of the nation, is in the throes of the worst wave of the disease.
Still, the arrival of vaccines provides a glimmer of optimism in a year that has had little and portends a time when the pandemic will be in the rearview mirror.
Facilities in four California cities — Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Eureka — received vaccines Monday. Twenty-four other sites were expected to get shipments Tuesday, and five more Wednesday.
San Francisco started administering the vaccine to frontline healthcare workers Tuesday, distributing a first batch of 12,675 doses to hospitals across the city.
“We are embarking on a vaccine distribution effort unlike anything this country or San Francisco has ever seen,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, the director of public health. “While this is a significant moment that we should celebrate, we have a long road ahead of us.”
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Nearly 5,000 doses arrived Tuesday morning at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. Eva Teniola, a clinical nurse in the emergency department, was the first employee to receive it. Teniola, 47, has been working at UC Davis for almost 10 years and said she has never seen anything as severe as COVID-19.
“People die alone, and it’s so sad,” she said. “They don’t have family because it’s strictly no visitors, so we have to stay with them.”
Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles also received its first vaccine shipment Tuesday.
“The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine signifies a powerful and positive shift change for our community after months of fear, exhaustion and illness,” Chief Operating Officer Dr. Jeffrey A. Smith said in a statement. “Until today, the vaccine was the missing tool in our ever-growing toolkit of treatments and prevention methods against the virus.”
Keck Medicine of USC and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital are scheduled to receive about 2,500 vaccine doses between them this week. Officials said they anticipate picking up the doses Thursday and starting vaccinations within four hours. The priority will be those caring for COVID-19 patients and those who work in high-risk settings or in areas where patients are being tested, according to Dr. Neha Nanda, medical director of infection prevention at the USC Keck School of Medicine.
“We have the vaccine; that’s amazing,” Nanda said. “It took more than 10 years to get the polio vaccine. ... Now, within nine months, we have a vaccine. It is going to change our lives.”
Belying the hope that accompanies the vaccines, though, is the horror of a pandemic that is infecting, hospitalizing and killing unprecedented numbers of Californians.
Over the last week, an average of 164 Californians have died from COVID-19 every day, roughly quadruple the level seen a month ago, according to data compiled by The Times.
Amid the rising fatalities, Newsom said, the state purchased and distributed 5,000 additional body bags.
“It’s not the flu. This is not something to trifle with,” he said. “This is a deadly disease, a deadly pandemic.”
More than 21,200 Californians have died from COVID-19 — nearly 2,000 of them in the last two weeks.
The pandemic is wreaking havoc on healthcare systems up and down the state as the number of hospitalized patients continues to reach new heights. On Monday, there were 14,283 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in California; 3,081 of them were in intensive care. Both figures are record highs, representing increases of 73% and 63%, respectively, from two weeks ago.
As harrowing as those totals are, officials remain concerned about what may come next. Because of the lagging nature of the coronavirus, it typically takes an infected person about two weeks to fall ill enough to require hospitalization.
Over the last week, California has averaged almost 33,000 new cases per day, up 133% from two weeks ago. The state shattered its daily record for new cases Monday, with 42,129.
California California again shatters single-day coronavirus case record: more than 42,000 cases A Los Angeles Times county-by-county tally tallied 42,129 coronavirus cases across the state Monday. That’s the first time more than 40,000 cases have been reported by the state’s local health agencies in a single day.
Officials warn that if those recently infected require care at the same levels as those who preceded them, California is barreling toward disaster, with hospitals that are overwhelmed and professionals who are overworked.
Already, ICU beds across the state are plummeting. In the Southern California region — which the state defines as Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties — ICU capacity Tuesday had shrunk to 1.7%, officials said.
In the San Joaquin Valley, ICU capacity was at 1.6%, a meager figure but an improvement from Monday, when it was at 0% —meaning some critically ill patients had to be housed in hospital areas not designed to care for critical patients.
“Many folks may be thinking that this is just not anything to be really worried about, because hospitals can just add more beds. The reality is, every bed needs to be staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare workers, and we don’t have an endless supply of healthcare workers, and those that are here saving lives every day are exhausted,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Monday.
While the future seems brighter, Newsom warned that there are still dark days ahead and that residents need to do everything in their power to stymie the ongoing surge — including wearing masks in public, washing hands regularly, staying home when sick and keeping physical distance from, and avoiding gatherings with, those outside their household.
“Mark my words: We will come out of it stronger than ever,” he said. “We want to come out of it healthier than ever. We want you to be there to experience the resurgence, this recovery, California’s comeback. It’s right in front of us. But it’s also inside us. It’s our decisions, again, not just conditions, that will determine that fate and future.”
Times staff writers Brittny Mejia, Maura Dolan and Rong-Gong Lin II, as well as the Associated Press, contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-15--One killed, one injured in shooting on Melrose Avenue in Fairfax district

One person was killed and another hospitalized after a shooting Tuesday afternoon on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax district , @ @ @ @ @ the shooting came in just before 1 p.m. , LAPD spokesman William Cooper said .
@ @ @ @ @ men in their early to mid-20s , were standing near Melrose and Stanley avenues when @ @ @ @ @ man in his mid-20s , approached them on foot and fired multiple times , Cooper @ @ @ @ @ the shooting occurred is a popular shopping destination , with a Starbucks , Urban Outfitters @ @ @ @ @ The shooter fled on foot in an unknown direction , authorities said .
He has @ @ @ @ @ of the men was declared dead at the scene .
The other was transported to @ @ @ @ @ he is in critical condition , authorities said .
The LAPD has asked people to @ @ @ @ @ conduct an investigation .

Law enforcement officers canvass the scene Tuesday along Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax district. One man was killed, and another was left in critical condition, after a shooting in the popular shopping area.
One person was killed and another hospitalized after a shooting Tuesday afternoon on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax district, police said.
Reports of the shooting came in just before 1 p.m., LAPD spokesman William Cooper said.
Both victims, identified as men in their early to mid-20s, were standing near Melrose and Stanley avenues when the gunman, also a man in his mid-20s, approached them on foot and fired multiple times, Cooper said.
Law enforcement officers canvass the scene in front of a store front along Melrose Ave. in the Fairfax district on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA. A man was killed and another was left in critical condition earlier this afternoon during a shooting in a popular shopping area of the Fairfax District. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
The block where the shooting occurred is a popular shopping destination, with a Starbucks, Urban Outfitters and several other businesses.
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Just witnessed a shooting on Melrose Ave in broad daylight. Two men were shot and one unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. Please be careful when you’re shopping on Melrose. pic.twitter.com/pp7t7iRAcK — Tiffany Tran (@TranTiffanyAnh) December 15, 2020
The shooter fled on foot in an unknown direction, authorities said. He has not been located.
One of the men was declared dead at the scene. The other was transported to a local hospital, where he is in critical condition, authorities said.
The LAPD has asked people to avoid the area while they conduct an investigation.


latimes--2020-12-15--Upscale home for dementia patients sued over deaths in COVID-19 outbreak

Relatives of three residents and a nurse who died following a coronavirus outbreak at an upscale Westside care facility for dementia patients are suing the home , alleging its owners placed residents and staff at risk by admitting a New York man infected with the virus .
The lawsuits filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court last week contend the home ’ s Irvine-based parent company , Silverado Senior Living , its chief executive Loren Shook , and a site supervisor are liable for wrongful death and elder abuse and neglect .
“ Mr .
Khorsandi did not get infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act-of-God , ” the suit filed by the family of Jakob Khorsandi , an 81-year-old who died in April , states .
“ Rather , he became infected because the corporate decision-makers chose to skirt safety and infection control standards.
” Close to 100 residents and staff contracted the virus in the spring at the Silverado Beverly Place facility in the Beverly Grove neighborhood , and 14 died , making it among California ’ s worst coronavirus outbreaks in an assisted living facility .
When the virus began rapidly spreading in California in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and strict stay-at-home orders .
During that time , the facility allowed a retired Manhattan surgeon to move in despite the lockdown , which banned relatives and other visitors .
The surgeon arrived at the Silverado , where costs can run $ 15,000 a month , straight from Los Angeles International Airport and mixed with other residents in a dining area .
The following day , he was hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms .
“ They applied a double standard : Keep family and private caretakers out , but let new paying customers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the families , said in a statement .
Two residents who survived the virus also have filed suit .
A Silverado spokesman , Jeff Frum , said the company “ will not comment on any active litigation.
” The company has previously said the surgeon was not symptomatic at the time of his admission and had a pressing need for care .
Among the surviving relatives bringing the suit are the parents of a 32-year-old Silverado nurse , Brittany Bruner-Ringo who helped move the surgeon into his room and died a month @ @

Fourteen people died after a coronavirus outbreak in March at the Silverado Beverly Place, a dementia care facility in West Los Angeles.
Relatives of three residents and a nurse who died following a coronavirus outbreak at an upscale Westside care facility for dementia patients are suing the home, alleging its owners placed residents and staff at risk by admitting a New York man infected with the virus.
The lawsuits filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court last week contend the home’s Irvine-based parent company, Silverado Senior Living, its chief executive Loren Shook, and a site supervisor are liable for wrongful death and elder abuse and neglect.
“Mr. Khorsandi did not get infected with the coronavirus due to some unforeseen act-of-God,” the suit filed by the family of Jakob Khorsandi, an 81-year-old who died in April, states. “Rather, he became infected because the corporate decision-makers chose to skirt safety and infection control standards.”
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Close to 100 residents and staff contracted the virus in the spring at the Silverado Beverly Place facility in the Beverly Grove neighborhood, and 14 died, making it among California’s worst coronavirus outbreaks in an assisted living facility.
When the virus began rapidly spreading in California in mid-March, officials implemented a statewide lockdown and strict stay-at-home orders. During that time, the facility allowed a retired Manhattan surgeon to move in despite the lockdown, which banned relatives and other visitors. The surgeon arrived at the Silverado, where costs can run $15,000 a month, straight from Los Angeles International Airport and mixed with other residents in a dining area. The following day, he was hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms.
“They applied a double standard: Keep family and private caretakers out, but let new paying customers in,” Jody Moore, an attorney for the families, said in a statement. Two residents who survived the virus also have filed suit.
A Silverado spokesman, Jeff Frum, said the company “will not comment on any active litigation.”
The company has previously said the surgeon was not symptomatic at the time of his admission and had a pressing need for care.
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Among the surviving relatives bringing the suit are the parents of a 32-year-old Silverado nurse, Brittany Bruner-Ringo who helped move the surgeon into his room and died a month later.


latimes--2020-12-15--San Mateo County pleads with outsiders to stop visiting to shop and dine

As the California coronavirus surge worsens , all but two regions in the state are under stay-at-home orders triggered by dangerously low hospitalization numbers .
Officials hoped sobering statistics and stern public health guidelines would compel people to stay home , but instead , some Californians are crossing county lines for everything from haircuts to dinner .
And at least one area — San Mateo County in the Bay Area — is pleading with people to stop .
“ We are in a public health crisis with alarming rates of COVID-19 transmission , ” San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we absolutely support our local business serving our local community , we do not want nonessential travel and nonessential activities such as crossing counties for an outdoor restaurant or salon .
This is the time to stay close to home.
” Counties that dip below 15 % ICU capacity must close , per a statewide order issued by Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
While San Mateo County is currently in the most restrictive purple tier of the state ’ s color-coded COVID-19 blueprint — which indicates the most widespread risk of transmission — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not dropped below the 15 % threshold that would trigger the stay-at-home order .
As of Tuesday morning , the Bay Area had 15.8 % ICU availability , according to the most recent state data .
By comparison , Southern California ’ s capacity is at 2.7 % , while San Joaquin Valley has 0 % availability .
San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow said last week that the county would not join others in the region that had declared pre-emptive stay-at-home orders in an attempt to flatten the spreading coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hard data connecting some business activities to virus transmission , and the need for people to take personal responsibility over their actions and risks .
“ There is not a good or standard method for understanding ICU capacity on a county level , much less a regional level , ” Morrow wrote .
“ Basing such extreme decisions on non-standardized and poorly understood metrics seems fraught to me.
” But the county is now surrounded by areas under voluntary stay-at-home orders , including Alameda , Contra Costa and San Francisco counties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain open was not without controversy .
“ When all the neighboring counties have been issued a stay-at-home order , it is foolish to think people will not be coming to San Mateo to shop , eat , etc.
, ” San Bruno resident Debra Marks said Tuesday .
Marks said she is aware of the painful effect stay-at-home orders have on small businesses but suggested the county needs to send a stronger message .
“ With the trends being what they have been , the order should be issued , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county ’ s move .
“ I 100 % appreciate your decision and appreciate your logic , ” one resident wrote in a Facebook response to Morrow ’ s announcement .
“ At a time when so many counties seem to just simply jump on any available bandwagon , I find your analysis refreshing !
” Morrow is far from the only California county official to question stay-at-home mandates .
Earlier this month , a judge ordered Los Angeles County to to justify its outdoor dining ban and the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the effectiveness of business closures and dining bans , coronavirus infection rates and hospitalizations are climbing .
Over the last seven days , San Mateo has reported an average of 354 new cases per day , a 120 % increase from two weeks ago , according to “ We have become a potential regional coronavirus hub , ” Canepa said in a televised interview with CBS San Francisco .
“ We ’ ve seen the long lines .
We ’ ve seen people packed together , and so my message to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your stay-at-home order in your own county .
Please respect our ‘ stay out ’ order in San Mateo County.
’ ” That “ order ” is not official — people can still visit San Mateo County — but officials said more restrictions are likely as ICU capacity continues to shrink .
“ If and when the governor issues the regional stay-at-home order for the Bay Area , ” Morrow said , “ San Mateo County will support it .
”

San Mateo County Office of Community Affairs specialist Mitzy de la Pena Medina, center, hands out face masks in Daly City on Sept. 17. San Mateo County officials are asking outsiders to stop crossing county lines to shop and eat.
As the California coronavirus surge worsens, all but two regions in the state are under stay-at-home orders triggered by dangerously low hospitalization numbers.
Officials hoped sobering statistics and stern public health guidelines would compel people to stay home, but instead, some Californians are crossing county lines for everything from haircuts to dinner.
And at least one area — San Mateo County in the Bay Area — is pleading with people to stop.
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“We are in a public health crisis with alarming rates of COVID-19 transmission,” San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy said in a statement. “While we absolutely support our local business serving our local community, we do not want nonessential travel and nonessential activities such as crossing counties for an outdoor restaurant or salon. This is the time to stay close to home.”
Counties that dip below 15% ICU capacity must close, per a statewide order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom. While San Mateo County is currently in the most restrictive purple tier of the state’s color-coded COVID-19 blueprint — which indicates the most widespread risk of transmission — the region’s ICU numbers have not dropped below the 15% threshold that would trigger the stay-at-home order.
As of Tuesday morning, the Bay Area had 15.8% ICU availability, according to the most recent state data . By comparison, Southern California’s capacity is at 2.7%, while San Joaquin Valley has 0% availability.
San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow said last week that the county would not join others in the region that had declared pre-emptive stay-at-home orders in an attempt to flatten the spreading coronavirus surge.
He cited several reasons , including a lack of hard data connecting some business activities to virus transmission, and the need for people to take personal responsibility over their actions and risks.
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“There is not a good or standard method for understanding ICU capacity on a county level, much less a regional level,” Morrow wrote. “Basing such extreme decisions on non-standardized and poorly understood metrics seems fraught to me.”
But the county is now surrounded by areas under voluntary stay-at-home orders, including Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties. The decision for San Mateo County to remain open was not without controversy.
“When all the neighboring counties have been issued a stay-at-home order, it is foolish to think people will not be coming to San Mateo to shop, eat, etc.,” San Bruno resident Debra Marks said Tuesday.
Marks said she is aware of the painful effect stay-at-home orders have on small businesses but suggested the county needs to send a stronger message.
“With the trends being what they have been, the order should be issued,” she said.
Others, however, applauded the county’s move.
“I 100% appreciate your decision and appreciate your logic,” one resident wrote in a Facebook response to Morrow’s announcement. “At a time when so many counties seem to just simply jump on any available bandwagon, I find your analysis refreshing!”
Morrow is far from the only California county official to question stay-at-home mandates. Earlier this month, a judge ordered Los Angeles County to show evidence to justify its outdoor dining ban and later rebuked the state’s orders.
Meanwhile, as people argue over the effectiveness of business closures and dining bans, coronavirus infection rates and hospitalizations are climbing. Over the last seven days, San Mateo has reported an average of 354 new cases per day, a 120% increase from two weeks ago, according to The Times tracker.
San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa implored outsiders to stop visiting.
“We have become a potential regional coronavirus hub,” Canepa said in a televised interview with CBS San Francisco. “We’ve seen the long lines. We’ve seen people packed together, and so my message to the greater community is, ‘You respect your stay-at-home order in your own county. Please respect our ‘stay out’ order in San Mateo County.’”
That “order” is not official — people can still visit San Mateo County — but officials said more restrictions are likely as ICU capacity continues to shrink.
“If and when the governor issues the regional stay-at-home order for the Bay Area,” Morrow said, “San Mateo County will support it.”


latimes--2020-12-15--Long Beach schools push back reopening to March, citing rise in COVID-19 cases

Students in the Long Beach school district , the fourth largest system in California , will not be returning to campus until at least March 1 , as the dangerous coronavirus surge continues to rage through the region .
The district , with about 72,000 students and 12,000 employees , had planned to start in-person instruction in January .
But with the unprecedented spike in COVID-19 cases , it is unlikely that Los Angeles County will meet the threshold needed to reopen schools by then , officials said .
The announcement comes a week after the Los Angeles Unified School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the rise in cases .
L.A. Unified has not yet announced plans for January .
This week , the county announced it has fewer than 100 ICU beds available and more than 4,400 people hospitalized with COVID-19 , a dire sign .
“ We will continue to monitor all state and local health data .
The moment that we ’ re able to reopen schools , we ’ re ready to do so , ” Long Beach Supt .
Jill Baker said in a video message .
“ We have the protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the necessary safety protocols in place .
Our facilities are well prepared.
” If reopening is not possible on March 1 , Baker said , the next possible date would be April 12 , after spring break .
The school district will continue to provide childcare for essential workers and families enrolled in childcare programs between January and March and continue to assess students for support services , said Chris Lund , an assistant superintendent for Long Beach Unified .
He added that the district will also consider bringing students in transitional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a waiver , which other school districts have used to bring back small groups of younger students .
“ These are not the messages that we want to send , ” Baker said of the announcement .
“ But this situation is temporary , and we look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we ’ re allowed to do so .
”

Students in the Long Beach school district, the fourth largest system in California, will not be returning to campus until at least March 1, as the dangerous coronavirus surge continues to rage through the region.
The district, with about 72,000 students and 12,000 employees, had planned to start in-person instruction in January. But with the unprecedented spike in COVID-19 cases, it is unlikely that Los Angeles County will meet the threshold needed to reopen schools by then, officials said.
The announcement comes a week after the Los Angeles Unified School District shut down all on-campus services due to the rise in cases. L.A. Unified has not yet announced plans for January.
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This week, the county announced it has fewer than 100 ICU beds available and more than 4,400 people hospitalized with COVID-19, a dire sign.
“We will continue to monitor all state and local health data. The moment that we’re able to reopen schools, we’re ready to do so,” Long Beach Supt. Jill Baker said in a video message. “We have the protective equipment that’s needed. We have the necessary safety protocols in place. Our facilities are well prepared.”
If reopening is not possible on March 1, Baker said, the next possible date would be April 12, after spring break.
The school district will continue to provide childcare for essential workers and families enrolled in childcare programs between January and March and continue to assess students for support services, said Chris Lund, an assistant superintendent for Long Beach Unified. He added that the district will also consider bringing students in transitional kindergarten through second grade back to school on a waiver, which other school districts have used to bring back small groups of younger students.
“These are not the messages that we want to send,” Baker said of the announcement. “But this situation is temporary, and we look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we’re allowed to do so.”


latimes--2020-12-15--'Long road ahead': San Francisco begins vaccinations amid ongoing COVID-19 surge

San Francisco began administering the COVID-19 vaccine to frontline healthcare workers Tuesday , distributing a first batch of 12,675 doses to hospitals across the city .
The doses are being allocated based on the percentage of healthcare workers at each hospital and the number of COVID-19 patients the facilities serve .
Each hospital is responsible for identifying the individuals who should get the vaccine first in compliance with state and federal guidelines .
“ We are embarking on a vaccine distribution effort unlike anything this country or San Francisco has ever seen , ” said Dr. Grant Colfax , San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ While this is a significant moment that we should celebrate , we have a long road ahead of us.
” The first vaccine in San Francisco went to Dr. Antonio Gomez , medical director of critical care at the public Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital .
The second went to Phung Nguyen , a registered nurse in intensive care at the hospital .
San Francisco is experiencing a major surge of the coronavirus and has been under a regional stay-at-home order since Dec. 6 .
Mayor London Breed called the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year but warned residents to remain cautious .
“ This virus is still in our community , and we must remain just as vigilant — taking care to stay home as much as possible , wear face coverings , keep our distance , wash our hands frequently , and avoid gatherings , ” Breed said .

A woman walks by Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in San Francisco, where the first COVID-19 vaccination was given to Dr. Antonio Gomez, medical director of critical care there.
San Francisco began administering the COVID-19 vaccine to frontline healthcare workers Tuesday, distributing a first batch of 12,675 doses to hospitals across the city.
The doses are being allocated based on the percentage of healthcare workers at each hospital and the number of COVID-19 patients the facilities serve. Each hospital is responsible for identifying the individuals who should get the vaccine first in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
“We are embarking on a vaccine distribution effort unlike anything this country or San Francisco has ever seen,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of public health. “While this is a significant moment that we should celebrate, we have a long road ahead of us.”
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The first vaccine in San Francisco went to Dr. Antonio Gomez, medical director of critical care at the public Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. The second went to Phung Nguyen, a registered nurse in intensive care at the hospital.
San Francisco is experiencing a major surge of the coronavirus and has been under a regional stay-at-home order since Dec. 6.
Mayor London Breed called the vaccine “good news” after a tough year but warned residents to remain cautious.
“This virus is still in our community, and we must remain just as vigilant — taking care to stay home as much as possible, wear face coverings, keep our distance, wash our hands frequently, and avoid gatherings,” Breed said.


latimes--2020-12-15--L.A. dispatches mobile COVID-19 testing to high-risk communities of color

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Tuesday dispatched five mobile coronavirus testing teams to predominantly Black and Latino communities in the East San Fernando Valley and South Los Angeles , where infections nearly doubled in early December .
“ Angelenos must remain vigilant in the face of this surge , ” Garcetti said in a statement , pointing to an explosion of cases across L.A. County and beyond in recent weeks .
As of Monday , L.A. County was averaging nearly 10,700 new coronavirus cases a day over the last week and 58 new COVID-19 deaths a day — both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mobile units are headed have seen particularly dramatic spikes relative to their population , according to the mayor ’ s office , which said it relies on county data to spot trends .
It ’ s no coincidence ; the areas are home to a large number of essential workers , who have not been able to stay home and avoid elevated risk .
They then return home to high-density living situations , where the virus can spread , according to Deputy Mayor Jeff Gorell .
From powering the supply chain to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers “ are keeping us afloat through the pandemic , ” Gorell said .
For the week ending Dec. 4 , the East Valley accounted for 26 % of all new cases citywide , and South L.A. made up 19 % .
Van Nuys increased 74 % , Pacoima surged 92 % and the neighborhoods of Florence-Firestone , Vernon , Sun Valley and Canoga Park saw increases of more than 100 % compared to the week before .
Rapidly increasing case rates in the East Valley led the mayor ’ s office to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park last month .
Each mobile site has the capacity to test around 1,000 people a day , kicking up the city ’ s current capacity of 41,000 across its 10 permanent sites .
The city is operating at the upper limits of capacity , according to Gorell .
Each day , the city ’ s roughly 37,000 appointment slots are booked .
About 4,000 people who show up without appointments are accommodated , according to the mayor ’ s office .
Turnaround time for tests is now about 37 hours , Gorell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 hours a few weeks ago .
Appointments are not necessary to access the mobile sites , but can be made online .
These are the locations and availability throughout the week :

A test specimen is turned in at a mobile coronavirus testing site at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Willowbrook on April 8. Los Angeles is deploying mobile testing units in high-risk areas.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Tuesday dispatched five mobile coronavirus testing teams to predominantly Black and Latino communities in the east San Fernando Valley and South Los Angeles, where infections nearly doubled in early December.
“Angelenos must remain vigilant in the face of this surge,” Garcetti said in a statement, pointing to an explosion of cases across L.A. County and beyond in recent weeks.
As of Monday, L.A. County was averaging nearly 10,700 new coronavirus cases a day over the last week and 58 new COVID-19 deaths a day — both at or near records.
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Communities where the mobile units are headed have seen particularly dramatic increases relative to their population, according to the mayor’s office, which said it relies on county data to spot trends.
It’s no coincidence; the areas are home to a large number of essential workers, who have not been able to stay home and avoid elevated risk. They then often return home to high-density living situations, where the virus can spread easily, said Deputy Mayor Jeff Gorell.
From powering the supply chain to working in stores and hotels, the workers “are keeping us afloat through the pandemic,” Gorell said.
For the week ending Dec. 4, the East Valley accounted for 26% of all new cases citywide, and South L.A. made up 19%.
The number of cases in Van Nuys increased 74% from the week before, Pacoima surged 92% and the neighborhoods of Florence-Firestone, Vernon, Sun Valley and Canoga Park saw increases of more than 100%.
Rapidly increasing case rates in the East Valley led the mayor’s office to launch a testing site at San Fernando Park last month.
Each mobile site has the capacity to test around 1,000 people a day, kicking up the city’s current capacity of 41,000 tests across its 10 permanent sites.
The city is operating at the upper limits of capacity, Gorell said.
Each day, the city’s roughly 37,000 appointment slots are booked. About 4,000 people who show up without appointments are accommodated, according to the mayor’s office.
Turnaround time for tests is now about 37 hours, Gorell said, an increase from less than 24 hours a few weeks ago.
Appointments are not necessary to access the mobile sites but can be made online.
These are the locations and availability throughout the week:
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East Valley:
South L.A.:
Additional neighborhoods:


latimes--2020-12-15--Youth sports, mall singing, parties alarm Ventura County health officials. 'It's irresponsible'

Health officials in Ventura County say parties , indoor church services and youth sports events currently banned amid COVID-19 restrictions are continuing , hindering the county ’ s ability to fight the spreading coronavirus .
The county ’ s intensive care unit capacity has dropped to 1 % , and COVID-19 hospitalizations have broken records for 10 consecutive days .
On Sunday , 181 COVID-19 patients were in the county ’ s hospitals , 72 % higher than the peak of the July surge .
“ The numbers are getting to be astronomical , ” said county health officer Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to die that don ’ t need to die.
” Two weekends ago , there were some 80 football players gathered at a park in Simi Valley .
Sports tournaments are occurring in other counties involving volleyball and baseball players , and in those situations , people weren ’ t wearing masks , Levin said .
Some church services are also still being held indoors in violation of the state rules , with worshipers sometimes sitting shoulder to shoulder .
Outdoor sports have been an issue elsewhere too .
A youth basketball league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 75 people .
At the Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks , there was a report of hundreds of people gathering to sing Christmas carols , many without masks , Levin said .
And he ’ s heard of parties of up to 200 people attending drive-in concerts — organized expressly to allow for social distancing — only to get out of their cars .
Singing is an extremely high-risk activity and has been documented to spread the coronavirus .
One choir practice left and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ What ’ s understandable about this ?
” a frustrated Levin said at a .
“ None of these justifications are acceptable in the face of the pandemic .
We all need to be working together , just like we would be fighting any war .
“ It ’ s incomprehensible to me , it ’ s baffling .
It ’ s also irresponsible , ” he said .
“ COVID is running so rampant in our county that one out of every 10 COVID test that we run are positive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ run into someone with COVID nowadays and not know you ’ re being exposed .
There are now 49 outbreaks at long-term care facilities in Ventura County .
Dr. Mark Lepore , an intensive care physician at Ventura County Medical Center , said he expects the county to exceed hospital capacity , “ and what exceeding capacity looks like is showing up to the hospital and not having a room to go into or not having a staff member to take care of you.
” “ The hardest part about caring for COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families being able to see their loved ones , and it ’ s horrible to watch , ” Lepore said .
“ It ’ s how slow and insidious the COVID is that it hits the body .
You have symptoms for the first eight or so days , and then you just don ’ t recover.
” Maybe the fever goes away , but the shortness of breath can last until the end .
“ We ’ ve had to tell family members that their loved ones are not coming home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lepore said .
He urged people to avoid gathering for Christmas : “ Just tell them you ’ ll see them next Christmas .
This is that important : We don ’ t want your family members to get sick and not be able to get care .
”

Masked pedestrians walk along Main Street in downtown Ventura on Oct. 7. The county’s intensive care unit capacity has dropped to 1%.
Health officials in Ventura County say parties, indoor church services and youth sports events currently banned amid COVID-19 restrictions are continuing, hindering the county’s ability to fight the spreading coronavirus.
The county’s intensive care unit capacity has dropped to 1%, and COVID-19 hospitalizations have broken records for 10 consecutive days. On Sunday, 181 COVID-19 patients were in the county’s hospitals, 72% higher than the peak of the July surge.
“The numbers are getting to be astronomical,” said county health officer Dr. Robert Levin. “People are going to die that don’t need to die.”
Two weekends ago, there were some 80 football players gathered at a park in Simi Valley. Sports tournaments are occurring in other counties involving volleyball and baseball players, and in those situations, people weren’t wearing masks, Levin said. Some church services are also still being held indoors in violation of the state rules, with worshipers sometimes sitting shoulder to shoulder.
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Outdoor sports have been an issue elsewhere too. A youth basketball league in Silicon Valley is at the center of a coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 75 people.
At the Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks, there was a report of hundreds of people gathering to sing Christmas carols, many without masks, Levin said. And he’s heard of parties of up to 200 people attending drive-in concerts — organized expressly to allow for social distancing — only to get out of their cars.
Singing is an extremely high-risk activity and has been documented to spread the coronavirus. One choir practice left dozens infected and two people dead in Washington state.
“What’s understandable about this?” a frustrated Levin said at a news conference . “None of these justifications are acceptable in the face of the pandemic. We all need to be working together, just like we would be fighting any war.
“It’s incomprehensible to me, it’s baffling. It’s also irresponsible,” he said. “COVID is running so rampant in our county that one out of every 10 COVID test that we run are positive.
“It’s too easy to run into someone with COVID nowadays and not know you’re being exposed.
There are now 49 outbreaks at long-term care facilities in Ventura County.
California California again shatters single-day coronavirus case record: more than 42,000 cases A Los Angeles Times county-by-county tally tallied 42,129 coronavirus cases across the state Monday. That’s the first time more than 40,000 cases have been reported by the state’s local health agencies in a single day.
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Dr. Mark Lepore, an intensive care physician at Ventura County Medical Center, said he expects the county to exceed hospital capacity, “and what exceeding capacity looks like is showing up to the hospital and not having a room to go into or not having a staff member to take care of you.”
“The hardest part about caring for COVID ... it’s the lack of families being able to see their loved ones, and it’s horrible to watch,” Lepore said. “It’s how slow and insidious the COVID is that it hits the body. You have symptoms for the first eight or so days, and then you just don’t recover.”
Maybe the fever goes away, but the shortness of breath can last until the end. “We’ve had to tell family members that their loved ones are not coming home, and it’s awful,” Lepore said.
He urged people to avoid gathering for Christmas: “Just tell them you’ll see them next Christmas. This is that important: We don’t want your family members to get sick and not be able to get care.”


latimes--2020-12-15--Fewer than 100 ICU beds left in L.A. County, officials say

Intensive care unit beds across Southern California are plummeting to critical levels , with capacity falling to 1 % in Ventura County and 0 % in Riverside County while Los Angeles County — home to 10 million people — had fewer than 100 beds available .
But the worst of the surge is still to come , experts say .
L.A. County has more than 4,400 people hospitalized with COVID-19 , and officials said that number could rise to 5,000 by the weekend .
The shortages come as the coronavirus continues to rage across the state .
A Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases reported Monday .
That number breaks the single-day record set Dec. 8 , when 35,400 coronavirus cases were recorded .
“ Our reality is frightening at the moment , ” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said .
In L.A. County , COVID-19 hospitalizations are now six times higher than they were in mid-October .
On Sunday , there were 935 coronavirus patients in L.A. County ’ s limited supply of intensive care unit beds — more than quadruple the number from Nov. 1 .
In Ventura County , health officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persisting with parties , indoor church services and youth sports events that are currently banned because of the extraordinary public health crisis .
“ The numbers are getting to be astronomical .
People are going to die that don ’ t need to die , ” Levin said Monday .
Across Southern California , available ICU capacity fell to 2.7 % Monday , down from 4.2 % a day earlier .
In the San Joaquin Valley , it fell again to 0 % , meaning some critically ill patients must be housed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care for ICU patients , which can increase mortality .
“ Many folks may be thinking that this is just not anything to be really worried about because hospitals can just add more beds .
The reality is every bed needs to be staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare workers , and we don ’ t have an endless supply of healthcare workers , and those that are here saving lives every day are exhausted , ” Ferrer said .
“ And they ’ re disheartened by the reality that this isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be , ” she added .
“ The best thing that everyone can do right now is stay home as much as possible , and only go out for work , school , exercise or essential services.
” L.A. County is so slammed by COVID-19 patients that for certain periods of time on Sunday , 81 % of hospitals who receive patients coming from 911 calls were forced to temporarily divert some ambulance patients elsewhere , said Dr. Christina Ghaly , the L.A. County director of health services .
Ghaly said officials are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected over Thanksgiving get so sick they need to be admitted .
There are roughly 500 new daily COVID-19 hospital admissions in L.A. County , and that number could exceed 700 in a week , Ghaly said .
“ We need to brace ourselves that this [ hospital ] case volume has not yet reached a peak and will keep growing , ” Ghaly said .
L.A. County is also experiencing the kind of lengthy delays in offloading patients from ambulances into hospitals that Orange County reported last week .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county , there are prolonged ambulance patient offload times that often do exceed four hours , five hours , ” Ghaly said .
As of Monday , L.A. County was averaging nearly 10,700 new coronavirus cases a day over the past week and 58 new COVID-19 deaths a day — both at or near records .
Ferrer said she hoped the stay-at-home order would stabilize or decrease the number of new daily coronavirus cases around Christmas .
Whether that happens depends on whether Angelenos are “ actually adhering to this new ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ferrer said .
Younger adults are spreading the virus the most , Ferrer said , but it ’ s the oldest adults , when they get infected , who are dying at the highest rates .
“ And this is a preventable tragedy because those most vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19 can be protected by everyone else , ” Ferrer said , “ when we wear our face coverings , keep our distance , wash hands frequently and avoid mingling with non-household members.
” There are concerns about defiance of the orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on outdoor restaurant dining , the city of Manhattan Beach implemented a plan to allow residents to continue using newly constructed outdoor dining areas as public seating where people can sit and dine out .
The L.A. County health officer , Dr. Muntu Davis , has asked the city to “ refrain from maintaining a workaround for the temporary suspension of outdoor dining.
” “ By placing tables and chairs adjacent to restaurants , the city of Manhattan Beach is both violating and defeating the purpose of the county ’ s order and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davis wrote .
The chairs in the newly designated outdoor seating areas match the restaurants ’ stock tables and chairs and are not owned by the city , Davis wrote .
The coronavirus case rate in Manhattan Beach has tripled since mid-September , Davis wrote .
In Ventura County , health officer Levin sounded the alarm as COVID-19 hospitalizations there shattered records , breaking the record for 10 consecutive days .
On Sunday , 181 coronavirus-infected people were in the county ’ s hospitals , 72 % higher than the peak of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were some 80 football players gathered at a park in Simi Valley ; sports tournaments are occurring in other counties involving volleyball and baseball players , and in those situations , people weren ’ t wearing masks , Levin said .
Some church services continue to take place indoors , with audience members sometimes sitting shoulder to shoulder , in violation of the rules requiring church services to be held online or outdoors .
‘ These aren ’ t just old people that are sick and dying ’ At the Oaks mall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report of hundreds of people gathering to sing Christmas carols , many without masks , Levin said .
And he ’ s heard of parties of up to 200 people and residents attending drive-in concerts yet getting out of their cars .
Singing is an extremely high-risk activity and has been documented to spread the coronavirus .
One choir practice left dozens infected with the coronavirus and two people dead in Washington state .
“ What ’ s understandable about this ?
” Levin said at a news conference .
“ None of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic .
We all need to be working together , just like we would be fighting any war .
“ It ’ s incomprehensible to me .
It ’ s baffling .
It ’ s also irresponsible , ” Levin said .
“ COVID is running so rampant in our county that 1 out of every 10 COVID tests that we run are positive .
“ It ’ s too easy to run into someone with COVID nowadays and not know you ’ re being exposed , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ care facilities in Ventura County .
Levin said one of his daughters works at a hospital in Sacramento .
“ She told me , ‘ Daddy , I look around the hospital : These aren ’ t just old people that are sick and dying .
These are young people , like me.
’ It ’ s heartbreaking .
And she ’ s right.
” ‘ We ’ ve had to tell family ... that their loved ones are not coming home ’ One of the long-term consequences suffered by some younger people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-hauler ’ syndrome , in which survivors can suffer from persistent shortness of breath and a “ foggy head ” — an ongoing state of confusion and clouded thinking that can persist for months , Levin said .
“ Some of these people were joggers .
We don ’ t know if that ’ s going to be permanent or not , ” Levin said .
“ If we all work together , came together —and I mean figuratively , spiritually , that is — for just three or four weeks , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plummet .
And our businesses could open.
” Dr. Mark Lepore , an intensive care unit physician at Ventura County Medical Center , said he expects Ventura County to exceed hospital capacity , “ and what exceeding capacity looks like is showing up to the hospital and not having a room to go into or not having a staff member to take care of you.
” “ The hardest part about caring for COVID ... it ’ s the lack of families being able to see their loved ones , and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ It ’ s how slow and insidious the COVID is that it hits the body .
You have symptoms for the first eight or so days , and then you just don ’ t recover.
” Maybe the fever goes away , but the shortness of breath can last until the end .
“ We ’ ve had to tell family members that their loved ones are not coming home , and it ’ s awful , ” Lepore said .
Lepore urged people to avoid gathering for Christmas : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see them next Christmas .
This is that important : We don ’ t want your family members to get sick and not be able to get care.
” Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Monday said there are some initial signs that the new stay-at-home order — in effect for most of the state for a week — was starting to work to reduce the movement of Californians .
“ That is buying us time , ” Newsom said .
The governor made the remarks on the same day healthcare workers in Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 vaccine .
Although the news was greeted with optimism , the vaccine comes too late to prevent infection among people who were exposed to the virus over the Thanksgiving holiday .
Amid complaints about the economic burden of the stay-at-home order , Newsom and other officials have defended it as a prudent way to safeguard lives and the economy once the vaccine has been distributed widely .
“ As soon as this pandemic is behind us , this state will recover more resilient , more vibrant than ever , ” Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important thing we can do , from an economic perspective , is focus on public health .
Focus on mitigating the spread of this virus.
” UCLA economists last week issued an optimistic forecast , predicting the U.S. economy will experience “ a gloomy COVID winter and an exuberant vaccine spring , ” followed by robust growth for some years .
Newsom and health officials have defended California ’ s approach to the pandemic as one that has saved lives .
Among the 50 states , the District of Columbia and Puerto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents and 39th highest cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 residents .
Times staff writers Sean Greene and Margot Roosevelt contributed to this report .

Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money, Maura Dolan

Intensive care unit beds across Southern California are plummeting to critical levels, with capacity falling to 1% in Ventura County and 0% in Riverside County while Los Angeles County — home to 10 million people — had fewer than 100 beds available.
But the worst of the surge is still to come, experts say. L.A. County has more than 4,400 people hospitalized with COVID-19, and officials said that number could rise to 5,000 by the weekend.
The shortages come as the coronavirus continues to rage across the state. A Los Angeles Times county-by-county tally showed an unprecedented 42,129 cases reported Monday. That number breaks the single-day record set Dec. 8, when 35,400 coronavirus cases were recorded.
“Our reality is frightening at the moment,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.
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In L.A. County, COVID-19 hospitalizations are now six times higher than they were in mid-October. On Sunday, there were 935 coronavirus patients in L.A. County’s limited supply of intensive care unit beds — more than quadruple the number from Nov. 1.
In Ventura County, health officer Dr. Robert Levin voiced dismay at people persisting with parties, indoor church services and youth sports events that are currently banned because of the extraordinary public health crisis.
“The numbers are getting to be astronomical. People are going to die that don’t need to die,” Levin said Monday.
Across Southern California, available ICU capacity fell to 2.7% Monday, down from 4.2% a day earlier. In the San Joaquin Valley, it fell again to 0%, meaning some critically ill patients must be housed in areas of hospitals not normally designed to care for ICU patients, which can increase mortality.
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“Many folks may be thinking that this is just not anything to be really worried about because hospitals can just add more beds. The reality is every bed needs to be staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare workers, and we don’t have an endless supply of healthcare workers, and those that are here saving lives every day are exhausted,” Ferrer said.
“And they’re disheartened by the reality that this isn’t the way it needs to be,” she added. “The best thing that everyone can do right now is stay home as much as possible, and only go out for work, school, exercise or essential services.”
L.A. County is so slammed by COVID-19 patients that for certain periods of time on Sunday, 81% of hospitals who receive patients coming from 911 calls were forced to temporarily divert some ambulance patients elsewhere, said Dr. Christina Ghaly, the L.A. County director of health services.
Ghaly said officials are bracing for hospitalizations to worsen as people infected over Thanksgiving get so sick they need to be admitted. There are roughly 500 new daily COVID-19 hospital admissions in L.A. County, and that number could exceed 700 in a week, Ghaly said.
“We need to brace ourselves that this [hospital] case volume has not yet reached a peak and will keep growing,” Ghaly said.
California With vaccine, California enters new phase in the coronavirus pandemic But while the vaccine offers promise, it comes as the U.S. is facing the darkest moment of the coronavirus crisis. On Monday, the U.S. death toll topped 300,000, and California, like much of the nation, is in the throes of the worst wave of the disease.
Five-hour waits to offload ambulance patients into hospitals
L.A. County is also experiencing the kind of lengthy delays in offloading patients from ambulances into hospitals that Orange County reported last week.
“We’re aware that in certain hospitals across the county, there are prolonged ambulance patient offload times that often do exceed four hours, five hours,” Ghaly said.
As of Monday, L.A. County was averaging nearly 10,700 new coronavirus cases a day over the past week and 58 new COVID-19 deaths a day — both at or near records.
Ferrer said she hoped the stay-at-home order would stabilize or decrease the number of new daily coronavirus cases around Christmas.
Whether that happens depends on whether Angelenos are “actually adhering to this new ‘Safer at Home’ order,” Ferrer said.
Younger adults are spreading the virus the most, Ferrer said, but it’s the oldest adults, when they get infected, who are dying at the highest rates.
“And this is a preventable tragedy because those most vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19 can be protected by everyone else,” Ferrer said, “when we wear our face coverings, keep our distance, wash hands frequently and avoid mingling with non-household members.”
Health officials worry about defiance of health orders
There are concerns about defiance of the orders. After L.A. County ordered a ban on outdoor restaurant dining, the city of Manhattan Beach implemented a plan to allow residents to continue using newly constructed outdoor dining areas as public seating where people can sit and dine out. The L.A. County health officer, Dr. Muntu Davis, has asked the city to “refrain from maintaining a workaround for the temporary suspension of outdoor dining.”
“By placing tables and chairs adjacent to restaurants, the city of Manhattan Beach is both violating and defeating the purpose of the county’s order and decidedly not safeguarding public health,” Davis wrote. The chairs in the newly designated outdoor seating areas match the restaurants’ stock tables and chairs and are not owned by the city, Davis wrote.
The coronavirus case rate in Manhattan Beach has tripled since mid-September, Davis wrote.
A couple enjoy a meal along Manhattan Beach Boulevard in Manhattan Beach on Dec. 4. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
In Ventura County, health officer Levin sounded the alarm as COVID-19 hospitalizations there shattered records, breaking the record for 10 consecutive days. On Sunday, 181 coronavirus-infected people were in the county’s hospitals, 72% higher than the peak of the July surge.
Two weekends ago, there were some 80 football players gathered at a park in Simi Valley; sports tournaments are occurring in other counties involving volleyball and baseball players, and in those situations, people weren’t wearing masks, Levin said. Some church services continue to take place indoors, with audience members sometimes sitting shoulder to shoulder, in violation of the rules requiring church services to be held online or outdoors.
‘These aren’t just old people that are sick and dying’
At the Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks, there was a report of hundreds of people gathering to sing Christmas carols, many without masks, Levin said. And he’s heard of parties of up to 200 people and residents attending drive-in concerts yet getting out of their cars.
Singing is an extremely high-risk activity and has been documented to spread the coronavirus. One choir practice left dozens infected with the coronavirus and two people dead in Washington state.
“What’s understandable about this?” Levin said at a news conference. “None of these justifications are acceptable in the face of the pandemic. We all need to be working together, just like we would be fighting any war.
“It’s incomprehensible to me. It’s baffling. It’s also irresponsible,” Levin said. “COVID is running so rampant in our county that 1 out of every 10 COVID tests that we run are positive.
“It’s too easy to run into someone with COVID nowadays and not know you’re being exposed,” he said. There are now 49 outbreaks at long-term care facilities in Ventura County.
Levin said one of his daughters works at a hospital in Sacramento. “She told me, ‘Daddy, I look around the hospital: These aren’t just old people that are sick and dying. These are young people, like me.’ It’s heartbreaking. And she’s right.”
Tracking the coronavirus in L.A. County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
‘We’ve had to tell family ... that their loved ones are not coming home’
One of the long-term consequences suffered by some younger people who are infected is the so-called ‘long-hauler’ syndrome, in which survivors can suffer from persistent shortness of breath and a “foggy head” — an ongoing state of confusion and clouded thinking that can persist for months, Levin said.
“Some of these people were joggers. We don’t know if that’s going to be permanent or not,” Levin said. “If we all work together, came together —and I mean figuratively, spiritually, that is — for just three or four weeks, our infections would go away. They would plummet. And our businesses could open.”
Dr. Mark Lepore, an intensive care unit physician at Ventura County Medical Center, said he expects Ventura County to exceed hospital capacity, “and what exceeding capacity looks like is showing up to the hospital and not having a room to go into or not having a staff member to take care of you.”
“The hardest part about caring for COVID ... it’s the lack of families being able to see their loved ones, and it’s horrible to watch,” Lepore said. “It’s how slow and insidious the COVID is that it hits the body. You have symptoms for the first eight or so days, and then you just don’t recover.”
Maybe the fever goes away, but the shortness of breath can last until the end. “We’ve had to tell family members that their loved ones are not coming home, and it’s awful,” Lepore said.
Lepore urged people to avoid gathering for Christmas: “Just tell them you’ll see them next Christmas. This is that important: We don’t want your family members to get sick and not be able to get care.”
Governor defends stay-at-home order
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday said there are some initial signs that the new stay-at-home order — in effect for most of the state for a week — was starting to work to reduce the movement of Californians.
“That is buying us time,” Newsom said.
The governor made the remarks on the same day healthcare workers in Hollywood were among the first Californians to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Although the news was greeted with optimism, the vaccine comes too late to prevent infection among people who were exposed to the virus over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Amid complaints about the economic burden of the stay-at-home order, Newsom and other officials have defended it as a prudent way to safeguard lives and the economy once the vaccine has been distributed widely.
Science & Medicine Your questions about COVID-19 vaccines answered COVID-19 vaccines are now being administered to healthcare workers in the U.S. What are your questions about the timeline, the safety or the science?
“As soon as this pandemic is behind us, this state will recover more resilient, more vibrant than ever,” Newsom said Monday. “And so the most important thing we can do, from an economic perspective, is focus on public health. Focus on mitigating the spread of this virus.”
UCLA economists last week issued an optimistic forecast, predicting the U.S. economy will experience “a gloomy COVID winter and an exuberant vaccine spring,” followed by robust growth for some years.
Newsom and health officials have defended California’s approach to the pandemic as one that has saved lives. Among the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, California has the 39th highest cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents and 39th highest cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Times staff writers Sean Greene and Margot Roosevelt contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-15--$700,000 payout followed finding that LAPD whistleblower was wrongly ousted, records show

Los Angeles officials approved a $ 700,000 payout to a veteran police lieutenant in September after city attorneys determined his supervisors — including Assistant Chief Horace Frank , one of the LAPD ’ s highest-ranking commanders — wrongly demoted him after he reported alleged misconduct in his unit , records show .
In a confidential legal analysis reviewed by The Times , Deputy City Atty .
Marianne Fratianne advised the city to settle the lawsuit brought by Lt. Raymond Garvin — former head of the department ’ s Bomb Detection Canine Section — because the facts of the case “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City.
” Among other issues , internal communications showed that Frank and Garvin ’ s direct supervisor , Capt .
Kathryn Meek , had “ commiserated about how there was an insufficient factual basis ” to remove Garvin from his position , then built “ an ad hoc paper trail of poor performance ” to remove him anyway , Fratianne wrote .
In addition to raising questions about the leadership of Frank , who oversees all special operations and detective bureaus , Fratianne ’ s analysis described a canine unit once again engulfed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years after other claims by members of the unit cost the city millions in court settlements .
Her analysis described how Garvin ’ s removal in 2017 followed his reporting what he felt was an inappropriate relationship between Meek and one of the canine handlers in the unit , to whom he feared she would show favoritism , as well as his reporting another incident in which one dog handler allegedly sabotaged another by intentionally confusing his colleague ’ s dog during a federal bomb-sniffing certification test at Los Angeles International Airport .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a flurry of personnel complaints ” against Garvin after he reported the alleged LAX incident , including that he had created a “ hostile work environment ” and made “ several inappropriate , offensive , and racially charged remarks ” toward subordinates .
But she also noted that Meek later determined that all of those complaints were “ completely fabricated , retaliatory in nature , coordinated , and lodged in revenge ” for Garvin having reported the alleged LAX incident , which led to the investigation and removal of the accused handler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reinstate Garvin even after determining the claims against him were fabricated , and because they ultimately had no other reason for removing Garvin that “ had anything to do with his ability or job performance , ” Fratianne determined that the city would “ likely be held liable for either ( or both ) of their wrongdoing ” if it tried to fight Garvin ’ s lawsuit in court — possibly to the tune of $ 3 million .
Settling the case for $ 700,000 instead would be reasonable , she wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Fratianne ’ s assessment , referring questions to an LAPD spokesman .
Meek , who heads the department ’ s emergency services division , did not respond to a request for comment .
Josh Rubenstein , the LAPD spokesman , said the department is “ not able to comment on facts and circumstances from prior personnel investigations , ” but that members of the bomb unit are required to do their work with “ professionalism and integrity ” and “ are accomplishing that goal.
” Rubenstein would not say whether the department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ wrongdoing ” by Frank and Meek , or whether their alleged actions were ever the subject of an internal affairs investigation .
Richard Tefank , executive director of the Police Commission who was copied on Fratianne ’ s analysis , said it would “ not be appropriate ” for him to comment on a “ confidential civil matter.
” Kevin Salute , Garvin ’ s attorney , said he was unaware of the internal communications showing that Frank and Meek had been working together to remove Garvin before his ouster , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or change Garvin ’ s central claim in the case — which was that he had been retaliated against for reporting wrongdoing .
Garvin was a model employee with three decades of service to the LAPD when he reported Meek ’ s alleged relationship with a subordinate and the alleged wrongdoing by the officer at LAX , and ended up demoted , transferred and professionally embarrassed as a result , Salute said .
Garvin sued because the commanders responsible for his removal , including Frank , failed to protect him as a whistleblower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position even after determining that the claims they had used to justify his removal were baseless , Salute said .
“ This is a guy who had not a stain on his record .
Perfect record .
And then he basically gets pushed out of this coveted position based on false allegations , ” Salute said .
“ I thought [ the city ] got off damn cheap.
” Still pending against the city are two separate lawsuits by two other members of the bomb-sniffing unit — including one from Mark Sauvao , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a colleague ’ s canine test .
Sauvao alleges in his lawsuit that he did no such thing , and that Garvin and unit sergeants falsely accused him after the colleague being tested failed his certification and made up a lie about Sauvao to justify that failure .
Sauvao alleges that Garvin and the sergeants made derogatory remarks about his Samoan heritage , and that Meek ignored his complaints about their conduct .
He also alleges that other top commanders later removed him from the bomb unit based on the false claims made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial harm .
A second pending lawsuit was filed by Alberto Franco , another dog handler who sided with Sauvao and filed complaints against Garvin and the unit ’ s other supervisors in which he alleged he was unfairly retaliated against for refusing to conspire against Sauvao .
Franco alleges in his lawsuit that Meek at one point met with the unit , called its members “ an embarrassment to the department ” and ordered them to stop making discrimination and harassment complaints — stifling his due process rights .
Attorneys for Sauvao @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment .
Rubenstein said Sauvao and Franco remain on the police force but declined to answer questions about their lawsuits , saying the LAPD can not discuss pending litigation .

Los Angeles officials approved a $700,000 payout to a veteran police lieutenant in September after city attorneys determined his supervisors — including Assistant Chief Horace Frank, one of the LAPD’s highest-ranking commanders — wrongly demoted him after he reported alleged misconduct in his unit, records show.
In a confidential legal analysis reviewed by The Times, Deputy City Atty. Marianne Fratianne advised the city to settle the lawsuit brought by Lt. Raymond Garvin — former head of the department’s Bomb Detection Canine Section — because the facts of the case “simply do not bode well for the City.”
Among other issues, internal communications showed that Frank and Garvin’s direct supervisor, Capt. Kathryn Meek, had “commiserated about how there was an insufficient factual basis” to remove Garvin from his position, then built “an ad hoc paper trail of poor performance” to remove him anyway, Fratianne wrote.
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In addition to raising questions about the leadership of Frank, who oversees all special operations and detective bureaus, Fratianne’s analysis described a canine unit once again engulfed in allegations of mismanagement and wrongdoing — years after other claims by members of the unit cost the city millions in court settlements.
Her analysis described how Garvin’s removal in 2017 followed his reporting what he felt was an inappropriate relationship between Meek and one of the canine handlers in the unit, to whom he feared she would show favoritism, as well as his reporting another incident in which one dog handler allegedly sabotaged another by intentionally confusing his colleague’s dog during a federal bomb-sniffing certification test at Los Angeles International Airport.
Fratianne noted that several officers had lodged “a flurry of personnel complaints” against Garvin after he reported the alleged LAX incident, including that he had created a “hostile work environment” and made “several inappropriate, offensive, and racially charged remarks” toward subordinates. But she also noted that Meek later determined that all of those complaints were “completely fabricated, retaliatory in nature, coordinated, and lodged in revenge” for Garvin having reported the alleged LAX incident, which led to the investigation and removal of the accused handler.
Because Frank and Meek refused to reinstate Garvin even after determining the claims against him were fabricated, and because they ultimately had no other reason for removing Garvin that “had anything to do with his ability or job performance,” Fratianne determined that the city would “likely be held liable for either (or both) of their wrongdoing” if it tried to fight Garvin’s lawsuit in court — possibly to the tune of $3 million.
Settling the case for $700,000 instead would be reasonable, she wrote.
City records show the City Council approved the spending Sept. 23.
Frank declined to comment on the case or Fratianne’s assessment, referring questions to an LAPD spokesman. Meek, who heads the department’s emergency services division, did not respond to a request for comment.
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Josh Rubenstein, the LAPD spokesman, said the department is “not able to comment on facts and circumstances from prior personnel investigations,” but that members of the bomb unit are required to do their work with “professionalism and integrity” and “are accomplishing that goal.”
Rubenstein would not say whether the department agreed with Fratianne’s analysis of “wrongdoing” by Frank and Meek, or whether their alleged actions were ever the subject of an internal affairs investigation.
Richard Tefank, executive director of the Police Commission who was copied on Fratianne’s analysis, said it would “not be appropriate” for him to comment on a “confidential civil matter.”
Kevin Salute, Garvin’s attorney, said he was unaware of the internal communications showing that Frank and Meek had been working together to remove Garvin before his ouster, but that the information did not surprise him or change Garvin’s central claim in the case — which was that he had been retaliated against for reporting wrongdoing.
Garvin was a model employee with three decades of service to the LAPD when he reported Meek’s alleged relationship with a subordinate and the alleged wrongdoing by the officer at LAX, and ended up demoted, transferred and professionally embarrassed as a result, Salute said.
Garvin sued because the commanders responsible for his removal, including Frank, failed to protect him as a whistleblower and refused to reinstate him to his position even after determining that the claims they had used to justify his removal were baseless, Salute said.
“This is a guy who had not a stain on his record. Perfect record. And then he basically gets pushed out of this coveted position based on false allegations,” Salute said. “I thought [the city] got off damn cheap.”
Garvin is now retired.
Still pending against the city are two separate lawsuits by two other members of the bomb-sniffing unit — including one from Mark Sauvao, the officer who was accused of sabotaging a colleague’s canine test.
Sauvao alleges in his lawsuit that he did no such thing, and that Garvin and unit sergeants falsely accused him after the colleague being tested failed his certification and made up a lie about Sauvao to justify that failure. Sauvao alleges that Garvin and the sergeants made derogatory remarks about his Samoan heritage, and that Meek ignored his complaints about their conduct. He also alleges that other top commanders later removed him from the bomb unit based on the false claims made against him, causing him professional and financial harm.
A second pending lawsuit was filed by Alberto Franco, another dog handler who sided with Sauvao and filed complaints against Garvin and the unit’s other supervisors in which he alleged he was unfairly retaliated against for refusing to conspire against Sauvao.
Franco alleges in his lawsuit that Meek at one point met with the unit, called its members “an embarrassment to the department” and ordered them to stop making discrimination and harassment complaints — stifling his due process rights.
Attorneys for Sauvao and Franco did not respond to requests for comment.
Rubenstein said Sauvao and Franco remain on the police force but declined to answer questions about their lawsuits, saying the LAPD cannot discuss pending litigation.