latimes--2020-07-21--Ex-Laguna Beach officer held gun to colleague's head after bar-hopping, prosecutors say

A former Laguna Beach police officer has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon after prosecutors say he held a gun to the head of another officer after a night out drinking last year .
Luke Christian Gilbertson , 35 , is facing one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon and one felony enhancement of the personal use of a firearm during the commission of a felony stemming from an interaction on Sept. 23 , 2019 .
Authorities say Gilbertson attended a barbecue and pool party last fall with three other members of the Laguna Beach Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some point , Gilbertson and the other officers left the party and went to two other locations in Santa Ana , where they continued drinking , according to the Orange County district attorney ’ s office .
On the ride home from a bar , Gilbertson pulled a handgun and placed it to the back of a fellow officer ’ s head , prosecutors said .
Gilbertson , who was hired in 2010 , was placed on paid administrative leave after the incident while an internal investigation was conducted .
He was relieved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Laguna Beach Police Department .
“ All Laguna Beach Police employees take pride in serving our community with integrity and continually work to uphold the core values of our Department .
When one of our members fails to do so , we hold that person accountable , ” Chief Laura Farinella said in a statement .
“ This arrest and his independent actions are not a reflection of the men and women that continue to serve our community with loyalty and commitment.
” What prompted the assault has not been made public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Superior Court on Monday .
If convicted on all charges , he faces up to 19 years in prison .
He has been released on $ 50,000 bail .
“ It is unacceptable for an officer of the law to behave in a way that so blatantly disregards the well-being of another human , ” Orange County Dist .
Atty .
Todd Spitzer said in a statement .
“ No one is above the law , especially a police officer who was entrusted to protect the innocent .
”

A former Laguna Beach police officer has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon after prosecutors say he held a gun to the head of another officer after a night out drinking last year.
Luke Christian Gilbertson, 35, is facing one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon and one felony enhancement of the personal use of a firearm during the commission of a felony stemming from an interaction on Sept. 23, 2019.
For the record: An earlier version of this article misidentified the Laguna Beach police chief. She is Laura Farinella.
Authorities say Gilbertson attended a barbecue and pool party last fall with three other members of the Laguna Beach Police Department and a police dispatcher.
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At some point, Gilbertson and the other officers left the party and went to two other locations in Santa Ana, where they continued drinking, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.
On the ride home from a bar, Gilbertson pulled a handgun and placed it to the back of a fellow officer’s head, prosecutors said.
Gilbertson, who was hired in 2010, was placed on paid administrative leave after the incident while an internal investigation was conducted. He was relieved of duty in March, according to the Laguna Beach Police Department.
“All Laguna Beach Police employees take pride in serving our community with integrity and continually work to uphold the core values of our Department. When one of our members fails to do so, we hold that person accountable,” Chief Laura Farinella said in a statement.
“This arrest and his independent actions are not a reflection of the men and women that continue to serve our community with loyalty and commitment.”
What prompted the assault has not been made public. Gilbertson pleaded not guilty in Orange County Superior Court on Monday. If convicted on all charges, he faces up to 19 years in prison. He has been released on $50,000 bail.
“It is unacceptable for an officer of the law to behave in a way that so blatantly disregards the well-being of another human,” Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “No one is above the law, especially a police officer who was entrusted to protect the innocent.”


latimes--2020-07-21--FBI investigates whether suspect in judge family attack is behind California lawyer's slaying

The FBI is investigating whether the slaying of a well-known men ’ s rights attorney in the mountains of San Bernardino County earlier this month is connected to the shooting of a federal judge ’ s son and husband in New Jersey , according to law enforcement sources familiar with the inquiry .
Self-described anti-feminist attorney Roy Den Hollander was the prime suspect in the killing of the judge ’ s 20-year-old son and the wounding of the judge ’ s husband Sunday .
Den Hollander , who was found dead following the attack , is now the focus of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatal shooting of lawyer Marc Angelucci at his Crestline , Calif. , home , according to those sources , who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation .
In both deadly attacks , the killer posed as a delivery driver , according to a law enforcement source .
San Bernardino County sheriff ’ s detectives investigating the killing said Tuesday that the FBI ’ s Newark , N.J. , office is now taking the lead on the investigation .
A spokesman for the Sheriff ’ s Department on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handling the attack Sunday at the home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in North Brunswick , N.J. , where 20-year-old Daniel Anderl was killed and his father , Mark Anderl , was wounded .
Salas survived the attack because she was in another part of the house at the time the gunman , dressed in a FedEx-like outfit , came to the door .
FBI investigators are examining Den Hollander ’ s travel records and finances in the weeks before the deadly incident Sunday .
His body was found in Sullivan County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package addressed to Salas was recovered with Den Hollander , along with another for a New York judge .
Den Hollander was known for handling lawsuits challenging what he saw as unfair treatment of men , with some of his work garnering attention that saw him featured on “ The Colbert Report ” and MSNBC .
It was one of those lawsuits that in 2015 landed Den Hollander in Salas ’ courtroom .
A woman filed suit because she wanted to register with the U.S .
Selective Service System for the military draft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Den Hollander , upset at Salas ’ delaying of the case , derided the judge ’ s Latino heritage and complained that she allowed the Department of Justice to file its fourth motion to dismiss the case , suggesting she was “ trying to keep this case in her court until a weatherman showed her which way the legal winds were blowing.
” In more than 2,000 pages of his online postings , investigators are examining a reference to Den Hollander previously posing as a FedEx delivery driver , a move that seemingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one in the mountains of San Bernardino .
Den Hollander claimed to have suffered from cancer , but in an ominous declaration warned : “ The only problem with a life lived too long under Feminazi rule is that a man ends up with so many enemies he can ’ t even the score with all of them .
But law school and the media taught me how to prioritize , ” he wrote .
Others had already felt Den Hollander ’ s wrath , including the National Coalition for Men , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for two decades .
Harry Crouch , president of the group , told the Associated Press that Angelucci had previously received death threats but didn ’ t discuss them in detail .
He said Den Hollander had been furious that he had not been involved in a federal Selective Service System case that he filed with Angelucci .
Angelucci , a UC Berkeley- and UCLA-educated lawyer who won landmark cases and was honored by the Southern Poverty Law Center , was found shortly after 4 p.m. on July 12 at his home in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby reported hearing shots fired .
Deputies found the attorney “ unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
” Angelucci was pronounced deceased at the scene .
Angelucci was the vice president and board member of the National Coalition for Men and the founder of the group ’ s Los Angeles chapter , where he served as president for several years .
“ Marc Angelucci compiled a truly legendary set of legal achievements , including recently winning an equal protection case against the Selective Service Administration overturning male-only draft registration , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Men .
Michael Conzachi , a private investigator who worked with Angelucci on cases and is a retired homicide detective , said he was interviewed July 14 by San Bernardino County investigators .
“ Marc was an exceptionally qualified , dedicated attorney with an outstanding reputation .
...
Most of what he did was pro bono as a civil rights lawyer , ” Conzachi said .
At the time of his killing , Angelucci was co-counsel on a high-profile case in Mariposa County .
The case involved a rape allegation against a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities had seized a large ranch of the accused .
Angelucci ’ s co-counsel Ronda Kennedy tweeted about his killing : “ My co-counsel on two cases Marc Angelucci was murdered last night .
Just did an interview with detectives .
If you have any information please contact the San Bernardino detectives.
” While authorities investigate connections among Angelucci , Den Hollander and Salas , they share a legal battle over the military use of selective service and a requirement that only men be required to register once they turn 18 .
Salas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Den Hollander challenged that requirement but was replaced as the lawyer in 2018 after becoming ill. Angelucci represented a Texas man , with the support of the National Coalition for Men , fighting the constitutionality of the men-only requirement .
In February 2019 , Angelucci garnered the national legal spotlight when a judge declared that exempting women from that registration requirement violates the Constitution ’ s equal protection principles .
The judge , however , did not order the government to include women in the registration requirement .

New York State Police block off a road near where the body of Roy Den Hollander was found Monday near Livingston Manor, N.Y. Hollander is suspected of shooting a federal judge’s family in New Jersey.
The FBI is investigating whether the slaying of a well-known men’s rights attorney in the mountains of San Bernardino County earlier this month is connected to the shooting of a federal judge’s son and husband in New Jersey, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the inquiry.
Self-described anti-feminist attorney Roy Den Hollander was the prime suspect in the killing of the judge’s 20-year-old son and the wounding of the judge’s husband Sunday. Den Hollander, who was found dead following the attack, is now the focus of a federal investigation into the July 11 fatal shooting of lawyer Marc Angelucci at his Crestline, Calif., home, according to those sources, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
In both deadly attacks, the killer posed as a delivery driver, according to a law enforcement source. San Bernardino County sheriff’s detectives investigating the killing said Tuesday that the FBI’s Newark, N.J., office is now taking the lead on the investigation. A spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday referred a reporter to the team handling the attack Sunday at the home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in North Brunswick, N.J., where 20-year-old Daniel Anderl was killed and his father, Mark Anderl, was wounded.
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Salas survived the attack because she was in another part of the house at the time the gunman, dressed in a FedEx-like outfit, came to the door.
FBI investigators are examining Den Hollander’s travel records and finances in the weeks before the deadly incident Sunday. His body was found in Sullivan County, N.Y., late Sunday. A package addressed to Salas was recovered with Den Hollander, along with another for a New York judge.
Den Hollander was known for handling lawsuits challenging what he saw as unfair treatment of men, with some of his work garnering attention that saw him featured on “The Colbert Report” and MSNBC.
It was one of those lawsuits that in 2015 landed Den Hollander in Salas’ courtroom. A woman filed suit because she wanted to register with the U.S. Selective Service System for the military draft, which is for men only. Den Hollander, upset at Salas’ delaying of the case, derided the judge’s Latino heritage and complained that she allowed the Department of Justice to file its fourth motion to dismiss the case, suggesting she was “trying to keep this case in her court until a weatherman showed her which way the legal winds were blowing.”
In more than 2,000 pages of his online postings, investigators are examining a reference to Den Hollander previously posing as a FedEx delivery driver, a move that seemingly mirrored Sunday’s attack and the one in the mountains of San Bernardino.
Den Hollander claimed to have suffered from cancer, but in an ominous declaration warned: “The only problem with a life lived too long under Feminazi rule is that a man ends up with so many enemies he can’t even the score with all of them. But law school and the media taught me how to prioritize,” he wrote.
Others had already felt Den Hollander’s wrath, including the National Coalition for Men, where Angelucci had been a star legal player for two decades. Harry Crouch, president of the group, told the Associated Press that Angelucci had previously received death threats but didn’t discuss them in detail. He said Den Hollander had been furious that he had not been involved in a federal Selective Service System case that he filed with Angelucci.
Angelucci, a UC Berkeley- and UCLA-educated lawyer who won landmark cases and was honored by the Southern Poverty Law Center, was found shortly after 4 p.m. on July 12 at his home in Cedar Pines Park in Crestline. Someone nearby reported hearing shots fired. Deputies found the attorney “unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.” Angelucci was pronounced deceased at the scene.
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Angelucci was the vice president and board member of the National Coalition for Men and the founder of the group’s Los Angeles chapter, where he served as president for several years.
“Marc Angelucci compiled a truly legendary set of legal achievements, including recently winning an equal protection case against the Selective Service Administration overturning male-only draft registration,” said a statement from the National Coalition for Men.
Michael Conzachi, a private investigator who worked with Angelucci on cases and is a retired homicide detective, said he was interviewed July 14 by San Bernardino County investigators.
“Marc was an exceptionally qualified, dedicated attorney with an outstanding reputation. ... Most of what he did was pro bono as a civil rights lawyer,” Conzachi said.
At the time of his killing, Angelucci was co-counsel on a high-profile case in Mariposa County. The case involved a rape allegation against a man, which was subsequently dropped. But authorities had seized a large ranch of the accused.
Angelucci’s co-counsel Ronda Kennedy tweeted about his killing: “My co-counsel on two cases Marc Angelucci was murdered last night. Just did an interview with detectives. If you have any information please contact the San Bernardino detectives.”
While authorities investigate connections among Angelucci, Den Hollander and Salas, they share a legal battle over the military use of selective service and a requirement that only men be required to register once they turn 18. Salas heard a case beginning in 2015 in which Den Hollander challenged that requirement but was replaced as the lawyer in 2018 after becoming ill.
Angelucci represented a Texas man, with the support of the National Coalition for Men, fighting the constitutionality of the men-only requirement. In February 2019, Angelucci garnered the national legal spotlight when a judge declared that exempting women from that registration requirement violates the Constitution’s equal protection principles. The judge, however, did not order the government to include women in the registration requirement.


latimes--2020-07-21--Little noticed, Filipino Americans are dying of COVID-19 at an alarming rate

On March 10 , Loretta Mendoza Dionisio became the first person in Los Angeles County known to have died of COVID-19 .
Dionisio was 68 , had diabetes and had just returned from a trip to her native Philippines .
That made her a precursor of the coming pandemic in more ways than one .
For a variety of reasons , Filipino Americans have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus .
People with roots in the Philippines account for about one-quarter of the Asian Americans in California , yet data compiled by The Times show that Filipino Americans account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in the state ’ s Asian population .
Of 48 Filipino Americans known to have been infected with COVID-19 in Southern California , 19 have died , according to the Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles .
Although the data may be skewed by a small sample size , this puts Filipino Americans at a 40 % mortality rate , significantly higher than the overall 3.7 % mortality rate in the U.S. , according to research by Johns Hopkins .
Data compiled by The Times have shown that preexisting health conditions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the high number of Filipino American deaths during the pandemic .
Most of those who died were older than 60 , and many had diabetes and hypertension .
Many were retired , living in multigenerational housing with their children or in nursing homes .
Younger victims worked essential jobs , , working in and at grocery stores .
Although the death rate among Asian Americans is about proportional to their share of the population , studies show health and socioeconomic disparities in the Filipino American community may be causing more severe cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davis Bulosan Center for Filipinx Studies listed undocumented status , exposure for health workers , poverty and economic insecurity , preexisting respiratory conditions and lack of health insurance as factors that made Filipino Americans more at risk .
“ It ’ s the perfect storm , ” said Adrian De Leon , an assistant professor in USC ’ s department of American studies and ethnicity .
“ In terms of exposure to the pandemic , exposure to the virus , but also exposure to a lot of other factors , too — like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have environmental hazards.
” Black and Latino Americans also have , and as more data are released , it has become clear to researchers that coronavirus affects racial groups differently .
But the California Department of Public Health does not report ethnicity by Asian subgroups , which makes it difficult to identify more data from Filipino Americans .
“ Using ‘ Asian American ’ as an overarching label obscures a lot of the inequalities within and among communities , ” De Leon said .
According to Dr. Melinda Bender , who specializes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at San Francisco State University , Filipinos have relatively high rates of obesity , and heart disease , all of which are associated with more serious cases of COVID-19 .
“ People think that Asians as a whole are pretty healthy , ” said Bender , who is Filipina .
“ But in fact , we are all very different in how we are represented in chronic disease.
” “ Filipinos , ” she added , “ have the highest sedentary behavior of Asian Americans , and the Filipino diet is high in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Filipinos at risk.
” Bender also said that asthma was prevalent in the Filipino population in the United States , which would affect susceptibility to a respiratory infection like the coronavirus .
Another factor : In California , of registered nurses are Filipino , putting them at greater risk while on the frontlines in hospitals and nursing homes .
They also in the ICU , acute care and surgical units , where COVID-19 patients are treated .
This combination of working essential jobs while having underlying health conditions increases the risk of contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People in certain ethnic groups are predisposed to working really hard — and they ’ re ‘ heroes ’ or things like that , which is an Asian American stereotype — but it ’ s more so because people need to continue to work in order to survive , ” De Leon , who is Filipino Canadian , said .
“ In a country that has such weak social security , such as the United States , you have people ultimately sacrificing much-needed healthcare for themselves for the opportunity to work and continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The high number of Filipino Americans in healthcare goes back to the United States ’ .
Medical education in the Philippines was modeled after the American medical education system .
When there was a shortage of nurses in the United States in the 1960s , it was easy for American hospitals to recruit Filipino nurses who had learned nursing the American way .
“ It ’ s a colonial relationship that reinforces the U.S. dependence on foreign labor , ” Dr. Maria Rosario Araneta , a Filipina American who is a professor in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health at UC San Diego School of Medicine .
In the Midwest , the Filipino Consulate in Chicago tracked .
Half of the victims had been working in healthcare .
“ Nursing intrinsically requires being in close quarters with patients , and there is no way you can do six-feet social distancing , ” said Dr. VJ Periyakoil , the director at the Stanford Aging and Ethnogeriatrics Research Center , which examines ethnicity and health .
According to Periyakoil , socioeconomic conditions are a big risk factor for Filipinos .
“ If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to be quite limited ; there will be more people sharing the same space ; you ’ ll be working on daily-wage or low-paying jobs , which require you to go into work , ” she said .
“ When you ’ re forced to go into work , forced to be in contact , forced to take public transport , the nature of your finances imposes certain realities and restrictions on your daily life that put you at risk for higher stress and infections including COVID.
” Several generations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same roof , which can lead to difficulties isolating sick family members .
, a 55-year-old caregiver from San Jose , died of complications from COVID-19 on April 19 .
Although she was not working at the time , she was receiving dialysis for end-stage renal disease and also had type 2 diabetes , high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia .
The family is unsure how Aguilo contracted the virus , but she began exhibiting symptoms three days after her last dialysis treatment .
In the small , two-bedroom home in a retirement community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , her mom would wear a mask and try to take care of her as best as she could .
But when Aguilo began having shortness of breath and fever , she was sent to the hospital .
Ten days later , she died .
“ For Filipinos who already have these co-morbidities , this puts them at higher risk when they contract COVID-19 , ” Bender said .
According to Aguilo ’ s mother , Dalisay , diabetes is common in her side of the family , and all her children had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her oldest daughter , Pamela , is also on dialysis .
Bender ’ s work focuses on creating preventive measures to lower Filipino Americans ’ risk of developing chronic diseases .
“ There are a lot of cultural factors that go into why they have a lifestyle like this , and we ’ re trying to make lifestyle changes such as helping them be able to cook Filipino dishes in a healthier way , ” she said .
“ These are lifestyle-related chronic diseases that are preventable.
” More research needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Asian American community .
A research brief reported that Asian Americans appeared to have a fatality rate from COVID-19 four times higher than that of the overall population .
The article noted , however , that this result could be due to inadequate data on Asian Americans , and lack of standardization on the ethnicities counted as Asian American .
Recently , Pacific Islanders have been found to suffer the highest infection rate of any racial or ethnic group in Los Angeles County , but the data remain limited .
Dr. Tung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine and professor of medicine at UC San Francisco , co-authored the article .
He said disaggregating data on Asian Americans was one of the first steps to addressing health disparities among communities of color .
“ At best , it should be disaggregated by Asian American national origin group , and primary language , ” Nguyen said .
“ And then they should also invest efforts in collecting data so that there is a minimum amount of unknowns , because it is really hard to clarify disparities when there ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know anything about at all.
” “ The lack of investment , ” said UC San Diego professor Araneta , “ the invisibility of health issues in the Asian community , is something that I ’ m hopeful [ we can expose ] .
… We can ’ t continue being invisible .
We contribute meaningfully , financially , professionally to the growth of this country but remain invisible .
”

USC professor Adrian De Leon, in front of a mural in L.A.’s Filipinotown, is looking at ways the pandemic affects Americans across racial and socioeconomic lines.
On March 10, Loretta Mendoza Dionisio became the first person in Los Angeles County known to have died of COVID-19.
Dionisio was 68, had diabetes and had just returned from a trip to her native Philippines. That made her a precursor of the coming pandemic in more ways than one.
For a variety of reasons, Filipino Americans have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus. People with roots in the Philippines account for about one-quarter of the Asian Americans in California, yet data compiled by The Times show that Filipino Americans account for at least 35% of COVID-19 deaths in the state’s Asian population.
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Of 48 Filipino Americans known to have been infected with COVID-19 in Southern California, 19 have died, according to the Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles. Although the data may be skewed by a small sample size, this puts Filipino Americans at a 40% mortality rate, significantly higher than the overall 3.7% mortality rate in the U.S., according to research by Johns Hopkins.
Data compiled by The Times have shown that preexisting health conditions and occupational hazards are among factors that contribute to the high number of Filipino American deaths during the pandemic. Most of those who died were older than 60, and many had diabetes and hypertension. Many were retired, living in multigenerational housing with their children or in nursing homes. Younger victims worked essential jobs, providing healthcare , working in law enforcement and at grocery stores.
California The pandemic’s toll: Lives lost in California Hundreds of people have died in California due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These are some of their stories.
Although the death rate among Asian Americans is about proportional to their share of the population, studies show health and socioeconomic disparities in the Filipino American community may be causing more severe cases of infection. A March 30 report from the UC Davis Bulosan Center for Filipinx Studies listed undocumented status, exposure for health workers, poverty and economic insecurity, preexisting respiratory conditions and lack of health insurance as factors that made Filipino Americans more at risk.
“It’s the perfect storm,” said Adrian De Leon, an assistant professor in USC’s department of American studies and ethnicity. “In terms of exposure to the pandemic, exposure to the virus, but also exposure to a lot of other factors, too — like dense housing tends to be in places that have environmental hazards.”
Black and Latino Americans also have alarmingly high mortality rates , and as more data are released, it has become clear to researchers that coronavirus affects racial groups differently. But the California Department of Public Health does not report ethnicity by Asian subgroups, which makes it difficult to identify more data from Filipino Americans. “Using ‘Asian American’ as an overarching label obscures a lot of the inequalities within and among communities,” De Leon said.
According to Dr. Melinda Bender, who specializes in health intervention work for Filipino Americans at San Francisco State University, Filipinos have relatively high rates of obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease, all of which are associated with more serious cases of COVID-19.
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“People think that Asians as a whole are pretty healthy,” said Bender, who is Filipina. “But in fact, we are all very different in how we are represented in chronic disease.”
“Filipinos,” she added, “have the highest sedentary behavior of Asian Americans, and the Filipino diet is high in fat. All of these factors put Filipinos at risk.”
Bender also said that asthma was prevalent in the Filipino population in the United States, which would affect susceptibility to a respiratory infection like the coronavirus.
Another factor: In California, almost a fifth of registered nurses are Filipino, putting them at greater risk while on the frontlines in hospitals and nursing homes. They also tend to work in the ICU, acute care and surgical units, where COVID-19 patients are treated. This combination of working essential jobs while having underlying health conditions increases the risk of contracting more serious infections of COVID-19.
“People in certain ethnic groups are predisposed to working really hard — and they’re ‘heroes’ or things like that, which is an Asian American stereotype — but it’s more so because people need to continue to work in order to survive,” De Leon, who is Filipino Canadian, said. “In a country that has such weak social security, such as the United States, you have people ultimately sacrificing much-needed healthcare for themselves for the opportunity to work and continue to make money for the family.”
The high number of Filipino Americans in healthcare goes back to the United States’ colonial history in the Philippines . Medical education in the Philippines was modeled after the American medical education system. When there was a shortage of nurses in the United States in the 1960s, it was easy for American hospitals to recruit Filipino nurses who had learned nursing the American way.
“It’s a colonial relationship that reinforces the U.S. dependence on foreign labor,” Dr. Maria Rosario Araneta, a Filipina American who is a professor in the department of family medicine and public health at UC San Diego School of Medicine.
In the Midwest, the Filipino Consulate in Chicago tracked 17 Filipino American deaths . Half of the victims had been working in healthcare. “Nursing intrinsically requires being in close quarters with patients, and there is no way you can do six-feet social distancing,” said Dr. VJ Periyakoil, the director at the Stanford Aging and Ethnogeriatrics Research Center, which examines ethnicity and health.
According to Periyakoil, socioeconomic conditions are a big risk factor for Filipinos. “If you’re poor, your housing circumstances are going to be quite limited; there will be more people sharing the same space; you’ll be working on daily-wage or low-paying jobs, which require you to go into work,” she said. “When you’re forced to go into work, forced to be in contact, forced to take public transport, the nature of your finances imposes certain realities and restrictions on your daily life that put you at risk for higher stress and infections including COVID.”
Several generations of a Filipino family might live under the same roof, which can lead to difficulties isolating sick family members.
Dulce Amor Aguilo is among Filipino Americans to have died of COVID-19. (Family photo)
Dulce Amor Aguilo , a 55-year-old caregiver from San Jose, died of complications from COVID-19 on April 19. Although she was not working at the time, she was receiving dialysis for end-stage renal disease and also had type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia.
The family is unsure how Aguilo contracted the virus, but she began exhibiting symptoms three days after her last dialysis treatment. In the small, two-bedroom home in a retirement community she shared with her parents and sister, her mom would wear a mask and try to take care of her as best as she could.
But when Aguilo began having shortness of breath and fever, she was sent to the hospital. Ten days later, she died. “For Filipinos who already have these co-morbidities, this puts them at higher risk when they contract COVID-19,” Bender said.
According to Aguilo’s mother, Dalisay, diabetes is common in her side of the family, and all her children had it, as well as her mom. Her oldest daughter, Pamela, is also on dialysis.
Bender’s work focuses on creating preventive measures to lower Filipino Americans’ risk of developing chronic diseases. “There are a lot of cultural factors that go into why they have a lifestyle like this, and we’re trying to make lifestyle changes such as helping them be able to cook Filipino dishes in a healthier way,” she said. “These are lifestyle-related chronic diseases that are preventable.”
More research needs to be done to address the disparities within the Asian American community. A research brief published on Health Affairs reported that Asian Americans appeared to have a fatality rate from COVID-19 four times higher than that of the overall population. The article noted, however, that this result could be due to inadequate data on Asian Americans, and lack of standardization on the ethnicities counted as Asian American. Recently, Pacific Islanders have been found to suffer the highest infection rate of any racial or ethnic group in Los Angeles County, but the data remain limited.
Dr. Tung Nguyen, endowed chair in general internal medicine and professor of medicine at UC San Francisco, co-authored the article. He said disaggregating data on Asian Americans was one of the first steps to addressing health disparities among communities of color. “At best, it should be disaggregated by Asian American national origin group, and primary language,” Nguyen said. “And then they should also invest efforts in collecting data so that there is a minimum amount of unknowns, because it is really hard to clarify disparities when there’s a big group of people who we don’t know anything about at all.”
“The lack of investment,” said UC San Diego professor Araneta, “the invisibility of health issues in the Asian community, is something that I’m hopeful [we can expose]. … We can’t continue being invisible. We contribute meaningfully, financially, professionally to the growth of this country but remain invisible.”


latimes--2020-07-21--Orange County now has second-worst coronavirus outbreak in California

Orange County now has the second-most coronavirus infections in California , as the region and state continue to grapple with sharp spikes in the number of confirmed cases .
The cumulative COVID-19 case count in Orange County was 29,986 Tuesday , just ahead of Riverside County ’ s 29,983 .
Only Los Angeles County is higher , with nearly 160,000 cases .
Over the 14 days leading up to Tuesday , Orange County reported 12,104 additional COVID-19 cases , a figure that trailed only that of Los Angeles , according to The Times ’ coronavirus tracker .
During that same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Bernardino County , 8,754 ; and San Diego County , 7,135 .
When accounting for population , however , Orange County has reported fewer overall cases per 100,000 residents than Los Angeles , Riverside and San Bernardino counties , but more than San Diego County .
Orange County also reported the second-most coronavirus-linked fatalities in the state , 127 , over the same 14-day period .
Overall , only Los Angeles , with 4,104 deaths , and Riverside , with 588 , have lost more residents to the coronavirus .
Both those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100,000 residents than Orange County , while San Bernardino and San Diego have seen fewer , according to The Times ’ tracker .
During a news conference last week , Orange County Executive Officer Frank Kim said he did not think the region ’ s case rate was out of line with those of neighboring counties .
“ Obviously , there are some days where one county is higher than another , ” he said , “ but I did not see us as an outlier within the large urban counties in Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded 990 additional COVID-19 cases , health officials said — raising its cumulative total to 30,976 .
They also reported 20 more fatalities , bringing the death toll to 513 .
An estimated 15,232 people have recovered from the coronavirus to date in Orange County , according to the county Health Care Agency .
During the early days of the pandemic , Orange County seemed to escape the devastating outbreaks and death tolls that hit other parts of the state — especially L.A .
The county didn ’ t top 100 confirmed COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks after Riverside County reached that milestone , according to public health data .
Some officials cited the county ’ s early numbers as evidence that the region was ready to more widely reopen businesses that were shuttered under California ’ s stay-at-home order .
The state gave Orange County the green light to reopen restaurants for on-site dining two days before Memorial Day .
But , as has been the case statewide , Orange County ’ s reopening of businesses and public spaces has been followed by sharp upticks in confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take three to four weeks after exposure for infected people to become sick enough to be hospitalized .
With cases increasing at an alarming rate , Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced statewide restrictions last week to again halt all indoor dining and close bars , zoos and museums .
More than two dozen counties on the state ’ s monitoring list — including Orange County — were forced to shutter gyms , houses of worship , offices with nonessential workers , malls and indoor operations at nail and hair salons .
Orange County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing back against some of the restrictions meant to help stymie the disease ’ s spread .
A major point of contention has been whether residents should be required to wear masks .
In early June , the county ’ s public health officer resigned after weeks of verbal attacks , including a death threat , over her mandatory mask rules .
Her replacement later rescinded the rules amid intense pressure , instead “ strongly recommending ” that residents wear face coverings when in public .
Newsom issued a statewide mask order shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be followed or enforced at the local level remains to be seen .
The Orange County Board of Education also voted last week to recommend reopening schools without requiring the use of masks for students — though specific reopening plans would be left up to individual school districts .
Newsom essentially rendered the issue moot when he announced Friday that school campuses will remain closed in counties on the monitoring list .
“ We have seen in Orange County more of a resistance to mask wearing , ” said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health .
“ So I think that we are seeing increased transmission — community transmission — in Orange County because of the lower levels of mask use.
” Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II and Jake Sheridan contributed to this report .

Orange County now has the second-most coronavirus infections in California, as the region and state continue to grapple with sharp spikes in the number of confirmed cases.
The cumulative COVID-19 case count in Orange County was 29,986 Tuesday, just ahead of Riverside County’s 29,983. Only Los Angeles County is higher, with nearly 160,000 cases.
Over the 14 days leading up to Tuesday, Orange County reported 12,104 additional COVID-19 cases, a figure that trailed only that of Los Angeles, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker. During that same time, Riverside County confirmed 9,428; San Bernardino County, 8,754; and San Diego County, 7,135.
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When accounting for population, however, Orange County has reported fewer overall cases per 100,000 residents than Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, but more than San Diego County.
Orange County also reported the second-most coronavirus-linked fatalities in the state, 127, over the same 14-day period.
Overall, only Los Angeles, with 4,104 deaths, and Riverside, with 588, have lost more residents to the coronavirus. Both those counties also have seen more deaths per 100,000 residents than Orange County, while San Bernardino and San Diego have seen fewer, according to The Times’ tracker.
During a news conference last week, Orange County Executive Officer Frank Kim said he did not think the region’s case rate was out of line with those of neighboring counties.
“Obviously, there are some days where one county is higher than another,” he said, “but I did not see us as an outlier within the large urban counties in Southern California.”
On Tuesday, Orange County recorded 990 additional COVID-19 cases, health officials said — raising its cumulative total to 30,976. They also reported 20 more fatalities, bringing the death toll to 513.
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An estimated 15,232 people have recovered from the coronavirus to date in Orange County, according to the county Health Care Agency.
During the early days of the pandemic, Orange County seemed to escape the devastating outbreaks and death tolls that hit other parts of the state — especially L.A. The county didn’t top 100 confirmed COVID-19 deaths until May 9, more than two weeks after Riverside County reached that milestone, according to public health data.
Some officials cited the county’s early numbers as evidence that the region was ready to more widely reopen businesses that were shuttered under California’s stay-at-home order. The state gave Orange County the green light to reopen restaurants for on-site dining two days before Memorial Day.
But, as has been the case statewide, Orange County’s reopening of businesses and public spaces has been followed by sharp upticks in confirmed coronavirus infections and hospitalizations. It can take three to four weeks after exposure for infected people to become sick enough to be hospitalized.
With cases increasing at an alarming rate, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced statewide restrictions last week to again halt all indoor dining and close bars, zoos and museums. More than two dozen counties on the state’s monitoring list — including Orange County — were forced to shutter gyms, houses of worship, offices with nonessential workers, malls and indoor operations at nail and hair salons.
Orange County has drawn headlines for politically and publicly pushing back against some of the restrictions meant to help stymie the disease’s spread.
A major point of contention has been whether residents should be required to wear masks. In early June, the county’s public health officer resigned after weeks of verbal attacks, including a death threat, over her mandatory mask rules. Her replacement later rescinded the rules amid intense pressure, instead “strongly recommending” that residents wear face coverings when in public.
Newsom issued a statewide mask order shortly after — though how stringently such requirements will be followed or enforced at the local level remains to be seen.
The Orange County Board of Education also voted last week to recommend reopening schools without requiring the use of masks for students — though specific reopening plans would be left up to individual school districts.
Newsom essentially rendered the issue moot when he announced Friday that school campuses will remain closed in counties on the monitoring list.
“We have seen in Orange County more of a resistance to mask wearing,” said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, a medical epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. “So I think that we are seeing increased transmission — community transmission — in Orange County because of the lower levels of mask use.”
Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II and Jake Sheridan contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-21--Wearing masks could help you avoid major illness even if you get coronavirus, experts say

As health experts urge the public to wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus , they continue to get pushback .
Among the arguments of skeptics : If masks can ’ t fully protect me against COVID-19 , what is the point of wearing them ?
Scientists ’ counterargument is that masks can help reduce the severity of the disease caused by coronavirus even if you get infected .
There ’ s now mounting evidence that silent spreaders are responsible for the majority of transmission of the coronavirus — making universal masking essential to slow the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This makes the coronavirus different from the seasonal flu .
With seasonal flu , peak infectiousness occurs about one day after the onset of symptoms .
But with the coronavirus , even among people who do end up becoming visibly sick , peak infectiousness can occur before they show symptoms .
In fact , experts say , significant amounts of virus can start coming out of people ’ s noses and mouths even when they feel well .
This is a key reason , they say , why tactics to deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the seasonal flu .
And the universal wearing of masks is key .
Here ’ s a Q & A based on research and interviews with medical experts .
What ’ s the point of wearing a cloth face covering if it doesn ’ t filter out everything ?
Cloth face masks still provide a major protective benefit : They filter out a majority of viral particles .
As it turns out , that ’ s pretty important .
Breathing in a small amount of virus may lead to no disease or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a huge volume of virus particles can result in serious disease or death .
That ’ s the argument Dr. Monica Gandhi , UC San Francisco professor of medicine and medical director of the HIV Clinic at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital , is making about why — if you do become infected with the virus — masking can still protect you from more severe disease .
“ There is this theory that facial masking reduces the [ amount of virus you get exposed to ] and disease severity , ” said Gandhi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for AIDS Research at UC San Francisco .
The idea that a lower dose of virus means less severe illness is a well-worn idea in medicine .
Even going back to 1938 , there was a study showing that by giving mice a higher dose of a deadly virus , the mice were more likely to get severe disease and die , Gandhi said .
The same principle applies to humans .
A study published in 2015 gave healthy volunteers varying doses of a flu virus ; those who got higher doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortness of breath , Gandhi said .
And another study suggested that the reason the second wave of the 1918-19 flu pandemic was the deadliest in the U.S. was because of the overcrowded conditions in Army camps as World War I wound down .
“ In 1918 , the Army camps [ were ] characterized by a high number of contacts between people and by a high case-fatality rate , sometimes 5 to 8 times higher than the case-fatality rate among civilian communities , ” the study said .
Finally , a study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partitions significantly reduced the transmission of the coronavirus among hamsters .
And even if the hamsters protected by the mask partitions acquired the coronavirus , “ they were more likely to get very mild disease , ” Gandhi said .
What happens if a city dramatically masks up in public ?
If Gandhi is right , it may mean that even if there ’ s a rise in coronavirus infections in a city , the masks may limit the dose of virus people are getting and result in less severe symptoms of illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she suspects is happening in San Francisco , where mask wearing is relatively robust .
Further observations are needed , she said .
There ’ s more evidence that masks can be protective — even when wearers do become infected .
She cited an outbreak at a seafood plant in Oregon where employees were given masks , and 95 % of those who were infected were asymptomatic .
Gandhi also cited the experience of those aboard a cruise ship that was traveling from Argentina to Antartica in March when the coronavirus infected people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent study .
Passengers got surgical masks ; the crew got N95 masks .
But instead of about 40 % of those infected being asymptomatic — which is what would normally be expected — 81 % of those testing positive were asymptomatic , and the masks may have helped reduce the severity of disease in people on board , Gandhi said .
What has happened in other countries where residents have masked up ?
The protective effects are seen in countries where masks have been universally accepted for years , such as Taiwan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They have all seen cases as they opened ... but not deaths , ” Gandhi said .
The Czech Republic moved early to require masks , issuing an order in mid-March , Gandhi said ; that ’ s about three months before Gov .
Gavin Newsom did so statewide in California .
But in the Czech Republic , “ every time their cases would go up ... their death rate was totally flat .
So they didn ’ t get the severe illness with these cases going on.
” By May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask rule .
“ And they ’ re doing great , ” Gandhi said .

As health experts urge the public to wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus, they continue to get pushback. Among the arguments of skeptics: If masks can’t fully protect me against COVID-19, what is the point of wearing them?
Scientists’ counterargument is that masks can help reduce the severity of the disease caused by coronavirus even if you get infected.
There’s now mounting evidence that silent spreaders are responsible for the majority of transmission of the coronavirus — making universal masking essential to slow the spread of the highly contagious virus, experts say.
This makes the coronavirus different from the seasonal flu. With seasonal flu, peak infectiousness occurs about one day after the onset of symptoms. But with the coronavirus, even among people who do end up becoming visibly sick, peak infectiousness can occur before they show symptoms.
In fact, experts say, significant amounts of virus can start coming out of people’s noses and mouths even when they feel well.
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This is a key reason, they say, why tactics to deal with the coronavirus must be markedly different than with the seasonal flu. And the universal wearing of masks is key. Here’s a Q&A based on research and interviews with medical experts.
What’s the point of wearing a cloth face covering if it doesn’t filter out everything?
Cloth face masks still provide a major protective benefit: They filter out a majority of viral particles.
As it turns out, that’s pretty important. Breathing in a small amount of virus may lead to no disease or a more mild infection. But inhaling a huge volume of virus particles can result in serious disease or death.
That’s the argument Dr. Monica Gandhi, UC San Francisco professor of medicine and medical director of the HIV Clinic at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, is making about why — if you do become infected with the virus — masking can still protect you from more severe disease.
“There is this theory that facial masking reduces the [amount of virus you get exposed to] and disease severity,” said Gandhi, who is also director for the Center for AIDS Research at UC San Francisco.
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What evidence supports this theory?
The idea that a lower dose of virus means less severe illness is a well-worn idea in medicine.
Even going back to 1938, there was a study showing that by giving mice a higher dose of a deadly virus, the mice were more likely to get severe disease and die, Gandhi said.
The same principle applies to humans. A study published in 2015 gave healthy volunteers varying doses of a flu virus; those who got higher doses got sicker, with more coughing and shortness of breath, Gandhi said.
And another study suggested that the reason the second wave of the 1918-19 flu pandemic was the deadliest in the U.S. was because of the overcrowded conditions in Army camps as World War I wound down. “In 1918, the Army camps [were] characterized by a high number of contacts between people and by a high case-fatality rate, sometimes 5 to 8 times higher than the case-fatality rate among civilian communities,” the study said.
Finally, a study published in May found that surgical mask partitions significantly reduced the transmission of the coronavirus among hamsters. And even if the hamsters protected by the mask partitions acquired the coronavirus, “they were more likely to get very mild disease,” Gandhi said.
What happens if a city dramatically masks up in public?
If Gandhi is right, it may mean that even if there’s a rise in coronavirus infections in a city, the masks may limit the dose of virus people are getting and result in less severe symptoms of illness.
That’s what Gandhi says she suspects is happening in San Francisco, where mask wearing is relatively robust. Further observations are needed, she said.
There’s more evidence that masks can be protective — even when wearers do become infected. She cited an outbreak at a seafood plant in Oregon where employees were given masks, and 95% of those who were infected were asymptomatic.
Gandhi also cited the experience of those aboard a cruise ship that was traveling from Argentina to Antartica in March when the coronavirus infected people on board, as documented in a recent study. Passengers got surgical masks; the crew got N95 masks.
But instead of about 40% of those infected being asymptomatic — which is what would normally be expected — 81% of those testing positive were asymptomatic, and the masks may have helped reduce the severity of disease in people on board, Gandhi said.
What has happened in other countries where residents have masked up?
The protective effects are seen in countries where masks have been universally accepted for years, such as Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea and Singapore.
“They have all seen cases as they opened ... but not deaths,” Gandhi said.
The Czech Republic moved early to require masks, issuing an order in mid-March, Gandhi said; that’s about three months before Gov. Gavin Newsom did so statewide in California.
But in the Czech Republic, “every time their cases would go up ... their death rate was totally flat. So they didn’t get the severe illness with these cases going on.”
By May, the Czech Republic lifted its face mask rule. “And they’re doing great,” Gandhi said.


latimes--2020-07-21--Triple shooting at Burbank home leaves 2 men dead, woman in critical condition

An early morning shooting at a Burbank home Tuesday left two men dead and one woman wounded , officials said .
The Burbank Police Department received a call about a shooting around 1:24 a.m. , and an officer arrived at the home in the 900 block of Cambridge Drive within 30 seconds , authorities said .
“ We happened to have an officer within a block of the call , just by chance , ” Burbank police Sgt .
Derek Green said .
There , the body of one man was found in the driveway , and a handgun was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house , officers found the body of another man and a woman who had also been shot .
The man was pronounced dead at the scene , and the woman was transported to a hospital .
She was in critical condition Tuesday morning , authorities said .
Three children were also found inside the home , although none was hurt .
They are “ in the care of the police right now , safe , ” Green said .
Authorities are still working to determine a motive , but said they think the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been identified , all lived in the home where the shooting occurred .
“ There are so many possibilities here .
The key piece of this is going to be to identify the person who was deceased on the driveway and determine exactly what relationship he has to the people who live in the home , ” Green said .
“ I don ’ t know that that ’ s going to come quickly .
It ’ s probably going to be days.
” Detectives said they are not actively searching for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility that others were involved in the shooting .

An investigation is underway after two men were killed and a woman was injured in a shooting at a home in Burbank early Tuesday morning.
An early morning shooting at a Burbank home Tuesday left two men dead and one woman wounded, officials said.
The Burbank Police Department received a call about a shooting around 1:24 a.m., and an officer arrived at the home in the 900 block of Cambridge Drive within 30 seconds, authorities said.
“We happened to have an officer within a block of the call, just by chance,” Burbank police Sgt. Derek Green said.
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There, the body of one man was found in the driveway, and a handgun was discovered outside the home.
Inside the house, officers found the body of another man and a woman who had also been shot. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and the woman was transported to a hospital. She was in critical condition Tuesday morning, authorities said.
Three children were also found inside the home, although none was hurt. They are “in the care of the police right now, safe,” Green said.
Authorities are still working to determine a motive, but said they think the adults and children, none of whom has been identified, all lived in the home where the shooting occurred.
“There are so many possibilities here. The key piece of this is going to be to identify the person who was deceased on the driveway and determine exactly what relationship he has to the people who live in the home,” Green said. “I don’t know that that’s going to come quickly. It’s probably going to be days.”
Detectives said they are not actively searching for suspects but have not ruled out the possibility that others were involved in the shooting.


latimes--2020-07-21--California surpasses 400,000 COVID-19 cases as state sets record for infections, death toll

One day after a record-breaking number of new coronavirus infections , California has surpassed 400,000 overall cases , data from the Los Angeles Times tracker show .
By comparison , the New York Health Department has reported more than 408,000 infections .
But that state has reported more than 25,000 deaths , while California ’ s death toll is approaching 8,000 .
The news comes after California again reported its highest number of coronavirus cases in a single day , with 11,554 cases recorded Monday , according to the The Times ’ tally of reports from the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record broken just one week ago , when 11,142 cases were reported .
In Los Angeles County , officials on Tuesday reported 50 additional coronavirus-related deaths and 2,741 new cases .
Individuals who are 41 and younger account for about 57 % of the new cases — an ongoing trend that county officials have said confirms that younger people are driving the spread of the virus .
There are 2,218 people hospitalized for the virus .
Of those , 26 % are in intensive care .
The state is also reporting worsening death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths has been hovering between 91 and 99 each day since July 10 , the worst it has been since the pandemic began .
For the weeklong period that ended Monday , 674 deaths were reported in California , the highest weekly total to date .
In the previous seven-day period , 640 died , which had also been a weekly record ; the week before that , it was 474 .
Coronavirus-related hospitalizations are also at record-breaking levels .
In fact , records have been broken for 28 of the last 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people statewide were reported in hospitals .
In Ventura County , 207 new cases put the area five short of 6,000 , Rigoberto Vargas , the county ’ s director of public health , told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday .
More than 1,500 people have been tested since Friday , Vargas said .
The percentage of those found to be positive among all 97,124 who have been tested is roughly 6.2 % .
Ventura County has reported four deaths since Friday , bringing its toll to 62 , nearly double that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has recorded 32 deaths .
Ventura ’ s mortality rate rose to 1.04 % , higher than that of Santa Barbara , 0.7 % , but lower than Los Angeles County , at 2.6 % , Vargas said .
Hospitalizations in Ventura have risen to 95 , a jump from 89 on Sunday but still lower than a high of 101 early last week .
Of that group , 24 are in intensive care .
“ The last two or three days , the numbers have been in the lower 80s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 95 will come back much lower the next few days , ” Vargas said .
“ We ’ re really keeping our fingers crossed.
” In Orange County , the number of overall cases is now the second-highest in the state .
The cumulative COVID-19 case count in Orange County was 29,986 Tuesday , just ahead of Riverside County ’ s 29,983 .
Only Los Angeles County has more , with nearly 160,000 cases .
Despite the grim news around the state , there are signs the situation may be improving after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars and restaurants , closures that have been underway for the last three weeks .
Hospitalizations grew by 7 % Sunday , compared with the previous Sunday ; that ’ s an improvement over July 12 , when hospitalizations were up by 12 % over the previous Sunday .
On July 5 , hospitalizations had grown by 21 % over the previous Sunday ; and on June 28 , the figure was 29 % .
Also , the rate at which coronavirus tests are coming back positive may have finally stabilized , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether that trend will continue .
On Monday , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said the so-called positivity rate over the previous seven days was 7.2 % ; it had been 7.7 % the previous Monday .
On Friday , Dr. Mark Ghaly , secretary of California ’ s Health and Human Services Agency , said he was encouraged by the stability in the positivity rate after weeks of increases .
In late May , the positivity rate was around 4 % .
Ghaly suggested Friday that it is too early to call it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate continues to fall , it could mean that the reclosure of some businesses is working to help control the spread of the disease .
“ As soon as we feel confident in that trend and we see other numbers start to stabilize , we ’ ll credit some of the moves we made over the last few weeks , ” Ghaly said .
“ It ’ s been about three , four weeks since we ... first started to make moves ... so we ’ re right in that time period where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the benefits of those [ policy changes ] .
” It was just over three weeks ago — June 28 — that Newsom ordered bars closed in seven counties , including Los Angeles .
On July 1 , he ordered the closure of bars and indoor restaurant dining rooms in 19 of the state ’ s worst-hit counties , affecting 72 % of the state ’ s population .
Newsom expanded the shutdown last week , ordering the closure of all bars and indoor dining statewide .
He also shuttered the indoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including gyms , malls , hair and nail salons , places of worship and offices for nonessential industries — in dozens of counties .
Some of the areas with the worst per capita coronavirus rates are in counties with state prisons hit hard by outbreaks .
Lassen County in the remote northeast corner of California is reporting 805 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days , and Marin County is reporting 565 cases per 100,000 residents .
Imperial County in the southeastern corner of the state is still suffering , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Central Valley is also hard hit , with case rates in Stanislaus , Madera , Kings , Kern , Merced , Fresno and Tulare counties ranging from 400 to 700 per 100,000 residents .
Of the state ’ s southern urban and suburban counties , L.A. County is reporting 420 cases per 100,000 residents ; San Bernardino County , 410 ; Riverside , 396 ; Orange , 383 ; Ventura , 231 ; and San Diego , 216 .
Northern California ’ s metro areas have reported lower numbers , with Sacramento County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco , 151 ; and Santa Clara County , home to Silicon Valley , reporting 124 .
The state ’ s target for keeping the coronavirus under control is no more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents over the previous 14 days .
Times staff writers Andrew Campa , Colleen Shalby and Luke Money contributed to this report .

One day after a record-breaking number of new coronavirus infections, California has surpassed 400,000 overall cases, data from the Los Angeles Times tracker show.
By comparison, the New York Health Department has reported more than 408,000 infections. But that state has reported more than 25,000 deaths, while California’s death toll is approaching 8,000.
The news comes after California again reported its highest number of coronavirus cases in a single day, with 11,554 cases recorded Monday, according to The Times’ tally of reports from the state’s 58 counties.
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That number surpasses a record broken just one week ago, when 11,142 cases were reported.
In Los Angeles County, officials on Tuesday reported 50 additional coronavirus-related deaths and 2,741 new cases. Individuals who are 41 and younger account for about 57% of the new cases — an ongoing trend that county officials have said confirms that younger people are driving the spread of the virus.
There are 2,218 people hospitalized for the virus. Of those, 26% are in intensive care.
The state is also reporting worsening death tolls. The seven-day average of coronavirus-related deaths has been hovering between 91 and 99 each day since July 10, the worst it has been since the pandemic began.
For the weeklong period that ended Monday, 674 deaths were reported in California, the highest weekly total to date. In the previous seven-day period, 640 died, which had also been a weekly record; the week before that, it was 474.
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Coronavirus-related hospitalizations are also at record-breaking levels. In fact, records have been broken for 28 of the last 30 days, including Sunday, when 6,921 people statewide were reported in hospitals.
In Ventura County, 207 new cases put the area five short of 6,000, Rigoberto Vargas, the county’s director of public health, told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
More than 1,500 people have been tested since Friday, Vargas said. The percentage of those found to be positive among all 97,124 who have been tested is roughly 6.2%.
Ventura County has reported four deaths since Friday, bringing its toll to 62, nearly double that of neighboring and smaller Santa Barbara County, which has recorded 32 deaths. Ventura’s mortality rate rose to 1.04%, higher than that of Santa Barbara, 0.7%, but lower than Los Angeles County, at 2.6%, Vargas said.
Hospitalizations in Ventura have risen to 95, a jump from 89 on Sunday but still lower than a high of 101 early last week. Of that group, 24 are in intensive care.
“The last two or three days, the numbers have been in the lower 80s, lower 90s, so hopefully the 95 will come back much lower the next few days,” Vargas said. “We’re really keeping our fingers crossed.”
In Orange County, the number of overall cases is now the second-highest in the state.
The cumulative COVID-19 case count in Orange County was 29,986 Tuesday, just ahead of Riverside County’s 29,983. Only Los Angeles County has more, with nearly 160,000 cases.
Despite the grim news around the state, there are signs the situation may be improving after a shutdown of indoor services at businesses including bars and restaurants, closures that have been underway for the last three weeks.
Hospitalizations grew by 7% Sunday, compared with the previous Sunday; that’s an improvement over July 12, when hospitalizations were up by 12% over the previous Sunday. On July 5, hospitalizations had grown by 21% over the previous Sunday; and on June 28, the figure was 29%.
Also, the rate at which coronavirus tests are coming back positive may have finally stabilized, although it is probably too early to know whether that trend will continue.
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the so-called positivity rate over the previous seven days was 7.2%; it had been 7.7% the previous Monday.
On Friday, Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of California’s Health and Human Services Agency, said he was encouraged by the stability in the positivity rate after weeks of increases. In late May, the positivity rate was around 4%.
Ghaly suggested Friday that it is too early to call it a trend, but if the positivity rate continues to fall, it could mean that the reclosure of some businesses is working to help control the spread of the disease.
“As soon as we feel confident in that trend and we see other numbers start to stabilize, we’ll credit some of the moves we made over the last few weeks,” Ghaly said. “It’s been about three, four weeks since we ... first started to make moves ... so we’re right in that time period where we may see some of the changes in the benefits of those [policy changes].”
It was just over three weeks ago — June 28 — that Newsom ordered bars closed in seven counties, including Los Angeles. On July 1, he ordered the closure of bars and indoor restaurant dining rooms in 19 of the state’s worst-hit counties, affecting 72% of the state’s population.
Newsom expanded the shutdown last week, ordering the closure of all bars and indoor dining statewide. He also shuttered the indoor operations of a number of businesses — including gyms, malls, hair and nail salons, places of worship and offices for nonessential industries — in dozens of counties.
Some of the areas with the worst per capita coronavirus rates are in counties with state prisons hit hard by outbreaks. Lassen County in the remote northeast corner of California is reporting 805 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days, and Marin County is reporting 565 cases per 100,000 residents.
Imperial County in the southeastern corner of the state is still suffering, with 786 cases per 100,000 residents. The Central Valley is also hard hit, with case rates in Stanislaus, Madera, Kings, Kern, Merced, Fresno and Tulare counties ranging from 400 to 700 per 100,000 residents.
Of the state’s southern urban and suburban counties, L.A. County is reporting 420 cases per 100,000 residents; San Bernardino County, 410; Riverside, 396; Orange, 383; Ventura, 231; and San Diego, 216.
Northern California’s metro areas have reported lower numbers, with Sacramento County reporting 194 cases per 100,000 residents; San Francisco, 151; and Santa Clara County, home to Silicon Valley, reporting 124.
The state’s target for keeping the coronavirus under control is no more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents over the previous 14 days.
Times staff writers Andrew Campa, Colleen Shalby and Luke Money contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-21--L.A. may become the biggest U.S. city with a second stay-home order

Los Angeles was one of the first major cities in the nation to impose a stay-at-home order when the COVID-19 pandemic hit .
Now , L.A. may soon have the dubious distinction of being the biggest U.S. city to receive a second stay-at-home order , amid a surge of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations that so far shows few signs of slowing .
For two weeks , Mayor Eric Garcetti has warned that the city is close to returning to some type of stay-at-home order due to the new increase — which became clear in June after businesses began to rapidly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off .
On Sunday , he said a decision will probably come in the next week or two as officials determine whether restrictions imposed in late June and July — such as closing bars , indoor restaurant dining and shopping malls — slowed the rapid community spread of COVID-19 .
Los Angeles had long been one of the hardest-hit parts of California , recording a disproportionate share of the total cases and fatalities .
But the new wave has also hit surrounding counties such as Orange , San Bernardino and Riverside .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although some heavily populated areas have been hit relatively less hard so far , like the Bay Area , which has seen fewer than half as many new cases over the last two weeks than L.A. County on a per capita basis .
Some health experts said the situation makes another stay-at-home order for Los Angeles County a real possibility if the conditions don ’ t improve soon .
“ I wish we weren ’ t in this situation , I really do , ” said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo , chair of UC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Biostatistics .
“ And again , I want to stress this is not punitive .
We are in a situation where we did so well at the beginning of this pandemic .
And I believe we could get back there ... but it means for a period of time , we have to do what it takes to make sure the virus has no place to go.
” Few , if any , big cities in the U.S. have reimposed a second stay at home order after reopening .
But Leicester , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garment industry — was forced to do so after a severe outbreak among heavily nonwhite areas of the city , according to the medical journal Lancet .
Even a less strict version of the spring stay-at-home order would be a devastating blow to Los Angeles , where the coronavirus has battered the economy and the county ’ s unemployment rate hovered around 19.5 % in June .
Many cheered when state and local officials began reopening the economy in May and June , hoping that social distancing , masks and workplace safety rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it hasn ’ t worked out that way .
Some people went back to old habits , such as participating in summer social events , and it ’ s becoming increasingly clear some employers are not enforcing safety rules .
Latino workers are getting sick at disproportionate levels , and officials believe many are becoming infected at work and bringing the virus home .
Stuart Waldman , president of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn.
, watched with dismay as people ignored health guidance .
“ The city reopened , but people ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing before , ” Waldman said .
“ Unfortunately , people jumped back in like the virus was gone.
” Another shutdown could leave businesses , already reeling from months of losses , at the breaking point .
“ It ’ s very important for businesses to be able to plan , and if we keep opening and closing , that is not in the best interest of those businesses that are trying to stay open , ” said Maria Salinas , president of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 3,128 new cases , pushing the cumulative total past 159,000 .
The number of people hospitalized in L.A. County with confirmed coronavirus infections on Sunday was 2,218 — the second-worst tally so far in the pandemic , just below the record of 2,232 set on Saturday .
More than 4,100 people in the county have died .
Among California ’ s most populated counties , L.A. County has one of the worst per-capita rates of coronavirus-related deaths in the last two weeks , reporting 6 deaths per 100,000 residents .
Orange and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100,000 residents ; San Diego and San Bernardino counties , 2.8 ; Ventura County , 1.2 ; and San Francisco , 0.2 .
Despite the increase , L.A. County is still in good shape when it comes to available hospital beds .
Hospitalizations are rising but not as dramatically as seen in some weeks .
Officials are hoping to see cases begin to flatten in the coming week , accounting for new restrictions implemented just before the July Fourth holiday and beyond .
But no one is sure if that will materialize .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes in behavior can still save the day .
“ It ’ s not just about what ’ s open and what ’ s closed .
Much of this is also about our actions , ” Garcetti said at a news briefing Friday .
“ You could close plenty more , but if young people were still congregating outside of their household in large numbers , we would still see spread.
” Barbara Ferrer , the L.A. County public health director , said Monday that there are three main reasons for why people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and people not taking the disease seriously .
In particular , the spread at work happens at places “ where people are very close together for long periods of time , and where the business owners and operators haven ’ t yet fully implemented the directives to try to keep people as separated from each other as possible , ” Ferrer said .
Just months ago , local leaders were thanking Angelenos for staying at home and following social distancing guidelines .
Then , some businesses were allowed to reopen in May .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ many businesses in counties across the state were again ordered closed under an order issued by Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
Garcetti was asked at the news briefing what would need to happen for him to support another stay-at-home order .
Garcetti said he supported Newsom ’ s recent decision to shut down some businesses and that he is waiting to see the effects of those moves before acting .
“ If you just go with this moment , you ’ re basically making decisions based on where we were two to three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garcetti also said his goal was to get L.A. off the state ’ s watchlist .
His spokesman , Alex Comisar , said that requires reducing disease transmission , lowering hospitalization and ensuring adequate hospital capacity .
Meanwhile , Garcetti told CNN on Sunday that “ mayors often have no control what opens up and doesn ’ t — that ’ s either at a state or county level .
And I do agree that those things happened too quickly.
” Despite his comments , local leaders like Garcetti are permitted to issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than those issued by the county or state , just not rules that are more lenient .
Garcetti in fact did so on March 19 , issuing a stay-at-home order for the city of Los Angeles , while county officials stopped short of such an order .
The distinction did not receive much attention at the time , however , since Newsom on the same day also issued a statewide stay-at-home order .
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger , when asked about Garcetti ’ s comments on CNN , suggested in a statement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations about reopening the region .
“ All of the decisions regarding the initial Safer at Home orders , the gradual reopening of businesses and activities , and the subsequent closures have been done in collaboration with local leaders and health officials , and guided by public health data , ” Barger said .
At a news briefing Monday , Barger defended the decision to open up L.A. County ’ s economy , but added that the county needs to do a better job of getting out its message that reopening up society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let their guard down.
” “ And I believe that is what happened … you had Memorial Day as well as protests that were taking place .
People were not practicing social distancing and , in fact , in some cases , were not wearing a mask , ” Barger said .

Los Angeles was one of the first major cities in the nation to impose a stay-at-home order when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Now, L.A. may soon have the dubious distinction of being the biggest U.S. city to receive a second stay-at-home order, amid a surge of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations that so far shows few signs of slowing.
For two weeks, Mayor Eric Garcetti has warned that the city is close to returning to some type of stay-at-home order due to the new increase — which became clear in June after businesses began to rapidly reopen in May — but has held off.
On Sunday, he said a decision will probably come in the next week or two as officials determine whether restrictions imposed in late June and July — such as closing bars, indoor restaurant dining and shopping malls — slowed the rapid community spread of COVID-19.
Los Angeles had long been one of the hardest-hit parts of California, recording a disproportionate share of the total cases and fatalities.
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But the new wave has also hit surrounding counties such as Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside. All of California is seeing rising cases, although some heavily populated areas have been hit relatively less hard so far, like the Bay Area, which has seen fewer than half as many new cases over the last two weeks than L.A. County on a per capita basis.
Politics Trump and Congress square off over coronavirus aid as crisis worsens President Trump is acknowledging a “big flare-up” in COVID-19 cases, but divisions between the White House and Congress are threatening passage of a new federal aid package.
Some health experts said the situation makes another stay-at-home order for Los Angeles County a real possibility if the conditions don’t improve soon.
“I wish we weren’t in this situation, I really do,” said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of UC San Francisco’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. “And again, I want to stress this is not punitive. We are in a situation where we did so well at the beginning of this pandemic. And I believe we could get back there ... but it means for a period of time, we have to do what it takes to make sure the virus has no place to go.”
Few, if any, big cities in the U.S. have reimposed a second stay at home order after reopening. But Leicester, England — which is known for its garment industry — was forced to do so after a severe outbreak among heavily nonwhite areas of the city, according to the medical journal Lancet.
Even a less strict version of the spring stay-at-home order would be a devastating blow to Los Angeles, where the coronavirus has battered the economy and the county’s unemployment rate hovered around 19.5% in June. Many cheered when state and local officials began reopening the economy in May and June, hoping that social distancing, masks and workplace safety rules would keep COVID-19 in check.
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But it hasn’t worked out that way.
Some people went back to old habits, such as participating in summer social events, and it’s becoming increasingly clear some employers are not enforcing safety rules. Latino workers are getting sick at disproportionate levels, and officials believe many are becoming infected at work and bringing the virus home.
Stuart Waldman, president of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn., watched with dismay as people ignored health guidance.
“The city reopened, but people’s behavior reverted to what they were doing before,” Waldman said. “Unfortunately, people jumped back in like the virus was gone.”
Another shutdown could leave businesses, already reeling from months of losses, at the breaking point.
“It’s very important for businesses to be able to plan, and if we keep opening and closing, that is not in the best interest of those businesses that are trying to stay open,” said Maria Salinas, president of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
On Monday, public health officials reported at least 3,128 new cases, pushing the cumulative total past 159,000.
The number of people hospitalized in L.A. County with confirmed coronavirus infections on Sunday was 2,218 — the second-worst tally so far in the pandemic, just below the record of 2,232 set on Saturday.
More than 4,100 people in the county have died. Among California’s most populated counties, L.A. County has one of the worst per-capita rates of coronavirus-related deaths in the last two weeks, reporting 6 deaths per 100,000 residents. Orange and Riverside counties reported about 4 deaths per 100,000 residents; San Diego and San Bernardino counties, 2.8; Ventura County, 1.2; and San Francisco, 0.2.
Despite the increase, L.A. County is still in good shape when it comes to available hospital beds. Hospitalizations are rising but not as dramatically as seen in some weeks.
Officials are hoping to see cases begin to flatten in the coming week, accounting for new restrictions implemented just before the July Fourth holiday and beyond. But no one is sure if that will materialize.
Garcetti and other leaders have suggested that changes in behavior can still save the day.
“It’s not just about what’s open and what’s closed. Much of this is also about our actions,” Garcetti said at a news briefing Friday. “You could close plenty more, but if young people were still congregating outside of their household in large numbers, we would still see spread.”
Barbara Ferrer, the L.A. County public health director, said Monday that there are three main reasons for why people are getting infected: gatherings, workplaces and people not taking the disease seriously.
In particular, the spread at work happens at places “where people are very close together for long periods of time, and where the business owners and operators haven’t yet fully implemented the directives to try to keep people as separated from each other as possible,” Ferrer said.
Just months ago, local leaders were thanking Angelenos for staying at home and following social distancing guidelines. Then, some businesses were allowed to reopen in May. But as cases ticked up again, many businesses in counties across the state were again ordered closed under an order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Garcetti was asked at the news briefing what would need to happen for him to support another stay-at-home order. Garcetti said he supported Newsom’s recent decision to shut down some businesses and that he is waiting to see the effects of those moves before acting.
“If you just go with this moment, you’re basically making decisions based on where we were two to three weeks ago,” Garcetti said.
Garcetti also said his goal was to get L.A. off the state’s watchlist. His spokesman, Alex Comisar, said that requires reducing disease transmission, lowering hospitalization and ensuring adequate hospital capacity.
Meanwhile, Garcetti told CNN on Sunday that “mayors often have no control what opens up and doesn’t — that’s either at a state or county level. And I do agree that those things happened too quickly.”
Despite his comments, local leaders like Garcetti are permitted to issue closure and stay-at-home restrictions that are stricter than those issued by the county or state, just not rules that are more lenient.
Garcetti in fact did so on March 19, issuing a stay-at-home order for the city of Los Angeles, while county officials stopped short of such an order. The distinction did not receive much attention at the time, however, since Newsom on the same day also issued a statewide stay-at-home order.
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, when asked about Garcetti’s comments on CNN, suggested in a statement that the mayor was not left out of conversations about reopening the region.
“All of the decisions regarding the initial Safer at Home orders, the gradual reopening of businesses and activities, and the subsequent closures have been done in collaboration with local leaders and health officials, and guided by public health data,” Barger said.
At a news briefing Monday, Barger defended the decision to open up L.A. County’s economy, but added that the county needs to do a better job of getting out its message that reopening up society “doesn’t mean people can let their guard down.”
“And I believe that is what happened … you had Memorial Day as well as protests that were taking place. People were not practicing social distancing and, in fact, in some cases, were not wearing a mask,” Barger said.
Times staff writer Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report.