latimes--2020-07-23--Ventura County passes 6,000 positive coronavirus tests as outbreak hits nursing facility

Ventura County has hit a new milestone in its pandemic struggle .
The 94 new positive coronavirus tests reported Wednesday pushed the county ’ s total past 6,000 , county health officials said .
Ventura County added 107 new cases Thursday for a total of 6,156 .
Steve Carroll , administrator of the Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency , reported that the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has quadrupled in the last six weeks .
Over the last few days , figures have stabilized , but the high volume of patients still takes up many resources in Ventura ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It requires additional personnel , additional isolation rooms and also additional protective equipment , ” Carroll said , adding that the county is in position to handle the higher demand and is not using hospital surge space .
Rigo Vargas , director of the county ’ s public health department , said 90 COVID-positive county residents are hospitalized because of symptoms .
An additional 30 patients await test results but are expected to have the coronavirus .
Twenty-two patients are in intensive care , Vargas said .
“ Our numbers have increased in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s on the positive side .
Today it ’ s coming down , ” he said .
Vargas also reported one new death Wednesday , bringing the county ’ s total to 65 .
None were reported Thursday .
Ventura ’ s increased case count puts people living and working in long-term care facilities at risk , emergency preparedness specialist Janelle Hahn said .
“ The community spread is still a threat to our long-term care facilities , ” she said .
Hahn said the county will keep its tight restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even as state health authorities offer their own guidelines .
Ventura County Executive Officer Mike Powers called long-term care facilities the “ epicenter of coronavirus cases here in Ventura County.
” On Wednesday , the Ventura County Star reported a growing coronavirus outbreak at Victoria Care Center .
The facility reported an outbreak among residents and staff in a letter to residents and those close to them Tuesday .
At least 31 people — 10 staffers and 21 residents — have tested positive for the coronavirus .
In response , the facility is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star reported .
The facility cares for nearly 170 people and employs almost 290 .
Victoria Care Center administrators did not respond to multiple requests for comment Thursday .
The facility experienced a small outbreak in May , when three residents and two employees tested positive , the Star reported .
Ventura County remains on the state ’ s monitoring list because of its high rate of disease transmission , epidemiologist Erin Slack said .
Counties on the list face additional state restrictions , including school closures .
“ In order to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases per 100,000 population over 14 days , we would have to report less than 60 cases per day , ” Slack said .
Ventura County has had an average of 243.6 new cases per 100,000 residents over the last 14 days .
Along with reported positives , testing has shot up throughout the county .
Powers said tests surged from 1,500 a week two months ago to between 10,000 and 15,000 a week now .
The county is also processing tests more quickly , he said .
According to Ventura County public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tested for the coronavirus .
“ That ’ s about 12 % of Ventura County residents that have now gotten tested , ” Vargas said .
“ Clearly , this speaks to the increased capacity that we have in Ventura County for testing.
” Powers encouraged community support in the fight against the novel coronavirus .
“ With these efforts , with wearing masks and not gathering , we are going to drive these numbers back down .
We ’ re already seeing them level off a bit , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better , but it ’ s not one day that matters , it ’ s the trend .
But we are going to bring these numbers down .
”

The coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19, is shown in a microscopic image.
Ventura County has hit a new milestone in its pandemic struggle.
The 94 new positive coronavirus tests reported Wednesday pushed the county’s total past 6,000, county health officials said. Ventura County added 107 new cases Thursday for a total of 6,156.
Steve Carroll, administrator of the Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency, reported that the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has quadrupled in the last six weeks. Over the last few days, figures have stabilized, but the high volume of patients still takes up many resources in Ventura’s hospitals, he said.
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“It requires additional personnel, additional isolation rooms and also additional protective equipment,” Carroll said, adding that the county is in position to handle the higher demand and is not using hospital surge space.
Rigo Vargas, director of the county’s public health department, said 90 COVID-positive county residents are hospitalized because of symptoms. An additional 30 patients await test results but are expected to have the coronavirus. Twenty-two patients are in intensive care, Vargas said.
“Our numbers have increased in the past few weeks. Today it’s on the positive side. Today it’s coming down,” he said.
Vargas also reported one new death Wednesday, bringing the county’s total to 63. None were reported Thursday.
Ventura’s increased case count puts people living and working in long-term care facilities at risk, emergency preparedness specialist Janelle Hahn said.
“The community spread is still a threat to our long-term care facilities,” she said.
Hahn said the county will keep its tight restrictions on long-term care facility visits in place, even as state health authorities offer their own guidelines. Ventura County Executive Officer Mike Powers called long-term care facilities the “epicenter of coronavirus cases here in Ventura County.”
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On Wednesday, the Ventura County Star reported a growing coronavirus outbreak at Victoria Care Center. The facility reported an outbreak among residents and staff in a letter to residents and those close to them Tuesday. At least 31 people — 10 staffers and 21 residents — have tested positive for the coronavirus.
In response, the facility is testing all residents and employees, the Star reported. The facility cares for nearly 170 people and employs almost 290.
Victoria Care Center administrators did not respond to multiple requests for comment Thursday. The facility experienced a small outbreak in May, when three residents and two employees tested positive, the Star reported.
Ventura County remains on the state’s monitoring list because of its high rate of disease transmission, epidemiologist Erin Slack said. Counties on the list face additional state restrictions, including school closures.
“In order to meet the state threshold of less than 100 cases per 100,000 population over 14 days, we would have to report less than 60 cases per day,” Slack said.
Ventura County has had an average of 243.6 new cases per 100,000 residents over the last 14 days.
Along with reported positives, testing has shot up throughout the county. Powers said tests surged from 1,500 a week two months ago to between 10,000 and 15,000 a week now. The county is also processing tests more quickly, he said.
According to Ventura County public health officials, 100,289 residents have now been tested for the coronavirus.
“That’s about 12% of Ventura County residents that have now gotten tested,” Vargas said. “Clearly, this speaks to the increased capacity that we have in Ventura County for testing.”
Powers encouraged community support in the fight against the novel coronavirus.
“With these efforts, with wearing masks and not gathering, we are going to drive these numbers back down. We’re already seeing them level off a bit,” he said. “Today’s numbers were better, but it’s not one day that matters, it’s the trend. But we are going to bring these numbers down.”


latimes--2020-07-24--L.A. County reports 1,900 more coronavirus cases and 44 additional deaths

Los Angeles County , which has carried much of the toll of the statewide surge of the coronavirus , reported more than 1,900 additional cases Friday and 44 new deaths related to the virus .
There are 1,928 people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county , with 29 % in intensive care , according to the county ’ s Department of Public Health .
Officials noted that reporting delays from labs contributed to lower numbers reported and that the number of cases is expected to increase in the coming days .
So far , L.A. County has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of the virus and more than 4,300 deaths .
“ Even with incomplete case and hospitalization data , we are seeing too much community spread of this virus , which means many of our friends , family and neighbors are sick and suffering , ” Barbara Ferrer , L.A. County director of public health , said in a statement .
“ Wear a face covering , don ’ t gather with people you don ’ t live with and stay home as much as possible .
The health of our community truly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , health officials said the virus is on track to become the second-leading cause of death in the county .
From January to June , COVID-19 killed more than 3,400 people , county officials say .
Over the same period last year , only coronary heart disease was attributed as the cause of more deaths .
Experts say that hospitalization and death totals reflect exposure to the virus that occurred weeks ago .
It takes time to see how behavioral changes are affecting transmission , and whether steps taken to stem the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week passed New York for more confirmed coronavirus cases than any other state .
The state has the highest number partly because it is the most populous state but also because millions of residents have been unwilling , or unable , to practice the social distancing and mask-wearing that public health experts say protect against the spread of the virus .
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly has said it can take three to five weeks to see the full effect of measures the state has taken recently — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on June 18 and renewing restrictions on numerous activities and businesses .
Times staff writers Luke Money and Colleen Shalby contributed to this report .

Luis Ortiz, a life agent with Continental Funeral Home, released doves outside the offices of the California Secretary of State in downtown Los Angeles. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city would not immediately introduce further closures but urged residents to wear masks.
Los Angeles County, which has carried much of the toll of the statewide surge of the coronavirus, reported more than 1,900 additional cases Friday and 44 new deaths related to the virus.
There are 1,928 people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county, with 29% in intensive care, according to the county’s Department of Public Health.
Officials noted that reporting delays from labs contributed to lower numbers reported and that the number of cases is expected to increase in the coming days. So far, L.A. County has identified a total of more than 168,000 cases of the virus and more than 4,300 deaths.
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“Even with incomplete case and hospitalization data, we are seeing too much community spread of this virus, which means many of our friends, family and neighbors are sick and suffering,” Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County director of public health, said in a statement. “Wear a face covering, don’t gather with people you don’t live with and stay home as much as possible. The health of our community truly is a collective effort.”
This week, health officials said the virus is on track to become the second-leading cause of death in the county. From January to June, COVID-19 killed more than 3,400 people, county officials say. Over the same period last year, only coronary heart disease was attributed as the cause of more deaths.
In a media briefing Friday, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city would not be immediately introducing any further closures but urged residents to “save our economy by wearing a mask.” For two weeks, Garcetti has warned that the city is close to returning to some type of stay-at-home order due to the case increases.
The city now turns test results around within 23 hours, Garcetti said, noting that more than 100,000 people were tested at city sites this week — 11,000 more than last week.
Experts say that hospitalization and death totals reflect exposure to the virus that occurred weeks ago. It takes time to see how behavioral changes are affecting transmission, and whether steps taken to stem the spread of the disease are working.
California this week passed New York for more confirmed coronavirus cases than any other state. On Friday, the state reported 9,718 additional cases and 159 new deaths, reaching a total of more than 435,000 cases.
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The state has the highest number partly because it is the most populous state but also because millions of residents have been unwilling, or unable, to practice the social distancing and mask-wearing that public health experts say protect against the spread of the virus.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly has said it can take three to five weeks to see the full effect of measures the state has taken recently — including issuing a universal face mask order on June 18 and renewing restrictions on numerous activities and businesses.
Times staff writers Luke Money and Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-24--After Times investigation, Newsom says nursing home inspectors will be tested for coronavirus

California Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced Friday that the state will start an aggressive COVID-19 testing regime for its health employees who inspect nursing homes .
The announcement came hours after publication of an L.A. Times investigation that found since the beginning of the pandemic , the state health department had been sending inspectors from nursing home to nursing home without testing them for the deadly virus , which means they could be spreading it .
“ We ’ re raising our standards , ” Newsom said during a news conference , adding that nursing home inspectors will be held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires of nursing home employees .
Homes are required to test 25 % of their staff every week and ensure that all employees are tested at least once a month .
“ I am thrilled to see this put into place , ” said Dr. Michael Wasserman , medical director of the Eisenberg Village nursing home in Reseda and an outspoken proponent of universal , routine testing of nursing home residents and employee to help contain the disease .
“ I think it will save lives.
” Nursing homes have been ground zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , suffering a staggering proportion of the deaths from COVID-19 .
As of Monday , nearly 3,000 nursing home residents and more than 100 staff had died of COVID-19 in California , accounting for nearly 40 % of the deaths statewide .
Many nursing home outbreaks are believed to have been sparked by “ asymptomatic spread , ” in which people who do not know they have the virus unwittingly infect others .
Eight registered nurses working as inspectors for the California Department of Public Health — all of whom spoke on condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Times reporters they weren ’ t being tested .
One said she came down with a bad cough and tested positive for COVID-19 soon after visiting more than a dozen nursing homes in two days .
“ For them to send us in without testing or screening is unconscionable , ” said an inspector in Southern California .
“ I think nursing homes shouldn ’ t let us in.
” Most of the inspectors interviewed also said they have not been provided with properly fitting personal protective equipment .
One inspector said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few minutes in a nursing home ’ s “ red zone , ” the quarantine wing reserved for COVID-positive residents , because every time she exhales wearing her ill-fitting masks , her glasses fog up .
In his announcement Friday , Newsom indicated that state officials would need to meet with the union representing the inspectors to work out details of the testing program .
Tony Owens , vice president of the union , said he supports robust testing .
He stressed the need to “ prioritize the protection of these people.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and safety.
” “ The governor was compelled to say , ‘ We will be testing , ’ ” Owens said .
“ Just the fact that he said that means we ’ ve obviously gotten traction there.
” Since the beginning of the pandemic , California health officials have required nursing homes to bar entry to outsiders who might bring the coronavirus in with them and trigger a deadly outbreak among the elderly residents .
As a result , aging parents haven ’ t seen their families in months .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people they loved .
“ It makes basically no sense that we ’ ve locked these facilities down since March , keeping families out , only to learn inspectors have been moving from facility to facility without being tested , ” said David Grabowski , a professor of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School .

California health officials have required COVID-19 testing of residents and employees at nursing homes, such as this one in Reseda, but have not provided comprehensive testing to their own inspectors who regularly visit the facilities.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that the state will start an aggressive COVID-19 testing regime for its health employees who inspect nursing homes.
The announcement came hours after publication of an L.A. Times investigation that found since the beginning of the pandemic, the state health department had been sending inspectors from nursing home to nursing home without testing them for the deadly virus, which means they could be spreading it.
“We’re raising our standards,” Newsom said during a news conference, adding that nursing home inspectors will be held to the same testing standards the state requires of nursing home employees. Homes are required to test 25% of their staff every week and ensure that all employees are tested at least once a month.
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“I am thrilled to see this put into place,” said Dr. Michael Wasserman, medical director of the Eisenberg Village nursing home in Reseda and an outspoken proponent of universal, routine testing of nursing home residents and employee to help contain the disease. “I think it will save lives.”
Nursing homes have been ground zero for the pandemic in the United States, suffering a staggering proportion of the deaths from COVID-19. As of Monday, nearly 3,000 nursing home residents and more than 100 staff had died of COVID-19 in California, accounting for nearly 40% of the deaths statewide.
Many nursing home outbreaks are believed to have been sparked by “asymptomatic spread,” in which people who do not know they have the virus unwittingly infect others.
Eight registered nurses working as inspectors for the California Department of Public Health — all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation — told Times reporters they weren’t being tested. One said she came down with a bad cough and tested positive for COVID-19 soon after visiting more than a dozen nursing homes in two days.
“For them to send us in without testing or screening is unconscionable,” said an inspector in Southern California. “I think nursing homes shouldn’t let us in.”
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Most of the inspectors interviewed also said they have not been provided with properly fitting personal protective equipment. One inspector said she refuses to spend more than a few minutes in a nursing home’s “red zone,” the quarantine wing reserved for COVID-positive residents, because every time she exhales wearing her ill-fitting masks, her glasses fog up.
In his announcement Friday, Newsom indicated that state officials would need to meet with the union representing the inspectors to work out details of the testing program.
Tony Owens, vice president of the union, said he supports robust testing. He stressed the need to “prioritize the protection of these people.” He called it “a matter of health and safety.”
“The governor was compelled to say, ‘We will be testing,’” Owens said. “Just the fact that he said that means we’ve obviously gotten traction there.”
Since the beginning of the pandemic, California health officials have required nursing homes to bar entry to outsiders who might bring the coronavirus in with them and trigger a deadly outbreak among the elderly residents.
As a result, aging parents haven’t seen their families in months. Many have died without a final embrace from the people they loved.
“It makes basically no sense that we’ve locked these facilities down since March, keeping families out, only to learn inspectors have been moving from facility to facility without being tested,” said David Grabowski, a professor of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School.


latimes--2020-07-24--California, other states 'are essentially three New Yorks,' White House's Birx says

A surge in coronavirus cases has made California and other hard-hit states resemble “ three New Yorks , ” the epicenter of the nation ’ s COVID-19 crisis in the spring , but there are signs the wave is abating , the White House ’ s coronavirus response coordinator said Friday .
“ We ’ re already starting to see some plateauing in these critically four states that have really suffered under the last four weeks , so Texas , California , Arizona and Florida , those major metros and throughout their counties , ” Dr. Deborah Birx said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today.
” “ And I just want to make it clear to the American public : What we have right now are essentially three New Yorks with these three major states , ” she said , apparently referring to Texas , California and Florida , the most populous of the states she listed .
Birx said that the rise in infections in the four states was driven by people in their 20s and 30s who didn ’ t have symptoms and didn ’ t realize they were spreading the virus .
Young people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek testing , so their cases are less likely to be detected , she said .
For that reason , she said , it ’ s important for local officials to keep an eye on the rate at which people are testing positive for the virus and take action at the first sign of even a slight increase .
“ We also know now ... about test positivity , ” she said .
“ And I think we have a lot more knowledge now that when it just ticks up a little , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cases , that that is a real indicator that something is happening.
” Her comments came two days after California reported a record number of coronavirus cases .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that 12,807 new infections had been reported statewide in the previous 24 hours , the most since the pandemic began .
California has now recorded more cases than any other state with a total of 436,312 as of Friday , according to the Los Angeles Times coronavirus tracker .
California ’ s COVID-19 hospitalizations hit records this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Monday , 7,091 people with coronavirus infections were in the hospital statewide ; on Tuesday , the figure was 7,170 ; on Wednesday , it was 6,825 ; and on Thursday , it was 6,952 .
Two months ago , about 3,000 infected people were in California ’ s hospitals .
The state also recorded its highest coronavirus-related fatality numbers this week .
The seven-day average for such deaths reached 102 on Thursday , topping 100 for the first time , according to a Times analysis .
Daily death tolls have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , 158 Wednesday — a new one-day record — and 153 Thursday , the second-worst daily death toll .
Many experts predicted the state would see an increase in deaths about four to five weeks after cases began to rise rapidly in late June .
Still , California ’ s toll , which stood at 8,280 on Friday , remains much lower than that of New York , where more than 32,200 people have died .
There were some increasing signs of optimism in Los Angeles County , whose residents account for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coronavirus cases and about half its deaths .
Barbara Ferrer , the county ’ s director of public health , on Wednesday ruled out the need for a renewed stay-at-home order at least for now .
The effective transmission rate of the coronavirus is now at about 0.94 , meaning that on average , every person infected with the virus passes it on to 0.94 people , said Dr. Christina Ghaly , director of health services for L.A. County .
That ’ s better than it was in June , when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And the number of new patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization in L.A. County , which had been rising , has become flat and maybe even started to decrease , Ghaly said .
It ’ s plateaued at a substantially worse number than it was in April , but the data nonetheless suggest an improvement , she said .
County public health officials on Friday reported 1,949 new cases of the virus but said the number was artificially low due to reporting delays in the state ’ s electronic laboratory system and would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more data became available .
The county also recorded 44 additional deaths .
Officials reported 1,928 confirmed coronavirus patients in county hospitals with 29 % in intensive care , but said those figures were also incomplete because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had changed reporting requirements , resulting in data from 11 hospitals being left out .
“ Even with incomplete case and hospitalization data , we are seeing too much community spread of this virus , which means many of our friends , family and neighbors are sick and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ As we head into the weekend , I hope we each understand that continuing our recovery journey , including re-opening schools and businesses , is only possible if we get back to slowing the spread.
” Times staff writers Sean Greene , Priscella Vega and Maura Dolan contributed to this report .

A surge in coronavirus cases has made California and other hard-hit states resemble “three New Yorks,” the epicenter of the nation’s COVID-19 crisis in the spring, but there are signs the wave is abating, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator said Friday.
“We’re already starting to see some plateauing in these critically four states that have really suffered under the last four weeks, so Texas, California, Arizona and Florida, those major metros and throughout their counties,” Dr. Deborah Birx said in an interview on NBC’s “Today.”
“And I just want to make it clear to the American public: What we have right now are essentially three New Yorks with these three major states,” she said, apparently referring to Texas, California and Florida, the most populous of the states she listed.
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Birx said that the rise in infections in the four states was driven by people in their 20s and 30s who didn’t have symptoms and didn’t realize they were spreading the virus. Young people are less likely to require hospitalization or seek testing, so their cases are less likely to be detected, she said.
For that reason, she said, it’s important for local officials to keep an eye on the rate at which people are testing positive for the virus and take action at the first sign of even a slight increase.
“We also know now ... about test positivity,” she said. “And I think we have a lot more knowledge now that when it just ticks up a little, even before you see a significant increase in cases, that that is a real indicator that something is happening.”
Her comments came two days after California reported a record number of coronavirus cases. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that 12,807 new infections had been reported statewide in the previous 24 hours, the most since the pandemic began. California has now recorded more cases than any other state with a total of 436,312 as of Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times coronavirus tracker.
California’s COVID-19 hospitalizations hit records this week, surpassing 7,000 for the first time. On Monday, 7,091 people with coronavirus infections were in the hospital statewide; on Tuesday, the figure was 7,170; on Wednesday, it was 6,825; and on Thursday, it was 6,952. Two months ago, about 3,000 infected people were in California’s hospitals.
The state also recorded its highest coronavirus-related fatality numbers this week. The seven-day average for such deaths reached 102 on Thursday, topping 100 for the first time, according to a Times analysis. Daily death tolls have soared in recent days, hitting 119 Tuesday, 158 Wednesday — a new one-day record — and 153 Thursday, the second-worst daily death toll.
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Many experts predicted the state would see an increase in deaths about four to five weeks after cases began to rise rapidly in late June. Still, California’s toll, which stood at 8,280 on Friday, remains much lower than that of New York, where more than 32,200 people have died.
There were some increasing signs of optimism in Los Angeles County, whose residents account for nearly 40% of the state’s coronavirus cases and about half its deaths. Barbara Ferrer, the county’s director of public health, on Wednesday ruled out the need for a renewed stay-at-home order at least for now.
The effective transmission rate of the coronavirus is now at about 0.94, meaning that on average, every person infected with the virus passes it on to 0.94 people, said Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services for L.A. County. That’s better than it was in June, when it rose above 1 and fueled the surge.
And the number of new patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization in L.A. County, which had been rising, has become flat and maybe even started to decrease, Ghaly said. It’s plateaued at a substantially worse number than it was in April, but the data nonetheless suggest an improvement, she said.
County public health officials on Friday reported 1,949 new cases of the virus but said the number was artificially low due to reporting delays in the state’s electronic laboratory system and would probably rise in the coming days as more data became available. The county also recorded 44 additional deaths.
Officials reported 1,928 confirmed coronavirus patients in county hospitals with 29% in intensive care, but said those figures were also incomplete because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had changed reporting requirements, resulting in data from 11 hospitals being left out.
“Even with incomplete case and hospitalization data, we are seeing too much community spread of this virus, which means many of our friends, family and neighbors are sick and suffering,” Ferrer said in a statement.
“As we head into the weekend, I hope we each understand that continuing our recovery journey, including re-opening schools and businesses, is only possible if we get back to slowing the spread.”
Times staff writers Sean Greene, Priscella Vega and Maura Dolan contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-24--California workplace safety rules are likely to change due to coronavirus fears

With many of California ’ s workplaces facing significant changes fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic , state lawmakers are considering whether labor laws need to evolve too .
Legislators have proposed expanding workers ’ compensation eligibility so that more employees will be covered if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 , increasing the number of sick days for food service workers and requiring employers to pay a portion of utility and internet bills for teleworkers .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Friday that he plans to work “ hand in glove ” with the Legislature to expand workplace protections , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ compensation claim requirements , enforcing labor laws and ensuring employers are reporting outbreaks .
“ The reality is that we will come back to a different society , a different economy and a different definition of workplaces when this is over , ” said Victor Narro , project director and professor of labor studies at the UCLA Labor Center .
Determining whether fixes will be needed temporarily or long-term will be a key question for the Legislature when it reconvenes on Monday , Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ( D-San Diego ) said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-San Mateo ) both have bills to ease restrictions on workers ’ compensation so more employees have access to the benefit .
Talks are underway to combine Gonzalez ’ s bill with Hill ’ s legislation , Senate Bill 1159 , the lawmakers said .
SB 1159 would add coronavirus-related illness or death to the list of on-the-job injuries covered under the state ’ s workers ’ compensation program while removing a requirement that workers prove they contracted the virus on the job .
Instead , employers would have to prove that COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Newsom included a similar measure for essential workers in a May 6 executive order — a big win for labor unions .
However , that executive order only eased the burden of proof for workers with COVID-19 before July 5 .
Hill said many of the specifics in his bill are still being worked out in discussions with labor and business groups , including which industries would be covered and whether the provisions would be retroactive .
“ In the end , not everyone will be happy with it , ” Hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and women of California expect us to do something .
... We want to make sure employers are doing the right thing to protect workers.
” As currently written , Gonzalez ’ s bill , AB 196 , would go a step further than Hill ’ s legislation by creating a presumption that essential workers who contract COVID-19 were infected while on the job , with no ability for the employer to contest that finding .
“ We need to eliminate these prolonged battles for the worker , ” Gonzalez said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can all shelter in place .
That created the need for extra protections for them , including with workers ’ compensation and increased sick days.
” The California Chamber of Commerce opposes Gonzalez ’ s bill , calling it a “ drastic ” measure that would “ create an astronomical financial burden on California employers and the workers ’ compensation system , at a time when they are already struggling for their livelihoods and can least afford it.
” The group placed Gonzalez ’ s bill on its annual “ job killer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporate interests say will hurt employment and the economy .
Among the other workplace bills the Legislature will consider in the coming weeks is AB 3216 by Assemblyman Ash Kalra ( D-San Jose ) , which would make it an unlawful employment practice to refuse a request for up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave from a worker who needs to care for a child whose school or daycare has closed due to a state , local or federal public health emergency .
Assembly Bill 1492 by Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath ( D-Encinitas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees must take meal and rest breaks during the day — a proposal intended to provide more flexibility in working from home — while requiring employers to pay for an additional hour of work if the employer requires workers to skip those breaks .
The bill also would require an employer to pay for equipment needed to work from home and a portion of the worker ’ s home internet and utility bills .
Senate Bill 729 by state Sen. Anthony Portantino ( D-La Cañada Flintridge ) would require employers to provide an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave to full-time food sector workers during a declared local or state emergency .
Many of the workplace bills will undergo changes during the coming weeks and are likely to encounter opposition from business interests .
“ Now is not the time to add additional costs and uncertainty for California employers who are in a fight for economic survival , ” said Denise Davis , vice president of the California Chamber of Commerce .
Lawmakers will face two obstacles when they return to the Capitol on Monday to consider the hundreds of bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive budget deficit and a shortened legislative calendar .
The Legislature has closed twice this year due to COVID-19 concerns , with the first shutdown in March .
This month , the Senate and Assembly opted to delay returning from summer recess by two weeks after several Capitol staffers and lawmakers tested positive for the virus .
On Thursday , both houses of the Legislature announced that some lawmakers at high risk for contracting the disease will be able to cast votes from home .
Lawmakers have until Aug. 31 to send bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year .
“ This pandemic will have long-term impacts on the workplace , ” Gonzalez said .
“ We need to ensure we are prepared for those , now and in the future .
”

Activists rally in January at New York’s City Hall for paid sick leave. Worker rights advocates have pushed for such measures in several U.S. cities.
With many of California’s workplaces facing significant changes fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, state lawmakers are considering whether labor laws need to evolve too.
Legislators have proposed expanding workers’ compensation eligibility so that more employees will be covered if they are diagnosed with COVID-19, increasing the number of sick days for food service workers and requiring employers to pay a portion of utility and internet bills for teleworkers.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday that he plans to work “hand in glove” with the Legislature to expand workplace protections, including guaranteeing COVID-19-related sick leave, easing workers’ compensation claim requirements, enforcing labor laws and ensuring employers are reporting outbreaks.
“The reality is that we will come back to a different society, a different economy and a different definition of workplaces when this is over,” said Victor Narro, project director and professor of labor studies at the UCLA Labor Center.
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Determining whether fixes will be needed temporarily or long-term will be a key question for the Legislature when it reconvenes on Monday, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) said.
Gonzalez and state Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) both have bills to ease restrictions on workers’ compensation so more employees have access to the benefit. Talks are underway to combine Gonzalez’s bill with Hill’s legislation, Senate Bill 1159, the lawmakers said.
SB 1159 would add coronavirus-related illness or death to the list of on-the-job injuries covered under the state’s workers’ compensation program while removing a requirement that workers prove they contracted the virus on the job. Instead, employers would have to prove that COVID-19 wasn’t contracted in the workplace.
Newsom included a similar measure for essential workers in a May 6 executive order — a big win for labor unions. However, that executive order only eased the burden of proof for workers with COVID-19 before July 5.
Hill said many of the specifics in his bill are still being worked out in discussions with labor and business groups, including which industries would be covered and whether the provisions would be retroactive.
“In the end, not everyone will be happy with it,” Hill said. “But the working men and women of California expect us to do something. ... We want to make sure employers are doing the right thing to protect workers.”
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As currently written, Gonzalez’s bill, AB 196, would go a step further than Hill’s legislation by creating a presumption that essential workers who contract COVID-19 were infected while on the job, with no ability for the employer to contest that finding.
“We need to eliminate these prolonged battles for the worker,” Gonzalez said. “Essential workers were still working so that we can all shelter in place. That created the need for extra protections for them, including with workers’ compensation and increased sick days.”
The California Chamber of Commerce opposes Gonzalez’s bill, calling it a “drastic” measure that would “create an astronomical financial burden on California employers and the workers’ compensation system, at a time when they are already struggling for their livelihoods and can least afford it.”
The group placed Gonzalez’s bill on its annual “job killer” list, which highlights laws that corporate interests say will hurt employment and the economy.
Among the other workplace bills the Legislature will consider in the coming weeks is AB 3216 by Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), which would make it an unlawful employment practice to refuse a request for up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave from a worker who needs to care for a child whose school or daycare has closed due to a state, local or federal public health emergency.
Assembly Bill 1492 by Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas) would ease workplace restrictions dictating when employees must take meal and rest breaks during the day — a proposal intended to provide more flexibility in working from home — while requiring employers to pay for an additional hour of work if the employer requires workers to skip those breaks. The bill also would require an employer to pay for equipment needed to work from home and a portion of the worker’s home internet and utility bills.
Senate Bill 729 by state Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) would require employers to provide an additional 80 hours of paid COVID-19 sick leave to full-time food sector workers during a declared local or state emergency.
Many of the workplace bills will undergo changes during the coming weeks and are likely to encounter opposition from business interests.
“Now is not the time to add additional costs and uncertainty for California employers who are in a fight for economic survival,” said Denise Davis, vice president of the California Chamber of Commerce.
Lawmakers will face two obstacles when they return to the Capitol on Monday to consider the hundreds of bills yet to be acted on: a massive budget deficit and a shortened legislative calendar. The Legislature has closed twice this year due to COVID-19 concerns, with the first shutdown in March.
This month, the Senate and Assembly opted to delay returning from summer recess by two weeks after several Capitol staffers and lawmakers tested positive for the virus. On Thursday, both houses of the Legislature announced that some lawmakers at high risk for contracting the disease will be able to cast votes from home.
Lawmakers have until Aug. 31 to send bills to Gov. Newsom before adjourning for the year.
“This pandemic will have long-term impacts on the workplace,” Gonzalez said. “We need to ensure we are prepared for those, now and in the future.”


latimes--2020-07-24--USC's former campus gynecologist pleads not guilty to new felony charges

USC ’ s former campus gynecologist , who is accused of sexually assaulting 21 young women , pleaded not guilty Friday to a half-dozen new felony charges .
Prosecutors filed the latest charges — five counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and one count of sexual battery by fraud — against George Tyndall on July 9 .
The new charges involve alleged crimes against five women while the 73-year-old defendant was working at USC ’ s health center between 2011 and 2015 , according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney ’ s Office .
Tyndall was charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sexual penetration and 11 felony counts of sexual battery by fraud involving 16 other women dating back to 2009 .
He subsequently pleaded not guilty and was released from jail on bond about two months after his arrest .
All of the alleged victims , who ranged in age from 17 to 31 , went to the campus facility for annual examinations or other treatment , according to prosecutors .
A date is scheduled to be set Sept. 25 for a hearing in which a judge will determine if there is enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to proceed to trial .
If convicted as charged , Tyndall could face up to 64 years in state prison , according to the District Attorney ’ s Office .
In January , a federal judge in Los Angeles granted final approval of a $ 215-million class-action settlement between USC and some of the women who claim they were sexually abused by Tyndall .
The settlement provides all class members — about 17,000 former patients who received women ’ s health services from Tyndall — compensation of $ 2,500 and up .
Patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about their experience could be eligible for additional compensation up to $ 250,000 .
Tyndall and USC have also been sued in state court by about 600 alleged victims , many of whom claim they were inappropriately fondled or photographed by Tyndall under the guise of gynecological exams .
Many have also accused him of making sexually charged comments during the exams .
Alleged victims have contended that the university received numerous complaints of Tyndall ’ s alleged sexually abusive behavior dating back to at least 1988 and actively and deliberately concealed Tyndall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victims have argued that following an internal investigation of complaints against Tyndall in 2016 , the university paid Tyndall a substantial financial settlement so he would quietly resign three years ago .
USC officials have denied any cover-up , and Tyndall has denied any wrongdoing .
USC has said it has put new protocols in place at its Student Health Center to ensure any complaints are investigated and resolved by appropriate university officials and authorities .
Additionally , the university said it has hired female board-certified physicians and introduced patient education materials about @ @ @

USC’s former campus gynecologist, who is accused of sexually assaulting 21 young women, pleaded not guilty Friday to a half-dozen new felony charges.
Prosecutors filed the latest charges — five counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and one count of sexual battery by fraud — against George Tyndall on July 9.
The new charges involve alleged crimes against five women while the 73-year-old defendant was working at USC’s health center between 2011 and 2015, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
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Tyndall was charged in June 2019 with 18 felony counts of sexual penetration and 11 felony counts of sexual battery by fraud involving 16 other women dating back to 2009. He subsequently pleaded not guilty and was released from jail on bond about two months after his arrest.
All of the alleged victims, who ranged in age from 17 to 31, went to the campus facility for annual examinations or other treatment, according to prosecutors.
A date is scheduled to be set Sept. 25 for a hearing in which a judge will determine if there is enough evidence to allow the case against Tyndall to proceed to trial.
If convicted as charged, Tyndall could face up to 64 years in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
In January, a federal judge in Los Angeles granted final approval of a $215-million class-action settlement between USC and some of the women who claim they were sexually abused by Tyndall.
The settlement provides all class members — about 17,000 former patients who received women’s health services from Tyndall — compensation of $2,500 and up. Patients who are willing to provide further details about their experience could be eligible for additional compensation up to $250,000.
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Tyndall and USC have also been sued in state court by about 600 alleged victims, many of whom claim they were inappropriately fondled or photographed by Tyndall under the guise of gynecological exams. Many have also
accused him of making sexually charged comments during the exams.
Alleged victims have contended that the university received numerous complaints of Tyndall’s alleged sexually abusive behavior dating back to at least 1988 and actively and deliberately concealed Tyndall’s actions.
Attorneys for some victims have argued that following an internal investigation of complaints against Tyndall in 2016, the university paid Tyndall a substantial financial settlement so he would quietly resign three years ago.
USC officials have denied any cover-up, and Tyndall has denied any wrongdoing.
USC has said it has put new protocols in place at its Student Health Center to ensure any complaints are investigated and resolved by appropriate university officials and authorities. Additionally, the university said it has hired female board-certified physicians and introduced patient education materials about sensitive examinations.


latimes--2020-07-24--Parents of missing Madera 2-year-old are arrested on suspicion of murder

The parents of a 2-year-old boy who was reported missing in Madera , Calif. , last week have been arrested on suspicion of murder , police said Friday .
The arrest of the mother and father of Thaddeus Sran — identified as Briseida G. Sran and Sukhjinder Sran , according to the Fresno Bee — comes the day after authorities discovered the remains of a child in an agricultural area west of the city , police said .
During a news conference Friday morning , Madera Police Chief Dino Lawson said those remains have yet to be positively identified and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
He previously said there was a “ very strong possibility ” that the remains were Thaddeus ’ .
Lawson said the remains were found in what he characterized as an “ agricultural fire pit ” and “ were burned.
” Thaddeus was reported missing from a residence in the 800 block of South C Street on the morning of July 15 — sparking an extensive search .
Officials didn ’ t immediately elaborate on what led them to suspect the boy ’ s parents might be behind his disappearance , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they “ stopped cooperating early on in the investigation.
” The couple denied that allegation in a statement released by their attorney Thursday , according to the Bee .
“ We will continue to work the case but , as of right now , there ’ s some justice for little Thaddeus , ” Lawson said .

The parents of a 2-year-old boy who was reported missing in Madera, Calif., last week have been arrested on suspicion of murder, police said Friday.
The arrest of the mother and father of Thaddeus Sran — identified as Briseida G. Sran and Sukhjinder Sran, according to the Fresno Bee — comes the day after authorities discovered the remains of a child in an agricultural area west of the city, police said.
During a news conference Friday morning, Madera Police Chief Dino Lawson said those remains have yet to be positively identified and an autopsy was scheduled later in the day. He previously said there was a “very strong possibility” that the remains were Thaddeus’.
Lawson said the remains were found in what he characterized as an “agricultural fire pit” and “were burned.”
Thaddeus was reported missing from a residence in the 800 block of South C Street on the morning of July 15 — sparking an extensive search.
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Officials didn’t immediately elaborate on what led them to suspect the boy’s parents might be behind his disappearance, but police said in a statement Tuesday that they “stopped cooperating early on in the investigation.”
The couple denied that allegation in a statement released by their attorney Thursday, according to the Bee.
“We will continue to work the case but, as of right now, there’s some justice for little Thaddeus,” Lawson said.


latimes--2020-07-24--Progress reported against two major wildfires burning in Northern California

Firefighters on Friday continued to make progress against two major wildfires burning in Lassen County , northeast of Sacramento , officials said .
The 19,000-acre Gold fire was 35 % contained as of early Friday , up from 15 % the day before , said spokesman Jeff LaRusso of the Riverside County Fire Department , which is assisting Cal Fire in fighting the fire .
He said weather conditions were still working against firefighters .
“ We ’ re looking at the dry fuels , we ’ re looking at the increased temperatures and the decreasing humidity levels , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire north toward Cal Pines , he said .
The fire , which began Monday , has destroyed seven homes , with another 25 at risk , he said .
Evacuation orders and other warnings are posted on Cal Fire ’ s Gold fire page .
Two firefighters treated at a hospital after being injured earlier in the week have been released , LaRusso said .
More than 1,300 personnel from throughout the state are continuing to battle the blaze , he said .
“ Our aircraft are trying to get up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do as many retardant drops parallel to the fire to pitch it down , ” LaRusso said .
The cause of the fire remains under investigation .
Meanwhile , the Hog fire , burning about five miles west of Susanville , has burned about 9,540 acres and was 38 % contained as of Friday morning , said Cal Fire spokeswoman Cecile Juliette .
The fire , currently at 9,540 acres , has been 38 % contained , up from 35 % on Thursday night , she said .
“ They did make progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are more than 2,400 personnel on the scene , Juliette added .
She said weather conditions still pose a threat .
“ Warm weather and dry conditions may increase the risk of fire activity in the areas that are already smoldering , ” she said .
The fire , which started Saturday , has burned two structures and led to several evacuation orders , according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
An evacuation order was lifted for the Lake Forest community Thursday , Juliette said .
Californians who live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommendations on Cal Fire ’ s preparedness site , she said .
“ Now is the time everybody really needs to be fire safe because things are drying out , ” she said .

Smoke rises from the Hog fire west of Susanville in Lassen County.
Firefighters on Friday continued to make progress against two major wildfires burning in Lassen County, northeast of Sacramento, officials said.
The 19,000-acre Gold fire was 35% contained as of early Friday, up from 15% the day before, said spokesman Jeff LaRusso of the Riverside County Fire Department, which is assisting Cal Fire in fighting the fire. He said weather conditions were still working against firefighters.
“We’re looking at the dry fuels, we’re looking at the increased temperatures and the decreasing humidity levels,” LaRusso said. Winds are pushing the fire north toward Cal Pines, he said.
The fire, which began Monday, has destroyed seven homes, with another 25 at risk, he said. Evacuation orders and other warnings are posted on Cal Fire’s Gold fire page.
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Two firefighters treated at a hospital after being injured earlier in the week have been released, LaRusso said. More than 1,300 personnel from throughout the state are continuing to battle the blaze, he said.
“Our aircraft are trying to get up in the air early in the morning and do as many retardant drops parallel to the fire to pitch it down,” LaRusso said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, the Hog fire, burning about five miles west of Susanville, has burned about 9,540 acres and was 38% contained as of Friday morning, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Cecile Juliette. The fire, currently at 9,540 acres, has been 38% contained, up from 35% on Thursday night, she said.
“They did make progress overnight,” she said.
There are more than 2,400 personnel on the scene, Juliette added. She said weather conditions still pose a threat.
“Warm weather and dry conditions may increase the risk of fire activity in the areas that are already smoldering,” she said.
The fire, which started Saturday, has burned two structures and led to several evacuation orders, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
An evacuation order was lifted for the Lake Forest community Thursday, Juliette said.
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Californians who live in areas vulnerable to wildfires should heed recommendations on Cal Fire’s preparedness site, she said.
“Now is the time everybody really needs to be fire safe because things are drying out,” she said.


latimes--2020-07-24--Coronavirus is killing more Californians than ever before, and cruel inequities are worsening

California reached another bleak coronavirus milestone this week , recording more than 150 daily deaths in the worst fatality numbers since the pandemic began .
But just as troubling , health officials and experts say , is how COVID-19 is stalking certain groups , such as essential workers , and those in institutions including nursing homes and prisons , at much greater rates than those who have the ability to stay home .
Californians of color are far more likely to become infected or die from the coronavirus .
But the most recent surge in cases is exacerbating those inequities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is particularly among the Latinx community .
...
They are both in urban , as well as rural , agricultural areas , ” said Dr. George Rutherford , an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco .
“ There ’ s tremendous amount of transmission in Southern California , in particular in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
” The virus is spreading through the Latino community as essential workers get sick and spread the illness in their communities , Rutherford and others have noted .
The seven-day average for daily coronavirus-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time the number went above 100 , according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of its county-by-county tally of pandemic deaths .
Daily death tolls have soared in recent days , hitting 119 Tuesday , 158 Wednesday — a new one-day record — and 153 deaths Thursday , the second-worst daily death toll .
A cumulative total of more than 8,200 Californians infected with the coronavirus have died .
L.A. County ’ s single largest coronavirus outbreak hit the garment factory Los Angeles Apparel , where more than 300 were sickened and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers in Ventura County have tested positive for the virus .
One outbreak struck a housing complex that provides agricultural employers with temporary housing for their workers .
In Imperial County , a rural and impoverished region with a largely Latino population east of San Diego , hospitals were so overwhelmed that at least 500 COVID-19 patients were transferred out of the county .
And while much was said early in the pandemic about how urban , dense areas like New York City were primed for catastrophe , it ’ s now clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , with coronavirus case rates high throughout California ’ s Central Valley , Salinas Valley and Imperial Valley , all part of the state ’ s agricultural heartland .
Large outbreaks are also sickening farmworkers in the vineyards of Sonoma and Napa counties , some of whom live in Solano County , officials said .
Of eight California hospitals that received an infusion of medical staff from the federal government , five are in the Central Valley , with two hospitals in San Joaquin County and one each in Fresno , Kings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals received teams , as did one in Riverside County ’ s Coachella Valley .
Social gatherings are also worsening the spread , public health officials have said .
Summer parties at fraternities at UC Berkeley have been linked to 72 cases , a factor the campus cited in determining it would begin the fall semester with fully remote instruction .
As case counts and death tolls continue to spike across the state , health officials are also battling significant resistance to wearing masks in some places .
In Huntington Beach , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and much of the public refuses to wear face coverings .
On Wednesday , there were 690 people with confirmed coronavirus infections at Orange County ’ s hospitals , a 157 % increase from two months ago .
Some officials have had to resort to begging their constituents to wear masks .
“ Your decision not to participate costs the community dearly .
As you see the numbers go up , we ’ ll shut down businesses .
And in the end , we all get hurt together , ” Clayton Chau , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency , told reporters Thursday .
“ So , I ’ m pleading — and I ’ m hoping that you all would help us pleading to the community — that they really , really have to follow this.
” COVID-19 — the disease caused by the coronavirus — is on track to claim more lives in L.A. County this year than any other disease except coronary heart disease .
“ It ’ s killing more people than Alzheimer ’ s disease , other kinds of heart disease , stroke and [ chronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ferrer , the L.A. County director of public health , said Wednesday .
COVID-19 has already killed nearly triple the number of people in L.A. County than died from flu or pneumonia during the most recent eight-month flu season .
Between October and May , 1,521 people died from the flu and pneumonia ; as of Friday , at least 4,300 people have died from COVID-19 in L.A. County .
Particularly troubling in the nation ’ s most populous county is that the racial disparity in coronavirus infections is growing .
Latino residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been diagnosed with the virus than white residents in L.A. County ; Black residents are 25 % more likely than white people to have been infected with the virus , Ferrer said .
Latino and Black residents are disproportionately affected by the virus in many areas .
In L.A. County , Latino and Black residents are at least twice as likely to have died from the coronavirus as white residents .
For every 100,000 Latino residents , 54 have died from COVID-19 in L.A. County ; for every 100,000 Black residents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asian American residents , 29 have died ; and for every 100,000 white residents , 23 have died .
Among 15 children in L.A. County infected by a rare but serious inflammatory syndrome associated with the coronavirus , 73 % are Latino .
And Latina women represent 3 out of every 4 cases of COVID-19 among pregnant women in L.A. County , although Latino residents make up about half the county ’ s population .
Many Latina women or their partners are essential workers who may hold low-wage jobs , with little control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Latinx workers not only are becoming infected at a higher rate than others , but they are then more likely to bring the infection home to their family members , and this — as we have just seen — includes their pregnant partners.
” California ’ s COVID-19 hospitalizations hit records this week , for the first time reaching above 7,000 hospitalized this week .
On Monday , 7,091 people with confirmed coronavirus infections were in the hospital statewide ; on Tuesday , the figure was 7,170 ; on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 6,952 .
Two months ago , about 3,000 people with confirmed COVID-19 infections were in California ’ s hospitals .
“ We have more patients than ever in California , ” Rutherford said .
There ’ s more evidence that younger people are increasingly getting infected and hospitalized .
Cases among L.A. County ’ s youngest adults — those under 30 — rose by 109 % between mid-June and mid-July , but only rose by 53 % among seniors up to the age of 79 .
Children saw their rate of hospitalizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % over the same period , while it only rose by 13 % for seniors aged 65 and older .
Some urged far more aggressive action .
State Sen. Steve Glazer ( D-Orinda ) on Thursday called for a return to a stricter shelter-in-place order for the hardest-hit counties that report 200 cases for every 100,000 residents over the past 14 days , which would include Los Angeles , San Diego , Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino , Santa Barbara and Ventura counties , along with counties in the Sacramento and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solano counties in the Bay Area .
Of California ’ s 15 counties with death rates on a per capita basis worse than the state average in the last two weeks , 13 of them are in Southern California or the Central Valley .
The two exceptions are Marin and Mendocino counties .
Imperial County has recorded the worst death rate by far of any other county in California , with 23.9 deaths per 100,000 residents in the last two weeks ; far above the state rate of 3.4 deaths per 100,000 residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County on Friday reported the fifth worst coronavirus death rate of any county in the state in the last two weeks , recording 5.7 coronavirus-related deaths per 100,000 residents .
Orange County recorded 4.5 ; Riverside County , 4.4 ; San Diego County , 2.9 ; San Bernardino County 2.5 ; and Ventura County , 1.2 .
But there were some increasing signs of optimism .
Ferrer , L.A. County ’ s director of public health , on Wednesday ruled out the need for a renewed stay-at-home order at least for this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus is now at about 0.94 , meaning every 1 person infected with the virus on average infects 0.94 people , said Dr. Christina Ghaly , director of health services for L.A. County .
That ’ s better than it was in June , when it rose above 1 and fueled the surge in disease .
And the number of new patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization in L.A. County , which had been rising , has become flat and maybe even started to decrease , Ghaly said .
It ’ s plateaued at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April , but the data nonetheless suggest an improvement .
“ These numbers—while they ’ re not going down—do appear to be stabilized , ” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Friday evening .
“ And because our public health is not worsening.…we are not introducing any further closures at this time.
” In Silicon Valley , health officials warned that it was important to both protect the health of the most vulnerable and also avoid the worst impacts of stay-at-home orders .
“ Low-income communities ... are , one , going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit by COVID-19 — and also likely to be harder hit by the shelter-in-place , as many in low-income communities have lost income , ” Dr. Sara Cody , health officer for Santa Clara County , told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday .
Times staff writers Maura Dolan , John Myers , Ruben Vives , Jake Sheridan , Maya Lau , Alex Wigglesworth and Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report .

Rong-Gong Lin II, Sean Greene, Priscella Vega

California reached another bleak coronavirus milestone this week, recording more than 150 daily deaths in the worst fatality numbers since the pandemic began.
But just as troubling, health officials and experts say, is how COVID-19 is stalking certain groups, such as essential workers, and those in institutions including nursing homes and prisons, at much greater rates than those who have the ability to stay home.
Californians of color are far more likely to become infected or die from the coronavirus. But the most recent surge in cases is exacerbating those inequities.
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“The epidemic in the West is particularly among the Latinx community. ... They are both in urban, as well as rural, agricultural areas,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco. “There’s tremendous amount of transmission in Southern California, in particular in Orange and Los Angeles counties.”
The virus is spreading through the Latino community as essential workers get sick and spread the illness in their communities, Rutherford and others have noted.
The seven-day average for daily coronavirus-related deaths reached 102 on Thursday — the first time the number went above 100, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of its county-by-county tally of pandemic deaths. Daily death tolls have soared in recent days, hitting 119 Tuesday, 158 Wednesday — a new one-day record — and 153 deaths Thursday, the second-worst daily death toll. An additional 136 fatalities were reported Friday.
A cumulative total of 8,340 Californians infected with the coronavirus have died.
L.A. County’s single largest coronavirus outbreak hit the garment factory Los Angeles Apparel, where more than 300 were sickened and four people died.
California With coronavirus surging, California workplaces come under greater scrutiny Community spread of COVID-19 is occurring in many areas, but officials have been particularly concerned about workers getting sick at their places of business and then infecting others at home.
Hundreds of agricultural workers in Ventura County have tested positive for the virus. One outbreak struck a housing complex that provides agricultural employers with temporary housing for their workers. In Imperial County, a rural and impoverished region with a largely Latino population east of San Diego, hospitals were so overwhelmed that at least 500 COVID-19 patients were transferred out of the county.
And while much was said early in the pandemic about how urban, dense areas like New York City were primed for catastrophe, it’s now clear that agricultural and rural areas are suffering too, with coronavirus case rates high throughout California’s Central Valley, Salinas Valley and Imperial Valley, all part of the state’s agricultural heartland.
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Large outbreaks are also sickening farmworkers in the vineyards of Sonoma and Napa counties, some of whom live in Solano County, officials said.
Of eight California hospitals that received an infusion of medical staff from the federal government, five are in the Central Valley, with two hospitals in San Joaquin County and one each in Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties. Two L.A. County hospitals received teams, as did one in Riverside County’s Coachella Valley.
Social gatherings are also worsening the spread, public health officials have said. Summer parties at fraternities at UC Berkeley have been linked to 72 cases, a factor the campus cited in determining it would begin the fall semester with fully remote instruction.
As case counts and death tolls continue to spike across the state, health officials are also battling significant resistance to wearing masks in some places. In Huntington Beach, some view the pandemic as a hoax, and much of the public refuses to wear face coverings. On Wednesday, there were 690 people with confirmed coronavirus infections at Orange County’s hospitals, a 157% increase from two months ago.
Some officials have had to resort to begging their constituents to wear masks.
“Your decision not to participate costs the community dearly. As you see the numbers go up, we’ll shut down businesses. And in the end, we all get hurt together,” Clayton Chau, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency, told reporters Thursday. “So, I’m pleading — and I’m hoping that you all would help us pleading to the community — that they really, really have to follow this.”
In L.A. County, COVID-19 killed 3,402 people through June 2020. (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health)
COVID-19 — the disease caused by the coronavirus — is on track to claim more lives in L.A. County this year than any other disease except coronary heart disease.
“It’s killing more people than Alzheimer’s disease, other kinds of heart disease, stroke and [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease],” Barbara Ferrer, the L.A. County director of public health, said Wednesday.
COVID-19 has already killed nearly triple the number of people in L.A. County than died from flu or pneumonia during the most recent eight-month flu season. Between October and May, 1,521 people died from the flu and pneumonia; as of Friday, 4,300 people have died from COVID-19 in L.A. County.
Particularly troubling in the nation’s most populous county is that the racial disparity in coronavirus infections is growing. Latino residents are more than twice as likely to have been diagnosed with the virus than white residents in L.A. County; Black residents are 25% more likely than white people to have been infected with the virus, Ferrer said.
Latino residents are more than twice as likely to have been diagnosed with the coronavirus as white residents in L.A. County, and Black residents are 25% more likely than white people to have been infected, Ferrer said. (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health)
Latino and Black residents are disproportionately affected by the virus in many areas. In L.A. County, Latino and Black residents are at least twice as likely to have died from the coronavirus as white residents. For every 100,000 Latino residents, 54 have died from COVID-19 in L.A. County; for every 100,000 Black residents, 46 have died. For every 100,000 Asian American residents, 29 have died; and for every 100,000 white residents, 23 have died.
Among 15 children in L.A. County infected by a rare but serious inflammatory syndrome associated with the coronavirus, 73% are Latino. And Latina women represent 3 out of every 4 cases of COVID-19 among pregnant women in L.A. County, although Latino residents make up about half the county’s population.
Many Latina women or their partners are essential workers who may hold low-wage jobs, with little control over their working conditions, Ferrer said. “Latinx workers not only are becoming infected at a higher rate than others, but they are then more likely to bring the infection home to their family members, and this — as we have just seen — includes their pregnant partners.”
California’s COVID-19 hospitalizations hit records this week, for the first time reaching above 7,000 hospitalized. On Monday, 7,091 people with confirmed coronavirus infections were in the hospital statewide; on Tuesday, the figure was 7,170; on Wednesday, it was 6,825; and on Thursday, 6,952. Two months ago, about 3,000 people with confirmed COVID-19 infections were in California’s hospitals.
“We have more patients than ever in California,” Rutherford said.
There’s more evidence that younger people are increasingly getting infected and hospitalized. Cases among L.A. County’s youngest adults — those under 30 — rose by 109% between mid-June and mid-July, but only rose by 53% among seniors up to the age of 79.
Children saw their rate of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in L.A. County climb by 50% over the same period, while it only rose by 13% for seniors aged 65 and older.
Some urged far more aggressive action. State Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) on Thursday called for a return to a stricter shelter-in-place order for the hardest-hit counties that report 200 cases for every 100,000 residents over the past 14 days, which would include Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, along with counties in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, and Marin and Solano counties in the Bay Area.
Of California’s 15 counties with death rates on a per capita basis worse than the state average in the last two weeks, 13 of them are in Southern California or the Central Valley. The two exceptions are Marin and Mendocino counties.
Imperial County has recorded the worst death rate by far of any other county in California, with 23.9 deaths per 100,000 residents in the last two weeks; far above the state rate of 3.4 deaths per 100,000 residents.
In Southern California, Los Angeles County on Friday reported the fifth worst coronavirus death rate of any county in the state in the last two weeks, recording 5.7 coronavirus-related deaths per 100,000 residents. Orange County recorded 4.5; Riverside County, 4.4; San Diego County, 2.9; San Bernardino County 2.5; and Ventura County, 1.2.
But there were some increasing signs of optimism. Ferrer, L.A. County’s director of public health, on Wednesday ruled out the need for a renewed stay-at-home order at least for this week.
The effective transmission rate of the coronavirus is now at about 0.94, meaning every 1 person infected with the virus on average infects 0.94 people, said Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services for L.A. County. That’s better than it was in June, when it rose above 1 and fueled the surge in disease.
And the number of new patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization in L.A. County, which had been rising, has become flat and maybe even started to decrease, Ghaly said. It’s plateaued at a substantially worse number than it was in April, but the data nonetheless suggest an improvement.
“These numbers—while they’re not going down—do appear to be stabilized,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Friday evening. “And because our public health is not worsening.…we are not introducing any further closures at this time.”
In Silicon Valley, health officials warned that it was important to both protect the health of the most vulnerable and also avoid the worst impacts of stay-at-home orders.
“Low-income communities ... are, one, going to be more likely to be harder hit by COVID-19 — and also likely to be harder hit by the shelter-in-place, as many in low-income communities have lost income,” Dr. Sara Cody, health officer for Santa Clara County, told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Times staff writers Maura Dolan, John Myers, Ruben Vives, Jake Sheridan, Maya Lau, Alex Wigglesworth and Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-24--LAPD officer, a 13-year veteran, dies after contracting coronavirus

A Los Angeles police officer died of the coronavirus early Friday , the first sworn officer in the city to succumb to the deadly pandemic , authorities said .
Officer Valentin Martinez , 45 , worked patrol and is presumed to have contracted the virus while on duty , said LAPD Chief Michel Moore .
He had been on the force for 13 years .
Compounding the grief of Martinez ’ s family and his co-workers is that Martinez ’ s domestic partner is 20 weeks pregnant with twin boys , Moore said .
“ They are devastated , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there has been an “ outpouring of love and support , ” particularly in the Mission Station , where Martinez worked .
Moore said all active officers who fall ill with COVID-19 symptoms are presumed to have contracted the virus on duty .
“ We all grieve together over the loss of a police officer , a servant , a person who worked the streets to safeguard the lives of the people of Los Angeles , ” Moore said .
“ There are all kinds of threats to their safety , and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martinez first fell ill in May .
Martinez is the second LAPD employee to die of the virus .
Earlier this month , senior detention officer Erica McAdoo died from complications of COVID-19 .
A total of 437 LAPD employees had contracted the virus as of July 22 , officials said ; 254 of those employees are quarantining due to exposure , according to a news release .
The number of COVID-19 cases among the LAPD ’ s ranks boomed in July , a spike that Moore partially attributed to conditions officers faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The department has faced criticism from protesters and others who say officers were not wearing masks at protests , and continue to not wear masks on the streets .
Moore said he and the LAPD command staff require officers to wear masks whenever possible and are pushing officers to remain as careful as they can .
Hundreds of officers who have contracted the virus have returned to work , he said .
Martinez joined the LAPD in 2007 , according to a fundraising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help with his medical costs and gather donations for his domestic partner .
As his symptoms worsened he was treated by emergency personnel at Henry Mayo Hospital in Santa Clara and then Providence Saint John ’ s Medical Center in Santa Monica , where he was placed on a ventilator in early June , according to the website .
Moore said efforts were made to get Martinez “ the very best care , ” and that staff at St. John ’ s were “ extraordinary in their valiant efforts to save him.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the union which represents rank-and-file LAPD officers , described Martinez as a “ hero lost way too early in life.
” All of our officers have placed themselves , and their families , at increased risk throughout the response to the COVID-19 pandemic , ” the union said in a statement .
“ We honor their sacrifice today .
”

A Los Angeles police officer died of the coronavirus early Friday, the first sworn officer in the city to succumb to the deadly pandemic, authorities said.
Officer Valentin Martinez, 45, worked patrol and is presumed to have contracted the virus while on duty, said LAPD Chief Michel Moore. He had been on the force for 13 years.
Compounding the grief of Martinez’s family and his co-workers is that Martinez’s domestic partner is 20 weeks pregnant with twin boys, Moore said.
“They are devastated,” Moore said. Within the department, there has been an “outpouring of love and support,” particularly in the Mission Station, where Martinez worked.
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Moore said all active officers who fall ill with COVID-19 symptoms are presumed to have contracted the virus on duty.
“We all grieve together over the loss of a police officer, a servant, a person who worked the streets to safeguard the lives of the people of Los Angeles,” Moore said. “There are all kinds of threats to their safety, and this is yet another one.”
Moore said Martinez first fell ill in May.
Martinez is the second LAPD employee to die of the virus. Earlier this month, senior detention officer Erica McAdoo died from complications of COVID-19.
A total of 437 LAPD employees had contracted the virus as of July 22, officials said; 254 of those employees are quarantining due to exposure, according to a news release.
The number of COVID-19 cases among the LAPD’s ranks boomed in July, a spike that Moore partially attributed to conditions officers faced during a wave of protests that followed the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The department has faced criticism from protesters and others who say officers were not wearing masks at protests, and continue to not wear masks on the streets. Moore said he and the LAPD command staff require officers to wear masks whenever possible and are pushing officers to remain as careful as they can.
Hundreds of officers who have contracted the virus have returned to work, he said.
Martinez joined the LAPD in 2007, according to a fundraising website set up by his loved ones to help with his medical costs and gather donations for his domestic partner. As his symptoms worsened he was treated by emergency personnel at Henry Mayo Hospital in Santa Clara and then Providence Saint John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica, where he was placed on a ventilator in early June, according to the website.
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Moore said efforts were made to get Martinez “the very best care,” and that staff at St. John’s were “extraordinary in their valiant efforts to save him.”
The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union which represents rank-and-file LAPD officers, described Martinez as a “hero lost way too early in life.”
All of our officers have placed themselves, and their families, at increased risk throughout the response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the union said in a statement. “We honor their sacrifice today.”


latimes--2020-07-24--'Everywhere you go you're at risk': Orange County coronavirus surge worsens as officials struggle to

'Everywhere you go you're at risk': Orange County coronavirus surge worsens as officials struggle to trace infections

Amid a recent surge in coronavirus cases , Orange County is struggling to determine precisely where residents are being infected , its top health official said this week .
Health officials say contact tracing , as the practice is known , is a vital tool in stemming the spread of COVID-19 as it allows those who have come into contact with a confirmed case to monitor themselves for symptoms and take steps to make sure they don ’ t infect others in turn .
Establishing exactly where a person may have been exposed has proved to be a significant challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intermingling more as businesses and public spaces reopened , according to Dr. Clayton Chau , director of the Orange County Health Care Agency and acting county health officer .
“ It ’ s quite difficult , even the person themself would not know , ” he said during a briefing Thursday .
“ ‘ Well , I was at the bar ; I was at the beach ; I was here ; I was there , where did I get infected ?
’ It ’ s a very difficult question to decipher , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their best to try to ask people , ‘ Where were you at so we can pinpoint ?
’ But , as far as I know , we can ’ t really pinpoint.
” Another challenge of contact tracing is the sheer number of infections .
Orange County health officials announced 905 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday alone — boosting the region ’ s cumulative count to 32,648 .
That number includes 543 deaths , 22 of which were reported Thursday .
An estimated 17,091 people have recovered from COVID-19 to date , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chau said health officials see patterns tied to events — such as increases in infections after the Memorial Day or Fourth of July holiday weekends — but “ people are just everywhere , so it ’ s very hard to really pinpoint one activity that caused the infection.
” “ Transmission is in the community now , so everywhere you go you ’ re at risk , ” he said .
To augment its efforts , Orange County recently retained the services of a firm called Trace , which will put 33 more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county ’ s disposal as early as next week “ with the possibility of scaling up as needed , ” according to Chau .
He added that 568 public health staff have been trained on such investigations , “ but the majority need to remain in their current capacities to ensure that we continue other public health programs and services.
” The process works like this : After someone tests positive for the virus , a contact tracer would get in touch with them to try and determine where they have been and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would then be asked to self-isolate , monitor themselves and get tested if needed .
For those showing symptoms , tracing would start again .
There are inherent challenges in the process .
For starters , residents may struggle to recall exactly where they were or who they were with days or even weeks ago .
Some public health officials also have reported issues with residents withholding requested information — particularly if they ’ re concerned it will somehow be used against them or shared with other governmental agencies .
Officials in Riverside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urge residents to cooperate with contact tracers earlier this month .
“ This information is critical as we work to slow and eventually stop the spread of coronavirus , ” Kim Saruwatari , director of Riverside County Public Health , said in a July 7 statement .
“ It is understandable that patients may be reluctant to discuss sensitive issues , but it is very important that this information is provided.
” Public health officials say it ’ s important that residents continue to take steps to protect themselves and those around them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands , wearing face coverings when outside in public and keeping their distance from people they don ’ t live with .
Those messages haven ’ t always resonated in Orange County , though , where at times there ’ s been strident public opposition to some of the regulations imposed during the coronavirus crisis — particularly the idea of wearing masks .
Chau said it ’ s incumbent on residents to comply with relevant health orders if the county is to move forward .
“ Hopefully , the community will realize that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be able to drive the number down so we can reopen some of the business sector that has been dimmed , everybody has to do your part , ” he said .
“ And I hope people realize that ... your decision not to participate costs the community dearly .
As you see the number go up , we ’ ll shut down businesses and , in the end , we all get hurt together.
” The Associated Press contributed to this report .

A pedestrian wears a mask while others don’t while walking past Munchies Vegan Deli and murals near 4th Street in Santa Ana.
Amid a recent surge in coronavirus cases, Orange County is struggling to determine precisely where residents are being infected, its top health official said this week.
Health officials say contact tracing, as the practice is known, is a vital tool in stemming the spread of COVID-19 as it allows those who have come into contact with a confirmed case to monitor themselves for symptoms and take steps to make sure they don’t infect others in turn.
Establishing exactly where a person may have been exposed has proved to be a significant challenge, however — particularly once residents started intermingling more as businesses and public spaces reopened, according to Dr. Clayton Chau, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency and acting county health officer.
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“It’s quite difficult, even the person themself would not know,” he said during a briefing Thursday. “‘Well, I was at the bar; I was at the beach; I was here; I was there, where did I get infected?’ It’s a very difficult question to decipher, and all case investigators and tracers do their best to try to ask people, ‘Where were you at so we can pinpoint?’ But, as far as I know, we can’t really pinpoint.”
Science & Medicine How contact tracing could help rein in COVID-19 The goal of contact tracing is to alert people who may have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus, and prevent them from spreading it to others.
Another challenge of contact tracing is the sheer number of infections.
Orange County health officials announced 905 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday alone — boosting the region’s cumulative count to 32,648.
That number includes 543 deaths, 22 of which were reported Thursday. An estimated 17,091 people have recovered from COVID-19 to date, according to the Health Care Agency.
Chau said health officials see patterns tied to events — such as increases in infections after the Memorial Day or Fourth of July holiday weekends — but “people are just everywhere, so it’s very hard to really pinpoint one activity that caused the infection.”
Advertisement
“Transmission is in the community now, so everywhere you go you’re at risk,” he said.
To augment its efforts, Orange County recently retained the services of a firm called Trace, which will put 33 more case and contact tracing investigators at the county’s disposal as early as next week “with the possibility of scaling up as needed,” Chau said.
He added that 568 public health staff have been trained on such investigations, “but the majority need to remain in their current capacities to ensure that we continue other public health programs and services.”
Tracking coronavirus in Orange County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
The process works like this: After someone tests positive for the virus, a contact tracer would get in touch with them to try and determine where they have been and who they were around.
Those individuals would then be asked to self-isolate, monitor themselves for symptoms and get tested if needed. For those showing symptoms, tracing would start again.
There are inherent challenges in the process. For starters, residents may struggle to recall exactly where they were or who they were with days or even weeks ago.
Some public health officials also have reported issues with residents withholding requested information — particularly if they’re concerned it will somehow be used against them or shared with other governmental agencies.
Officials in Riverside County put out a public call to urge residents to cooperate with contact tracers earlier this month.
“This information is critical as we work to slow and eventually stop the spread of coronavirus,” Kim Saruwatari, director of Riverside County Public Health, said in a July 7 statement. “It is understandable that patients may be reluctant to discuss sensitive issues, but it is very important that this information is provided.”
California The inside story of how California failed mass coronavirus testing California failed to establish an effective coronavirus testing system early on, leaving it far behind — even now — in the fight against COVID-19.
Public health officials say it’s important that residents continue to take steps to protect themselves and those around them from the coronavirus by regularly washing their hands, wearing face coverings when outside in public and keeping their distance from people they don’t live with.
Those messages haven’t always resonated in Orange County, though, where at times there’s been strident public opposition to some of the regulations imposed during the coronavirus crisis — particularly the idea of wearing masks.
Chau said it’s incumbent on residents to comply with relevant health orders if the county is to move forward.
“Hopefully, the community will realize that, together, in order for us to be able to drive the number down so we can reopen some of the business sector that has been dimmed, everybody has to do your part,” he said. “And I hope people realize that ... your decision not to participate costs the community dearly. As you see the number go up, we’ll shut down businesses and, in the end, we all get hurt together.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.