latimes--2020-03-23--Laguna officials close beaches amid coronavirus pandemic

As the numbers of coronavirus infections and deaths continue to rise statewide , Laguna Beach city officials took action over the weekend to close beaches and block trail access to county wilderness parks in an effort to force the public to practice social distancing .
The weekend was marked by growing alarm from public officials in the Orange County coastal city as many people — encouraged by the warm weather — flocked to Laguna ’ s beaches , parks and trails rather than staying home .
Laguna Beach Councilwoman Toni Iseman said she received roughly a dozen emails in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beside themselves about the public disregard for the rules of social distancing.
” Late Sunday , the Laguna Beach Police Employees ’ Assn .
released a statement pressing the City Council to close all city beaches and parks immediately .
The council held an emergency closed session several hours later , where it voted to shutter city-operated beaches and parks by Monday night .
Though many residents have been complying with social distancing , city officials said the increased number of people visiting public areas created greater opportunities for the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unprecedented ramping up of restrictions put in place by Gov .
Gavin Newsom last week , which called for Californians to stay home but permitted people to go outside as long as they practiced social distancing .
This involves keeping a space of 6 feet between people and avoiding crowds .
In a letter to Newsom over the weekend , Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen requested that the governor revise his stay-at-home order to specify that people should remain in their own communities unless out on essential businesses .
Though it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be permitted to go outside for walks , “ it does not mean that people have to travel miles to a beach or a park to get outside , ” Whalen wrote .
“ As a small coastal city in a heavily populated county , we are finding that many people from inland cities are coming to our beaches and parks when the weather is good , ” he wrote .
“ We lack the resources among our first responders to enforce social distancing with these crowds.
” It is unclear whether city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which oversees public access to the state ’ s beaches , before their vote .
Some cities have faced enforcement action in the past by the state if they institute measures that impede coastal access .
A spokesperson for the coastal commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday .
“ I can ’ t imagine the coastal commission would choose to come down on the wrong side of something like this , ” Iseman said .
“ It ’ s a matter of public safety.
” People crowding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern California over the weekend .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Sunday admonished residents for failing to practice social distancing and announced the closure of city golf courses , group sports facilities and some beach parking lots , but stopped short of closing the beaches entirely .
In Santa Monica , the city also decided to close its beach parking lots .
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia also announced the closure of the city ’ s public basketball , tennis and volleyball courts , as well as its dog parks , playgrounds @ @ @ @

An aerial photo taken of Main Beach around 3 p.m. March 21, 2020, shows people in the water and relaxing on the sand despite the governor’s order to stay home.
As the numbers of coronavirus infections and deaths continue to rise statewide, Laguna Beach city officials took action over the weekend to close beaches and block trail access to county wilderness parks in an effort to force the public to practice social distancing.
The weekend was marked by growing alarm from public officials in the Orange County coastal city as many people — encouraged by the warm weather — flocked to Laguna’s beaches, parks and trails rather than staying home.
Laguna Beach Councilwoman Toni Iseman said she received roughly a dozen emails in an hour over the weekend from residents “beside themselves about the public disregard for the rules of social distancing.”
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Late Sunday, the Laguna Beach Police Employees’ Assn. released a statement pressing the City Council to close all city beaches and parks immediately. The council held an emergency closed session several hours later, where it voted to shutter city-operated beaches and parks by Monday night.
Though many residents have been complying with social distancing, city officials said the increased number of people visiting public areas created greater opportunities for the spread of the coronavirus.
Laguna’s decision marks an unprecedented ramping up of restrictions put in place by Gov. Gavin Newsom last week, which called for Californians to stay home but permitted people to go outside as long as they practiced social distancing. This involves keeping a space of 6 feet between people and avoiding crowds.
In a letter to Newsom over the weekend, Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen requested that the governor revise his stay-at-home order to specify that people should remain in their own communities unless out on essential businesses. Though it’s a common-sense rule that people should be permitted to go outside for walks, “it does not mean that people have to travel miles to a beach or a park to get outside,” Whalen wrote.
“As a small coastal city in a heavily populated county, we are finding that many people from inland cities are coming to our beaches and parks when the weather is good,” he wrote. “We lack the resources among our first responders to enforce social distancing with these crowds.”
It is unclear whether city leaders consulted with the California Coastal Commission, which oversees public access to the state’s beaches, before their vote. Some cities have faced enforcement action in the past by the state if they institute measures that impede coastal access.
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A spokesperson for the coastal commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
“I can’t imagine the coastal commission would choose to come down on the wrong side of something like this,” Iseman said. “It’s a matter of public safety.”
People crowding beaches and parks was an issue across Southern California over the weekend.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Sunday admonished residents for failing to practice social distancing and announced the closure of city golf courses, group sports facilities and some beach parking lots, but stopped short of closing the beaches entirely. In Santa Monica, the city also decided to close its beach parking lots.
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia also announced the closure of the city’s public basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, as well as its dog parks, playgrounds and skate parks.
Nguyen writes for Times Community News.


latimes--2020-03-23--80% of coronavirus patients in L.A. County are ages 18 to 65, infecting people 'across the board'

Los Angeles County on Monday provided new information about the spread of coronavirus as well as the demographics of the patients .
NEW CASES : Officials confirmed Monday there were 128 new COVID-19 cases in the county and two more deaths from the disease caused by the coronavirus .
That brings the total number of fatalities in the county to seven and the total case count to 536 .
DEMOGRAPHICS : Of those who have tested positive , 80 % are people ages 18 to 65 , and 42 % are in the 18-40 age group .
“ This virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board , ” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer , director of the L.A. County Public Health Department , on Monday .
Those numbers are fairly in line with the statewide breakdown of COVID-19 cases as of Sunday : HOSPITALIZATION : Ninety people who have been infected in the county have at some point been hospitalized while sick , according to Ferrer , or 17 % of those who have tested positive .
CLOSURES : The city of Los Angeles and other civic agencies announced new restrictions on movements due to the coronavirus .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing to jam trails , beaches and parks despite orders to stay home when possible and to practice social distancing .
The closures include hiking trials , beach parking lots , group sports venues and parks .
SCHOOLS : Los Angeles public schools will remain closed until May 1 in response to the coronavirus outbreak as Supt .
Austin Beutner announced Monday that Verizon would provide free internet access for all students who did not currently have it so learning can continue .
Beutner said he had authorized $ 100 million in spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district struggled to provide online learning for about half a million students , many without internet access at home .
The district is working on a plan to distribute more computers to students and instructions for accessing the Verizon program .
FEDERAL HELP : The Navy hospital ship Mercy , based in San Diego , has been deployed to Los Angeles and should be here within days .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency was set to ship mobile hospital units to California within the next 48 hours .
The state is in line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a total of 2,000 beds .

Colleen Shalby, Alex Wigglesworth, Howard Blume

Los Angeles County on Monday provided new information about the spread of coronavirus as well as the demographics of the patients.
NEW CASES: Officials confirmed Monday there were 128 new COVID-19 cases in the county and two more deaths from the disease caused by the coronavirus. That brings the total number of fatalities in the county to seven and the total case count to 536.
DEMOGRAPHICS: Of those who have tested positive, 80% are people ages 18 to 65, and 42% are in the 18-40 age group. “This virus can infect affect people from across the board,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the L.A. County Public Health Department, on Monday. Those numbers are fairly in line with the statewide breakdown of COVID-19 cases as of Sunday:
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Ages 0-17: 25 cases
Ages 18-49: 837 cases
Ages 50-64: 442 cases
Ages 65 and older: 415 cases
Unknown: 14 cases
HOSPITALIZATION: Ninety people who have been infected in the county have at some point been hospitalized while sick, according to Ferrer, or 17% of those who have tested positive.
CLOSURES: The city of Los Angeles and other civic agencies announced new restrictions on movements due to the coronavirus.
They took the actions amid concerns over people continuing to jam trails, beaches and parks despite orders to stay home when possible and to practice social distancing. The closures include hiking trials, beach parking lots, group sports venues and parks.
SCHOOLS: Los Angeles public schools will remain closed until May 1 in response to the coronavirus outbreak as Supt. Austin Beutner announced Monday that Verizon would provide free internet access for all students who did not currently have it so learning can continue. Beutner said he had authorized $100 million in spending on technology to help students as the district struggled to provide online learning for about half a million students, many without internet access at home. The district is working on a plan to distribute more computers to students and instructions for accessing the Verizon program.
FEDERAL HELP: The Navy hospital ship Mercy, based in San Diego, has been deployed to Los Angeles and should be here within days. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was set to ship mobile hospital units to California within the next 48 hours. The state is in line to get eight of these units, for a total of 2,000 beds.


latimes--2020-03-23--Admissions scandal: Judge releases one parent from prison early due to coronavirus

Imprisoned for conspiring to slip their children into USC as bogus water polo stars , a Napa Valley vintner and a Los Angeles water systems executive asked a judge last week to release them from custody early , citing the specter of the novel coronavirus .
Agustin Huneeus Jr. , whose family owns several wineries in Napa , was discharged on March 17 , two weeks before his five-month term was up , after U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani found that “ extraordinary and compelling reasons ” justified the early release .
Incarcerated in Lompoc , Devin Sloane , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , asked Talwani for similar relief and was denied .
Even as she turned down the request , Talwani suggested that the process prisoners must follow to seek early release is ill-equipped to address a fast-moving crisis forced on the courts and prison system by the coronavirus outbreak .
Sloane , she wrote , failed to demonstrate he had appealed to the warden at Lompoc and exhausted all administrative means of securing an early release before appealing to the court .
Nor had he shown a “ life-threatening condition ” that would allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly to the court , she wrote .
Talwani raised in her order what she called “ a critical question ” : Should Congress or President Trump give the courts or the Bureau of Prisons “ greater flexibility ” to truncate the prison terms of people imprisoned for nonviolent crimes who are nearing the ends of their sentences ?
Amid a pandemic that has upended courts across the country and unnerved prisoners and their advocates , it is no surprise the coronavirus has affected the cases of dozens of parents charged with defrauding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with rigged entrance exams , fabricated credentials and bribes .
But compared with the disarray brought on the criminal justice system writ large , the pandemic ’ s effect has been more blunted on the college admissions cases .
Every defendant who has pleaded not guilty was allowed to post bond and remains out of custody ahead of trial .
The first trial — which includes Lori Loughlin , her husband , J. Mossimo Giannulli , and six other parents — remains scheduled to begin Oct. 5 .
It is unclear why Talwani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a similar one from Huneeus .
Both men are first-time offenders , 54 years old and incarcerated for committing nonviolent crimes .
While Huneeus ’ motion , like Sloane ’ s , was sealed to protect sensitive details about his health , Talwani cited both the coronavirus outbreak and the vintner ’ s “ unique health circumstances ” in ordering him released and committed to home confinement .
Attorneys for Huneeus and Sloane didn ’ t immediately respond to requests for comment .
As of Monday , three inmates in the custody of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 , according to the agency .
Two are at a facility in Louisiana and a third is at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn .
Toby Macfarlane , the only other parent charged in the case who is still incarcerated , has not requested an early release .
The Del Mar insurance executive was sentenced to six months in prison for sneaking his daughter and son into USC as phony athletes .
Macfarlane , 57 , remains imprisoned at a federal facility in Tucson with a June release date , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment .
A judge allowed Douglas Hodge , sentenced to nine months in prison for paying $ 850,000 in all to slip four children into USC and Georgetown as fake athletic recruits , to report to prison 45 days after his original surrender date .
Hodge , the former chief executive of Pimco , cited the pandemic as one reason for delaying his prison term .
The Bureau of Prisons “ is ill-equipped to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote , noting that Hodge , 62 , is “ at heightened risk for significant complications arising from contracting the virus.
” Hodge also asked to delay his surrender because federal prosecutors in Boston recently turned over notes that William “ Rick ” Singer , the Newport Beach consultant at the center of the admissions scam , wrote in his iPhone after he began cooperating with government agents .
In one note , Singer complained that an agent had yelled at him , insisting he “ bend the truth ” and describe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bribes , not donations to university programs .
Defense attorneys have argued that these notes , only a handful of which have so far been publicly disclosed , will gut the government ’ s narrative that Singer and his clients were entangled in an unmistakably criminal conspiracy to commit fraud , bribery and money laundering .

Devin Sloane, right, arrives at federal court in Boston for his sentencing last year. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, Sloane asked a judge, unsuccessfully, to release him from prison early.
Imprisoned for conspiring to slip their children into USC as bogus water polo stars, a Napa Valley vintner and a Los Angeles water systems executive asked a judge last week to release them from custody early, citing the specter of the novel coronavirus.
Agustin Huneeus Jr., whose family owns several wineries in Napa, was discharged on March 17, two weeks before his five-month term was up, after U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani found that “extraordinary and compelling reasons” justified the early release.
Incarcerated in Lompoc, Devin Sloane, whose four-month prison term will end April 1, asked Talwani for similar relief and was denied. Even as she turned down the request, Talwani suggested that the process prisoners must follow to seek early release is ill-equipped to address a fast-moving crisis forced on the courts and prison system by the coronavirus outbreak.
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Sloane, she wrote, failed to demonstrate he had appealed to the warden at Lompoc and exhausted all administrative means of securing an early release before appealing to the court. Nor had he shown a “life-threatening condition” that would allow him to bypass those avenues and go directly to the court, she wrote.
Talwani raised in her order what she called “a critical question”: Should Congress or President Trump give the courts or the Bureau of Prisons “greater flexibility” to truncate the prison terms of people imprisoned for nonviolent crimes who are nearing the ends of their sentences?
Amid a pandemic that has upended courts across the country and unnerved prisoners and their advocates, it is no surprise the coronavirus has affected the cases of dozens of parents charged with defrauding USC, Georgetown and other elite universities with rigged entrance exams, fabricated credentials and bribes.
But compared with the disarray brought on the criminal justice system writ large, the pandemic’s effect has been more blunted on the college admissions cases. Every defendant who has pleaded not guilty was allowed to post bond and remains out of custody ahead of trial. The first trial — which includes Lori Loughlin, her husband, J. Mossimo Giannulli, and six other parents — remains scheduled to begin Oct. 5.
It is unclear why Talwani rejected Sloane’s request while granting a similar one from Huneeus. Both men are first-time offenders, 54 years old and incarcerated for committing nonviolent crimes.
While Huneeus’ motion, like Sloane’s, was sealed to protect sensitive details about his health, Talwani cited both the coronavirus outbreak and the vintner’s “unique health circumstances” in ordering him released and committed to home confinement. Attorneys for Huneeus and Sloane didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
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As of Monday, three inmates in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the agency. Two are at a facility in Louisiana and a third is at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Toby Macfarlane, the only other parent charged in the case who is still incarcerated, has not requested an early release. The Del Mar insurance executive was sentenced to six months in prison for sneaking his daughter and son into USC as phony athletes. Macfarlane, 57, remains imprisoned at a federal facility in Tucson with a June release date, according to Bureau of Prison records. His attorney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
A judge allowed Douglas Hodge, sentenced to nine months in prison for paying $850,000 in all to slip four children into USC and Georgetown as fake athletic recruits, to report to prison 45 days after his original surrender date.
Hodge, the former chief executive of Pimco, cited the pandemic as one reason for delaying his prison term. The Bureau of Prisons “is ill-equipped to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the health of incarcerated individuals,” his attorneys wrote, noting that Hodge, 62, is “at heightened risk for significant complications arising from contracting the virus.”
Hodge also asked to delay his surrender because federal prosecutors in Boston recently turned over notes that William “Rick” Singer, the Newport Beach consultant at the center of the admissions scam, wrote in his iPhone after he began cooperating with government agents.
In one note, Singer complained that an agent had yelled at him, insisting he “bend the truth” and describe the money his clients had paid him as bribes, not donations to university programs.
Defense attorneys have argued that these notes, only a handful of which have so far been publicly disclosed, will gut the government’s narrative that Singer and his clients were entangled in an unmistakably criminal conspiracy to commit fraud, bribery and money laundering.


latimes--2020-03-23--Coronavirus cases in Orange County jump to 125

The number of coronavirus infections in Orange County cracked triple digits on Monday .
There are now 125 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county , up 30 from Sunday , according to the Orange County Health Care Agency .
Despite the steady increase in cases , no deaths have been reported .
Of the confirmed cases , 73 are men and 52 are women .
Most of the patients — 72 — are between the ages of 18 and 49 , but 19 seniors and one person under the age of 18 have also tested positive , health officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tested for the coronavirus in the county .
“ Experiencing symptoms ?
Stay home while you ’ re ill , ” health officials wrote on Twitter .
“ Need to seek medical care ?
Call your health care provider first so appropriate precautions can be taken.
” Of the county ’ s cases , 38 are categorized as community acquired — meaning they aren ’ t linked to travel or contact with another known case .
“ COVID-19 is here and can ’ t be restricted to one location , but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents and our healthcare system , ” county Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel said in a statement Monday .
Like their counterparts in Los Angeles County , Orange County health officials have shifted their approach to dealing with the coronavirus away from containment .
Instead , Orange County is dialed in on a mitigation strategy , which “ shifts the focus from labor-intensive contact tracing , the process of identifying every person a known COVID-19 case has potentially exposed , to protecting the most vulnerable populations ” — namely seniors and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimizing their exposure to the virus , ” health officials said Friday .
The county also operates two hotlines — one for public information , ( 714 ) 628-7085 , and a Health Care Agency referral line , ( 800 ) 564-8448 — that are now available daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. As COVID-19 cases continue to increase , state- , county- and city-level leaders have ordered California residents to stay indoors as much as possible and to maintain a six-foot buffer around themselves should they venture outside .
Some Orange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the weekend , when crowds flocked to some of California ’ s most famous beaches .
At an emergency meeting Sunday , the Laguna Beach City Council directed its staff to close city beaches by Monday night and work toward blocking local trail access to county wilderness parks .
“ We were unanimous that these steps must be taken now in our city to slow the spread of COVID-19 , ” Mayor Bob Whalen said in a statement .
“ I urge everyone to comply with our actions for the health of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huntington Beach officials reemphasized the importance of social distancing in a prepared statement Sunday .
While the city believes it ’ s important to keep beaches , parks and other outdoor spaces “ open to provide the public with an opportunity to get fresh air and maintain one ’ s mental and physical health during this challenging time , ” doing so means everyone has to be responsible .
As of Monday , Newport Beach closed its dog park as well as all its sport courts , fields , playgrounds and fitness equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size , ” officials wrote on Twitter .
Concerns over the coronavirus pushed the Orange County registrar of voters office to scuttle in-person voting for an upcoming recall election in the city of Westminster , officials announced Monday .
Eligible voters were instead sent ballots that they can either mail in or deliver to a drop box .
Ballots must be submitted by 8 p.m. on April 7 .
More information is available at ocvote.com .

The number of coronavirus infections in Orange County cracked triple digits on Monday.
There are now 125 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county, up 30 from Sunday, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency. Despite the steady increase in cases, no deaths have been reported.
Of the confirmed cases, 73 are men and 52 are women. Most of the patients — 72 — are between the ages of 18 and 49, but 19 seniors and one person under the age of 18 have also tested positive, health officials said.
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So far, 1,776 people have been tested for the coronavirus in the county.
“Experiencing symptoms? Stay home while you’re ill,” health officials wrote on Twitter. “Need to seek medical care? Call your health care provider first so appropriate precautions can be taken.”
Of the county’s cases, 38 are categorized as community acquired — meaning they aren’t linked to travel or contact with another known case.
“COVID-19 is here and can’t be restricted to one location, but we can mitigate ... its impact on our residents and our healthcare system,” county Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel said in a statement Monday.
Like their counterparts in Los Angeles County, Orange County health officials have shifted their approach to dealing with the coronavirus away from containment. Instead, Orange County is dialed in on a mitigation strategy, which “shifts the focus from labor-intensive contact tracing, the process of identifying every person a known COVID-19 case has potentially exposed, to protecting the most vulnerable populations” — namely seniors and those with chronic health conditions — “by minimizing their exposure to the virus,” health officials said Friday.
The county also operates two hotlines — one for public information, (714) 628-7085, and a Health Care Agency referral line, (800) 564-8448 — that are now available daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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As COVID-19 cases continue to increase, state-, county- and city-level leaders have ordered California residents to stay indoors as much as possible and to maintain a six-foot buffer around themselves should they venture outside.
Some Orange County officials renewed those calls Monday and over the weekend, when crowds flocked to some of California’s most famous beaches.
At an emergency meeting Sunday, the Laguna Beach City Council directed its staff to close city beaches by Monday night and work toward blocking local trail access to county wilderness parks.
“We were unanimous that these steps must be taken now in our city to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Mayor Bob Whalen said in a statement. “I urge everyone to comply with our actions for the health of everyone in our community and beyond.”
Huntington Beach officials reemphasized the importance of social distancing in a prepared statement Sunday. While the city believes it’s important to keep beaches, parks and other outdoor spaces “open to provide the public with an opportunity to get fresh air and maintain one’s mental and physical health during this challenging time,” doing so means everyone has to be responsible.
As of Monday, Newport Beach closed its dog park as well as all its sport courts, fields, playgrounds and fitness equipment “to further discourage gatherings of any size,” officials wrote on Twitter.
Concerns over the coronavirus pushed the Orange County registrar of voters office to scuttle in-person voting for an upcoming recall election in the city of Westminster, officials announced Monday.
Eligible voters were instead sent ballots that they can either mail in or deliver to a drop box. Ballots must be submitted by 8 p.m. on April 7. More information is available at ocvote.com.


latimes--2020-03-23--West Hollywood mayor, who tested positive, describes life with the coronavirus

For West Hollywood Mayor John D ’ Amico , who tested positive for the novel coronavirus last week , gratefulness under quarantine looks like this : A loving husband .
Two loyal dogs , Dodger and Mr. Big .
And a long driveway for solo walks .
“ I can imagine being stir crazy , ” D ’ Amico said .
“ For now , it ’ s OK.
It ’ s OK to slow down and be grateful for the things I do have.
” The mayor ’ s positive test on March 18 came as city officials were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combat the disease ’ s spread .
That day , city staffers were ordered to leave work .
Facilities were deep-cleaned .
City Hall remains closed .
A dense , 1.9-square-mile city of 37,000 people , West Hollywood had 19 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus as of Monday morning , the most per capita in Los Angeles County .
Within its large LGBTQ population , some West Hollywood residents heard echoes of the AIDS crisis , when news reports in the 1980s spoke of a mysterious “ gay cancer.
” D ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to West Hollywood in the early 1980s , told The Times that the new coronavirus “ is a different challenge , and we ’ re rising to it.
” D ’ Amico said that maybe because West Hollywood has lived through a health crisis before , there ’ s a certain hopeful assumption that is shining through : that people who test positive will live with the new coronavirus , just as they are now with HIV and AIDS .
As to how he got the coronavarius ?
D ’ Amico said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor said his husband , Keith Rand , a therapist , had attended a conference of the American Group Psychotherapy Assn .
in New York in early March .
The event has been tied to at least 22 positive cases , the association said in a statement .
Rand got home March 8 and , a few days later , started hearing that people at the conference were reporting being sick , D ’ Amico said .
“ We ’ re fairly certain that ’ s how it entered our lives , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that on the afternoon of March 14 , a Saturday , as he was working with city staffers on emergency ordinances , he started getting a headache .
He figured it was from stress .
The next morning , the headache was worse .
“ I slept bad , I had a tweaked neck and headache , ” D ’ Amico said .
“ On Sunday afternoon , I thought , wait a minute , I ’ m 56 years old and I ’ ve never had a stress headache.
” By March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and did not go to work .
He skipped the City Council meeting .
That afternoon , he had a fever .
On March 17 , he had a fever all day , he said .
D ’ Amico wrote to his doctor , who practices in Mid-Wilshire , and was told to come by the doctor ’ s office , park in the parking lot and leave his headlights on .
He got a coronavirus test in the parking lot .
That night , D ’ Amico took cold and flu medication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awoke on March 18 with no fever , with quickly-lessening aches and pains .
That same day , he got the test result : positive .
D ’ Amico — who repeatedly cautioned while describing his symptoms that all cases are different and that he was not giving medical advice — said he had been seeing the same doctor since 1994 and was hopeful , even with the diagnosis .
“ I didn ’ t feel scared , and I don ’ t , ” D ’ Amico said .
“ I feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got sick , and I got better , and hopefully I stay better.
” D ’ Amico said he and his husband were under quarantine together .
His husband , after initially being unable to obtain a test , was tested late last week , D ’ Amico said .
“ I obsessively wash my hands , ” D ’ Amico said .
“ I wash my face twice a day .
It really did catch me by surprise.
” D ’ Amico said that , right now , he hopes West Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though government buildings are shut down and staffers are working remotely , is still a resource .
Lisa Belsanti , a West Hollywood spokeswoman , said city officials have schedules “ stacked with conference calls and check-ins.
” The next City Council meeting , on April 6 , will be done remotely , she said .
“ We are still working , ” she said .
“ People are still going to get a call back.
” Belsanti said the city is trying to figure out who is the most vulnerable and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a lot , ” she said .
“ As a person , as a parent , as a community member .
It ’ s a lot as a public employee .
Especially in West Hollywood , the entire reason we became a city [ in 1984 ] was to take care of each other .
“ We were largely ignored by the world at the beginning of cityhood because of the outbreak of HIV and AIDS .
So our gut reaction to this is , how are our community members doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... Our hearts are broken because we can ’ t perform the kinds of services we ’ re used to performing .
”

For West Hollywood Mayor John D’Amico, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus last week, gratefulness under quarantine looks like this: A loving husband. Two loyal dogs, Dodger and Mr. Big. And a long driveway for solo walks.
“I can imagine being stir crazy,” D’Amico said. “For now, it’s OK. It’s OK to slow down and be grateful for the things I do have.”
The mayor’s positive test on March 18 came as city officials were in the midst of aggressive planning to combat the disease’s spread. That day, city staffers were ordered to leave work. Facilities were deep-cleaned. City Hall remains closed.
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A dense, 1.9-square-mile city of 37,000 people, West Hollywood had 31 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus as of Tuesday afternoon, the most per capita in Los Angeles County.
Within its large LGBTQ population, some West Hollywood residents heard echoes of the AIDS crisis, when news reports in the 1980s spoke of a mysterious “gay cancer.”
D’Amico, who is HIV positive and moved to West Hollywood in the early 1980s, told The Times that the new coronavirus “is a different challenge, and we’re rising to it.”
D’Amico said that maybe because West Hollywood has lived through a health crisis before, there’s a certain hopeful assumption that is shining through: that people who test positive will live with the new coronavirus, just as they are now with HIV and AIDS.
As to how he got the coronavarius? D’Amico said he has a possible idea.
The mayor said his husband, Keith Rand, a therapist, had attended a conference of the American Group Psychotherapy Assn. in New York in early March. The event has been tied to at least 22 positive cases, the association said in a statement.
Rand got home March 8 and, a few days later, started hearing that people at the conference were reporting being sick, D’Amico said.
“We’re fairly certain that’s how it entered our lives,” he said.
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D’Amico said that on the afternoon of March 14, a Saturday, as he was working with city staffers on emergency ordinances, he started getting a headache. He figured it was from stress. The next morning, the headache was worse.
“I slept bad, I had a tweaked neck and headache,” D’Amico said. “On Sunday afternoon, I thought, wait a minute, I’m 56 years old and I’ve never had a stress headache.”
By March 16, he had a slight cough and did not go to work. He skipped the City Council meeting. That afternoon, he had a fever.
On March 17, he had a fever all day, he said. D’Amico wrote to his doctor, who practices in Mid-Wilshire, and was told to come by the doctor’s office, park in the parking lot and leave his headlights on. He got a coronavirus test in the parking lot.
That night, D’Amico took cold and flu medication, and his fever broke. He awoke on March 18 with no fever, with quickly-lessening aches and pains. That same day, he got the test result: positive.
D’Amico — who repeatedly cautioned while describing his symptoms that all cases are different and that he was not giving medical advice — said he had been seeing the same doctor since 1994 and was hopeful, even with the diagnosis.
“I didn’t feel scared, and I don’t,” D’Amico said. “I feel seen and taken care of. I got sick, and I got better, and hopefully I stay better.”
D’Amico said he and his husband were under quarantine together. His husband, after initially being unable to obtain a test, was tested late last week, D’Amico said.
“I obsessively wash my hands,” D’Amico said. “I wash my face twice a day. It really did catch me by surprise.”
D’Amico said that, right now, he hopes West Hollywood residents know that the city, even though government buildings are shut down and staffers are working remotely, is still a resource.
Lisa Belsanti, a West Hollywood spokeswoman, said city officials have schedules “stacked with conference calls and check-ins.” The next City Council meeting, on April 6, will be done remotely, she said.
“We are still working,” she said. “People are still going to get a call back.”
Belsanti said the city is trying to figure out who is the most vulnerable and to quickly meet their needs.
“It’s a lot,” she said. “As a person, as a parent, as a community member. It’s a lot as a public employee. Especially in West Hollywood, the entire reason we became a city [in 1984] was to take care of each other.
“We were largely ignored by the world at the beginning of cityhood because of the outbreak of HIV and AIDS. So our gut reaction to this is, how are our community members doing? Do they have enough resources? ... Our hearts are broken because we can’t perform the kinds of services we’re used to performing.”


latimes--2020-03-23--Community groups alarmed after L.A. City Council meetings canceled for the rest of March

Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez canceled council meetings that had been scheduled for Tuesday and next week , saying officials have not worked out the logistics and need to make sure meetings can be held safely .
The move to cancel meetings until April drew immediate alarm from labor unions , nonprofit groups and community activists who had been hoping council members would act on a rent freeze and other proposals to give relief to those suffering financially in the face of the coronavirus pandemic .
Those groups , which have organized under the banner of the Healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emergency meeting and finalize measures to protect workers , tenants and unhoused people .
The coalition has been calling on council members to halt homeless encampment cleanups that require people to move property , tighten restrictions on evictions and forgive rent payments during the crisis , among other proposals .
“ Los Angeles City Council must show leadership during a crisis that will have devastating impacts on Angelenos , ” said Laura Raymond from Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles , which is part of Healthy LA .
Tuesday ’ s meeting had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a teleconferencing meeting during which members of the public could call in with comments .
Some council members would also have been in the council chambers , Martinez said in her letter .
Martinez said that everything slated for the Tuesday meeting would be rescheduled for a future agenda .
Last week , council members put forward a long list of proposals to address the needs of Angelenos during the coronavirus pandemic , including boosting sick leave and restricting evictions .
But those measures still must be drafted and passed as laws .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would pursue new emergency proposals , including a rent freeze , and were widely expected to take up some of the proposals that had already been drafted , including rules surrounding employee layoffs .
Martinez said that the city must “ meet to resolve those items and assist the good people of Los Angeles , ” but did not specify when that would occur .
“ Should there be any emergency items that the council needs to address , I will convene an emergency meeting to take action once all safety and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martinez added .
Councilman Mike Bonin called the situation “ incredibly frustrating , ” saying the the council can ’ t take action on eviction measures and other protections if it doesn ’ t convene .
“ My intention was to go in tomorrow , ” he said .
“ I ’ ll go in with a mask or gown or whatever we need or I ’ m perfectly willing to do it remotely.
” Not everyone was dismayed by the decision .
Stuart Waldman , president of the Valley Industry & Commerce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubled by council meetings being canceled .
Waldman ’ s group had raised concerns about a proposed package of workplace restrictions that would require employers to lay off workers , or bring them back , in order of seniority .
He said such decisions should be left “ up to the business.
” Waldman argued that Mayor Eric Garcetti could easily enact any needed changes through executive orders .
“ The council is looking to push things — Garcetti and his staff are already enacting them , ” Waldman said .
Rob Quan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unrig LA , said the council nonetheless has an important role to play — including as a check on the mayor , who “ does not have absolute authority.
” “ The idea that the City Council is not an essential service , in this whole response , is kind of ridiculous , ” Quan said .
In an attempt to limit health risks , council members had already cut the number of meetings down from three sessions per week to one .
They also canceled meetings of all of the council ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topics as public safety , planning and the city budget .
Some meetings are still proceeding at Los Angeles City Hall : The Board of Public Works , which is made up of Garcetti appointees , is continuing to meet telephonically , said agency spokeswoman Elena Stern .
The five-member board , which oversees repairs of the city ’ s streets , sidewalks , sewers and other infrastructure , reduced the number of meetings it holds .
But it is still scheduled to convene on Tuesday and take comments online or by phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Water and Power is also meeting on Tuesday .
That panel , also made up of mayoral appointees , will do so by telephone and also take comments from the public by phone , said agency spokesman Joe Ramallo .

At a March 17 meeting at the Los Angeles City Council chamber, the public was told to gather in a tent outside and watch the proceedings on video.
Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez announced Monday that she has canceled council meetings scheduled for Tuesday and the following week, saying the city is not yet ready to conduct a remote meeting.
The move alarmed labor unions, nonprofit groups and activists who had been hoping council members would act on a rent freeze and other forms of relief for those suffering during the coronavirus pandemic.
Those groups, which have organized under the banner “the Healthy LA Coalition,” urged Martinez to call an emergency meeting and finalize measures to protect workers, tenants and unhoused people. The coalition has been calling on council members to halt cleanups of homeless encampments that require people to move property, tighten restrictions on evictions and forgive rent payments during the crisis, among other proposals.
“Los Angeles City Council must show leadership during a crisis that will have devastating impacts on Angelenos,” said Laura Raymond from Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles, which is part of Healthy LA.
Tuesday’s meeting had been planned, in part, as a teleconference during which members of the public could call in with comments. Some council members would have attended in person, Martinez said.
All items on Tuesday’s agenda will be taken up at a future meeting. If necessary, the council will hold an emergency meeting once all the “safety and logistical concerns have been met,” Martinez said.
“The status is fluid,” she said in a statement. “But please know, the Los Angeles City Council will meet to do the people’s business as soon as possible.”
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Last week, council members put forward a long list of proposals to address the needs of Angelenos during the coronavirus pandemic, including boosting sick leave and restricting evictions. But those measures still must be drafted and passed as laws.
Council members also announced over the weekend that they would pursue new emergency proposals, including a rent freeze. They were expected to take up some proposals that have already been drafted, including rules regulating employee layoffs.
Councilman Mike Bonin called the cancellations “incredibly frustrating,” saying his colleagues can’t take action on eviction measures and other protections if they don’t meet. “I’ll go in with a mask or gown or whatever we need, or I’m perfectly willing to do it remotely,” he said.
Stuart Waldman, president of the Valley Industry & Commerce Assn., said he wasn’t troubled by the situation. His group has been raising concerns about a proposal to require employers to lay off workers, or bring them back, in order of seniority. Such decisions should be left up to businesses, he said.
Waldman argued that Mayor Eric Garcetti could easily enact any needed changes through executive orders. “The council is looking to push things — Garcetti and his staff are already enacting them,” he said.
Rob Quan, an organizer with the anti-corruption group Unrig LA, said the council nonetheless has an important role to play, including acting as a check on the mayor. “The idea that the City Council is not an essential service in this whole response is kind of ridiculous,” he said.
In their attempt to limit health risks, council members had already cut the number of weekly meetings from three to one and canceled committee meetings altogether.
Still, some city meetings are moving ahead. The board that oversees the Department of Water and Power is set to convene on Tuesday, meeting remotely and taking public comment by phone.
The Board of Public Works, which oversees repairs of roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure, also had been scheduled to meet Tuesday. But that session was canceled Monday after staffers tested the system for allowing remote public comment, said agency spokeswoman Elena Stern.
“We still have some stuff to work through,” she said.
Times staff writer Benjamin Oreskes contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-23--Salvation Army offers stores and camps as homeless shelters amid outbreak, but it's a leap

Just like for-profit businesses across California , the Salvation Army has taken a hit from the social distancing measures enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
On Wednesday , with foot traffic drained , the giant nonprofit best known for its Christmastime bell ringers shut down 17 thrift stores in Los Angeles County and 10 in Orange County .
The next day , top brass from the military-structured organization made an unexpected appearance in federal court in Los Angeles , offering up its stores and several other facilities as part of the response to COVID-19 , which threatens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Salvation Army is now in talks with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to determine if any of its facilities , which include two mountain camps and an 80,000-square-foot warehouse in the city of Bell , would be useful for housing homeless people — either to prevent them from being exposed to the virus or to quarantine those who may come down with it .
In an interview , Heidi Marston , interim executive director of the homeless authority , tried to put a damper on the prospects for opening homeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrift stores , which are still full of merchandise .
“ So it ’ s about whether the juice is worth the squeeze , ” Marston said .
But she said there ’ s potential in the Bell warehouse and at the mountain camps .
The talks were an unexpected sideshow in an unorthodox emergency hearing called by U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter to pressure officials from Los Angeles city and county for quick action on protecting homeless people from the virus .
While formally inviting officials including L.A. County Dist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez , Carter placed a private call to the Salvation Army .
He knew two of its leaders , Commissioner Kenneth Hodder and Lt. Col. John Chamness , from their work setting up a shelter as part of the resolution to a lawsuit that forced officials in Orange County to add beds for homeless people .
Before Thursday ’ s federal court hearing was over , Carter had the Salvation Army officers confer with Marston in a corner of the courtroom to hash out a plan .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breakthrough , though , and the two parties continued their talks over the weekend .
They are due to report back to Carter on Tuesday .
Salvation Army spokeswoman Pilar Buelna said the nonprofit has given the homeless authority a list of the properties , but conceded that some of its thrift stores could be problematic .
Besides the stock of used clothing and other products , which could be removed , some of the stores lack sprinklers or have other issues with city code that make them unsuitable for human habitation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ any are going to work out , ” Buelna said Friday night .
Over the weekend , officials from the homeless authority visited the Bell warehouse and the youth summer camp in Calabasas , Buelna said .
Conferences at the camp have been suspended as a result of the pandemic .
It has sleeping quarters , kitchen facilities and bathrooms to accommodate 500 .
Because of its isolation it would be good for quarantine , Buelna said .
The Salvation Army ’ s second camp in the Big Bear area was considered too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed , Buelna said .
The facility in Bell is part of a warehouse formerly on a U.S. Army Air Corps base .
It was transferred to civilian use as a homeless shelter in 1988 .
Salvation Army currently operates a 350-bed shelter in about a third of the space .
It uses the remainder for storing goods for its charitable activities .
But there is ample empty space .
“ We anticipate that that facility could accommodate as many as 1,500 people , ” said Hodder , one of the two officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be used for triage , for housing those who are medically fragile or for quarantine , he said .
Hodder said the Salvation Army decided to offer all of its resources for whatever use could be made of them to help blunt the virus .
“ Salvation Army would not have a single piece of property , we would not have a dime to our name without the extraordinary generosity of the American people , ” Hodder said .
“ We believe we can do no less at this point , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need , that everything the Salvation Army has is available to help .
”

A homeless woman waits as city workers and volunteers with the Salvation Army set up cots at Westwood Recreation Center, which is now doubling as a shelter because of the coronavirus.
Just like for-profit businesses across California, the Salvation Army has taken a hit from the social distancing measures enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
On Wednesday, with foot traffic drained, the giant nonprofit best known for its Christmastime bell ringers shut down 17 thrift stores in Los Angeles County and 10 in Orange County.
The next day, top brass from the military-structured organization made an unexpected appearance in federal court in Los Angeles, offering up its stores and several other facilities as part of the response to COVID-19, which threatens to ravage homeless encampments across the city.
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The Salvation Army is now in talks with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to determine if any of its facilities, which include two mountain camps and an 80,000-square-foot warehouse in the city of Bell, would be useful for housing homeless people — either to prevent them from being exposed to the virus or to quarantine those who may come down with it.
It’s a long shot.
In an interview, Heidi Marston, interim executive director of the homeless authority, tried to put a damper on the prospects for opening homeless shelters in the nonprofit’s 27 thrift stores, which are still full of merchandise.
“So it’s about whether the juice is worth the squeeze,” Marston said.
But she said there’s potential in the Bell warehouse and at the mountain camps.
The talks were an unexpected sideshow in an unorthodox emergency hearing called by U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter to pressure officials from Los Angeles city and county for quick action on protecting homeless people from the virus.
While formally inviting officials including L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey and Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, Carter placed a private call to the Salvation Army.
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He knew two of its leaders, Commissioner Kenneth Hodder and Lt. Col. John Chamness, from their work setting up a shelter as part of the resolution to a lawsuit that forced officials in Orange County to add beds for homeless people.
Before Thursday’s federal court hearing was over, Carter had the Salvation Army officers confer with Marston in a corner of the courtroom to hash out a plan. The details proved too much for a quick breakthrough, though, and the two parties continued their talks over the weekend. They are due to report back to Carter on Tuesday.
Salvation Army spokeswoman Pilar Buelna said the nonprofit has given the homeless authority a list of the properties, but conceded that some of its thrift stores could be problematic. Besides the stock of used clothing and other products, which could be removed, some of the stores lack sprinklers or have other issues with city code that make them unsuitable for human habitation.
“They are looking to see if any are going to work out,” Buelna said Friday night.
Over the weekend, officials from the homeless authority visited the Bell warehouse and the youth summer camp in Calabasas, Buelna said.
Conferences at the camp have been suspended as a result of the pandemic. It has sleeping quarters, kitchen facilities and bathrooms to accommodate 500. Because of its isolation it would be good for quarantine, Buelna said.
The Salvation Army’s second camp in the Big Bear area was considered too remote, but would be available if needed, Buelna said.
The facility in Bell is part of a warehouse formerly on a U.S. Army Air Corps base. It was transferred to civilian use as a homeless shelter in 1988. Salvation Army currently operates a 350-bed shelter in about a third of the space. It uses the remainder for storing goods for its charitable activities. But there is ample empty space.
“We anticipate that that facility could accommodate as many as 1,500 people,” said Hodder, one of the two officers who attended the court hearing.
It could be used for triage, for housing those who are medically fragile or for quarantine, he said.
Hodder said the Salvation Army decided to offer all of its resources for whatever use could be made of them to help blunt the virus.
“Salvation Army would not have a single piece of property, we would not have a dime to our name without the extraordinary generosity of the American people,” Hodder said. “We believe we can do no less at this point, because of the extent and depth of this need, that everything the Salvation Army has is available to help.”


latimes--2020-03-23--Marin County's public health officer has coronavirus and a message for his community

Marin County ’ s public health officer has tested positive for coronavirus infection and offered an urgent message to others in his community .
In a video message recorded Sunday night , Dr. Matt Willis announced that he tested positive for the virus that afternoon .
Willis said he has been self-quarantined from his family since his symptoms first appeared late last week .
“ My case is further proof that COVID-19 is with us , ” said Willis .
“ While my symptoms are now mild , as most people ’ s will be , we also know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this same illness can be life threatening.
” Willis ’ source of exposure is currently unknown , because he has met with healthcare workers in the Bay Area .
He said he didn ’ t know how he was exposed but he has “ been actively meeting with healthcare workers around the Bay Area as part of his work to coordinate Marin County ’ s response to COVID-19.
” “ Either way , it ’ s a clear sign of what we ’ ve been saying all along , ” added Willis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would be such an early example of the fact this is in our community.
” Marin County has 38 confirmed cases out of 430 people tested .
Four are hospitalized .
Concerned about large crowds over the weekend , Marin County closed all its parks , including such iconic locations as Point Reyes National Seashore , Mount Tamalpais State Park , Muir Woods National Monument and Point Bonita Lighthouse .
“ Stay in place and limit anything outside the home to only essential trips , ” Willis added in his statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our responders being exposed and pulled away from duty , we need to double down on our efforts to limit countywide exposures .
You can help us lessen the burden on our healthcare system by simply slowing the rate of spread .
That we do have some control over .
”

Marin County’s public health officer has tested positive for coronavirus infection and offered an urgent message to others in his community.
In a video message recorded Sunday night, Dr. Matt Willis announced that he tested positive for the virus that afternoon. Willis said he has been self-quarantined from his family since his symptoms first appeared late last week.
“My case is further proof that COVID-19 is with us,” said Willis. “While my symptoms are now mild, as most people’s will be, we also know that for many, especially our elders, this same illness can be life threatening.”
Willis’ source of exposure is currently unknown, because he has met with healthcare workers in the Bay Area.
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He said he didn’t know how he was exposed but he has “been actively meeting with healthcare workers around the Bay Area as part of his work to coordinate Marin County’s response to COVID-19.”
“Either way, it’s a clear sign of what we’ve been saying all along,” added Willis. “I didn’t necessarily think I would be such an early example of the fact this is in our community.”
Marin County has 38 confirmed cases out of 430 people tested. Four are hospitalized.
Concerned about large crowds over the weekend, Marin County closed all its parks, including such iconic locations as Point Reyes National Seashore, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument and Point Bonita Lighthouse.
“Stay in place and limit anything outside the home to only essential trips,” Willis added in his statement. “Because we’re seeing signs of our responders being exposed and pulled away from duty, we need to double down on our efforts to limit countywide exposures.
You can help us lessen the burden on our healthcare system by simply slowing the rate of spread. That we do have some control over.”


latimes--2020-03-23--As coronavirus spreads, Orange County to use former juvenile center as homeless shelter

A former juvenile correctional facility in Orange County will be used as a shelter for older individuals who are homeless but not showing signs of coronavirus infection , officials said .
The temporary shelter at Joplin Youth Center — which the Orange County Probation Department operated in Trabuco Canyon until May — will be open for “ sheltered homeless persons who are older but not exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 , ” county officials said in a statement Sunday .
“ The county is working with shelter providers to identify individuals who fit this category and to maximize the space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Officials also are moving to identify and secure other alternative shelters .
The coronavirus outbreak has infected 125 people in Orange County and more than 1,800 statewide .
Health officials say the virus presents particular risks to seniors and those with chronic health conditions — which can be prevalent among those who are homeless .
Orange County also has announced the relocation of its cold-weather emergency shelters — typically located at the National Guard armories in Fullerton and Santa Ana — after Gov .
Gavin Newsom mobilized the National Guard to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those facilities will be moved to the Independence Park gymnasium , 801 W. Valencia Drive in Fullerton , and the Salvation Army at 2603 W. First St. in Santa Ana .
Clients at those shelters will receive medical and housing services “ and will be entered into the county ’ s coordinated entry system for future housing opportunities and continued ” support , officials said .
Both shelters are scheduled to close April 15 , but the county is in talks to potentially extend that date , officials said .

The Joplin Youth Center in Trabuco Canyon will be used as a shelter for older homeless individuals who are not exhibiting any symptoms of the coronavirus.
A former juvenile correctional facility in Orange County will be used as a shelter for older individuals who are homeless but not showing signs of coronavirus infection, officials said.
The temporary shelter at Joplin Youth Center — which the Orange County Probation Department operated in Trabuco Canyon until May — will be open for “sheltered homeless persons who are older but not exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19,” county officials said in a statement Sunday.
“The county is working with shelter providers to identify individuals who fit this category and to maximize the space at Joplin while maintaining safe social distance.”
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Officials also are moving to identify and secure other alternative shelters.
The coronavirus outbreak has infected 125 people in Orange County and more than 1,800 statewide. Health officials say the virus presents particular risks to seniors and those with chronic health conditions — which can be prevalent among those who are homeless.
Orange County also has announced the relocation of its cold-weather emergency shelters — typically located at the National Guard armories in Fullerton and Santa Ana — after Gov. Gavin Newsom mobilized the National Guard to help distribute food and supplies across the state.
Those facilities will be moved to the Independence Park gymnasium, 801 W. Valencia Drive in Fullerton, and the Salvation Army at 2603 W. First St. in Santa Ana.
Clients at those shelters will receive medical and housing services “and will be entered into the county’s coordinated entry system for future housing opportunities and continued” support, officials said.
Both shelters are scheduled to close April 15, but the county is in talks to potentially extend that date, officials said.


latimes--2020-03-23--Closures at L.A. Unified extend to May 1; district contracts with Verizon to offer free student inte

Closures at L.A. Unified extend to May 1; district contracts with Verizon to offer free student internet to those who need it

Los Angeles public schools will remain closed until May 1 in response to the coronavirus outbreak as Supt .
Austin Beutner announced Monday that Verizon will provide free internet access for all students who do not currently have it so learning can continue .
Beutner said he has authorized $ 100 million in spending on technology to help students as the district struggles to provide online learning for about half a million students , many without internet access at home .
The district is working on a plan to distribute more computers to students and instructions for accessing the Verizon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego Unified have appealed to the state for emergency aid , saying that costs related to the outbreak have thrown their budgets out of balance , creating serious financial problems .
The extended-closure announcement came as L.A. schools were beginning the second week of what was originally scheduled as a two-week shutdown .
The county ’ s top education official , Debra Duardo , who has no direct authority over L.A. Unified operations , recommended that all school districts in the county remain shuttered until May 5 .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campuses would remain closed for the remainder of the traditional school year .
Schools and school districts are turning to online learning to keep academic activities going , with mixed results .
L.A. schools Supt .
Austin Beutner has scheduled an 11 a.m. teleconference to update the public on the district ’ s efforts .
The letter to state officials from Beutner and San Diego Unified schools Supt .
Cindy Marten , notes their districts ’ efforts to date , including setting up “ grab-and-go ” food distribution centers .
L.A. Unified , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has 60 centers , while San Diego Unified , the second-largest in California , has 10 .
The cost of meals for students from low-income families is likely to be reimbursed by the federal government , but L.A. Unified has provided food to all who ask — a generous and widely applauded measure , but a potential financial risk .
L.A. Unified also is paying staff volunteers a stipend of $ 100 per day to help at these distribution centers , a new cost associated with the emergency .
But a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles Unified is spending $ 100 million to provide devices and internet access to students and expanding training in online education for students , families and educators .
The goal is to provide a computer and internet access to any student who needs them .
Altogether , the new expenses are throwing the districts ’ budgets out of balance .
“ Said simply , our budgets will not balance for the current fiscal year because of the extraordinary costs associated with responding to the global pandemic , ” the two superintendents said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional emergency appropriation to address these unforeseen costs.
” The two district leaders are seeking “ an emergency appropriation of a minimum of $ 500 per student ... irrespective of family circumstances ” for technology , with a particular emphasis on those who need help the most , including students who qualify for free- and reduced-priced meals , students with disabilities , foster youth , homeless students and English learners .
Support services to disabled students and to English learners have been areas of particular concern since the shutdown .
At least two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require distance learning because they can ’ t offer a robust program to students with disabilities — and federal law mandates that these students have reasonably equivalent access to the full curriculum .
Both Beutner and Marten volunteered to include their districts in a state task force to address these and other concerns related to education .
Duardo issued her recommendation Friday in a statement to school districts .
“ The decision was made today in consultation with school district superintendents from across Los Angeles County and with state Superintendent Tony Thurmond , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest of public safety and the health of our children and most vulnerable community members , we are asking our 80 school districts to remain closed with students returning on May 5 , ” Duardo said .
“ School closures will help prevent transmission of the coronavirus , which is everyone ’ s goal today .
I commend our school district leaders and their staff , students and families for all that they are doing to ensure that learning continues and that vital nutrition and meal services are provided .
”

Los Angeles public school campuses will be closed until at least May 1 in response to the widening COVID-19 pandemic, officials announced Monday, energizing a costly scramble to move instruction online for an extended period, provide computers and free internet to the needy and ramp up meal distribution.
By staying closed until May, the nation’s second-largest school system is aligned closely with a recommendation from Debra Duardo, head of the L.A. County Education Office, which provides oversight for local school systems. There appears to be broad compliance with Duardo’s timetable among the county’s 80 districts. About 1.5 million students are enrolled in Los Angeles Unified and county public school districts.
“I wish I could start by telling you it will all be back to normal sometime soon,” said L.A. Unified schools Supt. Austin Beutner in a video statement Monday morning. “But that is not the case.”
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The centerpiece of the massive L.A. Unified effort is $100 million in new spending that Beutner has authorized, using emergency powers, to provide a district computer to every child in need and technology training for teachers and students — expenses that could threaten the district’s solvency.
Part of the money also will go toward providing high-speed wireless internet through Verizon to all students who need it. The service will be free to families, paid for by L.A. Unified at a discounted rate. About 80% of the district’s half-a-million students are members of low-income families.
“In ordinary times, our focus is on three things — to help students learn, provide support to students and families most in need and take care of all teachers and staff in schools who make possible the learning and support,” Beutner said. “Even in these extraordinary times, these are still our goals.”
This spending and other costs have thrown the district’s three-year budget — which the state requires to be balanced — into an apparent deficit, compelling Beutner to appeal to state lawmakers for emergency state funding.
“Said simply, our budgets will not balance for the current fiscal year because of the extraordinary costs associated with responding to the global pandemic,” wrote Beutner in a joint letter Monday with San Diego Unified Supt. Cindy Marten. “We request an additional emergency appropriation to address these unforeseen costs.”
The two district leaders are seeking “$500 per student ... irrespective of family circumstances.” The money, they said, should especially be targeted to students who qualify for free- and reduced-priced meals at schools, students with disabilities, foster youth, homeless students and students who are learning English.
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The extended-closure announcement came as L.A. schools were beginning the second week of what was originally scheduled as a two-week shutdown.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week that he thinks it’s likely that campuses would remain closed for the remainder of the traditional school year.
Schools and school districts have turned to online learning to keep academic activities going, with mixed results. Beutner acknowledged Monday that distance learning needs to improve.
“We know we can do better,” said Beutner, who estimated that about half of students continue to learn at the pace they had been at school. “Standing in the way is a great big digital divide.”
District officials estimated they were short about 150,000 devices. In an interview with The Times Monday, Beutner said that computer purchases were likely to include tablets and Chromebook-style laptops.
The deal with Verizon for wireless service is crucial, Beutner said, even though cable providers have offered free internet for new customers during this crisis. The problem, he said, is that many families are not in homes that could be quickly and easily hardwired — especially given the directives about social distancing.
Details about the Verizon plan were not available Monday afternoon; nor was the cost. The contract is being prepared, Beutner said.
Another component of the district plan will be training teachers and students about how to work and interact online. Before the shutdown began, teachers were told to prepare two weeks of work for students — which takes students to the end of this week. It may be necessary to open up schools long enough for students to turn in or pick up assignments — and even to pick up computers, Beutner said.
Also on Monday, L.A. Unified began bringing meals to eight temporary homeless shelters newly opened by the city of Los Angeles. City officials said the district would supply three free meals per person daily Monday through Friday, with other providers stepping in over the weekend.
L.A. Unified already is providing food at 60 “grab-and-go” distribution centers, which are open on weekdays between 7 and 11 a.m. People can walk up or drive through to receive cold, shelf-stable meals. On Monday, the district handed out about 260,000 meals, the largest number since the effort began last Wednesday. On a typical school day, L.A. Unified serves about a million meals.
The cost of meals for students from low-income families is likely to be reimbursed by the federal government, but L.A. Unified has provided food to all who ask — a generous and widely applauded measure but a potential financial risk.
L.A. Unified also is paying staff volunteers a stipend of $100 per day to help at these distribution centers, another new cost associated with the emergency.
“We’re spending resources to try to be a lifeline to the community because we think it’s the right thing to do,” Beutner said. “We’re assuming we’ll sort out the money later.”
In their letter to state leaders, the two superintendents also called on additional funding to support services to disabled students and to English learners.
Times staff writer Sonali Kohli contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-23--This is what Rodeo Drive looks like when all the rich and famous go home

Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s stay-at-home order has changed the landscape throughout the state .
Rodeo Drive in Beverly @ @ @ @ @ The high-end shops are closed , the normally bustling sidewalks empty .
The iconic location @ @ @ @ @ closed movie set than a tourist destination .

The Robert Graham piece “Torso, 2003” at the corner of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way marks the beginning of the Walk of Style, along the famed Rodeo Drive in the heart of Beverly Hills, where many of the world’s biggest fashion brands have closed under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order in response to the coronavirus.
(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-03-23--Heavy rain triggers mudslide, shatters Los Angeles County rainfall records

Heavy rain that pounded the Southland overnight shattered rainfall records across Los Angeles County and triggered a mudslide in Sherman Oaks that damaged at least one home .
A low-pressure system that originated in the Gulf of Alaska dumped half an inch to nearly 3 inches of rain across Los Angeles , Orange , Ventura and Santa Barbara counties between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning , said Kristen Stewart , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
Heavy rain was falling across Sherman Oaks shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday when Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 15500 block of Hamner Drive .
When crews arrived , they discovered a debris flow that had damaged the property , said Nicholas Prange , a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department .
The extent of the damage to the home was not immediately clear .
No one was injured in the debris flow .
The persistent rain also brought enough moisture to rewrite the record books in some areas of Los Angeles County , Stewart said .
Los Angeles International Airport received 1.73 inches of rain Sunday , shattering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set in 2005 .
A record of 1.51 inches of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles , breaking the prior record of 1.11 inches set in 1975 .
Just over half an inch of rain fell in Lancaster on Sunday , breaking the prior record for the day of 0.41 inches set in 1958 .
Palmdale Airport , which received 0.45 inches , also nudged past its record of 0.43 inches for the day , set in 2018 .
The rain is expected to taper off by Monday afternoon , making way for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But don ’ t put away those umbrellas just yet .
Another system is expected to move into Southern California by Wednesday night , dampening the area through Thursday .
However , rainfall totals with that storm are expected to be much lighter , with most areas in Los Angeles receiving less than a quarter-inch , Stewart said .
“ We ’ re getting to the end of March , so we ’ re nearing the end of the rainy season , ” she said .
The series of March storms has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping swaths of Southern California from sinking deeper into drought conditions following a bone-dry start to 2020 .
About 11.64 inches of rain has fallen on downtown Los Angeles this water year , just slightly behind the normal 12.88 inches the area typically receives .
The area was much further behind before the March rains , Stewart said .
As of last week , roughly 75 % of the state was considered to be abnormally dry , down from 78 % a week earlier .
The portion of the state considered to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , down to about 47 % , according to the U.S. Drought Monitor .

From left; Alysia Vickis, Casey Atamniuk and Courtney Olson, go for their daily morning run at Venice Beach on Monday, after a rain storm blew through the area.
Heavy rain that pounded the Southland overnight shattered rainfall records across Los Angeles County and triggered a mudslide in Sherman Oaks that damaged at least one home.
A low-pressure system that originated in the Gulf of Alaska dumped half an inch to nearly 3 inches of rain across Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, said Kristen Stewart, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
Heavy rain was falling across Sherman Oaks shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday when Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to reports of flooding at a home in the 15500 block of Hamner Drive.
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When crews arrived, they discovered a debris flow that had damaged the property, said Nicholas Prange, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The extent of the damage to the home was not immediately clear. No one was injured in the debris flow.
The persistent rain also brought enough moisture to rewrite the record books in some areas of Los Angeles County, Stewart said.
Los Angeles International Airport received 1.73 inches of rain Sunday, shattering the record for the day of 0.82 inches set in 2005. A record of 1.51 inches of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles, breaking the prior record of 1.11 inches set in 1975.
Just over half an inch of rain fell in Lancaster on Sunday, breaking the prior record for the day of 0.41 inches set in 1958. Palmdale Airport, which received 0.45 inches, also nudged past its record of 0.43 inches for the day, set in 2018.
The rain is expected to taper off by Monday afternoon, making way for partly sunny skies on Tuesday and Wednesday. But don’t put away those umbrellas just yet.
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Another system is expected to move into Southern California by Wednesday night, dampening the area through Thursday. However, rainfall totals with that storm are expected to be much lighter, with most areas in Los Angeles receiving less than a quarter-inch, Stewart said.
“We’re getting to the end of March, so we’re nearing the end of the rainy season,” she said.
The series of March storms has proved helpful in dampening Los Angeles and keeping swaths of Southern California from sinking deeper into drought conditions following a bone-dry start to 2020.
About 11.64 inches of rain has fallen on downtown Los Angeles this water year, just slightly behind the normal 12.88 inches the area typically receives. The area was much further behind before the March rains, Stewart said.
As of last week, roughly 75% of the state was considered to be abnormally dry, down from 78% a week earlier. The portion of the state considered to be in moderate drought conditions dropped slightly as well, down to about 47%, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.


latimes--2020-03-23--Here are the latest coronavirus restrictions on beaches, hiking trails, parks, recreation spaces

The city of Los Angeles and other civic agencies announced new restrictions on movements due to the coronavirus .
They took the actions amid concerns over people continuing to jam trails , beaches and parks despite orders to stay home when possible and to practice social distancing .
• Parking lots at Venice Beach are closed as are all beach parking lots in Santa Monica .
• L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva closed beach parking lots along Malibu ’ s 26 miles of coastline .
Among the parking lots shut : Topanga , Surfrider , Corral Canyon , Point Dume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Piedra , Nicholas Canyon and Leo Carrillo .
• The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority said it was closing all of its parks and trails , including parkland owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy .
Access roads and parking lots also will be closed .
• Long Beach announced Sunday it was closing basketball courts , tennis courts , volleyball courts , dog parks , playgrounds , skate parks , picnic areas and banning group exercise in parks .
• Marin County closed all its parks , including such iconic locations as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Park , Muir Woods National Monument , and Point Bonita Lighthouse .
The new county order largely matched the stronger issued for the city of Los Angeles by Mayor Eric Garcetti on Thursday night , just moments before the statewide order was announced .
Here ’ s what the latest Los Angeles County order does : All businesses have been ordered to cease in-person operations and close to the public .
There are exceptions for essential businesses , which are detailed below .
This new order is much stronger than the one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county order issued Thursday night ordered only retail businesses that were not considered essential to shut .
As a result , the new order will require more businesses to close their physical premises — specifically , nonessential businesses that are not retail stores .
People can still work from home .
All public and private gatherings are prohibited anywhere within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health , which , the order said , includes all unincorporated areas and cities in the county except Long Beach and Pasadena .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have issued their own orders .
Previously , only gatherings of 10 or more people were banned .
On Thursday night , Los Angeles County had classified personal grooming services as an essential retail business exempt from an earlier order to close nonessential stores .
On Saturday night , the county clarified that personal grooming services “ are nonessential services that are closed.
” Long Beach on Friday also ordered shut personal grooming services , including hair salons , barbershops , nail salons , waxing services and spas .
On Saturday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By Saturday night , the county said in a statement that golf courses are ordered closed .
Essential businesses in outdoor malls and shopping centers can remain open .
Essential businesses need to take the following precautions : • Require customers , visitors and workers to be separated by 6 feet , to the extent feasible • Provide hand sanitizer with at least 60 % alcohol or hand-washing facilities with soap and water • Post a sign at the entrance instructing people to go away if they have symptoms of illness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These are now closed .
Indoor and outdoor playgrounds for children are ordered shut , except for those within child-care centers .
Indoor and outdoor flea markets and swap meets are ordered shut .
• Obtaining grocery items for your household or for delivery to others • Legally mandated governmental purposes , such as access to court , social and administrative services • Providing care for minors , the elderly , dependents , persons with disabilities or other vulnerable persons • Complying with an order of law enforcement or the court • Grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and produce stands , supermarkets , food banks , convenience stores , warehouse stores and other establishments that sell canned food , dry goods , fresh produce , pet supplies , water , fresh meat , fish and poultry , and other household consumer products , including cleaning or personal care products .
These include stores that sell non-grocery products needed to maintain the safety , sanitation and essential operations of homes .
• Food processors , confectioners , food packagers , food testing labs that are not open to the public and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fishing .
• Organizations and businesses that provide food , shelter , social services and other necessities of life for the economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals , including gang prevention and intervention , domestic violence and homeless service agencies .
• Plumbers , electricians , exterminators , custodians , janitors , handymen , funeral home workers , moving services , heating-ventilation-air conditioning installers , carpenters , vegetation services , tree maintenance , landscapers , gardeners , property managers , private security personnel and other service providers who provide services to maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to properties and other essential businesses .
• Educational institutions for the purposes of facilitating distance learning , providing meals for pickup or performing essential functions , as long as social distancing is practiced .
• Cafeterias , commissaries and restaurants within hospitals , nursing homes and other licensed care facilities may provide dine-in service , as long as social distancing is practiced .
• Firms that supply office or computer products needed by people who work from home .
• Businesses that supply other essential businesses with support or supplies needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck or provide logistical support or deliver groceries , food , goods or services to residences , essential businesses , healthcare operations and essential infrastructure .
• Residential facilities and shelters for homeless residents , disabled persons , seniors , adults , children and animals .
• Professional services , such as legal , payroll or accounting services , when needed to assist with legally mandated activities , and the permitting , inspection , construction , transfer and recording of ownership of housing , including residential and commercial real estate and anything incidental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and federally funded research and development centers ; essential personnel may leave their homes to provide any service or perform any work deemed essential for national security , including , but not limited to , defense , intelligence and aerospace development and manufacturing for the Department of Defense , intelligence community and NASA and other federal government agencies .
Essential personnel include contractors .
• Child-care facilities providing services that enable employees exempted by this order to work .
To the extent possible , child-care facilities must operate under the following mandatory conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in stable groups of 12 or fewer ( “ stable ” means the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day ) .
• Children shall not change from one group to another .
• If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility , each group shall be in a separate room • Child-care providers shall remain solely with one group of children .
• Construction workers who support construction , operation , inspection and maintenance of construction sites and construction projects , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers in 16 sectors from .

The city of Los Angeles and other civic agencies announced new restrictions on movements due to the coronavirus.
They took the actions amid concerns over people continuing to jam trails, beaches and parks despite orders to stay home when possible and to practice social distancing.
Closures and bans
• Los Angeles city golf courses are closed.
• Parking lots at Venice Beach are closed as are all beach parking lots in Santa Monica.
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• Organized group sports at Los Angeles city parks are banned.
• L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva closed beach parking lots along Malibu’s 26 miles of coastline. Among the parking lots shut: Topanga, Surfrider, Corral Canyon, Point Dume, Zuma, El Matador, La Piedra, Nicholas Canyon and Leo Carrillo.
• The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority said it was closing all of its parks and trails, including parkland owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Access roads and parking lots also will be closed.
• Long Beach announced Sunday it was closing basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, dog parks, playgrounds, skate parks, picnic areas and banning group exercise in parks.
• San Diego closed parking lots at city parks and beaches.
• Marin County closed all its parks, including such iconic locations as Point Reyes National Seashore, Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument, and Point Bonita Lighthouse.
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On Saturday, the Los Angeles County health officer issued a stronger so-called safer-at-home order.
The new county order largely matched the stronger issued for the city of Los Angeles by Mayor Eric Garcetti on Thursday night, just moments before the statewide order was announced.
Here’s what the latest Los Angeles County order does:
All businesses ordered shut, with exceptions
All businesses have been ordered to cease in-person operations and close to the public. There are exceptions for essential businesses, which are detailed below.
This new order is much stronger than the one issued just two nights earlier.
The county order issued Thursday night ordered only retail businesses that were not considered essential to shut.
As a result, the new order will require more businesses to close their physical premises — specifically, nonessential businesses that are not retail stores. People can still work from home.
All gatherings are banned
All public and private gatherings are prohibited anywhere within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which, the order said, includes all unincorporated areas and cities in the county except Long Beach and Pasadena. Those cities have their own health departments and have issued their own orders.
Previously, only gatherings of 10 or more people were banned.
Nail and hair salons are ordered shut
On Thursday night, Los Angeles County had classified personal grooming services as an essential retail business exempt from an earlier order to close nonessential stores. On Saturday night, the county clarified that personal grooming services “are nonessential services that are closed.”
Long Beach on Friday also ordered shut personal grooming services, including hair salons, barbershops, nail salons , waxing services and spas.
Golf courses ordered shut
On Saturday morning, golfers took refuge in golf courses around the county. By Saturday night, the county said in a statement that golf courses are ordered closed.
Indoor malls and shopping centers
Indoor malls and shopping centers must shut.
Essential businesses in outdoor malls and shopping centers can remain open.
How essential businesses must operate
Essential businesses need to take the following precautions:
Require customers, visitors and workers to be separated by 6 feet, to the extent feasible
Provide hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol or hand-washing facilities with soap and water
Post a sign at the entrance instructing people to go away if they have symptoms of illness, such as having a fever or cough
Clean and sanitize the premises
Bars, gyms, movie theaters
Still closed.
Drive-in movie theaters
These are now closed.
Playgrounds
Indoor and outdoor playgrounds for children are ordered shut, except for those within child-care centers.
Flea markets and swap meets
Indoor and outdoor flea markets and swap meets are ordered shut.
Essential activities exempt from this order
Visiting a health or veterinary care professional
Obtaining medical supplies or medication
Obtaining grocery items for your household or for delivery to others
Legally mandated governmental purposes, such as access to court, social and administrative services
Providing care for minors, the elderly, dependents, persons with disabilities or other vulnerable persons
Complying with an order of law enforcement or the court
Essential businesses exempt from this order
Grocery stores, certified farmers markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, warehouse stores and other establishments that sell canned food, dry goods, fresh produce, pet supplies, water, fresh meat, fish and poultry, and other household consumer products, including cleaning or personal care products. These include stores that sell non-grocery products needed to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of homes.
Food processors, confectioners, food packagers, food testing labs that are not open to the public and food cultivation, including farming, livestock and fishing.
Organizations and businesses that provide food, shelter, social services and other necessities of life for the economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals, including gang prevention and intervention, domestic violence and homeless service agencies.
Newspapers, TV, radio, magazine, podcast and journalism activities.
Gas station, auto supply, mobile auto repair operations, auto repair shops, bicycle repair shops and related facilities.
Banks, credit unions, insurance companies and financial institutions.
Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, custodians, janitors, handymen, funeral home workers, moving services, heating-ventilation-air conditioning installers, carpenters, vegetation services, tree maintenance, landscapers, gardeners, property managers, private security personnel and other service providers who provide services to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operation to properties and other essential businesses.
Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes.
Educational institutions for the purposes of facilitating distance learning, providing meals for pickup or performing essential functions, as long as social distancing is practiced.
Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers.
Restaurants for delivery or takeout.
Cafeterias, commissaries and restaurants within hospitals, nursing homes and other licensed care facilities may provide dine-in service, as long as social distancing is practiced.
Firms that supply office or computer products needed by people who work from home.
Businesses that supply other essential businesses with support or supplies needed to operate.
Businesses that ship, truck or provide logistical support or deliver groceries, food, goods or services to residences, essential businesses, healthcare operations and essential infrastructure.
Home-based care for seniors, adults, disabled persons or children.
Residential facilities and shelters for homeless residents, disabled persons, seniors, adults, children and animals.
Professional services, such as legal, payroll or accounting services, when needed to assist with legally mandated activities, and the permitting, inspection, construction, transfer and recording of ownership of housing, including residential and commercial real estate and anything incidental thereto.
Military, defense contractors and federally funded research and development centers; essential personnel may leave their homes to provide any service or perform any work deemed essential for national security, including, but not limited to, defense, intelligence and aerospace development and manufacturing for the Department of Defense, intelligence community and NASA and other federal government agencies. Essential personnel include contractors.
Child-care facilities providing services that enable employees exempted by this order to work. To the extent possible, child-care facilities must operate under the following mandatory conditions: Child care must be carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer (“stable” means the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day). Children shall not change from one group to another. If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group shall be in a separate room Groups shall not mix. Child-care providers shall remain solely with one group of children.
Hotels, motels, shared rental units and similar facilities.
Construction workers who support construction, operation, inspection and maintenance of construction sites and construction projects, including for housing.
Workers exempted from the state’s stay-at-home order