latimes--2020-03-14--Even small neighborhood stores are getting raided by coronavirus hoarders

Marlon Chavarria held his pants as he ran over to the tiny yellow store named Glady ’ s 98 Cents and Up and grabbed the three cases of toilet paper from his mother in-law .
He carried them over to his white SUV and stuffed them inside the trunk with other groceries .
“ It ’ s like the end of the world out here , ” the 37-year-old said .
“ You can ’ t find anything.
” Since 7 a.m. the Compton resident had gone to almost every supermarket and big box retailer in a vain search for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours in line to get into one store , Chavarria walked out dispirited and empty handed .
Early evening , his luck changed .
His mother-in-law told him about a local so-called “ 98 cent ” store in South Los Angeles that , miraculously under the circumstances , seemed to have everything .
And that ’ s how he ended up with toilet paper in the trunk of his SUV and a smile on his face .
“ Time to go home where it ’ s safe , ” he said .
Far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and countless other supermarkets and big box retailers , at least in scale and square footage , liquor stores , tiny markets and small neighborhood stores are beginning to see coronvirus panic buying and stockpiling .
As popular retailers struggle to maintain stocks of water , household items , groceries and sanitizing products , people like Chavarria hope the small businesses in mostly working class neighborhoods are just off the radar enough to hold the items running out seemingly everywhere else .
When the coronavirus outbreak started in the United States , shoppers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , clearing out the shelves of their local pharmacies and grocery stores .
Health experts warned that stocking up on the disposable masks could do more harm than good by limiting their availability to doctors and nurses .
During a congressional hearing last month , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told Congress there was no need for healthy Americans to stock up on supplies .
But as fear of the into communities , people began to rush for items they felt they needed .
For now , the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California officials have issued and a unified message : .
Meanwhile , major school districts throughout California , including Los Angeles Unified , announced shutdowns Friday , joining at least ` 12 states that have ordered complete closures amid escalating attempts to slow the virus ’ spread .
The growing number of people staying home is expected to intensify the stockpiling .
Inside the Glady ’ s 98 Cent and Up Store in South Los Angeles , residents made their way down narrow aisles , grabbing canned food and toilet paper .
Handbags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceiling , largely untouched .
Behind a plexiglass wall , wearing latex gloves , Gladys Colchado , the store owner , rang up customers .
The 59-year-old said she didn ’ t think she would be impacted by people coming in trying to buy things in bulk .
Then , a man walked in three days ago , snatched up all the antibacterial wipes she had and bought them all .
“ I was stunned , ” she said .
“ I didn ’ t think about putting limits on people because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for it , but that ’ s changed .
“ I want everyone to have things , ” she added .
Colchado said she has limited customers to three cases of toilet paper each .
She said it won ’ t be long before she runs out and she won ’ t be able to easily restock .
Even the wholesaler told her he ’ s having trouble keeping up with demand from smaller stores .
She ’ s even seen business owners fighting over toilet paper whenever she goes to pick some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer .
“ You can ’ t find that anywhere , ” she said .
Colchado said she ’ s had to pass down the cost of toilet paper , rubbing alcohol and other items to her customers .
She ’ s felt bad about it given that her store is in a low-income neighborhood .
Typically , she would give credit to people who are short on cash but she ’ s had to put that on hold for now .
“ I just have no idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s getting harder to charge things at 98 cents.
” Would she be changing the store ’ s name to reflect that ?
“ No , that ’ s why we say 98 cents and up , ” she said , chuckling .
A mile away , at Angel ’ s Mini Market , things were a lot quieter .
The shelves were full of tuna and vegetable cans .
Bags of rice , pasta and beans were starting to grow scarce .
Inside , Gloria Bernal , 61 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind the counter .
Nearby , her 2-year-old granddaughter , Emma , ran around the store .
Bernal said the store has continued to see the same flow of customers buying eggs , milk and bread as they normally do .
Around 8 p.m. a frustrated Mary Hensley , 53 , walked into the store .
She was just at the nearby discount store — Crazy Q Bargain — around the corner .
“ You can ’ t find nothing , ” she said .
“ This is really crazy .
It don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she was looking to purchase cans of food , tissue and water .
But she kept striking out .
Now she was at the mini store .
“ If it wasn ’ t for mom ’ s here we ’ d all be messed up , ” she said , referring to Bernal .
Hensley ’ s frustration ebbed a bit when she saw Emma .
“ This is another reason why I like coming here , her grandchildren , ” she said .
“ She ’ s so cute.
” Nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food was nearly gone , but there were still cans of pasta , beans , pineapple , tomato and sweet peas .
There were more bags of garbanzo beans than pasta .
At the front of the store , boxes once filled with jugs of bleach were nearly empty .
More than half a mile away , at the corner of Vermont Avenue and 88th Street , Alex Villalta , 43 , walked into Monarch Liquor and Market .
He wandered down the cleaning-products aisle and snatched up three bottles of antibacterial sprays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to find the spray bottles .
He was driving home to El Segundo and saw “ market ” and decided to give it a try .
“ Little stores like this thankfully still have some things that other big stores don ’ t have , ” he said with a smile .
“ There ’ s places that don ’ t even have bottled water.
” Behind Plexiglas , cashier Kim Hong , 58 , said he ’ s been getting customers who were previously shopping at the bigger retailers such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy water , pasta , toilet paper and Lysol.
” He said the store was down to their final cases of toilet paper and antibacterial spray and would not be able to stock soon .
“ Whatever is in here , ” he declared , “ that ’ s it .
”

A woman wearing a mask leaves Glady’s 98 Cents and Up in South LA Saturday. With widespread panic due to the coronavirus fears, people are looking to smaller shops for supplies.
Marlon Chavarria held his pants as he ran over to the tiny yellow store named Glady’s 98 Cents and Up and grabbed the three cases of toilet paper from his mother in-law. He carried them over to his white SUV and stuffed them inside the trunk with other groceries.
“It’s like the end of the world out here,” the 37-year-old said. “You can’t find anything.”
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Since 7 a.m. the Compton resident had gone to almost every supermarket and big box retailer in a vain search for toilet paper. Even after waiting three hours in line to get into one store, Chavarria walked out dispirited and empty handed.
Early evening, his luck changed. His mother-in-law told him about a local so-called “98 cent” store in South Los Angeles that, miraculously under the circumstances, seemed to have everything. And that’s how he ended up with toilet paper in the trunk of his SUV and a smile on his face.
“Time to go home where it’s safe,” he said.
Far from the Walmarts and Targets and Ralphs and countless other supermarkets and big box retailers, at least in scale and square footage, liquor stores, tiny markets and small neighborhood stores are beginning to see coronvirus panic buying and stockpiling. As popular retailers struggle to maintain stocks of water, household items, groceries and sanitizing products, people like Chavarria hope the small businesses in mostly working class neighborhoods are just off the radar enough to hold the items running out seemingly everywhere else.
The owner at the corner market/liquor store I go to said business last weekend was ridiculous. Just BOOMING.
He thinks it’s because no one wants to go to supermarkets. So at least one small business is doing well in LA and that makes me happy. #coronavirus — Veronica Miracle (@ABC7Veronica) March 12, 2020
When the coronavirus outbreak started in the United States, shoppers began purchasing face masks and hand sanitizer, clearing out the shelves of their local pharmacies and grocery stores. Health experts warned that stocking up on the disposable masks could do more harm than good by limiting their availability to doctors and nurses.
During a congressional hearing last month, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told Congress there was no need for healthy Americans to stock up on supplies. But as fear of the coronavirus spread deeper into communities, people began to rush for items they felt they needed.
For now, the number of confirmed cases continues to grow. California officials have issued new restrictions and a unified message: social distancing .
Meanwhile, major school districts throughout California, including Los Angeles Unified, announced shutdowns Friday, joining at least `12 states that have ordered complete closures amid escalating attempts to slow the virus’ spread. The growing number of people staying home is expected to intensify the stockpiling.
Advertisement
Inside the Glady’s 98 Cent and Up Store in South Los Angeles, residents made their way down narrow aisles, grabbing canned food and toilet paper. Handbags, backpacks and blankets hung from the ceiling, largely untouched. Behind a plexiglass wall, wearing latex gloves, Gladys Colchado, the store owner, rang up customers.
The 59-year-old said she didn’t think she would be impacted by people coming in trying to buy things in bulk. Then, a man walked in three days ago, snatched up all the antibacterial wipes she had and bought them all.
“I was stunned,” she said. “I didn’t think about putting limits on people because I thought well, he’s paying for it, but that’s changed.
“I want everyone to have things,” she added.
Colchado said she has limited customers to three cases of toilet paper each. She said it won’t be long before she runs out and she won’t be able to easily restock. Even the wholesaler told her he’s having trouble keeping up with demand from smaller stores. She’s even seen business owners fighting over toilet paper whenever she goes to pick some up. She’s run out of antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer.
“You can’t find that anywhere,” she said.
Colchado said she’s had to pass down the cost of toilet paper, rubbing alcohol and other items to her customers. She’s felt bad about it given that her store is in a low-income neighborhood. Typically, she would give credit to people who are short on cash but she’s had to put that on hold for now.
“I just have no idea what will happen,” she said. “It’s getting harder to charge things at 98 cents.”
Would she be changing the store’s name to reflect that?
“No, that’s why we say 98 cents and up,” she said, chuckling.
A mile away, at Angel’s Mini Market, things were a lot quieter. The shelves were full of tuna and vegetable cans. Bags of rice, pasta and beans were starting to grow scarce.
Inside, Gloria Bernal, 61, wore latex gloves as she sat behind the counter. Nearby, her 2-year-old granddaughter, Emma, ran around the store.
Bernal said the store has continued to see the same flow of customers buying eggs, milk and bread as they normally do. Around 8 p.m. a frustrated Mary Hensley, 53, walked into the store. She was just at the nearby discount store — Crazy Q Bargain — around the corner.
“You can’t find nothing,” she said. “This is really crazy. It don’t make any sense.”
Hensley said she was looking to purchase cans of food, tissue and water. But she kept striking out. Now she was at the mini store.
Maria Schmitt went to three stores, including Vons and Family Dollar, before finding some of the last rolls of toilet paper in the city at the 99 cent Discount Club in San Pedro.. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
“If it wasn’t for mom’s here we’d all be messed up,” she said, referring to Bernal.
Hensley’s frustration ebbed a bit when she saw Emma.
“This is another reason why I like coming here, her grandchildren,” she said. “She’s so cute.”
Nearby at Crazy Q Bargain, the shelf-stable food was nearly gone, but there were still cans of pasta, beans, pineapple, tomato and sweet peas. There were more bags of garbanzo beans than pasta. At the front of the store, boxes once filled with jugs of bleach were nearly empty.
More than half a mile away, at the corner of Vermont Avenue and 88th Street, Alex Villalta, 43, walked into Monarch Liquor and Market. He wandered down the cleaning-products aisle and snatched up three bottles of antibacterial sprays.
Villalta had been to various stores trying to find the spray bottles. He was driving home to El Segundo and saw “market” and decided to give it a try.
“Little stores like this thankfully still have some things that other big stores don’t have,” he said with a smile. “There’s places that don’t even have bottled water.”
Behind Plexiglas, cashier Kim Hong, 58, said he’s been getting customers who were previously shopping at the bigger retailers such as Costco and Walmart.
“They come to buy water, pasta, toilet paper and Lysol.”
He said the store was down to their final cases of toilet paper and antibacterial spray and would not be able to stock soon.
“Whatever is in here,” he declared, “that’s it.”


latimes--2020-03-14--UC Irvine cancels graduation for the first time to protect against coronavirus

UC Irvine is canceling its traditional graduation this spring as a precaution against the novel coronavirus , the first University of California campus to cancel the iconic ceremony .
“ We are saddened to share that the UCI Commencement Ceremonies will not take place in the same way as previous years , ” Willie L. Banks Jr. , the vice chancellor of student affairs , wrote in a message to students Friday .
The cancellation marks the first time in the university ’ s 55-year history that the joyous capstone to a student ’ s college journey will not go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advised families not to make arrangements to come to the campus for the celebrations , which were scheduled for June 12-15 .
The Irvine campus of nearly 37,000 students is diverse , with 35 % Asian American students , 23 % Latino , 16 % white and 3 % African American .
Nearly one in five students are from other countries , predominantly China .
The Irvine graduation draws tens of thousands of visitors to campus from around the country , if not the world .
The other eight undergraduate campuses are expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
UC officials reached Saturday at the Los Angeles , Davis , Merced , San Diego and Santa Cruz campuses said no decision has yet been made about commencement .
But Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s order banning gatherings of 250 or more people statewide to slow the spread of the disease would bar most graduation ceremonies if he extends the directive past March .
Banks told students that campus officials are “ actively looking at alternatives to celebrate our graduates in an appropriate manner .
We understand that commencement is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we want to honor our students while still keeping our community safe .
“ He said the campus would be releasing further details in coming weeks .
Bryce Lindsey , a senior majoring in mechanical engineering , said that although he won ’ t be able to participate in formal ceremonies in cap and gown and walk across a stage to receive his diploma , he will celebrate at his own parties with family and friends .
“ The most important thing is that they ’ ll be there , and we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Lindsey , who hopes to move on to medical school .
“ I won ’ t be able to graduate with my friends who I ’ ve been with for four years but I know God has a plan.
” UC Irvine scored a coup in landing then-President Barack Obama as its commencement speaker in 2014 after an unusual lobbying campaign featuring alumni and students signing postcards and appearing in videos .
In one , 7-foot-6 freshman basketball center Mamadou Ndiaye looked into the camera as he towered over a cardboard cutout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said , “ we should play ball together.
” UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said he will watch the status of the outbreak over the next month or two before making a decision on graduation ceremonies .
The San Diego celebrations , which are scheduled for June 12-14 , usually draw from 20,000 to 30,000 people , he said .
This year ’ s commencement speaker is CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker .
Khosla said he probably would make a decision by late April .
“ The last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news , ” Khosla said .
“ I don ’ t want to precipitate more anxiety.
” Colleges and universities across the country have canceled in-person classes and shifted to instruction online to avoid spreading the infectious disease that has afflicted over 2,600 in the United States and Puerto Rico and led to 50 deaths .
In California , there were 247 confirmed cases as of Saturday afternoon , with five deaths .
Campuses also have shut down travel , study abroad programs , campus visits , athletic events and other large gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greatest short-term challenge in a generation .

UC Irvine graduates celebrate in 2014. The school has canceled its traditional commencement ceremonies for the first time in its 55-year history.
UC Irvine is canceling its traditional graduation this spring as a precaution against the novel coronavirus, the first University of California campus to call off the iconic ceremony.
“We are saddened to share that the UCI Commencement Ceremonies will not take place in the same way as previous years,” Willie L. Banks Jr., the vice chancellor of student affairs, wrote in a message to students Friday.
The cancellation marks the first time in the university’s 55-year history that the joyous capstone to a student’s college journey will not go on in the traditional way. Banks advised families not to make arrangements to come to the campus for the celebrations, which were scheduled for June 12-15.
The Irvine campus of nearly 37,000 students is diverse, with 35% Asian American students, 23% Latino, 16% white and 3% African American. Nearly one in five students are from other countries, predominantly China. The Irvine graduation draws tens of thousands of visitors to campus from around the country, if not the world.
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The other eight undergraduate campuses are expected to make decisions on a case-by-case basis. UC officials at the Los Angeles, Davis, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara campuses said no decision has yet been made about commencement.
But Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order banning gatherings of 250 or more people statewide to slow the spread of the disease would bar most graduation ceremonies if he extends the directive past March.
The campus made the difficult decision to cancel the ceremonies because public safety is paramount, UCI spokesman Tom Vasich said Saturday.
“Due to the evolving and rapidly changing pandemic, the health and safety of our community was and is our number one priority,” Vasich said. “While we are extremely saddened to cancel commencement, we did not want to put any of our students, families, or communities at risk.”
Banks told students that campus officials are “actively looking at alternatives to celebrate our graduates in an appropriate manner. We understand that commencement is an important part of the UCI experience and we want to honor our students while still keeping our community safe. “
He said the campus would be releasing further details in coming weeks.
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Bryce Lindsey, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, said that although he won’t be able to participate in formal ceremonies in cap and gown and walk across a stage to receive his diploma, he will celebrate at his own parties with family and friends.
“The most important thing is that they’ll be there, and we’ll be able to celebrate,” said Lindsey, who hopes to move on to medical school. “I won’t be able to graduate with my friends who I’ve been with for four years but I know God has a plan.”
UC Irvine scored a coup in landing then-President Barack Obama as its commencement speaker in 2014 after an unusual lobbying campaign featuring alumni and students signing postcards and appearing in videos. In one, 7-foot-6 freshman basketball center Mamadou Ndiaye looked into the camera as he towered over a cardboard cutout of Obama, “Mr. President,” he said, “we should play ball together.”
UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said he will watch the status of the outbreak over the next month or two before making a decision on graduation ceremonies. The San Diego celebrations, which are scheduled for June 12-14, usually draw from 20,000 to 30,000 people, he said. This year’s commencement speaker is CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Bill Whitaker.
Khosla said he probably would make a decision by late April.
“The last thing people need now is more bad news,” Khosla said. “I don’t want to precipitate more anxiety.”
Colleges and universities across the country have canceled in-person classes and shifted to instruction online to avoid spreading the infectious disease that has afflicted over 2,600 in the United States and Puerto Rico and led to 50 deaths. In California, there were 247 confirmed cases as of Saturday afternoon, with five deaths.
Campuses also have shut down travel, study abroad programs, campus visits, athletic events and other large gatherings in what higher education officials call the greatest short-term challenge in a generation.


latimes--2020-03-14--Liquor, marijuana and guns are also popular among coronavirus hoarders

Amid widespread shortages of hand sanitizer and hand wipes in supermarkets and drug stores , people are turning to a makeshift substitute — Everclear , a brand of 120-proof grain alcohol that has been flying off the shelves of a BevMo in Culver City .
“ Normally , we sell a few bottles of that stuff a week , ” store manager Paul Pabich said .
“ But word is spreading fast that at 120 proof , or 60 % alcohol , it can kill any germ there is out there .
We had 24 bottles in stock on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday.
” Nodding appreciatively to an empty shelf reserved for bottles of Everclear that sell for $ 19.99 each , he shrugged and added , “ It ’ s the way of the world right now , and we ’ re making a little money from it.
” Business was also booming at the Herbarium , a marijuana dispensary in the 900 block of North La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles .
With every purchase , the store was offering free delivery and a stylish black face mask that says , “ Corona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a spokeswoman for the business , said : “ There are two reasons for all the customers you see in here right now .
One is that people are stocking up on all the things they consider essential after being advised to stay indoors .
“ The other reason — people don ’ t want to care about coronavirus or watch upsetting news about it on television , ” she said .
“ Instead , they just want to chill out with Netflix and some weed.
” Guns were also a popular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At Martin B. Retting Gun Shop in Culver City , a line of prospective customers stretched outside the door .
Inside , they were shoulder to shoulder , waiting up to five hours for service .
A fast-food truck was taking orders at the curb .
The managers of the store declined to comment .
It was a rare windfall of business for the store , but some people got tired of waiting and left empty handed .
Among them was a medical doctor who would give only his first name , Ray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy his first gun .
“ I want to buy a handgun , I think they call it a Glock , but I ’ m not sure , ” he said .
“ I have a house and a family , and they ’ ll need protection if things get worse.
” “ The fear , ” he added , “ is that civil services will break down.
” Another customer , John Gore , 39 , would not argue with any of that .
“ Politicians and antigun people have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we don ’ t need guns , ” he said .
“ But right now , a lot of people are truly scared , and they can make that decision themselves.
” The rush to buy guns was not unique to Culver City .
At Laguna Guns & Accessories in Elk Grove , where there has been community spread of the cornavirus , was also doing brisk sales .
The owner , who only identified himself as George , said he has been in business for 44 years and the last time he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 , when “ everyone thought the government was going to take their guns away.
” George said that he has been busier than normal all week .
He said he doesn ’ t ask why people are buying guns .
“ It is what it is , ” he said He “ guaranteed ” the increase in gun sales was statewide .

People lined up outside Martin Retting store in Culver City, Ca. on Sunday, March 15. The store sells sporting goods, including guns and knives. The line extended past the store front.
Amid widespread shortages of hand sanitizer and hand wipes in supermarkets and drug stores, people are turning to a makeshift substitute — Everclear, a brand of 120-proof grain alcohol that has been flying off the shelves of a BevMo in Culver City.
“Normally, we sell a few bottles of that stuff a week,” store manager Paul Pabich said. “But word is spreading fast that at 120 proof, or 60% alcohol, it can kill any germ there is out there. We had 24 bottles in stock on Monday, and they were all sold by Thursday.”
Nodding appreciatively to an empty shelf reserved for bottles of Everclear that sell for $19.99 each, he shrugged and added, “It’s the way of the world right now, and we’re making a little money from it.”
Business was also booming at the Herbarium, a marijuana dispensary in the 900 block of North La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles. With every purchase, the store was offering free delivery and a stylish black face mask that says, “Corona Free Herbarium.”
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Breanna Lucier, 36, a spokeswoman for the business, said: “There are two reasons for all the customers you see in here right now. One is that people are stocking up on all the things they consider essential after being advised to stay indoors.
“The other reason — people don’t want to care about coronavirus or watch upsetting news about it on television,” she said. “Instead, they just want to chill out with Netflix and some weed.”
Guns were also a popular item among panic-driven shoppers on Saturday.
At Martin B. Retting Gun Shop in Culver City, a line of prospective customers stretched outside the door. Inside, they were shoulder to shoulder, waiting up to five hours for service. A fast-food truck was taking orders at the curb.
The managers of the store declined to comment. It was a rare windfall of business for the store, but some people got tired of waiting and left empty handed.
Among them was a medical doctor who would give only his first name, Ray. He said he’d come to buy his first gun.
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“I want to buy a handgun, I think they call it a Glock, but I’m not sure,” he said. “I have a house and a family, and they’ll need protection if things get worse.”
“The fear,” he added, “is that civil services will break down.”
Another customer, John Gore, 39, would not argue with any of that.
“Politicians and antigun people have been telling us for the longest time that we don’t need guns,” he said. “But right now, a lot of people are truly scared, and they can make that decision themselves.”
The rush to buy guns was not unique to Culver City. Laguna Guns & Accessories in Elk Grove, where there has been community spread of the coronavirus, was also doing brisk sales.
The owner, who only identified himself as George, said he has been in business for 44 years and the last time he saw it this busy was after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, when “everyone thought the government was going to take their guns away.”
George said that he has been busier than normal all week. He said he doesn’t ask why people are buying guns.
“It is what it is,” he said
He “guaranteed” the increase in gun sales was statewide.
“It’s panic,” he said.


latimes--2020-03-14--Hey kids, how do you feel about coronavirus and staying home from school?

Are you a student with questions about coronavirus ?
We want to hear from you .
Send us your questions @ @ @ @ @ will answer them , just for you .
Please send us video of yourself answering @ @ @ @ @ one of your parents film you with their phone , shooting horizontally .
Stand about @ @ @ @ @ at a normal volume .
Here ’ s what we ’ d like to know @ @ @ @ @ about the coronavirus ?
What questions do you have for reporters and experts ?
And @ @ @ @ @ for parents for things that will help kids while they ’ re staying home ?
@ @ @ @ @ , have your parents drop the file here .

Do you want to send us a picture after seeing our request for drawings? We want to hear from you. Read on.
Drawing submissions
Did you see our request for you to draw something outside your window? That’s great. We’re eager to see your creativity. In case you didn’t, we’re asking that you draw or make a picture of something you can see outside your window. With a parent’s permission and help, please upload the image and tell us about yourself using the form below. We’ll publish as many as we can online or in print.


latimes--2020-03-14--Federal officers seize fake COVID-19 test kits at Los Angeles International Airport

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Los Angeles International Airport intercepted a package containing suspected counterfeit COVID-19 test kits arriving from the United Kingdom , officials said Saturday .
Officers working in the airport ’ s international mail facility on Thursday discovered six plastic bags containing numerous vials in a parcel labeled “ Purified Water Vials , ” authorities said in a prepared statement .
After further examination , the officers found vials filled with a white liquid and labeled “ Corona Virus 2019nconv ( COVID-19 ) ” and “ Virus1 Test Kit , ” authorities said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Food and Drug Administration for analysis .
“ Protecting the health and safety of the American people is a top priority for CBP , ” Carlos C. Martel , the agency ’ s director of field operations in Los Angeles , said in the statement .
“ This significant interception , at a time when the U.S. is in the midst of a National Emergency , demonstrates our CBP officers ’ vigilance and commitment to ensure dangerous goods are intercepted and not a threat to our communities and our people.
” Authorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ verified state and local public health laboratories across the country .
Federal authorities warned that the public should be aware of bogus home testing kits for sale either online or in informal direct to consumer settings .
“ CBP commits substantial resources to detect , intercept and seize illicit goods arriving in the air package environment , ” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke , CBP port director at LAX .
“ Smugglers are constantly attempting to take advantage of consumers by disguising their illicit goods as legitimate shipments .
”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Los Angeles International Airport intercepted a package containing suspected counterfeit COVID-19 test kits arriving from the United Kingdom, officials said Saturday.
Officers working in the airport’s international mail facility on Thursday discovered six plastic bags containing numerous vials in a parcel labeled “Purified Water Vials,” authorities said in a prepared statement.
After further examination, the officers found vials filled with a white liquid and labeled “Corona Virus 2019nconv (COVID-19)” and “Virus1 Test Kit,” authorities said. The shipment was then turned over to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for analysis.
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“Protecting the health and safety of the American people is a top priority for CBP,” Carlos C. Martel, the agency’s director of field operations in Los Angeles, said in the statement. “This significant interception, at a time when the U.S. is in the midst of a National Emergency, demonstrates our CBP officers’ vigilance and commitment to ensure dangerous goods are intercepted and not a threat to our communities and our people.”
Authorized diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is conducted in verified state and local public health laboratories across the country. Federal authorities warned that the public should be aware of bogus home testing kits for sale either online or in informal direct to consumer settings.
“CBP commits substantial resources to detect, intercept and seize illicit goods arriving in the air package environment,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP port director at LAX. “Smugglers are constantly attempting to take advantage of consumers by disguising their illicit goods as legitimate shipments.”


latimes--2020-03-14--For tourists, a last hurrah before Disneyland closes. For service workers outside the park, uncertai

For tourists, a last hurrah before Disneyland closes. For service workers outside the park, uncertainty

When Anna Bautista learned that the ‘ Happiest Place on Earth ’ would shut down Friday for the remainder of the month , she immediately cleared her calendar and texted her sister : “ Let ’ s go .
Last day to go to Disney before they close.
” A minute later , her sister , Diana , was on board .
They booked a hotel near the Disneyland Resort , packed their suitcases and left their San Diego home Thursday night after work to try and squeeze in as much time as possible inside the park .
“ Anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday night as she waited to watch the final fireworks spectacle in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle that was ultimately canceled because of bad weather .
For several die-hard Disney fans , it was clear it ’ d take much more than gloomy skies and the COVID-19 pandemic to keep them away from enjoying the last hurrah Friday before the Anaheim-based theme park temporarily shut down following Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s recommendation that gatherings of 250 or more people be canceled across the state .
Disneyland was still the place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to escape life ’ s cold realities .
Souvenir shops along Main Street U.S.A. bustled with tourists and locals who bought ponchos to shield themselves from the rain as well as limited edition collectible items .
Families and couples waited in line near the Mad Hatter gift shop to pose for photos with characters such as Goofy and Minnie Mouse .
It seemed like a normal day during the off-season , but small , visible details revealed how much fear over the spread of the virus had seeped into people ’ s daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famous the world over for creating fantasy and magic since 1955 .
Some visitors wore masks or gloves .
Signs installed near bathroom sinks encouraged people to wash their hands for 20 seconds .
Cast members and tourists alike could be overheard talking about how they had to amend vacation plans and work shifts .
Usually crowded attractions such as Indiana Jones Adventure , Splash Mountain and Star Tours had five-minute wait times .
The Millennium Falcon : Smugglers Run , located inside the new Star Wars land that drew in record crowds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only a 10-minute wait .
It ’ s a well-known secret among annual passholders that rainy days are usually the best days to visit the amusement park , so much so that it defeats the purpose of going on those days — except for this Friday .
“ Lines are shorter than usual ; I ’ ve never seen it like this , ” Diana Bautista said .
“ When we got inside , the boarding group for Rise of the Resistance is impossible to get after 8:03 a.m. , and when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8:12 a.m .
So we got those passes and we just started walking around Fantasyland and spreading out from there.
” At dusk , Sleeping Beauty ’ s Castle ’ s baby pink and royal blue hues popped against the sky ’ s dark , gloomy background .
With a hoard of people trying to all get the same photo of the castle , Jose Carlos Vazquez , 26 , and his girlfriend , Mariana Zauzeta , 25 , took advantage of the moment with open real estate .
Vazquez snapped photos of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mouse sweatshirt and wearing pink lollipop Mini Mouse ears , facing the castle while she extended her arm back and held her boyfriend ’ s hand .
The rain or virus wasn ’ t going to make them cancel the quick getaway they planned a month in advance , especially one he promised his girlfriend , Vazquez said .
The couple flew from Sinaloa , Mexico , to Tijuana and rented a car to drive to San Diego and up the coast .
“ It ’ s a risk we had to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re healthy.
” A family of eight shared similar sentiments about their trip to the Disneyland Resort .
The family had planned their trip from Arizona to Anaheim since December as a final family vacation before Devan Heilman joined the Navy .
With Friday being the last day the park would be open , Heilman said they booked a separate hotel and were forced to amend their itinerary .
“ We haven ’ t been to Disney in quite some time and we ’ re all big Star Wars fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t miss , ” Heilman said .
“ It ’ s like mecca for Star War fans .
It ’ s a must see , once in your life-time experience.
” Heilman , 21 , and his brother Garrett Heilman , 18 , broke off from their family and spent the majority of their time inside Star Wars land .
Dressed in a beige Jedi tunic and carrying a red Darth Vader lightsaber , Garrett , and Devan , who proudly held his blue Anakin lightsaber , strategized how they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Falcon with their new lightsabers for photos .
With the bright light emanating from their make-believe weapons , two park cast members outfitted as stormtroopers zeroed in on Garrett .
“ Very impressive .
I ’ m sure the supreme leader would agree , ” the soldiers told him .
“ Your allegiance is noted.
” Exiting the Stars War land and heading back into Critter Country , one boy sang out loud , “ Coronavius can ’ t stop us , if it does we ’ ll kick its butt !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t appear to extend beyond its gates .
Outside the park , uncertainty lingered in the air for service workers employed by restaurants and hotels along Harbor Boulevard .
That feeling intensified this on social media and the impact was visible Friday along Anaheim ’ s Harbor Boulevard , an area that ’ s typically congested with foot and vehicular traffic at all hours of the day .
The usually bustling and heavily trafficked boulevard looked more like a ghost town Friday afternoon .
Motorists zoomed by .
Hotel shuttles occasionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sidewalks were mostly empty .
Disneyland ’ s closure marks only the fourth time in its history — after 9-11 , the 1994 Northridge earthquake , and the national day of mourning after John F. Kennedy ’ s assassination in 1963 — that operations have been fully suspended .
“ Disney is our business , ” said a longtime Candy Cane Inn employee Friday who wasn ’ t authorized to talk to reporters .
The family-owned hotel , which offers a complimentary shuttle to the park for guests not interested in walking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , immediately felt the impact .
The front desk employee was slammed Thursday with calls from tourists who wanted to cancel their reservations .
By Friday , only 12 of the 171 rooms were occupied .
It was a mutual sentiment among service workers in the area , especially as some were already hearing their hours would be cut or transferred to another location or were encouraged to take extended vacation time .
Octavio Rodriguez , 48 , recently quit another hotel job to work at Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walkway headed toward the Disneyland Resort , a prime location .
As a new employee , he ’ s tasked with handling laundry , but the Westminster resident said he planned to apply for a front desk position once there was an opening .
With 25 years of experience in the industry , he knew he could move up .
Instead , he ’ s being forced to move onto Plan B .
“ I ’ m basically visiting previous jobs , trying to go back to those places , which is farther @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon while pulling white sheets out of the dryer .
The day prior he and his wife spent about $ 300 at Ross and Food 4 Less for groceries , clothes and other necessities , never once thinking they ’ d be tight on finances soon after .
The gravity of the situation didn ’ t hit him until one of his daughters told him his hotel could shut down .
“ ‘ What are you talking about ?
’ I was like , ‘ What do you mean the hotel is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rodriguez recalled .
“ That ’ s right — all of the customers we get from there .
My imagination is it ’ s going to be empty the area , empty the street .
There ’ s going to be no people around this.
” Rodriguez had been so focused on his work , he said he didn ’ t realize business had started to slow down .
His son recently told him that his school , Anaheim High , would also be temporarily closing .
“ He just told me starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks , ” Rodriguez said .
Fellow co-worker , Araceli Montes , a housecleaner for the hotel , tried to focus all her energy on her work for the day .
Her daughter was also recently told she ’ d have to stay home from school .
“ I ’ d be lying to you if I said I had a plan in mind , ” the 39-year-old single mother said in Spanish as she prepared to mop the bathroom floor .

Rainy weather and the fear of the spread of the coronavirus kept crowds sparse at Disneyland on Thursday.
When Anna Bautista learned that the “Happiest Place on Earth” would shut down Friday for the remainder of the month, she immediately cleared her calendar and texted her sister:
“Let’s go. Last day to go to Disney before they close.”
A minute later, her sister, Diana, was on board.
They booked a hotel near the Disneyland Resort, packed their suitcases and left their San Diego home Thursday night after work to try to squeeze in as much time as possible inside the park.
“Anything for the Mouse,” Anna said Friday night as she waited to watch the final fireworks spectacle in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle that was ultimately canceled because of bad weather.
For several dedicated Disney fans, it was clear it would take much more than gloomy skies and the COVID-19 pandemic to keep them from enjoying the last hurrah Friday before the Anaheim theme park temporarily shut down following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recommendation that gatherings of 250 or more people be canceled across the state.
Entertainment & Arts Coronavirus fallout: Why closing Disneyland is such a blow to American optimism The Happiest Place on Earth shut its gates Friday night due to the coronavirus crisis. A full non-weather-related closure of Disneyland has happened just three times in the park’s 65-year history. But this time is different.
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Disneyland was still the place where people of all ages could visit to escape life’s cold realities. Souvenir shops along Main Street, U.S.A., bustled with tourists and locals who bought limited edition collectibles as well as ponchos to shield themselves from the rain. Families and couples waited in line near the Mad Hatter gift shop to pose for photos with characters such as Goofy and Minnie Mouse.
It seemed like a normal day during the off-season, but small details revealed how much fear over the spread of the virus had seeped into people’s daily lives — even at the theme park famous the world over for creating fantasy and magic since 1955.
Some visitors wore masks or gloves. Signs installed near bathroom sinks encouraged people to wash their hands for 20 seconds. Cast members and tourists alike could be overheard talking about how they had to amend vacation plans and work shifts.
Usually crowded attractions such as Indiana Jones Adventure, Splash Mountain and Star Tours had five-minute wait times. The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, inside the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land that drew in record crowds when it opened last year, had only a 10-minute wait.
It’s well known among annual passholders that rainy days are usually the best days to visit the amusement park, so much so that it often defeats the purpose of going on those days — except for this Friday.
“Lines are shorter than usual; I’ve never seen it like this,” Diana Bautista said. “The boarding group for Rise of the Resistance is impossible to get after 8:03 a.m., and when we got our pass, it was around 8:12 a.m. So we got those passes, and we just started walking around Fantasyland and spreading out from there.”
At dusk, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle’s baby pink and royal blue hues popped against the sky’s dark, gloomy background. With a horde of people all trying to get the same photo of the castle, Jose Carlos Vazquez, 26, and his girlfriend, Mariana Zauzeta, 25, took advantage of the moment with open real estate.
Vazquez snapped photos of his girlfriend, dressed in a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and wearing pink lollipop Minnie Mouse ears, facing the castle while she extended her arm back and held her boyfriend’s hand.
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Neither the rain nor the virus were going to make them cancel the quick getaway they had planned a month in advance, especially given that Vazquez had promised his girlfriend, he said. The couple flew from Sinaloa, Mexico, to Tijuana and rented a car to drive to San Diego and up the coast.
“It’s a risk we had to take,” he said in Spanish. “We’re healthy.”
A family of eight shared similar sentiments about their trip to Disneyland. They had planned their trip from Arizona to Anaheim since December as a final family vacation before Devan Heilman joined the Navy. With Friday being the last day the park would be open, Heilman said, they booked a separate hotel and were forced to amend their itinerary.
“We haven’t been to Disney in quite some time, and we’re all big Star Wars fans, and experiencing this is an opportunity you can’t miss,” Heilman said. “It’s like mecca for Star War fans. It’s a must-see, once-in-your-lifetime experience.”
Heilman, 21, and his brother Garrett Heilman, 18, broke off from their family and spent the majority of their time inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Dressed in a beige Jedi tunic and carrying a red Darth Vader lightsaber, Garrett strategized with Devan, who held his blue Anakin Skywalker lightsaber with pride, about how they’d pose in front of the Millennium Falcon for photos.
Then two park cast members outfitted as Stormtroopers zeroed in on Garrett, his toy weapon emanating the red light of the Sith.
“Very impressive. I’m sure the supreme leader would agree,” the soldiers told him. “Your allegiance is noted.”
Exiting the Star Wars land and heading back into Critter Country, one boy sang out loud, “Coronavirus can’t stop us; if it does we’ll kick its butt!”
Disneyland’s magic, however, didn’t appear to extend beyond its gates. Though Disney said it would continue to pay cast members during the shutdown, outside the park, uncertainty lingered for service workers employed by restaurants and hotels along Harbor Boulevard.
The effects were visible Friday along the boulevard, which is typically congested with foot and vehicular traffic throughout the day.
The area looked more like a ghost town Friday afternoon. Scattered motorists zoomed by. Hotel shuttles occasionally passed to unload a handful of guests. Sidewalks were mostly empty.
Disneyland’s closure marks only the fourth time it has fully suspended operations in its history — the others being after 9-11, in the wake of the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and the national day of mourning after President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963.
“Disney is our business,” said a longtime Candy Cane Inn employee who wasn’t authorized to talk to reporters.
The family-owned hotel, which offers a complimentary shuttle to the park for guests not interested in walking less than a mile down the boulevard, immediately felt the effects of Disneyland’s closure.
The front desk employee was slammed Thursday with calls from tourists who wanted to cancel their reservations. By Friday, only 12 of the 171 rooms were occupied.
Worry over the slowdown was mutual among service workers in the area — some were already hearing they would be transferred to another location or have their hours cut; others were encouraged to take extended vacation time.
Octavio Rodriguez, 48, recently quit another hotel job to work at Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites, a bigger hotel in a prime location across from the walkway toward Disneyland.
As a new employee, he’s tasked with handling laundry, but the Westminster resident said he planned to apply for a front desk position once there was an opening. With 25 years of experience in the industry, he knew he could move up.
Instead, he’s being forced to move on to Plan B.
“I’m basically visiting previous jobs, trying to go back to those places, which [are] farther from Disneyland,” Rodriguez said Friday afternoon while pulling white sheets out of the dryer. The day before, he and his wife had spent about $300 at Ross and Food 4 Less for groceries, clothes and other necessities, not thinking they’d be tight on finances soon after.
The gravity of the situation didn’t hit him until one of his daughters told him his hotel could shut down.
“‘What are you talking about?’ I was like, ‘What do you mean the hotel is going to shut down?’ ” Rodriguez recalled. “That’s right — all of the customers, we get from there. My imagination is it’s going to empty the area, empty the street. There’s going to be no people around this.”
Rodriguez had been so focused on his work, he said, that he didn’t realize business had started to slow down. His son told him that his school, Anaheim High, would also be temporarily closing.
“He just told me starting tomorrow, no class for the next two weeks,” Rodriguez said.
Co-worker Araceli Montes, a cleaner for the hotel, tried to focus all her energy on her work for the day. Her daughter was also recently told she’d have to stay home from school.
“I’d be lying to you if I said I had a plan in mind,” the 39-year-old single mother said in Spanish as she prepared to mop the bathroom floor.


latimes--2020-03-14--California casinos asked to make changes as some card rooms close due to coronavirus outbreak

The action was intense Friday at a Baccarat table inside the Red Hawk Casino as eight players , most of them elderly , sat elbow to elbow placing bets ahead of the next deal .
Nearby , hundreds of other betters worked the slot machines in the massive tribal-run gambling hall as cigarette smoke and the jangling sound of jackpots hung in the air .
Recognizing the health risks of such activity during the coronavirus outbreak , six of California ’ s largest card clubs said Saturday they plan to temporarily close their doors , while other gambling venues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Casino , face new state guidance aimed at preventing the spread of the virus .
The doors are being shut this weekend at the Commerce Casino in Commerce , the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens , Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens and Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood , the businesses said in a statement , noting the actions came after Gov .
Gavin Newsom recommended a halt to public gatherings of 250 people or more and social distancing of six feet between people in public .
“ In light of the Governor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature of this unprecedented threat to public health , the casinos will close operations beginning this weekend , ” they said in a written statement .
“ This closure will be temporary and all plan to re-open as soon as possible based upon the best available information .
We believe that every business should put public health and the safety of people above profits … '' Also closing Saturday were two San Jose card clubs , Casino M8trix and Bay 101 Casino , with the latter saying it will be shuttered at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a big player in the state economy , generating about $ 8 billion annually after winnings , according to state officials .
The four Los Angeles County card clubs that are closing employ 8,000 workers and serve more than 20,000 patrons per day .
California also is home to 63 casinos operated by Native American tribes .
The businesses can pose health challenges at a time of virus pandemic , health experts say .
There are particular concerns at casinos that allow smoking and operate slot machines , attracting a large elderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at greater risk , ” said Elisa K. Tong , a general internist with UC Davis Health , adding that “ smoking harms the immune system and can make the body less successful at fighting disease.
” While many public gathering spots including concert halls and amusement parks have been shut down or subject to restrictions to prevent spread of the coronavirus , crowds continue to flock to casinos .
For tribes that operate casinos , including the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians , federal law provides sovereignty that limits the ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operate on Indian land , according to legal experts .
“ They are not bound to follow any state decree unless Congress orders them to , ” said gambling law expert I. Nelson Rose , professor emeritus at Whittier Law School .
“ Tribes could , of course , voluntarily agree , similar to what Disneyland did.
” “ We ’ ve been meeting with our partners in our tribal nations , ” Newsom said .
“ The complexity of their unique circumstances requires additional conversation , a different kind of engagement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in those conversations and engagement.
” But new guidelines released late Friday urge all gambling venues to limit the number of customers in single rooms or equivalent space to 250 or fewer , and increase the frequency of cleaningchips , shuffling machines and playing cards .
The guidance also asks gambling halls to make sure social distancing standards are met for non-family members and eliminate marketing that targets vulnerable populations and people at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 .
State officials acknowledge the sovereignty issues but hope tribal casinos will follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are keeping their casinos operating , while taking other actions to address public concerns , including stepped up disinfecting of gambling equipment .
The new state guidelines are being followed at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln , which is operated by the United Indian Community , said spokesman Douglas Elmets .
The casino is consulting with the National Indian Gaming Commission on best practices to keep patrons safe , and is working with government agencies to pursue “ concrete steps to confront this threat in a responsible but rational manner as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Elmets said .
Though the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians is keeping its doors open to customers at its resort casino in Temecula , which it boasts is the largest on the West Coast with more than 5,000 slot machines and 158 table games , concerts at the venue by Ana Gabriel , Chicago and Pitbull were recently postponed indefinitely .
“ Pechanga stands with the community , state and nation in heeding the advice of public health officials and the Governor in doing what we can to slow the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a written statement .
“ The safety of our guests and Team Member family is always our first priority.
” Tribal officials with Pechanga and Shingle Springs did not respond Saturday to questions about whether they would follow the new state guidance .
California tribes wield significant political influence at the state Capitol , spending millions of dollars annually on campaign contributions and lobbyists .
Tribal casinos operators contributed more than $ 250,000 to Newsom ’ s 2018 campaign for governor , with eight tribes giving the maximum $ 29,200 each including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Springs Band of Miwok Indians and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians .
At the Red Hawk Casino in Shingle Springs , patrons scoffed at the idea that gambling halls should be shuttered , with many saying they are willing to bet that the news on the virus is overblown .
“ I don ’ t panic and I will be back , ” one man said as he left the casino .
A woman who identified herself as Penny and who made the hourlong trip from Elk Grove , said crowded shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their doors .
“ I come here three times a week , ” she said .
“ Don ’ t shut my place down .
”

The Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens is one of a half dozen temporarily shutting down in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The action was intense Friday at a baccarat table inside the Red Hawk Casino as eight players, most of them elderly, sat elbow to elbow placing bets ahead of the next deal.
Nearby, hundreds of other bettors worked the slot machines in the huge tribal-run gambling hall as cigarette smoke and the jangling sound of jackpots hung in the air.
For the record: The original version of this story incorrectly said that California’s 86 licensed card clubs have 8,000 employees and draw more than 20,000 visitors per day. The employee and visitor figures apply to the four card clubs closing in L.A. County.
Recognizing the health risks of such activity during the coronavirus outbreak, six of California’s largest card clubs and one Native American casino said Saturday that they plan to temporarily close their doors, while other gambling venues that remain open, including the Red Hawk Casino, face new state guidance aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.
One of the six card clubs, Commerce Casino in Commerce, said Saturday that it had also learned that an employee had tested presumptive positive for COVID-19.
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Along with Commerce Casino, doors are being shut this weekend at the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens, Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens and Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, the businesses said in a statement, noting the actions came after Gov. Gavin Newsom recommended a halt to public gatherings of 250 people or more and social distancing of six feet between people in public.
“In light of the Governor’s directive, as well as the nature of this unprecedented threat to public health, the casinos will close operations beginning this weekend,” the four casinos said in a written statement. “This closure will be temporary and all plan to re-open as soon as possible based upon the best available information. We believe that every business should put public health and the safety of people above profits …”
The plan to close Commerce Casino at noon Saturday was made before its operators learned that a new employee tested presumptive positive for COVID-19, said spokesman Eric Rose, who noted that the employee is receiving medical treatment and has self-quarantined.
Also closing Saturday were two San Jose card clubs, Casino M8trix and Bay 101 Casino, with the latter saying it will be shuttered at least until April 4.
Late Saturday, the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula announced it was also temporarily closing effective Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic through the end of the month “for the health and safety of our Team Members, Tribal Members, and guests,” said Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. No employees at the resort have tested positive for COVID-19, Macarro said.
The gambling industry is a big player in the state economy, generating about $8 billion annually after winnings, according to state officials. The four Los Angeles County card clubs that are closing employ 8,000 workers and serve more than 20,000 patrons per day.
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California also is home to 63 casinos operated by Native American tribes. The businesses can pose health challenges at a time of virus pandemic, health experts say.
There are particular concerns at casinos that allow smoking and operate slot machines, attracting a large elderly clientele.
“Certainly the elderly are at greater risk,” said Elisa K. Tong, a general internist with UC Davis Health, adding that “smoking harms the immune system and can make the body less successful at fighting disease.”
While many public gathering spots including concert halls and amusement parks have been shut down or subject to restrictions to prevent spread of the coronavirus, crowds continue to flock to casinos.
For tribes that operate casinos, including the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, federal law provides sovereignty that limits the ability of the state to dictate how they operate on Indian land, according to legal experts.
“They are not bound to follow any state decree unless Congress orders them to,” said gambling law expert I. Nelson Rose, professor emeritus at Whittier Law School. “Tribes could, of course, voluntarily agree, similar to what Disneyland did.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom acknowledged Thursday that the tribal casinos require special consideration.
“We’ve been meeting with our partners in our tribal nations,” Newsom said. “The complexity of their unique circumstances requires additional conversation, a different kind of engagement, and in real time we’re in those conversations and engagement.”
But new guidelines released late Friday urge all gambling venues to limit the number of customers in single rooms or equivalent space to 250 or fewer, and increase the frequency of cleaning chips, shuffling machines and playing cards.
The guidance also asks gambling halls to make sure social distancing standards are met for non-family members and eliminate marketing that targets vulnerable populations and people at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
State officials acknowledge the sovereignty issues but hope tribal casinos will follow their guidance.
So far, most tribes are keeping their casinos operating, while taking other actions to address public concerns, including stepped-up disinfecting of gambling equipment.
The new state guidelines are being followed at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, which is operated by the United Indian Community, said spokesman Douglas Elmets.
The casino is consulting with the National Indian Gaming Commission on best practices to keep patrons safe, and is working with government agencies to pursue “concrete steps to confront this threat in a responsible but rational manner as we learn more about the virus,” Elmets said.
Tribal officials withShingle Springs did not respond Saturday to questions about whether they would follow the new state guidance.
California tribes wield significant political influence at the state Capitol, spending millions of dollars annually on campaign contributions and lobbyists. Tribal casino operators contributed more than $250,000 to Newsom’s 2018 campaign for governor, with eight tribes giving the maximum $29,200 each including the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
At the Red Hawk Casino in Shingle Springs, patrons scoffed at the idea that gambling halls should be shuttered, with many saying they are willing to bet that the news on the virus is overblown.
“I don’t panic and I will be back,” one man said as he left the casino. A woman who identified herself as Penny and who made the hourlong trip from Elk Grove, said crowded shopping malls should be shuttered before casinos close their doors.
“I come here three times a week,” she said. “Don’t shut my place down.”


latimes--2020-03-14--Former Coachella Valley nursing home patient has coronavirus as spread continues

A former patient at a Coachella Valley nursing home has been infected with the coronavirus , prompting officials to test workers and patients at the facility .
The Riverside County public health department said the patient spent time at Rancho Mirage Health and Rehabilitation Center before being transferred to a hospital .
The source of the infection remains unclear .
But officials said the testing will occur as quickly as possible and anyone who tests positive will be isolated .
“ Quick action is required when we are dealing with a vulnerable population like this , ” said Dr. Cameron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a statement .
“ By testing immediately , we can learn whether the illness has spread to others and take appropriate action.
” Riverside County declared a a state of emergency last week .
It has 14 confirmed cases .
In a statement released through the county , a representative for the facility said : “ Our thoughts and prayers are with this patient and the family .
We wish the patient a full recovery .
Our top priority is the health , well-being and safety of our patients and employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all CDC precautions and recommendations.
” Orange County has of coronavirus that appears to have spread through the community as the total number of presumed cases rose to 13 .
The Orange County Health Care Agency said a woman and is now hospitalized in stable condition .
No other details were provided .

Riverside County declared a a state of emergency because of the coronavirus last week.
A former patient at a Coachella Valley nursing home has been infected with the coronavirus, prompting officials to test workers and patients at the facility.
The Riverside County public health department said the patient spent time at Rancho Mirage Health and Rehabilitation Center before being transferred to a hospital.
The source of the infection remains unclear. But officials said the testing will occur as quickly as possible and anyone who tests positive will be isolated.
“Quick action is required when we are dealing with a vulnerable population like this,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer, in a statement. “By testing immediately, we can learn whether the illness has spread to others and take appropriate action.”
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Riverside County declared a a state of emergency last week. It has 14 confirmed cases.
In a statement released through the county, a representative for the facility said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with this patient and the family. We wish the patient a full recovery. Our top priority is the health, well-being and safety of our patients and employees. As such, we are following all CDC precautions and recommendations.”
Orange County has reported its first case of coronavirus that appears to have spread through the community as the total number of presumed cases rose to 13.
The Orange County Health Care Agency said a woman acquired the virus locally and is now hospitalized in stable condition. No other details were provided.
Los Angeles County has 40 confirmed cases.


latimes--2020-03-14--Coronavirus has Silicon Valley on lockdown: Unprecedented restrictions, empty shelves, quiet streets

On the night after a historic push in the San Francisco Bay Area to shrink and even end all gatherings to rein in the spreading coronavirus , the region seemed to go into hiding .
The crazed rush at the Safeway in Millbrae , near the San Francisco International Airport , had finally ebbed late Friday , with shoppers in masks picking through boxes to find the last few packages of toilet paper .
A nearby Baskin-Robbins had stopped giving out ice cream samples .
And a cellphone store farther down Broadway posted a sign promising that its door handles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Farther south , in Silicon Valley , workers were settling into a new reality — no more free food from their tech cafeterias , forcing them to order in .
The streets emptied out ; U.S. 101 was free and clear .
And at Katana Sushi & Sake in Sunnyvale , normally bustling on a Friday night , just one-third of the tables were occupied — making it easy for diners to stay far more than six feet away from any other table This is what Silicon Valley looks like amid an unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
Santa Clara County is in the midst of the outbreak , with more than 90 cases and two deaths reported so far .
The coronavirus has affected many areas of life .
One San Jose firefighter has tested positive , as have three airport TSA screeners .
On Saturday , officials revealed a Stanford student had , prompting new safety measures on campus .
“ This student is now self-isolating .
Our teams are currently doing contact tracing and are working to inform and provide guidance to all close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible , ” Stanford said in a .
Calling the “ one of the most historic public health challenges of our time , ” the Santa Clara County health officer on Friday issued an of 35 or more unless organizers warn attendees that it poses a heightened risk of infection and banning all public and private gatherings of 100 or more .
The order recommended that all gatherings be canceled .
With the , the order by Dr. Sara Cody was the most stringent ban on public gatherings across California .
Santa Clara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state , reporting two deaths .
The county superintendent of schools also ordered the in Santa Clara County beginning March 16 through April 3 .
“ Based on these data and patterns of disease that we see around the world , we know that the outbreak of COVID-19 in our county will accelerate .
And we anticipate many , many more cases in the days and weeks to come , ” Cody said .
“ These measures are designed to slow the spread of disease and preserve critical healthcare capacity and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The order was sure to have a dramatic effect on restaurants , theaters and bars .
Cody said the orders and recommendations apply to any event that brings together people in a confined indoor or outdoor space .
San Francisco ’ s health officer has issued a public health order banning all non-essential events of 100 or more people .
Restaurants that have a capacity of more than 100 people can continue operating if they reduce their occupancy in half to allow for adequate social distancing .
For instance , a restaurant with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it reduces its occupancy to 75 .
“ We hope that this order will encourage people to skip social gatherings for the time being , and promote telecommuting and social distancing .
Together , we can fight the spread of coronavirus , reduce harm to our community , and protect the most vulnerable people , ” said Dr. Grant Colfax , San Francisco ’ s director of health .
There are five requirements that hosts of public and private gatherings between 35 and 100 people must comply with in Santa Clara County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet from each other • Make soap and water available for attendees to wash their hands , or alcohol-based hand sanitizer • People hosting gatherings must alert prospective attendees 24 hours before that the events post a heightened risk of coronavirus transmission , and older adults and those with health conditions are at serious risk and should not attend • For ticketed events , hosts must allow prospective attendees to cancel their attendance at no charge and refund them • Hosts must clean surfaces with disinfecting wipes and other standard cleaners .

On the night after a historic push in the San Francisco Bay Area to shrink and even end all gatherings to rein in the spreading coronavirus, the region seemed to go into hiding.
The crazed rush at the Safeway in Millbrae, near the San Francisco International Airport, had finally ebbed late Friday, with shoppers in masks picking through boxes to find the last few packages of toilet paper.
A nearby Baskin-Robbins had stopped giving out ice cream samples. And a cellphone store farther down Broadway posted a sign promising that its door handles were sanitized four times a day. Farther south, in Silicon Valley, workers were settling into a new reality — no more free food from their tech cafeterias, forcing them to order in.
The streets emptied out; U.S. 101 was free and clear. And at Katana Sushi & Sake in Sunnyvale, normally bustling on a Friday night, just one-third of the tables were occupied — making it easy for diners to stay far more than six feet away from any other table
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This is what Silicon Valley looks like amid an unprecedented canceling of public gatherings ordered by public health officials because of the virus.
A serious outbreak
Santa Clara County is in the midst of the outbreak, with more than 90 cases and two deaths reported so far.
Cases
91 Total cases
38 Hospitalized
2 Deaths
The coronavirus has affected many areas of life. One San Jose firefighter has tested positive, as have three airport TSA screeners.
On Saturday, officials revealed a Stanford student had tested positive for the virus , prompting new safety measures on campus. “This student is now self-isolating. Our teams are currently doing contact tracing and are working to inform and provide guidance to all close contacts of the individual as soon as possible,” Stanford said in a statement .
Unprecedented restrictions
Calling the coronavirus outbreak “one of the most historic public health challenges of our time,” the Santa Clara County health officer on Friday issued an aggressive ban on public gatherings of 35 or more unless organizers warn attendees that it poses a heightened risk of infection and banning all public and private gatherings of 100 or more.
The order recommended that all gatherings be canceled.
With the virus hitting Silicon Valley hard , the order by Dr. Sara Cody was the most stringent ban on public gatherings across California. Santa Clara County is the worst hit county across the state, reporting two deaths.
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The county superintendent of schools also ordered the closure of public schools in Santa Clara County beginning March 16 through April 3.
“Based on these data and patterns of disease that we see around the world, we know that the outbreak of COVID-19 in our county will accelerate. And we anticipate many, many more cases in the days and weeks to come,” Cody said.
“These measures are designed to slow the spread of disease and preserve critical healthcare capacity and other essential services,” she said.
The order was sure to have a dramatic effect on restaurants, theaters and bars.
Cody said the orders and recommendations apply to any event that brings together people in a confined indoor or outdoor space.
San Francisco’s health officer has issued a public health order banning all non-essential events of 100 or more people. Restaurants that have a capacity of more than 100 people can continue operating if they reduce their occupancy in half to allow for adequate social distancing. For instance, a restaurant with an occupancy of 150 can continue operating if it reduces its occupancy to 75.
“We hope that this order will encourage people to skip social gatherings for the time being, and promote telecommuting and social distancing. Together, we can fight the spread of coronavirus, reduce harm to our community, and protect the most vulnerable people,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of health.
Santa Clara County requirements
There are five requirements that hosts of public and private gatherings between 35 and 100 people must comply with in Santa Clara County:


latimes--2020-03-14--Stanford University undergraduate has the coronavirus, sparking new restrictions

A Stanford University undergraduate tested positive for the coronavirus , prompting more actions on campus .
“ This student is now self-isolating .
Our teams are currently doing contact tracing and are working to inform and provide guidance to all close contacts of the individual as soon as possible , ” Stanford said in a statement .
The university already went to online classes last week .
Now , the university said it was taking more actions to restrict those who remain on campus .
A big concern is dining halls for students , which the university said is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing.
” At dining halls , students “ will be given pre-filled to-go containers and bottled or canned drinks .
Students will then need to leave the dining hall and eat outdoors , in their dorm room or elsewhere .
There will be limitations on the numbers of students allowed in the serving area at any one time.
” Calling the coronavirus outbreak “ one of the most historic public health challenges of our time , ” the health officer for Silicon Valley has issued a new aggressive ban on public gatherings — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizers warn attendees that it poses a heightened risk of infection and banning all public and private gatherings of 100 or more .
The order also recommended all gatherings be canceled .
With the coronavirus spreading fast and hitting Silicon Valley hard , the order by Santa Clara County health officer Dr. Sara Cody was the most stringent ban on public gatherings across California .
Santa Clara County is the worst hit county across the state , reporting two deaths .
The county superintendent of schools also ordered the closure of public schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through April 3 .
“ Based on these data and patterns of disease that we see around the world , we know that the outbreak of COVID-19 in our county will accelerate .
And we anticipate many , many more cases in the days and weeks to come , ” the health officer said .
“ These measures are designed to slow the spread of disease and preserve critical health-care capacity and other essential services , ” Cody said .
The order will likely have a dramatic effect on restaurants , theaters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or convening that brings together people in a single room or space at the same time , such as an auditorium , stadium , arena , conference room , meeting hall , cafeteria , restaurant , theater , bar or any other confined indoor or outdoor space , Cody said .
There are five requirements that hosts of public and private gatherings between 35 and 100 people must comply with : • Keep attendees at least 6 feet from each other • Make soap and water available for attendees to wash their hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosting gatherings must alert prospective attendees 24 hours before that the events post a heightened risk of coronavirus transmission , and older adults and those with health conditions are at serious risk and should not attend • For ticketed events , hosts must allow prospective attendees to cancel their attendance at no charge and refund them • Hosts must clean surfaces with disinfecting wipes and other standard cleaners .

A Stanford University undergraduate tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting more actions on campus.
“This student is now self-isolating. Our teams are currently doing contact tracing and are working to inform and provide guidance to all close contacts of the individual as soon as possible,” Stanford said in a statement.
The university already went to online classes last week. Now, the university said it was taking more actions to restrict those who remain on campus. A big concern is dining halls for students, which the university said is “fundamentally incompatible with the concept of social distancing.”
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At dining halls, students “will be given pre-filled to-go containers and bottled or canned drinks. Students will then need to leave the dining hall and eat outdoors, in their dorm room or elsewhere. There will be limitations on the numbers of students allowed in the serving area at any one time.”
Calling the coronavirus outbreak “one of the most historic public health challenges of our time,” the health officer for Silicon Valley has issued a new aggressive ban on public gatherings — restricting gatherings of 35 or more unless organizers warn attendees that it poses a heightened risk of infection and banning all public and private gatherings of 100 or more.
The order also recommended all gatherings be canceled.
With the coronavirus spreading fast and hitting Silicon Valley hard, the order by Santa Clara County health officer Dr. Sara Cody was the most stringent ban on public gatherings across California. Santa Clara County is the worst hit county across the state, reporting two deaths.
The county superintendent of schools also ordered the closure of public schools in Santa Clara County beginning March 16 through April 3.
“Based on these data and patterns of disease that we see around the world, we know that the outbreak of COVID-19 in our county will accelerate. And we anticipate many, many more cases in the days and weeks to come,” the health officer said.
“These measures are designed to slow the spread of disease and preserve critical health-care capacity and other essential services,” Cody said.
Advertisement
The order will likely have a dramatic effect on restaurants, theaters and bars.
A gathering is any event or convening that brings together people in a single room or space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, conference room, meeting hall, cafeteria, restaurant, theater, bar or any other confined indoor or outdoor space, Cody said.
There are five requirements that hosts of public and private gatherings between 35 and 100 people must comply with:


latimes--2020-03-14--Border Patrol closes six lanes at San Ysidro border crossing

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has closed down six vehicle lanes at the San Ysidro Port of Entry until further notice .
The closures are not related to the coronavirus pandemic , a CBP representative confirmed , but part of heightened security measures related to possible court-ordered changes to the so-called Remain in Mexico program .
But any changes in that program would appear to be far off .
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed a San Diego district court injunction that would have lifted the program , which forces asylum seekers to stay in Mexico for the duration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay will remain in place for the duration of the legal challenge , which could last more than a year .
Before the Supreme Court ’ s announcement , the CBP had been preparing for the injunction to possibly go into effect in California and Arizona .
Eighty active-duty troops were dispatched to the San Diego border to help with security measures in case a large group of immigrants tried to force their way into the country .
On Tuesday , the CBP temporarily suspended operations on six of the nearly 30 active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Entry to “ install and preposition port-hardening infrastructure equipment in preparation for increasing security practices , ” said CBP spokeswoman Angelica DeCima .
And late Wednesday , the CBP and the Department of Defense ’ s Crisis Response Force held a training exercise at the port of entry .
Commuters who were waiting to cross into the U.S. were notified of the exercise through a loudspeaker .
The border crossing was interrupted for about 15 minutes , according to witnesses .
DeCima later confirmed that the lanes would remain closed until further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will increase wait times to cross the Tijuana-San Diego border .
“ They are going to increase , but we can not predict how much , ” said Gustavo de la Fuente , executive director with the Smart Border Coalition .
It is unclear how long the military will remain at the border .
A Department of Defense spokesman said that the deployment was supposed to be for two weeks .
He did not know how the Supreme Court ’ s action on Remain in Mexico might affect the deployment .
Mendoza writes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff writer Wendy Fry contributed to this report .

Cars line up to enter the United States from Mexico at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has closed down six vehicle lanes at the San Ysidro Port of Entry until further notice.
The closures are not related to the coronavirus pandemic, a CBP representative confirmed, but part of heightened security measures related to possible court-ordered changes to the so-called Remain in Mexico program.
But any changes in that program would appear to be far off. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed a San Diego district court injunction that would have lifted the program, which forces asylum seekers to stay in Mexico for the duration of their U.S. immigration cases. The stay will remain in place for the duration of the legal challenge, which could last more than a year.
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Before the Supreme Court’s announcement, the CBP had been preparing for the injunction to possibly go into effect in California and Arizona. Eighty active-duty troops were dispatched to the San Diego border to help with security measures in case a large group of immigrants tried to force their way into the country.
On Tuesday, the CBP temporarily suspended operations on six of the nearly 30 active vehicle lanes at the San Ysidro Port of Entry to “install and preposition port-hardening infrastructure equipment in preparation for increasing security practices,” said CBP spokeswoman Angelica DeCima.
And late Wednesday, the CBP and the Department of Defense’s Crisis Response Force held a training exercise at the port of entry. Commuters who were waiting to cross into the U.S. were notified of the exercise through a loudspeaker. The border crossing was interrupted for about 15 minutes, according to witnesses.
DeCima later confirmed that the lanes would remain closed until further notice, which the business sector anticipates will increase wait times to cross the Tijuana-San Diego border.
“They are going to increase, but we cannot predict how much,” said Gustavo de la Fuente, executive director with the Smart Border Coalition.
It is unclear how long the military will remain at the border. A Department of Defense spokesman said that the deployment was supposed to be for two weeks. He did not know how the Supreme Court’s action on Remain in Mexico might affect the deployment.
Mendoza writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. UT staff writer Wendy Fry contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-14--Column: Coronavirus and the week that changed everything — for now

We ’ re certainly not unfamiliar with disruption in California , where the persistent threat of earthquakes , drought , flooding and wildfires looms in our consciousness .
But we ’ ve learned how to cope with all of that , more or less .
We bolt houses , ration water , clear brush and exert at least a small measure of control over our fates .
The virus is different .
In Los Angeles , where horror movies are made , this one has come to life .
It ’ s a stalker , a prowler lurking in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A threat to one and all , though how big a one we can ’ t say .
There ’ s so much we don ’ t know , which means all we can do is exercise extreme caution .
Schools are closed , sporting events have been canceled , employees are being sent home , the stock market has plummeted , and the number of infected people just keeps rising .
The Los Angeles we all knew has been temporarily and indefinitely altered .
And we ’ re all worried about whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our bunkers .
COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , has thrown us off our rhythms and routines .
We are a practical , problem-solving people , heavily invested in the known universe and thoroughly unprepared for what has visited us now .
In normal times we know the rain will eventually fall and then not stop , and we know disappointment will spread from L.A. to Lake Elsinore if the Lakers and Dodgers don ’ t win it all .
But normal is no more .
The Lakers and Dodgers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we suddenly don ’ t know if it ’ s safe to leave our homes .
We don ’ t even know when it will be safe , or if it ’ s crazy to go to a movie theater , risking the possibility of sitting in a row where someone just sneezed into a bucket of popcorn .
We ’ re not sure whether to rush to the doctor ’ s office with a mild cough , or whether that will surely expose us to the virus we probably don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re willing to brave , of course .
Nothing , including all the calls for social distancing , can keep us from momentary insanity as we wait in long lines at stores , stocking up on staples as if North Korean missiles are headed our way .
But increasingly we find ourselves trapped in our homes with loved ones , and let ’ s be honest — the closeness is a mixed blessing .
There will be fights over remotes , and sooner rather than later , all the frozen goods from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same .
The changes in our lives are big and small .
I went to the Las Palmas Senior Center in Hollywood the other day , where a woman had just won a Bingo game and had her pick of prizes .
She chose the last remaining container of antibacterial wipes .
A pediatrician at a South L.A. clinic told me that coronavirus test kits had just arrived , but so far they haven ’ t been needed , luckily , despite a panicked call from a parent about possible symptoms .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that to change .
Oswaldo “ Ozzie ” Vazquez , a Harvard freshman I wrote about last year when his acceptance made his mom the happiest discount store clerk in Los Angeles , talked to me Friday as he was preparing to return unexpectedly to Los Angeles after the dream school he worked so hard to get into suspended on-campus classes .
Ozzie said he was hoping fora quick return to school .
But who knows ?
When I reached skid row physician Susan Partovi , she was going over her checklist of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and in tents with multiple residents , it ’ s head next to toes , so as to avoid face-to-face contact .
Marian Sachs , a 101-year-old resident of a retirement home in Pasadena , told me her family suggested she move in with a son for a while to lower her risk of exposure .
But she didn ’ t want the hassle of a move to Santa Paula , and she showed me the elbow bump greeting she and her friends are now using to avoid spreading germs .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gene Dorio was bracing Friday morning for the possibility of more testing because of a reported case of that community ’ s first coronavirus patient .
“ I haven ’ t ordered the test on anyone yet , but I think they ’ re going to come flying in soon , ” Dorio said .
It is not yet possible to calculate the economic toll this pandemic will take on Southern California .
But we already had a full-blown housing and homelessness crisis before the coronavirus arrived .
It ’ s safe to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the harder the impact will be .
Restaurants and hotels are already getting hammered , and employees without sick leave may not just lose hours but end up without easy access to healthcare .
Juan Gutierrez , a guide at the Griffith Observatory , and his wife , Emily Koss , a private school teacher , have a 1-year-old and just got news of some major disruptions Thursday .
The Observatory has closed until further notice , so Gutierrez will be temporarily out of work , and potentially without health insurance if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ ll have to switch to teaching online rather than in person .
“ We ’ re deeply concerned about not having health insurance for him , ” Koss said of her husband .
“ He has some medications that he wouldn ’ t be able to pay for out of pocket.
” One thing we can all do is try to keep things in perspective .
The health risk is scary and the uncertainty unsettling , but this is likely a disruption rather than a derailment .
I thought about Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the basement of his building in Hungary during World War II bombing runs on Budapest , surviving on occasional scraps of bread smeared with lard .
He fled Hungary a little more than a decade later , and worked for decades as a jazz musician in the U.S. Hideg told me on Friday that he ’ s trying to survive the coronavirus and trying to hold onto his apartment in the Hollywood area , where his rent is roughly the same as his monthly income .
“ I feel like I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who once told me that although life was a struggle financially , his love of music made it “ a beautiful struggle.
” This is no 9/11 , of course ; that was an entirely different kind of threat .
But I recall how easy it was in the immediate aftermath to feel like nothing would ever be the same .
But before long , in the streets of New York and beyond , there was a sense of resolve , strength and community .
Just what we need now .
There will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be unrestricted travel .
There will be social un-distancing .
This too shall pass .

We’re certainly not unfamiliar with disruption in California, where the persistent threat of earthquakes, drought, flooding and wildfires looms in our consciousness.
But we’ve learned how to cope with all of that, more or less. We bolt houses, ration water, clear brush and exert at least a small measure of control over our fates.
The virus is different.
In Los Angeles, where horror movies are made, this one has come to life. It’s a stalker, a prowler lurking in the yard, a potential serial killer. A threat to one and all, though how big a one we can’t say.
Advertisement
There’s so much we don’t know, which means all we can do is exercise extreme caution. Schools are closed, sporting events have been canceled, employees are being sent home, the stock market has plummeted, and the number of infected people just keeps rising. The Los Angeles we all knew has been temporarily and indefinitely altered.
And we’re all worried about whether there’s enough toilet paper in our bunkers.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has thrown us off our rhythms and routines. We are a practical, problem-solving people, heavily invested in the known universe and thoroughly unprepared for what has visited us now.
Uncertainty.
In normal times we know the rain will eventually fall and then not stop, and we know disappointment will spread from L.A. to Lake Elsinore if the Lakers and Dodgers don’t win it all.
But normal is no more.
The Lakers and Dodgers have gone dark, indefinitely, and we suddenly don’t know if it’s safe to leave our homes.
We don’t even know when it will be safe, or if it’s crazy to go to a movie theater, risking the possibility of sitting in a row where someone just sneezed into a bucket of popcorn.
Advertisement
We’re not sure whether to rush to the doctor’s office with a mild cough, or whether that will surely expose us to the virus we probably don’t now have.
There are things we’re willing to brave, of course. Nothing, including all the calls for social distancing, can keep us from momentary insanity as we wait in long lines at stores, stocking up on staples as if North Korean missiles are headed our way.
But increasingly we find ourselves trapped in our homes with loved ones, and let’s be honest — the closeness is a mixed blessing. There will be fights over remotes, and sooner rather than later, all the frozen goods from Trader Joe’s will taste the same.
The changes in our lives are big and small. I went to the Las Palmas Senior Center in Hollywood the other day, where a woman had just won a Bingo game and had her pick of prizes. She chose the last remaining container of antibacterial wipes.
A pediatrician at a South L.A. clinic told me that coronavirus test kits had just arrived, but so far they haven’t been needed, luckily, despite a panicked call from a parent about possible symptoms. He and his colleagues are bracing themselves for that to change.
Oswaldo “Ozzie” Vazquez, a Harvard freshman I wrote about last year when his acceptance made his mom the happiest discount store clerk in Los Angeles, talked to me Friday as he was preparing to return unexpectedly to Los Angeles after the dream school he worked so hard to get into suspended on-campus classes. Ozzie said he was hoping fora quick return to school. But who knows?
When I reached skid row physician Susan Partovi, she was going over her checklist of advice for homeless patients — use sanitizer, and in tents with multiple residents, it’s head next to toes, so as to avoid face-to-face contact.
Marian Sachs, a 101-year-old resident of a retirement home in Pasadena, told me her family suggested she move in with a son for a while to lower her risk of exposure. But she didn’t want the hassle of a move to Santa Paula, and she showed me the elbow bump greeting she and her friends are now using to avoid spreading germs.
In Santa Clarita, geriatric house call doctor Gene Dorio was bracing Friday morning for the possibility of more testing because of a reported case of that community’s first coronavirus patient.
“I haven’t ordered the test on anyone yet, but I think they’re going to come flying in soon,” Dorio said.
It is not yet possible to calculate the economic toll this pandemic will take on Southern California. But we already had a full-blown housing and homelessness crisis before the coronavirus arrived.
It’s safe to assume that the lower the income level, the harder the impact will be. Restaurants and hotels are already getting hammered, and employees without sick leave may not just lose hours but end up without easy access to healthcare.
Juan Gutierrez, a guide at the Griffith Observatory, and his wife, Emily Koss, a private school teacher, have a 1-year-old and just got news of some major disruptions Thursday.
The Observatory has closed until further notice, so Gutierrez will be temporarily out of work, and potentially without health insurance if the closure lasts. Koss learned that she’ll have to switch to teaching online rather than in person.
“We’re deeply concerned about not having health insurance for him,” Koss said of her husband. “He has some medications that he wouldn’t be able to pay for out of pocket.”
One thing we can all do is try to keep things in perspective. The health risk is scary and the uncertainty unsettling, but this is likely a disruption rather than a derailment.
I thought about Steve Hideg, 88, who was trapped in the basement of his building in Hungary during World War II bombing runs on Budapest, surviving on occasional scraps of bread smeared with lard. He fled Hungary a little more than a decade later, and worked for decades as a jazz musician in the U.S.
Hideg told me on Friday that he’s trying to survive the coronavirus and trying to hold onto his apartment in the Hollywood area, where his rent is roughly the same as his monthly income.
“I feel like I can survive anything,” said Hideg, who once told me that although life was a struggle financially, his love of music made it “a beautiful struggle.”
This is no 9/11, of course; that was an entirely different kind of threat. But I recall how easy it was in the immediate aftermath to feel like nothing would ever be the same.
But before long, in the streets of New York and beyond, there was a sense of resolve, strength and community. Just what we need now.
Try to remain calm.
There will be baseball and basketball. There will be unrestricted travel. There will be social un-distancing.
This too shall pass.
Steve.lopez@latimes.com