latimes--2020-03-10--On a new podcast about Asian American identity, we talk about the struggle to feel we're 'enough'

When I was 15 years old and growing up in Tennessee , some popular girls asked me to play the character Ching in my high school ’ s production of “ Anything Goes , ” a classic Broadway musical about the antics of passengers on a transatlantic ocean liner .
Ching , and his counterpart , Ling , are racial caricatures — two Chinese gamblers imprisoned for cheating passengers out of their money .
I accepted the role because I was a geeky freshman flattered by the attention and eager to make friends .
And so for three nights and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red silk robe , spoke in a feigned Chinese accent and portrayed my people as America has always seen them — as an untrustworthy , exotic punchline .
I feel a lot of shame about that memory , and I ’ ve never really talked about it .
I was worried by what other Asian Americans might think of me , and most of the time I just try to forget that it even happened .
I ’ ve covered Asian American communities for nearly a decade now , and I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist about the opposite of what I did on that stage .
But I ’ ve been talking about this memory a lot recently , and about a lot of others like it , because we ’ ve been working on a podcast at the Los Angeles Times called “ Asian Enough , ” to be released March 18 .
Each week , entertainment reporter Jen Yamato and I interview a different guest about what being Asian American means to them .
On every episode , we talk about what Asian Americans are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name the boxes that America tries to put us in , and together , we encourage one another to reject them .
What we ’ ve found is that sharing these vulnerabilities can take away their power to hurt us .
And talking about them has helped me understand that a lot of Asian Americans have been through a lot of the same things .
Though we might be the most disparate racial category in America , comprising dozens of nationalities , languages and cultures , what we have in common are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us .
I ’ ve come to see being Asian American as not so much an identity as it is a shared sense of racial dislocation .
It ’ s what happens when this country tries to put you in a box .
Sometimes you climb in because you crave belonging .
Or you reject it , but it haunts you anyway .
And sometimes you realize you don ’ t fit any of the boxes , and you ’ re left to wonder whether you fit in at all .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you ’ ll never be American enough to fit into any other racial category , what remains is this nagging feeling of alienation and inadequacy .
And you start to blame yourself rather than the impossible quandaries you ’ re presented with .
So on our podcast , we also talk about our shames and flaws , and try to accept them .
It ’ s a scary conversation to have , but an important one : Psychologists are exploring the possibility of a connection between racial dislocation and mental illness among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overrepresented at elite colleges , but once there , they struggle with higher rates of suicide and mental illness .
And so many of my Asian American friends have spoken of not being Asian enough and not being seen as American .
If we all feel this way , maybe we ’ re having the wrong kind of conversation .
Growing up in Tennessee , I thought I could find belonging in trying to be white .
I remember saving up my money to buy clothes from Abercrombie & Fitch and begging my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I studied “ Friends ” episodes to try to understand American humor , and rehearsed the jokes , thinking that if I could be seen as a Joey , Chandler or Ross , perhaps I would be more popular or socially interesting .
But I never felt like myself .
Playing Ching helped me realize that .
Moving to California , and spending the last 10 years telling Asian American stories , I ’ ve found so much belonging in my community .
What once brought me shame now fills me with pride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now that I bought in Chinatown , and I wear it when I visit the temple on Chinese New Year .
When I ’ m out reporting , I no longer find it shameful to hear Asian-accented English — instead , it reminds me of my mother and father talking .
We may never figure out how to convince American society that we are just as American as everyone else .
But we can try to accept each other .
We can tell each other , even as society tells us the opposite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

When I was 15 years old and growing up in Tennessee, some popular girls asked me to play the character Ching in my high school’s production of “Anything Goes,” a classic Broadway musical about the antics of passengers on a transatlantic ocean liner.
Ching, and his counterpart, Ling, are racial caricatures — two Chinese gamblers imprisoned for cheating passengers out of their money. I accepted the role because I was a geeky freshman flattered by the attention and eager to make friends.
And so for three nights and dozens of rehearsals, I donned a red silk robe, spoke in a feigned Chinese accent and portrayed my people as America has always seen them — as an untrustworthy, exotic punchline.
California Listen to new podcast: Asian Enough “Asian Enough” is a podcast about being Asian American — with guests like John Cho, Lulu Wang, Mina Kimes, Margaret Cho and Padma Lakshmi.
I feel a lot of shame about that memory, and I’ve never really talked about it. I was worried by what other Asian Americans might think of me, and most of the time I just try to forget that it even happened. I’ve covered Asian American communities for nearly a decade now, and I’ve tried to make my career as a journalist about the opposite of what I did on that stage.
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But I’ve been talking about this memory a lot recently, and about a lot of others like it, because we’ve been working on a podcast at the Los Angeles Times called “Asian Enough,” to be released March 17.
Each week, entertainment reporter Jen Yamato and I interview a different guest about what being Asian American means to them. On every episode, we talk about what Asian Americans are, and aren’t. We name the boxes that America tries to put us in, and together, we encourage one another to reject them.
What we’ve found is that sharing these vulnerabilities can take away their power to hurt us. And talking about them has helped me understand that a lot of Asian Americans have been through a lot of the same things. Though we might be the most disparate racial category in America, comprising dozens of nationalities, languages and cultures, what we have in common are the weird stereotypes that America tries to apply to us.
I’ve come to see being Asian American as not so much an identity as it is a shared sense of racial dislocation. It’s what happens when this country tries to put you in a box. Sometimes you climb in because you crave belonging. Or you reject it, but it haunts you anyway. And sometimes you realize you don’t fit any of the boxes, and you’re left to wonder whether you fit in at all.
When you can’t be Asian enough and you’ll never be American enough to fit into any other racial category, what remains is this nagging feeling of alienation and inadequacy. And you start to blame yourself rather than the impossible quandaries you’re presented with.
So on our podcast, we also talk about our shames and flaws, and try to accept them. It’s a scary conversation to have, but an important one: Psychologists are exploring the possibility of a connection between racial dislocation and mental illness among Asian Americans. Asian Americans may be overrepresented at elite colleges, but once there, they struggle with higher rates of suicide and mental illness.
And so many of my Asian American friends have spoken of not being Asian enough and not being seen as American. If we all feel this way, maybe we’re having the wrong kind of conversation.
Growing up in Tennessee, I thought I could find belonging in trying to be white. I remember saving up my money to buy clothes from Abercrombie & Fitch and begging my mom for a puka shell necklace. I studied “Friends” episodes to try to understand American humor, and rehearsed the jokes, thinking that if I could be seen as a Joey, Chandler or Ross, perhaps I would be more popular or socially interesting.
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But I never felt like myself. Playing Ching helped me realize that.
Moving to California, and spending the last 10 years telling Asian American stories, I’ve found so much belonging in my community. What once brought me shame now fills me with pride. I own my own silk jacket now that I bought in Chinatown, and I wear it when I visit the temple on Chinese New Year. When I’m out reporting, I no longer find it shameful to hear Asian-accented English — instead, it reminds me of my mother and father talking.
We may never figure out how to convince American society that we are just as American as everyone else. But we can try to accept each other. We can tell each other, even as society tells us the opposite, that who we are is enough.


Introducing: Asian Enough

From the Los Angeles Times , “ Asian Enough ” is a podcast about being Asian American — the joys , the complications and everything else in between .
In each episode , hosts Jen Yamato and Frank Shyong of The Times invite celebrity guests to share their personal stories and unpack identity on their own terms .
They explore the vast diaspora across cultures , backgrounds and generations , share “ Bad Asian Confessions , ” and try to expand the ways in which being Asian American is defined .
The first and second episodes will premiere on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new episodes dropping every Tuesday .
The team behind our Asian Enough podcast includes reporters and hosts Jen Yamato and Frank Shyong , senior producers Liyna Anwar and Rina Palta , and executive producer Abbie Fentress Swanson .
Our original music was composed by Andrew Eapen .
Our engineer is Mike Heflin .
Special thanks to Julia Turner , Paige Hymson , Camila Victoriano , Clint Schaff , Lora Victorio , Sameea Kamal , Brittany Hite , Mary Kate Metivier , Alison Farias , Robert Meeks , JR Lizarraga , Erica Varela , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson , Shelby Grad , Geoff Berkshire and our photographers at the L.A. Times .

From the Los Angeles Times, “Asian Enough” is a podcast about being Asian American — the joys, the complications and everything in between. In each episode, hosts Jen Yamato and Frank Shyong of The Times invite celebrity guests to share their personal stories and unpack identity on their own terms.
They explore the vast diaspora across cultures, backgrounds and generations, share “Bad Asian Confessions,” and try to expand the ways in which being Asian American is defined. The first and second episodes will premiere on March 17 everywhere podcasts are available, with new episodes dropping every Tuesday.
Column: ‘It’s just too much’: Asian Americans confront xenophobia, economic devastation and the coronavirus It’s been a long week for all of us, so forgive me if I don’t have the energy to participate in a debate about whether President Trump calling the virus “Chinese” is racist.


latimes--2020-03-10--After SB 50's defeat, California lawmaker unveils 'light touch' housing density bill

Six weeks after his high-profile effort to force California cities to increase housing density failed in the Legislature , the Democratic lawmaker behind the proposal introduced on Monday what he called a “ light touch ” approach — still pushing for more housing units in many single-family neighborhoods while also offering other communities the ability to skip lengthy environmental review for larger projects .
The bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener ( D-San Francisco ) would allow construction of duplex , triplex and fourplex residential units without additional local government approval in single-family neighborhoods using what ’ s known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The number of units that could be built would depend on the size of the city , with fourplex projects aimed at cities with a population greater than 50,000 .
While the bill would not change local control over the size and shape of housing built in those neighborhoods , it would supersede local zoning rules that have limited density .
“ It will create a baseline zoning for the state , ” Wiener said .
“ This is sort of a light touch density , but it has the potential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new legislation , Senate Bill 902 , also seeks to provide incentives for larger cities that are willing to allow 10-unit projects .
After a vote by local officials , those zoning efforts would be exempt from additional review under the California Environmental Quality Act , or CEQA .
“ I think we ’ re going to be able to have a collaborative conversation with cities , ” Wiener said .
In January , the state Senate rejected Wiener ’ s three-year effort to force more California communities into adding more housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing density in areas around public transit and job centers .
His high-profile Senate Bill 50 faced fierce opposition , both from those who saw it as an intrusion on the decision-making power of local government and others who thought it would do too little to build more low-income housing .
Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) called the defeat of SB 50 a moment to “ reset the conversation ” on a far-reaching approach to the state ’ s housing crisis .
And Senate leaders have promised a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of housing production in California .
Wiener told reporters on Monday that he believes SB 902 will fit well into those broader efforts .
“ I believe there is significant political space to make change and move the dial on housing this year , ” he said .
Population numbers compiled by the state Department of Finance show that under the density standards in SB 902 , more than three-quarters of all California cities would have to allow triplex or fourplex projects on existing residential land .
Wiener ’ s bill would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a higher-density project if it had been rented out at any point over the previous seven years .
The bill would not mandate increased housing density in areas designated by the state as “ very high fire hazard severity zones.
” But it does apply in other areas — including coastal communities — where lawmakers had expressed concern last year about significant boosts in housing density .
If successful , Wiener ’ s effort could produce the most marked results in parts of the state already tasked with facilitating significant new increases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern California officials signed off on adding more than 1 million new houses in Los Angeles and Orange counties to meet projected population increases .
Rezoning efforts in the state ’ s urban centers could prove costly and cumbersome if critics of new housing demand additional review under CEQA .
SB 902 would allow those broad zoning changes to be made outside of the CEQA process .
“ This is about changing land-use patterns over time , ” Wiener said .

Six weeks after his high-profile effort to force California cities to increase housing density failed in the Legislature, the Democratic lawmaker behind the proposal introduced on Monday what he called a “light touch” approach — still pushing for more housing units in many single-family neighborhoods while also offering other communities the ability to skip lengthy environmental review for larger projects.
The bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would allow construction of duplex, triplex and fourplex residential units without additional local government approval in single-family neighborhoods using what’s known as “by-right” provisions of state law. The number of units that could be built would depend on the size of the city, with fourplex projects aimed at cities with a population greater than 50,000.
While the bill would not change local control over the size and shape of housing built in those neighborhoods, it would supersede local zoning rules that have limited density.
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“It will create a baseline zoning for the state,” Wiener said. “This is sort of a light touch density, but it has the potential to substantially increase housing supply over time.”
The new legislation, Senate Bill 902, also seeks to provide incentives for larger cities that are willing to allow 10-unit projects. After a vote by local officials, those zoning efforts would be exempt from additional review under the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.
“I think we’re going to be able to have a collaborative conversation with cities,” Wiener said.
In January, the state Senate rejected Wiener’s three-year effort to force more California communities into adding more housing units for single-family neighborhoods and to increase housing density in areas around public transit and job centers. His high-profile Senate Bill 50 faced fierce opposition, both from those who saw it as an intrusion on the decision-making power of local government and others who thought it would do too little to build more low-income housing.
Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) called the defeat of SB 50 a moment to “reset the conversation” on a far-reaching approach to the state’s housing crisis. And Senate leaders have promised a comprehensive approach this spring to the lack of housing production in California. Wiener told reporters on Monday that he believes SB 902 will fit well into those broader efforts.
“I believe there is significant political space to make change and move the dial on housing this year,” he said.
Population numbers compiled by the state Department of Finance show that under the density standards in SB 902, more than three-quarters of all California cities would have to allow triplex or fourplex projects on existing residential land. Wiener’s bill would not allow a single-family home to be demolished for a higher-density project if it had been rented out at any point over the previous seven years.
The bill would not mandate increased housing density in areas designated by the state as “very high fire hazard severity zones.” But it does apply in other areas — including coastal communities — where lawmakers had expressed concern last year about significant boosts in housing density.
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If successful, Wiener’s effort could produce the most marked results in parts of the state already tasked with facilitating significant new increases to housing production. Last November, Southern California officials signed off on adding more than 1 million new houses in Los Angeles and Orange counties to meet projected population increases. Rezoning efforts in the state’s urban centers could prove costly and cumbersome if critics of new housing demand additional review under CEQA. SB 902 would allow those broad zoning changes to be made outside of the CEQA process.
“This is about changing land-use patterns over time,” Wiener said.


latimes--2020-03-09--Coronavirus cases in California rise to 133: Here is what you need to know

The number of people in California with the coronavirus increased to 133 cases Monday as the impact continued to ripple across the state .
The toll included the state ’ s second confirmed death , a woman in her 60s in Santa Clara County .
Last week , a man in Placer County who had been on the Grand Princess cruise ship also died .
Oakland became the center of the California fight , as officials took passengers off the boat and sent them to regional medical facilities or quarantine at state military bases .
21 : On Grand Princess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People self-monitoring who returned to the U.S. through San Francisco International Airport or Los Angeles International Airport EDUCATION : UC Berkeley announced Monday it will suspend most in-person classes starting Tuesday .
Stanford University announced online classes last week .
USC is testing online classes this week .
Northern California ‘ s largest school district , in Sacramento County , remains closed this week .
GRAND PRINCESS : The cruise ship arrived at the Port of Oakland on Monday , transporting thousands of passengers who were potentially exposed to the coronavirus to quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was satisfied with the safety measures being taken by state and federal officials for port workers , local emergency crews and the surrounding community .
NEW CASES : Los Angeles County health officials confirmed two new coronavirus cases , one of which may be the county ’ s first case of “ community spread ” of the illness , meaning the person had neither recently traveled nor had been in contact with another confirmed case of the virus .
In Santa Clara County , a woman who had been hospitalized for several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday morning .
She was the third COVID-19 patient in the county and was its first case of suspected community spread .

The Grand Princess cruise ship sails into San Francisco Bay to dock at the Port of Oakland on March 9.
The number of people in California with the coronavirus increased to 133 cases Monday as the impact continued to ripple across the state.
The toll included the state’s second confirmed death, a woman in her 60s in Santa Clara County. Last week, a man in Placer County who had been on the Grand Princess cruise ship also died.
Oakland became the center of the California fight, as officials took passengers off the boat and sent them to regional medical facilities or quarantine at state military bases.
Overview
133: Positive cases
21: On Grand Princess, which docked in Oakland
24: Cases of positive tests related to federal repatriation flights
109: Cases not related to repatriation flights
44 Travel-related
Travel-related 28 Person to person
Person to person 19 Community transmission
Community transmission 18 Under investigation
10,300+: People self-monitoring who returned to the U.S. through San Francisco International Airport
or Los Angeles International Airport
New developments
EDUCATION: UC Berkeley announced Monday it will suspend most in-person classes starting Tuesday. Stanford University announced online classes last week. USC is testing online classes this week. Northern California‘s largest school district, in Sacramento County, remains closed this week.
GRAND PRINCESS: The cruise ship arrived at the Port of Oakland on Monday, transporting thousands of passengers who were potentially exposed to the coronavirus to quarantine zones. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said she was satisfied with the safety measures being taken by state and federal officials for port workers, local emergency crews and the surrounding community.
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NEW CASES: Los Angeles County health officials confirmed two new coronavirus cases, one of which may be the county’s first case of “community spread” of the illness, meaning the person had neither recently traveled nor had been in contact with another confirmed case of the virus. In Santa Clara County, a woman who had been hospitalized for several weeks died at El Camino Hospital on Monday morning. She was the third COVID-19 patient in the county and was its first case of suspected community spread.


latimes--2020-03-09--City Atty. Mike Feuer says he's running for L.A. mayor

Los Angeles City Atty .
Mike Feuer jumped into the 2022 mayor ’ s race Monday , announcing his candidacy for City Hall ’ s top office and creating a fundraising committee .
Feuer , 61 , becomes the highest-profile politician to take steps to replace Mayor Eric Garcetti , who will be forced out because of term limits .
A former L.A. City Council member and state legislator , Feuer filed paperwork to begin fundraising one day after the city ’ s campaign window opened .
Feuer , a Democrat , said in an interview with The Times that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be among his top priorities if elected mayor .
“ Public service and helping people is at the core of who I am , ” Feuer said .
“ And I want to bring the values of service , integrity , standing up for people , changing the world , to the mayor ’ s office.
” His announcement comes eight months after FBI agents raided the city attorney ’ s office , serving search warrants in an investigation into two lawsuits that emerged from the 2013 botched rollout of a new Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No one has been charged or arrested .
A court-appointed investigator said in November that he has found preliminary evidence of fraud and ethics violations .
Feuer has sought to cast blame on two outside attorneys hired by his office for the billing litigation , while one of those attorneys has said his work was done at the “ express direction ” of Feuer ’ s office .
Feuer said the incident has made him a “ better leader ” and that he ’ s since put in place stringent hiring protocols .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t raid his office when they swooped into City Hall in July .
In addition to prosecuting misdemeanors , vetting proposed city laws and representing the city in civil cases , the city attorney ’ s office under Feuer has filed a number of high-profile lawsuits against big-name companies , including banking giant Wells Fargo over its sales practices .
A $ 185-million settlement followed , earning Feuer national headlines .
Feuer also touts his office ’ s program that puts city attorneys in neighborhood police stations to tackle illegal dumping , graffiti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , businesses and some City Council members have at times clashed with Feuer over his support for laws targeting homeless people , with groups criticizing those policies as either too lenient or harsh .
Feuer , the former executive director of Bet-Tzedek Legal Services , was elected to the City Council in 1995 , where he represented a predominately white district that included the Fairfax district , West L.A. and Sherman Oaks .
In 2001 , he ran unsuccessfully for city attorney , losing in a runoff to Rocky Delgadillo .
Feuer is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice on the California Court of Appeal .
The couple lives in Beverly Grove and have two adult children .
The fundraising window for 2022 citywide elections opened Sunday .
The primary is March 8 , 2022 .
Several other L.A. politicians are considering a run for mayor , including Secretary of State Alex Padilla , state Sen. Bob Hertzberg ( D-Van Nuys ) and City Councilman Joe Buscaino , who represents a Watts-to-San Pedro district , according to people familiar with their thinking .
Councilman Gil Cedillo , who represents part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed the idea of a mayoral campaign .
County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and former state Sen. Kevin de León have repeatedly declined to rule out running for mayor .
Jaime Regalado , professor emeritus of political science at Cal State L.A. , said Feuer ’ s decision to jump in early gives him an advantage over others , including possible candidates Ridley-Thomas and De León .
Those men are both awaiting results in their respective races for City Council .
“ It lets Angelenos know and the fundraising community know that he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

City Atty. Mike Feuer, shown in 2017, filed paperwork Monday to begin raising money to run for mayor in 2022.
Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer jumped into the 2022 mayor’s race Monday, announcing his candidacy for City Hall’s top office and creating a fundraising committee.
Feuer, 61, becomes the highest-profile politician to take steps to replace Mayor Eric Garcetti, who will be forced out because of term limits. A former L.A. City Council member and state legislator, Feuer filed paperwork to begin fundraising one day after the city’s campaign window opened.
Feuer, a Democrat, said in an interview with The Times that tackling homelessness and affordable housing issues would be among his top priorities if elected mayor.
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“Public service and helping people is at the core of who I am,” Feuer said. “And I want to bring the values of service, integrity, standing up for people, changing the world, to the mayor’s office.”
His announcement comes eight months after FBI agents raided the city attorney’s office, serving search warrants in an investigation into two lawsuits that emerged from the 2013 botched rollout of a new Department of Water and Power billing system. No one has been charged or arrested.
A court-appointed investigator said in November that he has found preliminary evidence of fraud and ethics violations.
Feuer has sought to cast blame on two outside attorneys hired by his office for the billing litigation, while one of those attorneys has said his work was done at the “express direction” of Feuer’s office.
Feuer said the incident has made him a “better leader” and that he’s since put in place stringent hiring protocols. He also said that investigators didn’t raid his office when they swooped into City Hall in July.
In addition to prosecuting misdemeanors, vetting proposed city laws and representing the city in civil cases, the city attorney’s office under Feuer has filed a number of high-profile lawsuits against big-name companies, including banking giant Wells Fargo over its sales practices. A $185-million settlement followed, earning Feuer national headlines.
Feuer also touts his office’s program that puts city attorneys in neighborhood police stations to tackle illegal dumping, graffiti and other quality-of-life issues.
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Homeless activists, businesses and some City Council members have at times clashed with Feuer over his support for laws targeting homeless people, with groups criticizing those policies as either too lenient or harsh.
Feuer, the former executive director of Bet-Tzedek Legal Services, was elected to the City Council in 1995, where he represented a predominately white district that included the Fairfax district, West L.A. and Sherman Oaks. In 2001, he ran unsuccessfully for city attorney, losing in a runoff to Rocky Delgadillo.
Feuer is married to Gail Ruderman Feuer, a justice on the California Court of Appeal. The couple lives in Beverly Grove and have two adult children.
The fundraising window for 2022 citywide elections opened Sunday. The primary is March 8, 2022.
Several other L.A. politicians are considering a run for mayor, including Secretary of State Alex Padilla, state Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) and City Councilman Joe Buscaino, who represents a Watts-to-San Pedro district, according to people familiar with their thinking. Councilman Gil Cedillo, who represents part of the Eastside, also hasn’t dismissed the idea of a mayoral campaign.
County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and former state Sen. Kevin de León have repeatedly declined to rule out running for mayor.
Jaime Regalado, professor emeritus of political science at Cal State L.A., said Feuer’s decision to jump in early gives him an advantage over others, including possible candidates Ridley-Thomas and De León. Those men are both awaiting results in their respective races for City Council.
“It lets Angelenos know and the fundraising community know that he’s in,” Regalado said.
Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-10--Long Beach reports first three coronavirus cases

Three people in Long Beach are believed to have contracted the coronavirus after testing positive for the respiratory disease , marking the first cases reported in the city .
Preliminary test results indicated two men and one woman had contracted the disease , city officials said Monday evening .
But the cases are considered presumptive until the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms the results .
Separately , officials said that 10 students and two staff members from Cal State Long Beach had quarantined themselves .
Dr. Anissa Davis , Long Beach ’ s health officer , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two of the people recently returned from a cruise on the Nile River in Egypt where other cases of the novel coronavirus had been reported on the ship , and the third person traveled to a community in Northern California where COVID-19 had been spreading .
One patient is hospitalized in stable condition at Long Beach Medical Center and two are isolated at home .
“ In response to these cases , we are actively tracing the whereabouts of the patients while infectious , contacting and monitoring close contacts of the patients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthcare workers who may have been exposed , ” Davis said .
Earlier Monday , officials at Long Beach Medical Center confirmed that it had a coronavirus patient , who a city spokesperson later confirmed was one of the three presumptive positive cases .
“ The patient has been in an isolation room since being identified as potentially having COVID-19 and is being provided with the very best care , ” Dr. James Leo , the hospital ’ s chief medical officer , said in a statement .
“ Staff members are following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guidelines of the CDC regarding exposure to patients with novel coronavirus.
” Leo said the hospital staff has trained extensively for coronavirus cases and has ample medical supplies should there be an influx of patients to the hospital .
“ In order to follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control , we are screening ... people with symptoms outside of the emergency department and masking those patients immediately , ” Leo said .
“ Patients who are suspected of possibly having COVID-19 are immediately placed in isolation.
” The hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patient .
The news comes the same day that Los Angeles County public health officials announced the first coronavirus case from community spread .

Long Beach reported its first cases of the novel coronavirus.
Three people in Long Beach are believed to have contracted the coronavirus after testing positive for the respiratory disease, marking the first cases reported in the city.
Preliminary test results indicated two men and one woman had contracted the disease, city officials said Monday evening. But the cases are considered presumptive until the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms the results.
Separately, officials said that 10 students and two staff members from Cal State Long Beach had quarantined themselves.
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Dr. Anissa Davis, Long Beach’s health officer, said during a news conference Monday evening that two of the people recently returned from a cruise on the Nile River in Egypt where other cases of the novel coronavirus had been reported on the ship, and the third person traveled to a community in Northern California where COVID-19 had been spreading.
One patient is hospitalized in stable condition at Long Beach Medical Center and two are isolated at home.
“In response to these cases, we are actively tracing the whereabouts of the patients while infectious, contacting and monitoring close contacts of the patients, working with local healthcare facilities to monitor healthcare workers who may have been exposed,” Davis said.
Earlier Monday, officials at Long Beach Medical Center confirmed that it had a coronavirus patient, who a city spokesperson later confirmed was one of the three presumptive positive cases.
“The patient has been in an isolation room since being identified as potentially having COVID-19 and is being provided with the very best care,” Dr. James Leo, the hospital’s chief medical officer, said in a statement. “Staff members are following all infection control requirements, including following the guidelines of the CDC regarding exposure to patients with novel coronavirus.”
Leo said the hospital staff has trained extensively for coronavirus cases and has ample medical supplies should there be an influx of patients to the hospital.
“In order to follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control, we are screening ... people with symptoms outside of the emergency department and masking those patients immediately,” Leo said. “Patients who are suspected of possibly having COVID-19 are immediately placed in isolation.”
The hospital did not provide further details about the patient.
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The news comes the same day that Los Angeles County public health officials announced the first coronavirus case from community spread.


latimes--2020-03-09--L.A.'s Jewish congregations wrestle with Purim celebrations amid coronavirus fears

Some canceled children ’ s carnivals .
Others called off costume balls .
But as the raucous Jewish holiday of Purim begins Monday night , many in L.A. 's largest Orthodox enclave remain torn over how to balance sacred rituals with public health precautions after a member of the tight-knit community tested positive for COVID-19 .
Rabbis at several L.A. County congregations said they learned of the case from public health officials , who told them the man contracted the novel coronavirus at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington , D.C. , last week .
By Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the news , raising fears that the upcoming holiday could hasten the spread of the disease in the densely populated district .
“ We ’ re trying to manage the delta between vigilance and panic , ” said Rabbi Adam Kligfeld of Temple Beth Am , a large Conservative congregation whose Purim events are especially popular among young families .
“ As of now , nothing is canceled .
We ’ re encouraging people to come.
” Purim celebrates the story of Queen Esther , the Jewish consort of a 5th century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thwart a genocidal plot .
The central religious obligation is to hear the story read aloud — once in the evening and once the following day — at an event that traditionally involves packed crowds , rowdy participation , elaborate costumes and lots of alcohol .
Other requirements include gift exchanges and a wine-soaked festive meal .
So far , local rabbis have said they will preserve those rites , albeit with care .
Many are livestreaming public readings for those who can ’ t attend , whether because they feel sick or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a large Orthodox congregation in Pico-Robertson , will send clergy out to read to the elderly , while Beth Jacob , an equally large Orthodox synagogue just across the border in Beverly Hills , has barred congregants from shaking hands .
Temple Beth Am will serve its festive meals shrink-wrapped .
But as precautions intensified around rituals on Monday , the fate of many wild parties and boisterous carnivals remained unclear .
“ We have decided that it is prudent to cancel our Purim Carnival Monday night , particularly considering that it involves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obligatory , ” Rabbi Kalman Topp wrote in an email to members of Beth Jacob Congregation on Sunday night .
Yet less than a mile away , Beth Am ’ s carnival went ahead .
“ With the Purim carnival [ Sunday ] we went back and forth whether or not to cancel it , and it was packed , ” Kligfeld said .
“ It was overflowing.
” Clergy and families on both sides of the debate emphasized that no one synagogue could hope to contain the spread .
“ The Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rona Karp , who brought her two children to the Beth Am carnival Sunday but was “ on the fence ” about Monday night ’ s events .
“ Even if you ’ re a member at Beth Am you could have gone to a bat mitzvah at B ’ nai David and that night went to [ evening prayers ] at Beth Jacob because you were nearby .
You could unintentionally be at four shuls on one Shabbat — and on Purim people want to go to all the different events.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rich communal life is its primary attraction .
Those who pray regularly at multiple synagogues are as common as those who attend only one , and large multifamily meals are a cherished weekly custom .
“ It could be that many of us have it and don ’ t know it , ” Kligfeld said .
“ I ’ m sure there is anxiety out there , but right now we are not getting it .
”

Hamantaschen, a traditional pastry served during Purim. As the holiday begins amid a growing coronavirus outbreak in the U..S, Los Angeles rabbis have said they will preserve the sacred rites, albeit with care.
Some canceled children’s carnivals. Others called off costume balls. But as the raucous Jewish holiday of Purim begins Monday night, many in L.A.’s largest Orthodox enclave remain torn over how to balance sacred rituals with public health precautions after a member of the tight-knit community tested positive for COVID-19.
Rabbis at several L.A. County congregations said they learned of the case from public health officials, who told them the man contracted the novel coronavirus at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington, D.C., last week.
By Saturday morning, synagogues in Pico-Robertson were abuzz with the news, raising fears that the upcoming holiday could hasten the spread of the disease in the densely populated district.
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“We’re trying to manage the delta between vigilance and panic,” said Rabbi Adam Kligfeld of Temple Beth Am, a large Conservative congregation whose Purim events are especially popular among young families. “As of now, nothing is canceled. We’re encouraging people to come.”
Purim celebrates the story of Queen Esther, the Jewish consort of a 5th century Persian emperor who risked her life to thwart a genocidal plot. The central religious obligation is to hear the story read aloud — once in the evening and once the following day — at an event that traditionally involves packed crowds, rowdy participation, elaborate costumes and lots of alcohol. Other requirements include gift exchanges and a wine-soaked festive meal.
So far, local rabbis have said they will preserve those rites, albeit with care. Many are livestreaming public readings for those who can’t attend, whether because they feel sick or scared.
B’nai David-Judea, a large Orthodox congregation in Pico-Robertson, will send clergy out to read to the elderly, while Beth Jacob, an equally large Orthodox synagogue just across the border in Beverly Hills, has barred congregants from shaking hands. Temple Beth Am will serve its festive meals shrink-wrapped.
But as precautions intensified around rituals on Monday, the fate of many wild parties and boisterous carnivals remained unclear.
“We have decided that it is prudent to cancel our Purim Carnival Monday night, particularly considering that it involves significant social interaction and it is not obligatory,” Rabbi Kalman Topp wrote in an email to members of Beth Jacob Congregation on Sunday night.
Yet less than a mile away, Beth Am’s carnival went ahead.
“With the Purim carnival [Sunday] we went back and forth whether or not to cancel it, and it was packed,” Kligfeld said. “It was overflowing.”
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Clergy and families on both sides of the debate emphasized that no one synagogue could hope to contain the spread.
“The Jewish community is very fluid,” said Rona Karp, who brought her two children to the Beth Am carnival Sunday but was “on the fence” about Monday night’s events. “Even if you’re a member at Beth Am you could have gone to a bat mitzvah at B’nai David and that night went to [evening prayers] at Beth Jacob because you were nearby. You could unintentionally be at four shuls on one Shabbat — and on Purim people want to go to all the different events.”
For many, the enclave’s rich communal life is its primary attraction. Those who pray regularly at multiple synagogues are as common as those who attend only one, and large multifamily meals are a cherished weekly custom.
“It could be that many of us have it and don’t know it,” Kligfeld said. “I’m sure there is anxiety out there, but right now we are not getting it.”


latimes--2020-03-10--L.A. County, now with 19 coronavirus cases, has first from community spread. Long Beach has first ca

L.A. County, now with 19 coronavirus cases, has first from community spread. Long Beach has first cases.

Los Angeles County announced its first coronavirus case of community spread , with the total number of cases rising by five to 19 .
L.A. County Public Health Department Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said one of the two new cases in her agency ’ s jurisdiction is that of a person who had a known travel history to Japan .
The source of exposure of the second person is unknown .
Separately , Long Beach , which has its own health department , reported its first cases of coronavirus-infected patients — two men and one woman .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. County and we will continue to see more cases of COVID-19 , ” Ferrer said .
“ We continue to urge everyone to do their part : Stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick ; plan for the possibility of school and business closures.
” The two new confirmed coronavirus patients in Los Angeles County jurisdiction are in isolation , and all close contacts are or will be quarantined for 14 days .
Of the three new coronavirus patients in Long Beach , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other two are at home in isolation .
Two recently returned from a cruise on the Nile River in Egypt , where other cases of coronavirus had been reported on the ship , and the other person had traveled to an area in Northern California where community transmission of the virus was occurring .
Ferrer said anyone who has spent 10 minutes with an infected individual or came within 6 feet of him or her would be considered a close contact .
Of the patients monitored by L.A. County , one individual has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolated .
Ferrer did not identify the specific location of any individual , but said that if a known public exposure occurs , residents would learn more information .
Ferrer estimated that 80 to 100 individuals have been tested for the virus at the county ’ s public health lab , but noted that the lab ’ s testing capacity is limited .
“ We can not , in L.A. County , test 1,000 people in a day , ” she said .
Ferrer recommended social distancing , and that individuals who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others who may be most vulnerable to the virus .
“ We recognize that the most important thing we can do right now is to stay home when we ’ re sick — no matter how mild our symptoms are.
” No school closure has been recommended in the county — a decision she said would be based on exposure .
Here is the latest breakdown of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County • 8 involve a group of travelers who visited northern Italy , where the coronavirus has been widespread .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coronavirus patient .
• 1 is a person who traveled from Japan .
• 1 came from a conference in Washington state .
• 2 recently returned from a cruise on the Nile River where other cases of the virus were reported on the ship .
• 1 traveled to an area in Northern California where the virus is spreading in the community .

Los Angeles County announced its first coronavirus case of community spread, with the total number of cases rising to 20.
L.A. County Public Health Department Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said one of the two new cases in her agency’s jurisdiction is that of a person who had a known travel history to Japan. The source of exposure of the second person is unknown. Separately, Long Beach, which has its own health department, reported its first cases of coronavirus-infected patients — two men and one woman.
“This is our first case of community transmission in L.A. County and we will continue to see more cases of COVID-19,” Ferrer said. “We continue to urge everyone to do their part: Stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick; plan for the possibility of school and business closures.”
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The two new confirmed coronavirus patients in Los Angeles County jurisdiction are in isolation, and all close contacts are or will be quarantined for 14 days.
Of the three new coronavirus patients in Long Beach, one is hospitalized in stable condition; the other two are at home in isolation. Two recently returned from a cruise on the Nile River in Egypt, where other cases of coronavirus had been reported on the ship, and the other person had traveled to an area in Northern California where community transmission of the virus was occurring.
Ferrer said anyone who has spent 10 minutes with an infected individual or came within 6 feet of him or her would be considered a close contact.
Of the patients monitored by L.A. County, one individual has fully recovered, and the remaining are isolated. Ferrer did not identify the specific location of any individual, but said that if a known public exposure occurs, residents would learn more information.
Ferrer estimated that 80 to 100 individuals have been tested for the virus at the county’s public health lab, but noted that the lab’s testing capacity is limited.
“We cannot, in L.A. County, test 1,000 people in a day,” she said. Ferrer recommended social distancing, and that individuals who are sick stay home in order to protect others who may be most vulnerable to the virus.
“We recognize that the most important thing we can do right now is to stay home when we’re sick — no matter how mild our symptoms are.”
No school closure has been recommended in the county — a decision she said would be based on exposure.
Here is the latest breakdown of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County
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• 8 involve a group of travelers who visited northern Italy, where the coronavirus has been widespread.
• 2 are connected to close contact to a coronavirus patient.
• 2 are Los Angeles International Airport workers.
• 1 is a person who traveled from Japan.
• 1 lived in Wuhan, China.
• 1 came from a conference in Washington state.
• 1 case is of unknown origin.
• 2 recently returned from a cruise on the Nile River where other cases of the virus were reported on the ship.
• 1 traveled to an area in Northern California where the virus is spreading in the community.
• 1 traveled from Iran to LAX


latimes--2020-03-09--UC Berkeley, UC San Diego suspend classes, will go online as more schools close amid coronavirus spr

UC Berkeley, UC San Diego suspend classes, will go online as more schools close amid coronavirus spread

More California universities and colleges , including UC Berkeley and UC San Diego , announced Monday that they were transitioning to online learning because of the coronavirus outbreak .
San Jose State , San Francisco State and Santa Clara University were among the institutions that were suspending all or most in-person classes immediately or in coming weeks .
In an email , UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ emphasized that there are no confirmed cases at the university but that officials had decided to take steps to protect the community .
All lectures , seminars and exams at the flagship university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and any events with more than 150 attendees will be canceled or postponed .
Classes that require in-person instruction , including labs and performing arts , will continue to meet .
The changes will be in place through at least March 29 .
At UC San Diego , Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla announced that classes will continue to meet for the last week of winter quarter , but beginning in spring quarter , all lectures and discussions will be held remotely .
Starting Monday , Stanford University had also moved its classes online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter after a faculty member tested positive .
Christ said that “ in our assessment of the current situation , including the likelihood that the Berkeley campus could have a coronavirus case here at any time , we believe that this is the best action for our campus community and the broader Berkeley community.
” The largest school K-12 district in Northern California , Elk Grove Unified School District , canceled classes and sports games through Friday amid the growing spread of the coronavirus .
Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta was closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Riordan high schools in San Francisco .
USC will test online classes later this week and remained in operation as usual Monday .
These represent only a fraction of the schools and colleges around California affected by the coronavirus , but they could offer a preview for elsewhere as the coronavirus spreads .
“ It ’ s a question of when — not if — some California public schools will face closure because of COVID-19 , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Saturday in a statement .
“ School districts must prepare for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can plan for what would happen if their local school faced closure.
” State officials have offered new guidance for schools , suggesting various scenarios under which educators could close a school .
School officials are racing to educate students and families about the epidemic and slow the spread of germs among children , while also preparing contingency plans if they are forced to shut their doors as a last resort .
At the Los Angeles Unified School District , an official checks in every day with the county health department and asks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. County ?
Are there any exposures affecting schools ?
Can we go about things normally ?
At the school level , overtime pay is available to allow for deeper and more thorough cleaning of “ high-touch ” areas .
Such areas include towel dispensers , doorknobs , staircase railings , computer keyboards , toys , bus seats , the coffee pot handle in the faculty lounge .
So far , only a small number of schools in California have closed , and often only temporarily for cleaning .
Concerns over the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hills to close until at least Thursday , according to an email blast sent by head of school Rabbi Y. Boruch Sufrin , who said digital classes would be available to students .
Messages left for the academy Monday weren ’ t returned .
Clifton Middle School in Monrovia was deep-cleaned Thursday after officials became aware that a person who might have the virus had been on campus .
Monrovia Unified School District President Robb Hammond said officials hired a company to disinfect the school .
In San Jose , a preschool after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An Oakland charter school was closed through the end of last week because of a possible , and an exclusive private school in Atherton was closed through the weekend after a potential exposure of someone connected to the school .
UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman said the campus will remain open after assessing that the risk of transmission is low , but he said the university is ready to switch gears at any time .
“ We will continue to monitor and assess the risk , but at the present time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspend ordinary instructional activity , ” Gillman said .
“ In-person classroom meetings will be under normal operation for the week of March 9.
” Newsom said in his statement that school closures would have major impacts on families .
“ It ’ s also not lost on anyone that these scenarios would put significant stress on families — especially those with the least financial resources .
Already , we are seeing how this outbreak is having significant economic impact on families , workers , businesses and communities across California .
”

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Alex Wigglesworth, Nina Agrawal

More California universities and colleges, including UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, announced Monday that they were transitioning to online learning because of the coronavirus outbreak.
San Jose State, San Francisco State and Santa Clara University were among the institutions that were suspending all or most in-person classes immediately or in coming weeks.
In an email, UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ emphasized that there are no confirmed cases at the university but that officials had decided to take steps to protect the community.
All lectures, seminars and exams at the flagship university will be offered through digital platforms, and any events with more than 150 attendees will be canceled or postponed. Classes that require in-person instruction, including labs and performing arts, will continue to meet. The changes will be in place through at least March 29.
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At UC San Diego, Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla announced that classes will continue to meet for the last week of winter quarter, but beginning in spring quarter, all lectures and discussions will be held remotely.
Starting Monday, Stanford University had also moved its classes online for the final two weeks of winter quarter after a faculty member tested positive.
Christ said that “in our assessment of the current situation, including the likelihood that the Berkeley campus could have a coronavirus case here at any time, we believe that this is the best action for our campus community and the broader Berkeley community.”
The largest school K-12 district in Northern California, Elk Grove Unified School District, canceled classes and sports games through Friday amid the growing spread of the coronavirus.
Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta was closed Monday, as well as Lowell and Riordan high schools in San Francisco.
USC will test online classes later this week and remained in operation as usual Monday.
Murrieta Valley High School was closed Monday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
These represent only a fraction of the schools and colleges around California affected by the coronavirus, but they could offer a preview for elsewhere as the coronavirus spreads.
“It’s a question of when — not if — some California public schools will face closure because of COVID-19,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said Saturday in a statement. “School districts must prepare for these scenarios so that parents and children can plan for what would happen if their local school faced closure.”
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State officials have offered new guidance for schools, suggesting various scenarios under which educators could close a school.
School officials are racing to educate students and families about the epidemic and slow the spread of germs among children, while also preparing contingency plans if they are forced to shut their doors as a last resort.
At the Los Angeles Unified School District, an official checks in every day with the county health department and asks three questions: Is anyone sick in L.A. County? Are there any exposures affecting schools? Can we go about things normally?
At the school level, overtime pay is available to allow for deeper and more thorough cleaning of “high-touch” areas. Such areas include towel dispensers, doorknobs, staircase railings, computer keyboards, toys, bus seats, the coffee pot handle in the faculty lounge.
So far, only a small number of schools in California have closed, and often only temporarily for cleaning.
Concerns over the virus prompted Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy in Beverly Hills to close until at least Thursday, according to an email blast sent by head of school Rabbi Y. Boruch Sufrin, who said digital classes would be available to students. Messages left for the academy Monday weren’t returned.
Clifton Middle School in Monrovia was deep-cleaned Thursday after officials became aware that a person who might have the virus had been on campus. Monrovia Unified School District President Robb Hammond said officials hired a company to disinfect the school.
In San Jose, a preschool closed after a teacher tested positive for the virus. An Oakland charter school was closed through the end of last week because of a possible exposure , and an exclusive private school in Atherton was closed through the weekend after a potential exposure of someone connected to the school.
UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman said the campus will remain open after assessing that the risk of transmission is low, but he said the university is ready to switch gears at any time.
“We will continue to monitor and assess the risk, but at the present time, there is no reason for us to suspend ordinary instructional activity,” Gillman said. “In-person classroom meetings will be under normal operation for the week of March 9.”
Newsom said in his statement that school closures would have major impacts on families.
“It’s also not lost on anyone that these scenarios would put significant stress on families — especially those with the least financial resources. Already, we are seeing how this outbreak is having significant economic impact on families, workers, businesses and communities across California.”


latimes--2020-03-10--UCLA to cancel most in-person classes until early April to protect against coronavirus

UCLA will cancel most in-person classes and move instruction online beginning Wednesday , joining the rising number of colleges and universities to limit classes , campus gatherings and travel to fight the global spread of the novel coronavirus .
The Westwood campus of 44,300 students will continue remote instruction until early April and then reassess , UCLA announced Tuesday .
No campus member has been diagnosed with the coronavirus , and three students who self-quarantined tested negative .
But officials said they wanted to take proactive measures to protect public health and safety .
UCLA is the largest of 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to suspend in-person classes , joining UC Berkeley , UC Santa Cruz and UC San Diego .
UCLA officials had told students during a livestreamed meeting Monday evening that it was premature to think about closing dorms and residential dining halls .
The administration ’ s priority was to finish the winter quarter while paying attention to local and federal health officials .
But the campus has been preparing for a shift to remote learning , with technology departments hosting open houses for professors to learn the online tools .
Meanwhile , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment for staff if there is a case on campus , officials said .
In the California State University system , San Jose State and San Francisco State have announced similar measures , as has the private Santa Clara University .
Dozens of other universities and colleges across the nation have announced since Monday that they , too , would shift to online classes , including Harvard , Princeton , Amherst and New York University .
Several universities have urged students not to return to campus after spring break .

USC and UCLA will cancel in-person classes through at least early April and move to online learning to guard against coronavirus.
UCLA and USC announced Tuesday they would cancel most in-person classes, joining the rising number of colleges and universities to limit classes, campus gatherings and travel to fight the global spread of the novel coronavirus.
Four UC campuses in Irvine, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Davis also announced similar measures Tuesday, as eight of nine University of California undergraduate campuses have rapidly aligned plans to transition to online final exams and instruction into spring quarter. Berkeley, San Diego and Santa Cruz campuses announced earlier this week that they would suspend in-person classes.
UC Merced, the smallest UC campus of 8,800 students, has not yet canceled in-person classes. But faculty were “strongly” encouraged to move to remote learning, beginning with their largest classes, in a campus message Tuesday by Provost Gregg Camfield and Academic Senate Chair Tom Hansford.
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The rapid succession of announcements by major California campuses Tuesday came as higher education faces one of its most pressing challenges in decades. Universities and colleges throughout the nation are launching sweeping changes throughout the core of their operations, including instruction, admissions and finances, to combat the fast-moving contagion.
USC, which moved to online teaching and learning Wednesday in what was initially a test run of the technology, said the campus would continue remote instruction even after spring break concludes on March 29.
“We believe the risk to our students, faculty, and staff remains low, but it is our responsibility to you and our greater community to be proactive in our efforts to encourage social distancing as a means of preventing the spread of illness,” Provost Charles F. Zukoski wrote in a campus message Tuesday.
UCLA — the UC system’s largest campus, with 44,300 students — will continue remote instruction until April 10 and then reassess. No UC campus has reported any cases of coronavirus, and students tested for the virus at UC Davis, UCLA and UC Irvine had negative results. But officials said they wanted to take proactive measures to protect public health and safety.
“I believe that it is important for communities to look out for one another and to do what is best for our global and UCLA communities,” Chancellor Gene Block said in a message to the campus community Tuesday.
UCLA, Riverside, Irvine and Santa Barbara campuses said they would aim to hold winter quarter final exams remotely and transition to online platforms for most classes after spring break. Instructors are being given flexibility about courses that may be difficult to hold remotely, such as science labs or performing arts.
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Students at UCLA reacted with a mix of anxiety and relief after the Tuesday afternoon announcement.
Noor Bouzidi, a UCLA senior, said she had “no idea” what would happen with the three finals she is supposed to take in person — including one for her Arabic class Wednesday.
“None of my professors have talked to me or discussed in depth in case classes get canceled what the plan is,” Bouzidi, 21, said. “Most people are really confused.”
Bouzidi said some professors may hold final exams over Zoom, but “it’s a very short amount of time to figure out a whole new system for taking finals.”
And next quarter, when she plans to take communications, anthopology and Arabic, could also be challenging since all the courses “seem to require a lot of in-class effort.”
Most campuses also are postponing or canceling gatherings of more than 100 people, holding closed athletic competitions and strongly recommending against international travel. But campus offices, housing and dining facilities will remain open.
UC Santa Barbara students who are traveling during spring break should be prepared to stay away from campus through the end of April, Chancellor Henry Yang said in a message to the campus community.
“We know that many of these recommendations will be challenging to implement, but it is important that we take the necessary steps now to respond to the rapidly evolving situation, despite the fact that no cases have been reported on campus or in Santa Barbara County,” Yang wrote.
UC Riverside has told students they need not return to campus for the rest of winter quarter, which ends Thursday. Final exams will be held remotely and the campus will transition to online learning for spring quarter until April 3, said spokesman John Warren.
In the 23-campus California State University system, San Jose State, San Francisco State and Cal State East Bay announced similar measures, as has the private Santa Clara University. Dozens of other universities and colleges across the nation have announced since Monday that they, too, would shift to online classes, including Harvard, Princeton, Amherst and New York University.
The restrictions to campus life and turn to online learning disappointed some.
UCLA student Raylene Factora, 19, wondered whether remote learning compared to classes rich with interaction with teachers and fellow students would be worth the price. “There is a big difference between that type of education compared to being actually present in class with the teacher right there,” she said.
She’s also saddened that she may miss out on the social aspects of college. She was looking forward to a dance showcase, Korean cultural night and Filipino cultural night during spring quarter, which may now be delayed or difficult to plan. And plans to take a class on contemporary Asian societies with friends are also up in the air.
But she’s also relieved to go to her family’s home in Santa Clarita, leaving her dorm building of 100 people and a room she shares with two others.
“I’m kind of glad they’re taking action now so it doesn’t turn into a huge problem,” Factora said. It would be hard to avoid coronavirus if it reached UCLA, she said — when one roommate gets sick, they all do.
Zak Fisher, a third-year law student at UCLA and president of the Graduate Students Assn., supported the decision. But he worried about students who have limited internet access or those who are homeless.
“As a public university there are a lot of people from different income backgrounds,” he said. “If you’re expected to go to school online and you don’t have access to the internet, what do you do?”
He said that the switch to online learning will be a “rough road, at least at first.” Some graduate-student instructors feel unprepared to make the switch so suddenly. “People are worried that they simply won’t know how to operate the classes,” he said.
UCLA faculty members had questions about how to bring classes alive remotely. Education professor Tyrone Howard will teach a 200-person undergraduate class on race, class, gender and school inequality next quarter, which will be online at least for its first two meetings. He expects to learn techniques with online training, which UCLA already has set up.
“It’s very different for me as someone who hasn’t done online courses,” he said. “Maybe this is a challenge for folks like me to adapt.”
Another UCLA faculty member, Pirouz Kavehpour, said he’ll have to figure out how to teach an engineering course next quarter for up to 150 people. He said the move online will be inconvenient and take away some of the interactive elements of his course, but “we’re going to make the best of it.”
“The situation calls for getting creative,” he said. “That’s our job.”


latimes--2020-03-10--It's official: Coachella has been postponed until October

After weeks of nervous speculation , it ’ s official : The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is postponed due to the growing threat of coronavirus .
Concert promoter Goldenvoice announced that the annual concert , held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio , now will take place on the weekends of Oct. 9 and 16 .
It was originally scheduled to begin on April 10 .
Goldenvoice also announced that the country music festival Stagecoach , scheduled for April 24-26 on those same Empire polo grounds , will be postponed until Oct. 23-25 .
“ At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local health authorities , ” Goldenvoice ’ s statement read , “ we must sadly confirm the rescheduling of Coachella and Stagecoach due to COVID-19 concerns .
While this decision comes at a time of universal uncertainty , we take the safety and health of our guests , staff and community very seriously .
We urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials .
“ Coachella will now take place on Oct. 9 , 10 and 11 and Oct. 16 , 17 and 18 , 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 24 and 25 , 2020 .
All purchases for the April dates will be honored for the rescheduled October dates .
Purchasers will be notified by Friday , March 13 , on how to obtain a refund if they are unable to attend .
“ Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you in the desert this fall.
” Coachella hopes to feature most of the same acts that were originally slated for April , including headliners Rage Against the Machine , Travis Scott and Frank Ocean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans over its two weekends to see more than 150 acts .
The postponements follow SXSW ’ s announcement on Friday that the city of Austin had pulled the plug on its March series of music , media and film conferences .
On Sunday , organizers for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells , not far from Indio , canceled the annual tennis tournament after the Riverside County Public Health Department confirmed the first local case of coronavirus and declared a public health emergency .
Days later , three new cases were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Palm Springs resident Barbara Cooper expressed her concern over festival-goers swarming her town .
“ I just came from Sonoma , where they had people quarantined .
People aren ’ t usually held in isolation for something like the flu , ” said Cooper , 69 .
She worked most of her life as a registered nurse and knows firsthand how scary such a disease can be .
Coronavirus is especially dangerous for the elderly , and in a retirement town where the median age is around 53 , that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the spring and summer concert season , Coachella and Stagecoach have pumped both cultural and commercial energy into the Southern California music scene for 21 years .
Palm Springs-area merchants work the April festival windfalls into their budgets .
Thousands of temporary workers relocate to the area to serve the 250,000 festival attendees , who inject well over $ 700 million into the region ’ s economy .
The postponement by Goldenvoice is the latest in a series of disruptions related to the coronavirus ’ spread .
In addition to the cancellation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Miami postponed its annual electronic music showcase earlier this month .
On Monday , rock band Pearl Jam postponed the North American leg of its upcoming tour .
The fate of Coachella was being watched closely by the promoters of the season ’ s other major outdoor music festivals , including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival , Electric Daisy Carnival , Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza .

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival has been rescheduled for the weekends of Oct. 9 and Oct. 16, due to coronavirus concerns.
After weeks of nervous speculation, it’s official: The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is postponed due to the growing threat of coronavirus.
Concert promoter Goldenvoice announced that the annual concert, held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, now will take place on the weekends of Oct. 9 and 16. It was originally scheduled to begin on April 10.
Goldenvoice also announced that the country music festival Stagecoach, scheduled for April 24-26 on those same Empire polo grounds, will be postponed until Oct. 23-25.
“At the direction of the County of Riverside and local health authorities,” Goldenvoice’s statement read, “we must sadly confirm the rescheduling of Coachella and Stagecoach due to COVID-19 concerns. While this decision comes at a time of universal uncertainty, we take the safety and health of our guests, staff and community very seriously. We urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials.
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“Coachella will now take place on Oct. 9, 10 and 11 and Oct. 16, 17 and 18, 2020. Stagecoach will take place on Oct. 23, 24 and 25, 2020. All purchases for the April dates will be honored for the rescheduled October dates. Purchasers will be notified by Friday, March 13, on how to obtain a refund if they are unable to attend.
“Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you in the desert this fall.”
Coachella hopes to feature most of the same acts that were originally slated for April, including headliners Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott and Frank Ocean. It was expected to draw 250,000 fans over its two weekends to see more than 150 acts.
The postponements follow SXSW’s announcement on Friday that the city of Austin had pulled the plug on its March series of music, media and film conferences. On Sunday, organizers for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, not far from Indio, canceled the annual tennis tournament after the Riverside County Public Health Department confirmed the first local case of coronavirus and declared a public health emergency.
Days later, three new cases were announced in Riverside County.
Last week, Palm Springs resident Barbara Cooper expressed her concern over festival-goers swarming her town.
“I just came from Sonoma, where they had people quarantined. People aren’t usually held in isolation for something like the flu,” said Cooper, 69. She worked most of her life as a registered nurse and knows firsthand how scary such a disease can be. Coronavirus is especially dangerous for the elderly, and in a retirement town where the median age is around 53, that’s a concern.
Long considered the kickoff to the spring and summer concert season, Coachella and Stagecoach have pumped both cultural and commercial energy into the Southern California music scene for 21 years. Palm Springs-area merchants work the April festival windfalls into their budgets. Thousands of temporary workers relocate to the area to serve the 250,000 festival attendees, who inject well over $700 million into the region’s economy.
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The postponement by Goldenvoice is the latest in a series of disruptions related to the coronavirus’ spread. In addition to the cancellation of SXSW, the Ultra Music Festival in Miami postponed its annual electronic music showcase earlier this month. On Monday, rock band Pearl Jam postponed the North American leg of its upcoming tour.
The fate of Coachella was being watched closely by the promoters of the season’s other major outdoor music festivals, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Electric Daisy Carnival, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza.
Staff writer Randall Roberts provided additional reporting.


latimes--2020-03-10--For now, no changes to the work of California Legislature over coronavirus concerns

Leaders of the California Legislature said Tuesday they have no plans to impose coronavirus-related restrictions on the work schedules of lawmakers or the operations of the Capitol , though they said they are closely watching events across the state .
At least 10 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sacramento County , home to the seat of California government .
Members of the Senate and Assembly generally work in the state Capitol from Monday through Thursday most weeks , traveling to and from their districts twice a week .
Lawmakers are scheduled to take a two-week spring break at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are monitoring COVID-19 closely and are following the California Department of Public Health ’ s recommendations on large gatherings , ” Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) said in a written statement on Tuesday .
“ At this time , the Senate is not recommending any changes to the way it conducts its business but understands the fluidity of the situation and may issue further guidance if needed.
” A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon ( D-Lakewood ) echoed Atkins ’ comments .
Neither leader offered information on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions change or what those plans might entail .
The state ’ s recommendations on “ mass gatherings , ” issued on Saturday , call for additional precautions in counties “ with evidence of community transmission ” of coronavirus .
Also recommended are efforts to rethink “ non-essential events ” and provide “ alternative options for attending the event via phone , video , or web applications.
” While a growing number of private businesses have changed the workdays of their employees and placed limits on travel or in-office hours , legislative business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Eight public hearings were scheduled and several lawmakers posted photos on social media of routine meetings with constituents and representatives of varying interest groups .
Lawmakers who discussed coronavirus in their posts offered tips to their constituents or sought to quell rumors about cases reported in their communities .
The state Capitol , which was completed in 1874 and expanded in 1951 , is open to the public during business hours and on weekends .
School children frequently tour the building and some were seen in its hallways this week .
Beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 2,000 people , most who work in and around the state Capitol .
On Wednesday , state and local health officials will provide staff members with an overview of the coronavirus situation , according to an email sent to Senate employees from Senate Secretary Erika Contreras .
It also provided suggestions on how to limit in-person interactions .
“ Instead of physical meetings with constituents , lobbyists , advocates and others , consider offering conference calls or utilizing ... alternative technology platforms , ” Contreras wrote .
The building also houses the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who said Tuesday that his administrative staff is considering keeping safe personal distance as part of their own response to minimize the threat .
“ What ’ s nonessential should be nonessential at this moment , so that we can minimize the impacts on things that are essential , ” Newsom said .

Leaders of the California Legislature said Tuesday they have no plans to impose coronavirus-related restrictions on the work schedules of lawmakers or the operations of the Capitol, though they said they are closely watching events across the state.
At least 10 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sacramento County, home to the seat of California government. Members of the Senate and Assembly generally work in the state Capitol from Monday through Thursday most weeks, traveling to and from their districts twice a week. Lawmakers are scheduled to take an 11-day spring break at the beginning of April.
“We are monitoring COVID-19 closely and are following the California Department of Public Health’s recommendations on large gatherings,” Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said in a written statement on Tuesday. “At this time, the Senate is not recommending any changes to the way it conducts its business but understands the fluidity of the situation and may issue further guidance if needed.”
A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) echoed Atkins’ comments. Neither leader offered information on whether contingency plans are being made should conditions change or what those plans might entail.
The state’s recommendations on “mass gatherings,” issued on Saturday, call for additional precautions in counties “with evidence of community transmission” of coronavirus. Also recommended are efforts to rethink “non-essential events” and provide “alternative options for attending the event via phone, video, or web applications.”
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While a growing number of private businesses have changed the workdays of their employees and placed limits on travel or in-office hours, legislative business proceeded as usual on Tuesday in Sacramento. Eight public hearings were scheduled and several lawmakers posted photos on social media of routine meetings with constituents and representatives of varying interest groups. Lawmakers who discussed coronavirus in their posts offered tips to their constituents or sought to quell rumors about cases reported in their communities.
The state Capitol, which was completed in 1874 and expanded in 1951, is open to the public during business hours and on weekends. School children frequently tour the building and some were seen in its hallways this week.
Beyond elected officials, the Legislature employs more than 2,000 people, most who work in and around the state Capitol. On Wednesday, state and local health officials will provide staff members with an overview of the coronavirus situation, according to an email sent to Senate employees from Senate Secretary Erika Contreras. It also provided suggestions on how to limit in-person interactions.
“Instead of physical meetings with constituents, lobbyists, advocates and others, consider offering conference calls or utilizing ... alternative technology platforms,” Contreras wrote.
The building also houses the executive offices of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said Tuesday that his administrative staff is considering keeping safe personal distance as part of their own response to minimize the threat.
“What’s nonessential should be nonessential at this moment, so that we can minimize the impacts on things that are essential,” Newsom said.


latimes--2020-03-10--California has 157 coronavirus cases, but thousands may have been exposed to disease

Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that California has 157 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and thousands of residents who may have come in contact with the disease .
The governor said more than 1,075 Californians have been tested for the coronavirus at 18 labs across the state .
The state marked a turning point in its fight against the virus in recent days , with counties all over California shifting from aggressively tracking residents who may have come in contact with infected people to beginning to implement “ social distancing ” measures , advising residents not to meet in large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health experts say counties make the shift when the number of cases grows and it becomes difficult to quarantine thousands of potential contacts .
Instead , the change allows counties to work on slowing the spread among large groups of people and spending resources protecting nursing homes , hospitals and other at-risk facilities .
California relies heavily on county public health officers to make decisions for their local community — a setup Newsom defended on Tuesday .
“ We ’ re a nation-state , ” Newsom said .
“ This is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of California is 40 million strong , 58 counties .
So , what we ’ re doing is a bottom-up process , not a top-down process .
We ’ re providing guidance in concert , in collaboration with the federal government and we are sending that down … but each and every county is experiencing a different set of circumstances on the ground.
” The state issued guidelines over the weekend that encourages local schools with one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 to close campuses to eliminate the possibility of transmission among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases were advised to prepare for potential closures and send students and staff home from campus if they have traveled to any countries under health notices in the last two weeks or show signs of fever or respiratory infection .
State officials are also similarly asking college campuses to isolate or send students and staff home if they have traveled to any of the countries in question or present any symptoms of the disease .
Universities with any confirmed cases are advised to weigh the need to close campuses .
Officials are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large-scale events in communities where the virus is spreading .
But even before the state ’ s new guidelines were released , colleges had begun canceling in-person classes , schools had been shuttered , workplaces had sent home sick or potentially infected employees , and travelers had canceled flight plans — actions that will have ripple effects on the local and state economy .
As the stock market reacted to widespread concerns about a pandemic , federal officials warned on Monday that individuals older than 60 are at the greatest risk of serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average age of death is 80 .
The Trump administration said that children and young adults are more likely to die from the standard flu than COVID-19 .

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that California has 157 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and that thousands of residents may have come into contact with the disease.
The governor said more than 1,075 Californians have been tested for the coronavirus at 18 labs across the state. The state is monitoring another 10,300 individuals that returned to California on international flights and may have been exposed, he said. Many others who have interacted with infected people are being advised to self-monitor and quarantine at home.
The state marked a turning point in its fight against the virus in recent days, with counties all over California shifting from aggressively tracking residents who may have come into contact with infected people to recommending “social distancing” measures, such as avoiding large groups.
Public health experts say counties make that shift as cases increase, and it becomes increasingly difficult to track infections and quarantine thousands of potential contacts. Instead, counties focus on slowing the spread among large groups and direct resources to protecting nursing homes, hospitals and other at-risk facilities.
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California relies heavily on county public health officers to make decisions for their local community — a practiceNewsom defended on Tuesday.
“We’re a nation-state,” Newsom said. “This is not a small, isolated state. The state of California is 40 million strong, 58 counties. So, what we’re doing is a bottom-up process, not a top-down process. We’re providing guidance in concert, in collaboration with the federal government and we are sending that down … but each and every county is experiencing a different set of circumstances on the ground.”
The state issued guidelines over the weekend encouraging local schools with one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 to close campuses. Schools without any cases were advised to prepare for potential closures and to send home students and staff who have visited countries with travel health notices in the last two weeks, or who show signs of fever or respiratory infection.
State officials have similarly asked colleges to isolate or send home staff and students who have visited the same countries, or presented symptoms of the disease.
Universities with confirmed cases are advised to weigh the need to close campuses. Officials are also requesting that organizers prepare to cancel any large-scale events in communities where the virus is spreading.
But even before the state’s new guidelines were released, colleges had begun canceling in-person classes, schools had been shuttered, workplaces had sent home sick or potentially infected employees, and travelers had canceled flight plans — actions that will have ripple effects on the local and state economy.
As the stock market reacted to widespread concerns about a pandemic, federal officials warned Monday that individuals older than 60 are at the greatest risk of serious complication from the virus and said the average age of death is 80. The Trump administration said that children and young adults are more likely to die from the standard flu than COVID-19.
Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, advised residents who know they have come into contact with people who tested positive for COVOID-19 to continue to self-quarantine for 14 days. People who test positive for the virus should isolate themselves until symptoms clear and they test negative for the disease twice. Individuals with severe symptoms are advised to seek medical care.
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The governor also announced Tuesday that the state had secured three hotels to house individuals who test positive for the virus. The Office of Emergency Services said overloaded hospitals will be able to free up beds and send people with COVID-19 to the hotels if they do not exhibit serious symptoms that require medical care.
Newsom said some of the 26 passengers who tested positive for COVID-19 and disembarked the Grand Princess cruise on Monday were redirected from regional hospitals to the hotels for isolation.
Newsom said three hotels in Monterey County, Burlingame and San Carlos have been closed to the public and are strictly dedicated to housing coronavirus patients. The hotels are following strict safety and containment protocols, he said.
“We are securing hotels and motels in multiple sites throughout the state of California and have been working on this process for the last week or so, since we first anticipated the ship’s arrival into Northern California,” Newsom said. “These are people that don’t need to be in a hospital, but will be sent here anyway for an abundance of caution to complete their quarantine period.”