latimes--2020-03-16--Coronavirus cases spike to 94 in L.A. County as officials issue more emergency restrictions

Coronavirus cases in California continued to rise as officials turned to extraordinary steps to slow the spread .
L.A. County officials announced the closure of all bars , fitness centers and movie theaters and directed restaurants to move to takeout only .
The directive applies to all 88 cities and unincorporated regions of the county , including Los Angeles , which issued a similar directive Sunday .
Officials are also banning gatherings of over 50 people following a recommendation made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday .
L.A. County Department of Public Health director Barbara Ferrer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing the county ’ s total to 94 .
There have been 41 new cases in the county over the last 48 hours , she said .
At least 15 of the cases are likely due to community transmission .
“ Residents at this point must assume that there may be people who are infected everywhere in the county , ” Ferrer said .
The county also released a list of specific cities and neighborhoods where cases of the virus have been confirmed .
The city of Los Angeles currently has the largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other affected cities include Beverly Hills , Arcadia , Alhambra , Glendale , Torrance and West Hollywood , among others .
Officials said that all hospitals were preparing for a surge in patients .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Sunday urged people 65 and older and those with chronic health conditions to isolate themselves from others — a directive that reflects the fast-moving nature of a public health crisis that threatens the well-being of some 40 million Californians .
President Trump announced new guidelines that urge people to participate in schooling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at bars and restaurants and food courts , avoid discretionary travel from home and avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 .
“ If everyone makes these critical changes and sacrifices now , we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus , ” he said .
“ It ’ s important for the young and healthy people to understand , while they may experience milder symptoms , they can easily spread this virus , ” adding that “ we especially worry about our senior citizens.
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases and rising , six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area were to be placed under a shelter-in-place directive by public health officials , San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals said Monday .
It ’ s a move that will close virtually all businesses and direct residents to remain at home .
Asked if L.A. County should expect a similar shelter-in-place order , Ferrer said that , at this point , the county didn ’ t have the same trajectory as what was happening to the north and hoped the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautioned : “ Nothing ’ s off the table for anyone anywhere in the United States.
” In Sacramento County , officials confirmed a second death related to coronavirus , bringing the total number of deaths in the state to seven .
On Monday , the director of the World Health Organization , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , noted a dramatic increase in social distancing measures in response to the pandemic .
There has not been , however , a corresponding rise in testing and isolating contacts , which are both required to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can not fight a fire blindfolded , and we can not stop this pandemic if we do not know who is infected , ” Tedros said during a news briefing Monday .
“ We have a simple message for all countries : Test , test , test.
” He said that all people suspected of having COVID-19 should be able to get tested .
Responding to the outbreak requires a political commitment at the highest level , he said .
“ That whole government approach should ... be able to mobilize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response becomes everybody ’ s business , ” he said .
Tedros said that crises like pandemics tend to bring out the “ best and worst in humanity.
” The world is likely still early in this outbreak , he added .
“ This is the defining global health crisis of our time , ” he said .
“ The days , weeks and months ahead will be a test of our resolve , a test of our trust in science and a test of our solidarity.
” In Los Angeles , bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halted dine-in service and limited their business to takeout orders until March 31 , following an order from Mayor Eric Garcetti .
Movie theaters , gyms and fitness centers also will be closed , Garcetti said in a video news conference Sunday .
Grocery stores , pharmacies and food banks will remain open .
And Garcetti announced a moratorium on evictions for renters .
Santa Monica ordered the temporary closure of its iconic pier on Monday morning , which applies to the adjacent parking deck and businesses .
“ We welcome thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , so we take this step out of the deepest desire to keep people at home and healthy , ” City Manager Rick Cole said in a statement .
“ We love our pier and the joy it brings to everyone that visits , but in this moment , we must take aggressive actions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
” Fears over store closures prompted people to flock to grocery stores and get supplies in bulk .
The rush has , at times , triggered fights and disagreements over the limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Garcetti and representatives of various grocery store chains said there was no shortage of food in Los Angeles and asked that residents allow time for stores to restock and give priority to seniors while waiting in line .
Also , Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced that the department would increase the presence of its deputies in the field , with their efforts focused on shopping centers , supermarkets and big-box stores .
This is being done as a precautionary measure “ in case there ’ s any sort of conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference .
Deputies were called to a Costco in Chino Hills earlier this month when a crowd of customers became unruly after finding that water , paper towels and toilet paper were out of stock .
Villanueva also cautioned residents against stockpiling guns .
Gun sales are surging in many U.S. states , especially those hit hardest by the coronavirus , including California , New York and Washington , over fears that the virus may cause an unraveling of social order .
“ You have a lot of people now who are at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cabin fever sets in and you have a crowded environment , ” Villanueva said .
“ Weapons are not a good mix.
” The sheriff said several of the department ’ s employees came into contact with people exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 over the weekend but none had tested positive for the virus .
They all are self-isolating , he said .
Deputies who must respond to emergency calls where someone is exhibiting symptoms are being equipped with protective gear .
The department is screening callers to ensure that deputies are protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about being prepared , not scared , ” he said .
At a Vons in Koreatown on Monday morning , at least 50 people were waiting in a line to enter an hour before the store opened .
A store clerk instructed the crowd to remain calm as only 30 customers would be let in at a time .
“ Don ’ t panic , trust in God , and don ’ t run over each other !
” the clerk shouted to chuckling customers .
As businesses across Los Angeles took action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s government employees are still being asked to go to work .
City employees can ’ t refuse to go to work out of fear that they ’ ll be infected with the virus , Wendy Macy , general manager of the city ’ s personnel department , wrote in a memo to department heads Friday .
Telecommuting options are available for some employees , and some exceptions are allowed , according to emergency guidelines issued by the city ’ s personnel department .
On Sunday , Newsom also called on bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to close their doors to patrons as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state continued to rise .
“ We recognize that social isolation for millions of Californians is anxiety-inducing , but ... we need to meet this moment head-on and lean in , ” Newsom said .
But Newsom again stopped short of using the full force of his authority to mandate response measures to protect Californians from the virus that causes COVID-19 , a global pandemic that has resulted in 335 confirmed cases in the state .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pubs was akin to an announcement he made last week asking for the cancellation of gatherings of 250 people or more .
The governor is allowing restaurants to remain open and advised customers to practice “ deep social distancing ” when dining out — in effect , a recommendation to reduce occupancy by half .
Taking heed of the governor ’ s orders , the California Supreme Court announced Monday that it was suspending in-person hearings .
Lawyers will appear for cases remotely via video or telephone conferences .
The public still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but seating will be limited to ensure appropriate distancing , the court said .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has introduced even more stringent recommendations , suggesting that events of 50 people or more should be suspended for about two months .
When feasible , organizers could modify events to be virtual , but in-person events of that size should be canceled or postponed , the agency said Sunday .
The efforts came as more coronavirus cases were reported , including a positive test for a police officer at Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 new cases Sunday , bringing the county ’ s total to 69 .
A USC student who recently returned from international travel but had not been on or near the USC campuses also tested positive for the coronavirus , the university said Sunday .
The student was reportedly in good condition and self-isolating at home .
Of California ’ s confirmed cases , 70 are believed to be from community transmission , the state Department of Public Health said .
The rest are a mix of confirmed person-to-person transmissions related to travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracting the disease elsewhere .
Newsom ’ s guidelines follow other broad efforts announced in recent days to combat the virus in California .
Most of those have been taken on the local level , including the decision by dozens of school districts to shut down for the next two weeks or longer .
The governor said he would issue additional directives on Tuesday to schools that remained open and said he was especially focused on providing support to low-income families .
He suggested some local school officials had not fully thought through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including how to continue providing meals to students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches and how to ensure that students with special needs received adequate care and supervision .
The virus also has disrupted college entrance exams .
The company that administers the ACT announced Monday that it had moved its testing date from April 4 to June 13 in response to concerns over the pandemic .
“ ACT is committed to making every effort to help those students impacted by this test date change , particularly those high school seniors who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” ACT Chief Executive Officer Marten Roorda said in a statement .
Meanwhile , older Californians are subject to Newsom ’ s directive that seniors practice self-isolation .
The governor estimated that his directive would affect 5.3 million of the state ’ s residents .
That number includes those most at risk simply due to their age , he said , but does not include the millions more with underlying health conditions that make them vulnerable .
The governor ’ s office said his request for seniors to remain at home also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as chronic kidney disease , asthma , chronic liver disease , metabolic disorders , heart disease or if they ’ re pregnant or have other conditions that make them more susceptible to serious illness from the coronavirus .
“ Everything we do right now will determine the outcome of this crisis , and we can save lives if we stay calm , care for one another , and take forceful steps to protect our communities , ” Garcetti said .
“ That ’ s why we must follow the guidelines laid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on them for local needs , and put the health and safety of the most vulnerable above all else.
” The governor also announced that the state ’ s 108,000 homeless people would be the top priority for mitigation policies , with a significant push to move them indoors .
Though details remained unclear , he said the state had hotels and motels that could be used to provide shelter , along with an additional 450 state-owned trailers sent to “ critical points ” to supplement those that were deployed in Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the outbreak .
Last week , Newsom issued an executive order allowing the state to commandeer some private properties to provide beds for isolation .
Newsom said the goal of the newly announced measures aimed at the unsheltered population was to “ get people into environments where we can address their growing anxiety and our growing concerns.
” He stopped short , however , of saying the attempt to bring people indoors would be mandated or require law enforcement intervention .
In recent days , the Department of Housing and Urban Development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for homeless shelters and encampments , many of which include increasing sanitation and providing detailed suggestions for handling ill people in shelter settings .
“ I am not ratcheting up a mindset of enforcement , ” Newsom said .
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg , co-head of Newsom ‘ s statewide task force on homelessness , said Newsom ‘ s move to bring homeless people inside was crucial .
“ They are very susceptible to disease and infection , “ said Steinberg of unsheltered populations .
Leaving them outdoors , he said , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wide spread of the disease.
” Randy Simonsen , a 65-year-old homeless man in Sacramento , said he would like to go indoors during this crisis .
He listened to the governor ’ s speech on a transistor radio and heard the call for older residents to stay home .
But “ I don ’ t have one , ” Simonsen said .
In L.A. County , Dockweiler State Beach may be used to temporarily house people who have been ordered to isolate or quarantine because of The beach ’ s RV park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several locations the county could use for that purpose , according to from the city of El Segundo .
Officials said the public should avoid the area .
Anxious Californians continued to clear the shelves of local grocery stores .
The Los Angeles Police Department assured residents on Twitter that there was no food shortage and stores would restock .
“ The water supply is clean & safe to drink , so there ’ s no need to buy water in bulk , ” the department said .
Grocery chains have announced changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoppers .
Ralphs , for example , said it was working with suppliers to replenish high-demand products , and its store hours have been curtailed so employees have more time to restock .
Albertsons — which operates the grocery chains Vons , Pavilions and Safeway — said it was taking similar steps .
Starbucks announced new efforts to limit the number of people gathering at its coffeehouses .
All of its stores in the U.S. and Canada will move to a “ to go ” model for at least two weeks and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas , the company announced Sunday .
As airports across the country were thrown into chaos this weekend because of hastily rolled-out health screenings for travelers returning from Europe , LAX remained relatively calm .
But average wait times were still about 30 minutes longer than usual , said LAX spokesman Heath Montgomery .
Though many businesses have been affected by a slower stream of customers , bars in West Hollywood were packed on Sunday afternoon .
At Rocco ’ s WeHo and Flaming Saddles , drag queens danced to deafening music as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them dollar bills on the stage .
In these places , at least , life seemed to go on as normal .
Not everyone was proceeding with business as usual .
At the Abbey , West Hollywood ’ s most popular gay bar , the gates were closed .
On each door , a sign read : “ As we continue to navigate the rapidly changing conditions with COVID 19 , the Abbey is closing temporarily .
We plan to open as soon as our public health officials tell us it is safe.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ n Hank bar in Koreatown , said he decided to close his bar down Saturday after seeing customers not follow the 6-foot social-distancing rule he tried to implement .
“ I ’ ll be losing a lot of money and so will my employees , but honestly , that ’ s the least of our concern right now , ” he said .
“ We ’ re more worried about public health and how this is going to impact the economy long term.
” Times staff writers Suhauna Hussain , Alejandra Reyes-Velarde @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benjamin Oreskes , Hannah Fry , Maura Dolan , Joseph Serna and Luke Money contributed to this report .

Phil Willon, Alex Wigglesworth, Taryn Luna, Laura Newberry, Colleen Shalby

Disneyland guests take photos in front of the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Disneyland guests wearing ponchos pass the Marketplace inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on Thursday. Disneyland and California Adventure will temporarily close in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Two children look at movie posters in the lobby of the Arclight theater Thursday in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
A crew member stands on the stern of a cruise ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Alexandria Casserly crosses the street while looking for toilet paper in downtown Los Angeles. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Students leave John C. Fremont High School in Los Angeles at the end of the school day on Friday, Mar. 13, 2020. LAUSD announced it will shut down beginning Monday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times )
Blake Anderson, left, a freshman, walks with his father Oree Anderson, as school is let out at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles. LAUSD announced that schools will be closed due to the Coronavirus. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Students hug as they are let out of school at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 13, 2020. The school has 2,623 students who live in 94 different zip codes, some of whom travel upwards of 30 miles to school on 24 different school bus routes. 221 school staff live in 88 zip codes. Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner announced that schools will be closed due to the coronavirus. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
A guest wears a mask in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland on Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A line at the Martin B. Retting gun store in Culver City on Sunday extends out the door and around the corner. (Francine Orr / The Times)
Carlos Perez, a worker at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles sits in the empty restaurant. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
L.A. has banned restaurants from offering seating at places such as Grand Central Market. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Normally bustling Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. is open only for take out. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
From left, Josh Akamine, of Oahu, Hawaii; Madison Shine of Oahu; Matthew Valencia of Los Altos and Dani Ikeda visit L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Medical personnel surround a car that is going through a coronavirus drive-thru test clinic at the San Mateo County Event Center. Drive-thru test clinics for COVID-19 are popping up across the country as more tests become available. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Emma Bradley, left, and her husband, Samuel Bradley, of Palmdale are walking up the ramp to catch the Metrolink in Union Sation in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
Volunteer Rachel Figueroa, serves a free lunch to go to Destiny Mendez, with her mother, Estefany, at the Dream Center in Los Angeles. LAUSD students can get free breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Dream Center, Monday through Friday. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Muhammad Faruq, an Uber driver, picks his ride Sotero Reyes, left, and Cristian Eguia, visitors from Houston, all in protective masks, from downtown Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Shoppers queue up ahead of the Los Feliz Costco opening for business on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
A large tent is installed for public attendance at Tuesday’s Los Angeles City Council meeting. The public was not allowed in the council chamber. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Mark V. Morocco oversees the testing at UCLA Medical Center. Testing for Covid-19 is going on at UCLA Medical Center, where people can drive up and get tested if they have the symptoms. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Orange County Undersheriff Bob Peterson listens during a board of supervisors discussion on combating the coronavirus in Santa Ana. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Kevin Ezeh, protected with face mask and gloves, addresses the Los Angeles City Council meeting standing under a tent erected outside City Hall. A television livestreamed video of the meeting and the public offered comments remotely. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
An employee of the Trader Joe’s store in Monrovia tells customers waiting in line that it would open doors to everyone at 9 a.m., not just seniors, who arrived believing doors would open earlier to older residents, as some of the people were told by employees and it was reported. Some grocery outlets were offering special morning hours of shopping to accommodate older residents. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
A nurse takes the vital signs of a woman in a medical tent outside the hospital on Catalina. (Francine Orr/Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
Medical personnel screen patients outside the emergency room at Loma Linda University Health during the coronavirus pandemic. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
HOPICS outreach worker Ralph Gomez tosses a clipboard for a signature to homeless client Davis Soto, right, taking care to stay at least six feet away during outreach in Los Angeles. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Mark V. Morocco oversees testing at UCLA Medical Center where people can drive up and get tested if they have the symptoms. Morocco listens to a female patient’s lungs through the car window. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Seniors shop at Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday. The store is doing a “seniors shopping hour” where seniors can go grocery shopping before the store opens to the general public. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Roberta Tabor, 66, of Hermosa Beach, has her ID checked by store director Dennis Sullivan at Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday. The store is doing a “seniors shopping hour” where seniors 65+ can go grocery shopping before anybody else. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Seniors, including Eileen Oda Leaf, 67, left, and her husband Dave Leaf, 67, right, both wearing protective masks, line up outside Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach early on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Dallas Weaver, 79, and his wife, Janet Weaver, 75, of Huntington Beach, walk on the Huntington pier. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
David Barker, 56, is visiting with his friend living in a tent on skidrow in Los Angeles. Barker, who is not homeless, works in the area. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
People walk up the ramp, exiting the secure area at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
Volunteer Nagma Shakur, 16, left, hugs her “Grannie” as she helps senior shoppers with their carts at the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Altadena. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
The City of Santa Monica closed the Santa Monica Pier in an attempt to prevent the further spread of the Coronavirus. Very few people were on the beach in Santa Monica as the epidemic continues. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Coronavirus cases in California continue to rise as officials turn to extraordinary steps to slow the spread.
L.A. County officials announced the closure of all bars, fitness centers and movie theaters and directed restaurants to move to takeout only. The directive applies to all 88 cities and unincorporated regions of the county, including Los Angeles, which issued a similar directive Sunday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom made a similar announcement Monday evening, asking all California restaurants to close their doors to dine-in customers and that gyms, health clubs and movie theaters should also shutter their operations.
“If we’re asking people to shelter in place, to isolate at home,” Newsom said during an update broadcast on Facebook Live. “The point of gatherings is lost on all of us from a public safety and health perspective. So directing that no gatherings … we think it’s very rational under these circumstances. Disruptive, I know, for some. But rational, we believe, in this moment.”
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In L.A., officials are also banning gatherings of more than 50 people following a recommendation made Sunday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Twenty-five new cases were confirmed Monday, bringing L.A. County’s total to 94, according to county public health data. There have been 41 new cases in the county over the last 48 hours, and at least 15 of the cases are likely due to community transmission.
California California asks Navy for coronavirus support The latest updates from our reporters in California and around the world
“Residents at this point must assume that there may be people who are infected everywhere in the county,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the L.A. County Department of Public Health director, said.
County officials also released a list of specific cities and neighborhoods where cases of the virus have been confirmed. The city of Los Angeles currently has the largest count with more than 25 confirmed cases. Other affected cities include Beverly Hills, Arcadia, Alhambra, Glendale, Torrance and West Hollywood.
Elsewhere in the state, public health officials provided more grim news Monday afternoon.
Newsom announced, as of Monday, California had 392 confirmed cases, 57 more than reported on Sunday. The new confirmed cases include one homeless person in Santa Clara County.
Riverside County confirmed its first two deaths associated with COVID-19, two patients in the Coachella Valley.
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“Sadly, these outcomes are expected as we face a serious challenge and continue to make the necessary decisions to protect the health of the community,” Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said in a statement.
Santa Clara County confirmed two additional deaths, bringing that county’s total to four. And Sacramento County confirmed one person had died, bringing its total to two deaths, both people who were older than 70 and had underlying health conditions.
Officials said that all hospitals were preparing for a surge in patients.
President Trump announced new guidelines that urge people to participate in schooling from home, avoid eating and drinking at bars and restaurants and food courts, avoid discretionary travel from home and avoid gathering in groups of more than 10.
“If everyone makes these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus,” he said. “It’s important for the young and healthy people to understand, while they may experience milder symptoms, they can easily spread this virus,” adding that “we especially worry about our senior citizens.”
Shelter-in-place ordered
After the Silicon Valley region reported 114 coronavirus cases and rising, six counties in the Bay Area were to be placed under a shelter-in-place directive by public health officials, San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals said Monday.
It’s a move that will close virtually all businesses and direct residents to remain at home.
Later, Santa Cruz County issued a similar order, bringing the total affected counties to seven.
Asked if L.A. County should expect a similar shelter-in-place order, Ferrer said that, at this point, the county didn’t have the same trajectory as what was happening to the north and hoped the spread of the virus would slow down.
But she cautioned: “Nothing’s off the table for anyone anywhere in the United States.”
In Sacramento County, officials confirmed a second death related to coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to seven. The Associated Press reported the victim was a substitute teacher in the Sacramento City Unified School District who died Sunday after contracting the coronavirus.
The instructor, who also was a temporary volunteer, worked at Sutterville Elementary School in February, the district announced.
Helping struggling Angelenos
Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Sunday night a moratorium on evictions for renters, telling Angelenos that they won’t lose their housing during the crisis “because you can’t make the rent,” and has asked the city attorney to look into whether the city can stop commercial evictions. He also announced that the city is putting together a fund for small businesses that will offer loans.
On Monday evening, Garcetti announced further measures to lessen the impact of the outbreak on residents.
Garcetti said the city will ease a number of parking enforcement policies, including not ticketing people for violating street sweeping policies in residential areas, and not ticketing parents and caregivers who violate parking policies while picking up meals around schools.
Metered parking will still be enforced, along with colored curb parking rules, Garcetti said.
“Nobody should be penalized for being responsible,” Garcetti said. “There’s no need to worry about the financial cost of keeping your car at home while you practice safe social distancing and you help our city flatten the curve.”
A much better list of LA’s relaxed parking rules. Unless otherwise noted, measures below will be in effect until March 31 (May be extended). @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/x2r57Pb1ts — Claudia Peschiutta (@ReporterClaudia) March 17, 2020
Garcetti also announced that half of LAPD detectives will work on the streets of L.A. to supplement patrol officers and help ensure public safety during the coronavirus crisis.
The mayor said he is not considering enforcing a curfew because the city hadn’t seen issues with looting or spikes in crime at night.
“That seems to be something that’s an answer for a different sort of emergency,” Garcetti said. “It’s less that people can’t move at nighttime than where they were going that we needed to stop, and that’s why we had to make the difficult decision” to place restrictions on bars, movie theaters and other venues.
Social distancing continues
On Monday, the director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted a dramatic increase in social distancing measures in response to the pandemic.
There has not been, however, a corresponding rise in testing and isolating contacts, which are both required to stop an outbreak, he said.
“You cannot fight a fire blindfolded, and we cannot stop this pandemic if we do not know who is infected,” Tedros said during a news briefing Monday. “We have a simple message for all countries: Test, test, test.”
He said anyone suspected of having COVID-19 should be able to get tested. Responding to the outbreak requires a political commitment at the highest level, he said.
A government should “be able to mobilize the whole society and make sure that this response becomes everybody’s business,” he said.
Tedros said crises such as pandemics tend to bring out the “best and worst in humanity.” The world is likely still early in this outbreak, he added.
“This is the defining global health crisis of our time,” he said. “The days, weeks and months ahead will be a test of our resolve, a test of our trust in science and a test of our solidarity.”
Closures, anxiety in L.A.
In Los Angeles, bars and nightclubs have closed and restaurants have halted dine-in service and limited their business to takeout orders until March 31, following an order from Garcetti.
Movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers also will be closed, Garcetti said in a video news conference Sunday. Grocery stores, pharmacies and food banks will remain open.
Santa Monica ordered the temporary closure of its iconic pier on Monday morning, which applies to the adjacent parking deck and businesses.
“We welcome thousands of guests to our pier each and every day, so we take this step out of the deepest desire to keep people at home and healthy,” City Manager Rick Cole said in a statement. “We love our pier and the joy it brings to everyone that visits, but in this moment, we must take aggressive actions to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Fears over store closures prompted people to flock to grocery stores and get supplies in bulk. The rush has, at times, triggered fights and disagreements over the limited supply of popular items.
On Monday, Garcetti and representatives of various grocery store chains said there was no shortage of food in Los Angeles and asked that residents allow time for stores to restock and give priority to seniors while waiting in line.
Also, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced that the department would increase the presence of its deputies in the field, with their efforts focused on shopping centers, supermarkets and big-box stores.
This is being done as a precautionary measure “in case there’s any sort of conflict,” he said during a news conference.
Deputies were called to a Costco in Chino Hills earlier this month when a crowd of customers became unruly after finding that water, paper towels and toilet paper were out of stock.
Villanueva also cautioned residents against stockpiling guns. Gun sales are surging in many U.S. states, especially those hit hardest by the coronavirus, including California, New York and Washington, over fears that the virus may cause an unraveling of social order.
“You have a lot of people now who are at home, normally they’re not, cabin fever sets in and you have a crowded environment,” Villanueva said. “Weapons are not a good mix.”
The sheriff said several of the department’s employees came into contact with people exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 over the weekend, but none had tested positive for the virus. They all are self-isolating, he said.
Deputies who must respond to emergency calls where someone is exhibiting symptoms are being equipped with protective gear. The department is screening callers to ensure that deputies are protected, he said.
“This is about being prepared, not scared,” he said.
At a Vons in Koreatown on Monday morning, at least 50 people were waiting in a line to enter an hour before the store opened. A store clerk instructed the crowd to remain calm as only 30 customers would be let in at a time.
“Don’t panic, trust in God, and don’t run over each other!” the clerk shouted to chuckling customers.
City workers report in
As businesses across Los Angeles took action, more than 50,000 of the city’s government employees are still being asked to go to work.
City employees can’t refuse to go to work out of fear that they’ll be infected with the virus, Wendy Macy, general manager of the city’s personnel department, wrote in a memo to department heads Friday.
Telecommuting options are available for some employees, and some exceptions are allowed, according to emergency guidelines issued by the city’s personnel department.
On Monday evening, Garcetti said the city will announce new guidelines Tuesday that will go further in allowing more city workers to telecommute.
Courts announce changes
Taking heed of the governor’s orders, the California Supreme Court announced Monday that it was suspending in-person hearings. Lawyers will appear for cases remotely via video or telephone conferences. The public still will be permitted to attend hearings, but seating will be limited to ensure appropriate distancing, the court said.
All Los Angeles County court proceedings will be suspended for several days as concerns about the spread of the coronavirus continue to mount, court officials announced Monday.
The nation’s largest court system will go dark from March 17 to 19, according to a statement issued by Presiding Judge Kevin Brazile. Court will reopen Friday for “the limited purpose of hearing or handling essential or emergency matters.”
“The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is committed to providing equal access to justice through the fair, timely and efficient resolution of all cases. However, it is imperative that we continue aligning our Court with the most recent directives and guidelines issued by our national, state and local public health officials,” the statement read. “Let me be clear: We will continue to serve the needs of the most vulnerable people in Los Angeles County — our children, the elderly, domestic violence victims, people whose life and liberty interests are at stake, and in many other emergent cases as is possible and safe.”
Protecting those without homes
Newsom also announced that the state’s 108,000 homeless people would be the top priority for mitigation policies, with a significant push to move them indoors.
Though details remained unclear, he said the state had hotels and motels that could be used to provide shelter, along with an additional 450 state-owned trailers sent to “critical points” to supplement those that were deployed in Los Angeles, Stockton, Sonoma and other places before the outbreak.
Last week, Newsom issued an executive order allowing the state to commandeer some private properties to provide beds for isolation. Newsom said the goal of the newly announced measures aimed at the unsheltered population was to “get people into environments where we can address their growing anxiety and our growing concerns.”
He stopped short, however, of saying the attempt to bring people indoors would be mandated or require law enforcement intervention.
In recent days, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the CDC have also detailed guidelines for homeless shelters and encampments, many of which include increasing sanitation and providing detailed suggestions for handling ill people in shelter settings.
“I am not ratcheting up a mindset of enforcement,” Newsom said.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, co-head of Newsom’s statewide task force on homelessness, said Newsom’s move to bring homeless people inside was crucial.
“They are very susceptible to disease and infection,“ said Steinberg of unsheltered populations. Leaving them outdoors, he said, is “really an invitation for a more wide spread of the disease.”
Randy Simonsen, a 65-year-old homeless man in Sacramento, said he would like to go indoors during this crisis. He listened to the governor’s speech on a transistor radio and heard the call for older residents to stay home. But “I don’t have one,” Simonsen said.
In L.A. County, Dockweiler State Beach may be used to temporarily house people who have been ordered to isolate or quarantine because of the coronavirus. The beach’s RV park on Vista del Mar is one of several locations the county could use for that purpose, according to a news release from the city of El Segundo. Officials said the public should avoid the area.
Businesses respond to outbreak
Anxious Californians continued to clear the shelves of local grocery stores. The Los Angeles Police Department assured residents on Twitter that there was no food shortage and stores would restock.
“The water supply is clean & safe to drink, so there’s no need to buy water in bulk,” the department said.
Grocery chains have announced changes to deal with the relentless throngs of shoppers.
Ralphs, for example, said it was working with suppliers to replenish high-demand products, and its store hours have been curtailed so employees have more time to restock. Albertsons — which operates the grocery chains Vons, Pavilions and Safeway — said it was taking similar steps.
Starbucks announced new efforts to limit the number of people gathering at its coffeehouses. All of its stores in the U.S. and Canada will move to a “to go” model for at least two weeks and will remove all seating in cafe and patio areas, the company announced Sunday.
Though many businesses have been affected by a slower stream of customers, bars in West Hollywood were packed on Sunday afternoon.
At Rocco’s WeHo and Flaming Saddles, drag queens danced to deafening music as they were cheered on by crowds handing them dollar bills on the stage. In these places, at least, life seemed to go on as normal.
Not everyone was proceeding with business as usual. At the Abbey, West Hollywood’s most popular gay bar, the gates were closed. On each door, a sign read: “As we continue to navigate the rapidly changing conditions with COVID-19, the Abbey is closing temporarily. We plan to open as soon as our public health officials tell us it is safe.”
Jimmy Han, who owns Frank ‘n Hank bar in Koreatown, said he decided to close his bar down Saturday after seeing customers not follow the 6-foot social-distancing rule he tried to implement.
“I’ll be losing a lot of money and so will my employees, but honestly, that’s the least of our concern right now,” he said. “We’re more worried about public health and how this is going to impact the economy long term.”
Times staff writers Suhauna Hussain, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, John Myers, Anita Chabria, Benjamin Oreskes, Hannah Fry, Maura Dolan, Joseph Serna, Jaclyn Cosgrove and Luke Money contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-16--As the coronavirus pandemic grows, gun sales are surging in many states

David Stone snagged a cardboard box of .223-caliber ammunition from the shelf and slid it across the glass countertop , offering his go-to sales pitch : “ Welcome to the biggest selection of ammunition in all of Oklahoma.
” “ I ’ m not sure I can keep on saying that , ” Stone said , explaining that the supply of goods at Dong ’ s Guns , Ammo and Reloading has been seriously depleted over the last few days .
“ When I say sales have been booming , ” he said , “ it ’ s an understatement.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. states , especially in those hit hardest by the coronavirus — California , New York and Washington .
But there ’ s also been an uptick in less-affected areas , with some first-time gun buyers fearing an unraveling of the social order and some gun owners worried that the government might use its emergency powers to restrict gun purchases .
Stone ’ s packed store shares a small strip of road with a church , a cemetery and another gun shop , and in recent days he has sold several firearms to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oklahoma .
One trucker , who was headed to Arizona , bought $ 2,500 worth of firearms and ammunition , and another trucker , who was headed to Illinois , dropped $ 200 on ammunition alone .
“ You got to be protected for all sorts of stuff , ” Stone said .
“ Seems like the world has gone mad.
” In California , would-be customers formed a long line outside the Martin B. Retting gun shop in Culver City over the weekend .
“ Politicians and anti-gun people have been telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t need guns , ” said John Gore , 39 , part of the crush of customers in recent days .
“ But right now , a lot of people are truly scared , and they can make that decision themselves.
” Ammo.com , an online retailer of ammunition , has also seen a recent increase in sales .
According to the company , from Feb. 23 to March 4 , transactions increased 68 % compared with the 11 days before Feb. 23 , a day when Italy reported a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some gun control groups have raised concerns about children out of school for the next several weeks , which could result in more children and teens being killed in homes with unsecured guns .
“ The unintended consequence of these panic-induced purchases in response to the COVID-19 pandemic could be a tragic increase of preventable gun deaths for the loved ones these individuals are trying to protect , ” Kris Brown , president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence , said in a statement Monday .
The National Rifle Assn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been applauding the uptick in firearms sales , including automatic and semiautomatic weapons .
“ You don ’ t need it , till you need it , ” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted recently .
According to various reports , the surge in gun sales started several weeks ago in states such as Washington and California , and included large numbers of Asian Americans , some fearful of anti-Asian backlash over the coronavirus .
At Laguna Guns & Accessories in Elk Grove , south of Sacramento , the shop ’ s owner said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inventory , with many Asian customers stopping into the store , but others too .
Over the last week in Elk Grove , an elderly woman died of COVID-19 in a senior care facility , and the area ’ s school district — one of the largest in California — was one of the state ’ s earliest to close .
“ It ’ s panic , ” said George , the shop owner , who would consent to the use of only his first name .
For weeks , customers have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gun store in the heart of Southern California ’ s Chinese American community .
The store ’ s owner , David Liu , said it was the busiest he ’ d ever seen , and not just because of his Asian American clientele .
“ It ’ s everybody , ” said Liu , adding that his major suppliers are out of stock , making it impossible to reorder .
“ It ’ s not only California , it ’ s the whole nation that ’ s cleaned out .
...
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes before the store ’ s closing Sunday , first-time gun purchaser Anna Carreras was one of the remaining customers , waiting to see what inventory was left .
“ It ’ s not like an active panic , more a preoccupation with making sure everyone is adequately prepared , myself and family and friends , ” she said .
“ Better to be prepared and not need it than need it and not have it.
” In Tulsa on a recent afternoon , the click of magazines jamming inside handguns reverberated off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guns .
Dozens of people — many of whom seemed utterly unfazed by warnings to stay home and practice social distancing — filtered in and out of the shop .
When approached by a reporter , one man refused to answer questions if he couldn ’ t first get a handshake .
Nearby , another man walked the aisles in search of a scope for his bolt-action rifle .
Brandon Jay , 37 , said his interest in the gun shop had nothing to do with the coronavirus .
He was here to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made threats .
“ It ’ s the flu 2.0 , ” he said , shaking his head .
“ People all scared of this — it ’ s the flu .
It ’ s some made-up stuff from the coasts.
” With seven confirmed cases of the coronavirus and no deaths , Oklahoma — unlike California or Washington — hasn ’ t experienced the hour-by-hour updates of the pandemic ’ s spread .
Though Jay is skeptical of the risks , he said he was encouraged to see more people buying guns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cause , then that ’ s great , ” he said .
“ Strap up.
” Less than a mile down a two-lane road from Dong ’ s , Bryan Pratt grabbed an AR-15 pistol from the back of his pickup truck in the parking lot of 2A Shooting Center .
Pratt , who likes to shoot his firearm for sport most weekends , said the parking lot was unusually packed .
“ There ’ s no sports games on , ” he said , “ so I guess people want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t yet worried about the virus — maybe when there are more cases in the area , he said .
“ I ’ m not there yet , ” he said , gripping his gun case and jogging inside .
He had reserved a lane for an hour and didn ’ t want to waste time .
Lee reported from Tulsa , Okla. , and Chabria from Sacramento .
Times staff writer Louis Sahagun in Los Angeles contributed to this report .

David Stone snagged a cardboard box of .223-caliber ammunition from the shelf and slid it across the glass countertop, offering his go-to sales pitch: “Welcome to the biggest selection of ammunition in all of Oklahoma.”
“I’m not sure I can keep on saying that,” Stone said, explaining that the supply of goods at Dong’s Guns, Ammo and Reloading has been seriously depleted over the last few days.
Boxes of ammo sit on shelves at Dong’s Guns, Ammo and Reloading in Tulsa, Okla. (Ian Maule / For The Times)
“When I say sales have been booming,” he said, “it’s an understatement.”
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Gun sales are surging in many U.S. states, especially in those hit hardest by the coronavirus — California, New York and Washington. But there’s also been an uptick in less-affected areas, with some first-time gun buyers fearing an unraveling of the social order and some gun owners worried that the government might use its emergency powers to restrict gun purchases.
Stone’s packed store shares a small strip of road with a church, a cemetery and another gun shop, and in recent days he has sold several firearms to truckers traveling along Interstate 44 here in Oklahoma. One trucker, who was headed to Arizona, bought $2,500 worth of firearms and ammunition, and another trucker, who was headed to Illinois, dropped $200 on ammunition alone.
“You got to be protected for all sorts of stuff,” Stone said. “Seems like the world has gone mad.”
A line at the Martin B. Retting gun store in Culver City on Sunday extends out the door and around the corner. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
In California, would-be customers formed a long line outside the Martin B. Retting gun shop in Culver City over the weekend.
“Politicians and anti-gun people have been telling us for the longest time that we don’t need guns,” said John Gore, 39, part of the crush of customers in recent days. “But right now, a lot of people are truly scared, and they can make that decision themselves.”
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Ammo.com, an online retailer of ammunition, has also seen a recent increase in sales. According to the company, from Feb. 23 to March 4, transactions increased 68% compared with the 11 days before Feb. 23, a day when Italy reported a major outbreak of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Some gun control groups have raised concerns about children out of school for the next several weeks, which could result in more children and teens being killed in homes with unsecured guns.
“The unintended consequence of these panic-induced purchases in response to the COVID-19 pandemic could be a tragic increase of preventable gun deaths for the loved ones these individuals are trying to protect,” Kris Brown, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement Monday.
The National Rifle Assn. and other 2nd Amendment advocates have been applauding the uptick in firearms sales. “You don’t need it, till you need it,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted recently.
The irony of it all is that it’s my Democrat friends reaching out to me now asking me which guns they should buy just in case... in particular which ARs.
I guess they’re ok with the 2A now???
You don’t need it, till you need it. https://t.co/WaCQqWqpv3 — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 14, 2020
According to various reports, the surge in gun sales started several weeks ago in states such as Washington and California, and included large numbers of Asian Americans, some fearful of anti-Asian backlash over the coronavirus.
At Laguna Guns & Accessories in Elk Grove, south of Sacramento, the shop’s owner said he has seen a recent run on his inventory, with many Asian customers stopping into the store, but others too. Over the last week in Elk Grove, an elderly woman died of COVID-19 in a senior care facility, and the area’s school district — one of the largest in California — was one of the state’s earliest to close.
“It’s panic,” said George, the shop owner, who would consent to the use of only his first name.
For weeks, customers have been crowding into Arcadia Firearm and Safety, a gun store in the heart of Southern California’s Chinese American community. The store’s owner, David Liu, said it was the busiest he’d ever seen, and not just because of his Asian American clientele.
A customer looks at parts for his turkey gun while shopping at Dong’s Guns, Ammo and Reloading in Tulsa, Okla. (Ian Maule / For The Times)
“It’s everybody,” said Liu, adding that his major suppliers are out of stock, making it impossible to reorder. “It’s not only California, it’s the whole nation that’s cleaned out. ... It’s like toilet paper.”
Three minutes before the store’s closing Sunday, first-time gun purchaser Anna Carreras was one of the remaining customers, waiting to see what inventory was left.
“It’s not like an active panic, more a preoccupation with making sure everyone is adequately prepared, myself and family and friends,” she said. “Better to be prepared and not need it than need it and not have it.”
In Tulsa on a recent afternoon, the click of magazines jamming inside handguns reverberated off the cinder-block walls of Dong’s Guns. Dozens of people — many of whom seemed utterly unfazed by warnings to stay home and practice social distancing — filtered in and out of the shop.
When approached by a reporter, one man refused to answer questions if he couldn’t first get a handshake. Nearby, another man walked the aisles in search of a scope for his bolt-action rifle.
Brandon Jay, 37, said his interest in the gun shop had nothing to do with the coronavirus. He was here to protect himself from a neighbor who has made threats.
“It’s the flu 2.0,” he said, shaking his head. “People all scared of this — it’s the flu. It’s some made-up stuff from the coasts.”
With seven confirmed cases of the coronavirus and no deaths, Oklahoma — unlike California or Washington — hasn’t experienced the hour-by-hour updates of the pandemic’s spread. Though Jay is skeptical of the risks, he said he was encouraged to see more people buying guns.
“If this hysteria is helping the cause, then that’s great,” he said. “Strap up.”
Less than a mile down a two-lane road from Dong’s, Bryan Pratt grabbed an AR-15 pistol from the back of his pickup truck in the parking lot of 2A Shooting Center. Pratt, who likes to shoot his firearm for sport most weekends, said the parking lot was unusually packed.
“There’s no sports games on,” he said, “so I guess people want to shoot.”
.45-caliber guns sit in a display case at Dong’s Guns, Ammo and Reloading in Tulsa, Okla. (Ian Maule / For The Times)
Pratt said he wasn’t yet worried about the virus — maybe when there are more cases in the area, he said.
“I’m not there yet,” he said, gripping his gun case and jogging inside.
He had reserved a lane for an hour and didn’t want to waste time.
Lee reported from Tulsa, Okla., and Chabria from Sacramento. Times staff writer Louis Sahagun in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-16--L.A. Unified data center outage causes headache during coronavirus shutdown

A false fire alarm in the main data system room of the Los Angeles Unified School District released retardant that shut down the critical system for about 12 hours , just as thousands of students and teachers were supposed to begin online lessons , according to school district officials .
The system that powers the online platform was reportedly back up by about 8:30 a.m. During the outage , students and teachers were not able to communicate using the electronic messaging system that will be their main link while campuses are closed , which will be at least two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation ’ s second largest school district to set up family service centers , meal distribution and online learning .
Unofficial and differing versions of lists of the soon-to-open service centers are circulating on social media .
An official and final list is not yet ready , said L.A. schools Supt .
Austin Beutner .
Beutner said he got an urgent text about a problem between 10 and 11 p.m. Sunday night .
He could not respond instantly because he was on an unrelated urgent call .
He ended up being awake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just because of that , ” he said .
“ Late last night we called in another 30 people who worked through the night , ” he said .
“ We ’ re appreciative of their efforts to get the system going.
” Beutner said he did not yet have a cost estimate for the damage .
L.A. school board President Richard Vladovic said he lost access for about 12 hours , starting about 9 p.m. Sunday night .
By this morning , he said , the malfunctioning equipment had been replaced or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning blues took on a whole new meaning as the families of millions of students in Los Angeles and throughout the state confront a challenging coronavirus reality : no schools , no libraries , closed museums and a scramble for child care .
Los Angeles Unified , which serves about 670,000 children and adults , shut down its 900 campuses beginning Monday morning , joining closures at 24 of the state ’ s 25 largest school systems .
About 51 % of California ’ s school districts have shut down , accounting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles , family resource centers are not scheduled to open until Wednesday , which leaves families having to improvise coping strategies .
Julia Andres sat quietly on a green metal bench with her two school-aged sons as they waited for a city shuttle in MacArthur Park .
The trio were heading to Andres ’ job at a garment warehouse in downtown Los Angeles because she can ’ t afford daycare .
“ I have to bring them to work , ” she said .
“ I have to try and work whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his older brother ’ s hand , 10-year-old Miguel Petz , a fourth-grader at Vermont Elementary School , said he was worried about his parents being infected by the virus .
“ I ’ m scared about it , ” he said .
Miguel said he had a packet for homework that he would be working on and do other courses online using his older brother ’ s Chromebook .
Emmanuel Garcia , 13 , a 7th-grader at Foshay Learning Center , said he was going to do most of his courses online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online learning system .
His feelings are mixed about schools being closed .
“ We ’ re out of school , ” he said .
“ But then we have homework.
” And the district is scrambling to organize and send out a list of the 40 resource centers and 20 additional meal distribution sites to help confront the challenge .
By early Monday morning , the district had posted a call for paid volunteers from among the school system ’ s nearly 78,000 workers .
“ Our ability to operate the Family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to staff them properly and any of you who may wish to help , ” the district said in its note to employees .
“ We will provide a daily stipend of $ 100 for any individual who participates ( 6 hour shift ) in addition to your usual pay .
Whether you are trucking in supplies , working as part of the safety team , cleaning the campus , leading recreational activities , counseling individuals who are anxious or just encouraging students to read a book , all will receive the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a work stoppage .
Teachers are expected to do what they can to keep learning going via online and electronic coursework and even old-fashioned paper homework packets .
Other staff are tasked with keeping schools secure and sanitized .
And principals were standing by Monday morning to alert parents who didn ’ t get the message that campuses are closed .
Also , students who were absent Friday could stop by in the morning to pick up assignments , instructional materials and possibly computers .
Board president Vladovic said that he drove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only four students total entering a campus .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Sunday reiterated his position that he would not — for now — mandate the shuttering of all schools in the state , but it could be hard to find an open campus in L.A. County , where county schools Supt .
Debra Duardo recommended that all school districts close their campuses .
West Covina Unified wasn ’ t ready to close Friday but announced an immediate shutdown Sunday after an “ individual , ” as the district put it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 .
It was not immediately clear whether the affected person was a staff member , student , family member or volunteer .
The immediate plight for families did not get easier Sunday night after L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti took additional precautionary measures .
The city ’ s public libraries and indoor recreation centers are closed — cutting off more activities and child-supervision options .
Major museums are shut , including the L.A. County Natural History Museum , the La Brea Tar Pits Museum and the L.A. County Museum of Art .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bars and brew pubs , Garcetti went further , banning all dining in .
Restaurants still can offer take-out service .
That ban further narrows student and family options — including the use of restaurant WiFi for families without broadband at home .
A library , coffee house or McDonald ’ s often become places where low-income students and families have WiFi access .
Beutner has estimated that about a quarter of students lack the broadband needed for effective online study .
Many also lack for nutritious , abundant food — about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a free or reduced price lunch .
And many rely on the district for breakfast .
Some take advantage of free dinners as well .
About 18,000 district students are homeless .
“ Los Angeles Unified serves a high-needs population , and our schools provide a social safety net for children , ” Beutner said Friday .
“ The closing of any school has real consequences beyond the loss of instructional time.
” The resource centers and 20 additional food distribution sites are intended as a stopgap to offer food , childcare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the sprawling district .
L.A. Unified was not alone in having to prepare quickly — and is likely ahead of the curve compared with some other districts .
For that reason , Newsom on Sunday declined to follow the lead of other governors and shut down all public schools in the state .
Closing would be a local decision , he said .
L.A. Unified will be closed for at least two weeks , with the centers intended to serve as a safety net for families with no other means to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centers are likely to be at closed schools and will be open between about 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. As a precaution , all center visitors will have their temperatures taken with forehead thermometers upon arrival , and all students will be directed to wash their hands .
Among the services being offered are counseling and health services for students and families ; “ grab-n-go ” meals for families and community members ; access to books , computers and instructional materials ; and options for some students to check out electronic devices and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers , security aides , school police , health and human services providers , counselors and custodians will be among those working at the centers .
“ The district will try to assign our members a task consistent with their job , but it ’ s important all members be flexible , based on the needs at each resource center , ” the teachers union said in a Sunday update to members .
The union also stressed that during the shutdown teachers would have the task of making sure that students continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These resources include special programming on the three major local public television channels in a partnership with PBS SoCal/KCET .
Newsom on Sunday declined to second-guess districts that choose to remain open for now .
“ Many smaller districts remain open and for reasons that are perfectly understandable , ” Newsom said in a news conference in Sacramento .
Newsom noted that in some school systems , 80 % or more of students receive a free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch .
Another concern , he said , is what would happen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who face a shortage of appropriate care .
Moreover , many medical workers and other emergency personnel — who are needed to manage the health crisis — could confront a lack of childcare when schools close .
Many small and rural districts operate in communities with less of a safety net than in coastal areas , Newsom added .
The governor emphasized that the state is continuing to refine appropriate procedures for all school systems — whether open or closed .
“ On Tuesday , we will be putting out very detailed guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to remain or are likely to remain open — and those that have closed , ” Newsom said .
“ We are vetting and curating and validating all kinds of private- and public-sector solutions to address the ... obvious real problems.
” Newsom also noted that some school districts simply have carried out more disaster planning than others .
The governor ’ s message was not entirely embraced by those who favor closing all the schools without further delay , including Alex Caputo-Pearl , president of the L.A. teachers union , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down L.A. Unified schools .
“ It was the right thing to do , ” he said Sunday .
“ Now we ’ re part of the coalition pushing for all schools to close .
”

Los Angeles school officials have halted a plan to open 40 family resource centers due to increasing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
The 40 planned centers were intended as a service point and refuge for students and families in need of food, childcare, counseling and educational materials. Instead, 60 grab-and-go food centers will be available for school families.
“At this time, state and local health and public safety officials cannot assure us it will be safe for the children and adults at the family centers for us to provide care for children at these sites,” said Supt. Austin Beutner in a letter posted on social media Monday afternoon. “We are deeply disappointed.”
The decision was made amid rapidly changing guidance and restrictions from health agencies and other levels of government. For example, over the course of several hours on Sunday, restaurateurs went from no restrictions, to reduced capacity statewide, to an L.A. ban on dining in.
As Beutner weighed the decision earlier Monday he cautioned that the “more fundamental issue is making sure we can do it safely.”
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Los Angeles Unified, which serves about 670,000 children and adults, shut down its 900 campuses beginning Monday morning, joining closures at 24 of the state’s 25 largest school systems. More than half of California’s school districts have shut down, accounting for about 85% of students.
The centers seemed like an ambitious but sensible solution for parents desperate for childcare and other resources. These parents include first responders, such as ambulance drivers and healthcare workers. In this health siege, key personnel also include pharmacists and supermarket checkers.
At the centers, visitors would have had their temperature taken on the way in and would immediately wash their hands. A district operations planner said that lines for food or other services would be set up so people were standing six feet apart. The centers were to be open from about 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
But ultimately, if schools are closed because of concerns over transmission of the coronavirus, should a resource center be treated any differently?
“We’re trying to make sure we’re doing the right thing,” Beutner said earlier Monday.
Even in the best scenario, families were on their own until Wednesday.
Monday morning, Julia Andres sat quietly on a green metal bench with her two school-aged sons as they waited for a city shuttle in MacArthur Park. The trio were heading to Andres’ job at a garment warehouse in downtown Los Angeles because she can’t afford daycare.
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“I have to bring them to work,” she said. “I have to try and work whatever hours I can get.”
Tugging on his older brother’s hand, 10-year-old Miguel Petz, a fourth-grader at Vermont Elementary School, said he was worried about his parents being infected by the virus.
“I’m scared about it,” he said.
Miguel said he had a packet for homework that he would be working on, and that he would do other courses online using his older brother’s Chromebook.
Emmanuel Garcia, 13, a 7th-grader at Foshay Learning Center, said he was going to do most of his courses online, some through Schoology, an LAUSD online learning system.
His feelings are mixed about schools being closed.
“We’re out of school,” he said. “But then we have homework.”
Even for families with greater flexibility, the options are limited with libraries, museums, recreation centers and other gathering places closed.
The district faced an additional challenge late Sunday when a false fire alarm in a key data center triggered the release of retardant that shut down the critical system for about 12 hours, just as thousands of students and teachers were supposed to login for instruction, according to school district officials.
The system that powers the online platform was reportedly back up by about 8:30 a.m. During the outage, students and teachers were not able to communicate.
Beutner said he got an urgent text about a problem between 10 and 11 p.m. Sunday night. He could not respond instantly because he was on an unrelated urgent call.
He ended up being awake most of the night “but not just because of that,” he said.
“Late last night we called in another 30 people who worked through the night,” he said. “We’re appreciative of their efforts to get the system going.”
Beutner said he did not yet have a cost estimate for the damage.
During the shutdown, teachers are expected to do what they can to keep learning going via online and electronic coursework and even old-fashioned paper homework packets. Other staff are tasked with keeping schools secure and sanitized. And principals stood by Monday morning to alert parents who didn’t get the message that campuses are closed. Also, students who were absent Friday could stop by in the morning to pick up assignments, instructional materials and possibly computers.
School board president Richard Vladovic said that he drove by 10 schools Monday morning and saw only four students total entering a campus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday reiterated his position that he would not — for now — mandate the shuttering of all schools in the state.
West Covina Unified wasn’t ready to close Friday but announced an immediate shutdown Sunday after an “individual,” as the district put it, at West Covina High School tested positive for COVID-19. It was not immediately clear whether the affected person was a staff member, student, family member or volunteer.
The immediate plight for families did not get easier Sunday night after L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti took additional precautionary measures. The city’s public libraries and indoor recreation centers are closed — cutting off more activities and child-supervision options. Major museums are shut, including the L.A. County Natural History Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits Museum and the L.A. County Museum of Art.
While Newsom ordered the closing of nightclubs, bars and brew pubs, Garcetti went further, banning all dining in. Restaurants still can offer take-out service. That ban further narrows student and family options — including the use of restaurant WiFi for families without broadband at home. A library, coffee house or McDonald’s often become a place where low-income students and families have WiFi access.
Beutner has estimated that about a quarter of students lack the broadband needed for effective online study.
Many also lack for nutritious, abundant food — about 80% of L.A. students qualify for a free or reduced price lunch. And many rely on the district for breakfast. Some take advantage of free dinners as well. About 18,000 district students are homeless.
“Los Angeles Unified serves a high-needs population, and our schools provide a social safety net for children,” Beutner said Friday. “The closing of any school has real consequences beyond the loss of instructional time.”
Times staff writers Sonali Kohli and Ruben Vives contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-17--A quieter L.A. on Day 1 of expanded coronavirus closures

The security guards walked in pairs through the Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles on Monday like sentries guarding against the coronavirus .
“ No dining in !
” they shouted .
“ Only ordering out !
” Most of the food stalls at the market , usually bustling with hipster foodies , tourists and downtown office workers , were closed .
The few lines of customers waiting for food-to-go were short .
Chairs were stacked on tables .
Employees constantly sanitized everything .
Minerva Torres , who runs a produce stall , surveyed the quiet market and worried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying rent and supporting her children in college .
“ I think all this adds to the hysteria , ” said Torres , 47 , as a few customers picked through her onions and tomatoes .
“ This is very strange.
” It was the first day of a slower , more anxious new reality in California as emergency restrictions to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus took effect .
A dramatic quelling of business and public life started Sunday , when Gov .
Gavin Newsom urged people 65 and older and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves .
Hours later , L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered bars , movie theaters and gyms to close and restaurants to halt dine-in service and limit business to takeout orders and delivery .
On Monday , Los Angeles County officials announced similar closures and eatery restrictions for all 88 cities and unincorporated regions in the county .
Californians were reacting to the escalating orders on Monday — which also marked the start of closures for major school districts , including Los Angeles Unified — with a mix of anxiety , frustration and defiance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Langer ’ s Deli in Westlake to order pancakes , cream of wheat and coffee to go .
Reyes has been coming to the famed pastrami purveyor for the last four decades , and he planned to continue .
“ We shouldn ’ t panic too much , ” Reyes said .
“ I take precaution .
I wash my hands and try to stay indoors , but I also need to live a life.
” “ If it ’ s my time to go and it ’ s because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Owner Norm Langer was irked by Garcetti ’ s orders , saying they would limit people ’ s food options , instill panic and devastate the restaurant industry .
Monday marked the first time in 72 years that his deli was not allowing people to eat inside the restaurant during regular hours , he said .
“ I think it ’ s a big mistake , ” Langer said .
“ You want social distancing , fine .
We can put that in effect.
” Langer told most of his 40 employees to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff of 11 .
They were doing curb service and takeout and had signed up for delivery apps .
The deli already took a financial hit when groups last week started canceling St. Patrick ’ s Day food orders worth thousands of dollars .
Langer , 75 , said that despite his age , he could not just stay home , as the governor recommended .
“ We are a union house , ” Langer said .
“ I have 40 employees that are part of my family , and they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for their livelihood and for their medical care.
” On Monday , President Trump advised people to avoid groups of more than 10 and to stay away from bars , restaurants and food courts .
In the hard-hit San Francisco Bay Area , residents of seven counties were ordered to shelter in place , a move that will close virtually all businesses and direct residents to stay home for the next three weeks .
In L.A. , the freeways already were eerily empty , a phenomenon that many found unsettling because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quintanar , 38 , and his wife , Olga Martinez , 40 , drove from Anaheim to downtown L.A. to buy jewelry for family in Mexico .
They thought more businesses would be open downtown .
They were wrong .
The couple were eating outside Grand Central Market , and Quintanar squeezed a lemon on his hands in an effort to clean them before biting into a carnitas taco .
“ It ’ s scary , sad and ugly , ” he said of the empty market .
“ We shouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s good to wash your hands and be cautious , but we should be able to go about and live our lives like we normally do.
” Security guards then came by to tell them they could not sit outside the market and had to leave .
In MacArthur Park , clinics and small clothing stores were open .
Police officers patrolled on foot , sipping coffee from Subway .
Street food vendors lined up on Alvarado Street , but business suffered .
“ People are scared to buy , ” said Felipa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pastries and sweet corn milk around 5:30 a.m. On a normal day , all of her food would be gone within two and a half hours .
On Monday , it was nearly 9 a.m. , and Silva had barely sold half .
She had another setback when city enforcement officers told the vendors they could not sell on that part of the sidewalk .
She packed up and left .
In Koreatown , Samantha Garay , a cook at Post & Beam in Baldwin Hills , shopped at a GameStop for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s stuck at home as her boss figured out new work schedules .
Garay , 30 , said many of her friends and co-workers are scrambling to figure out what to do .
Though she ’ ll continue to cook for deliveries and to-go orders , the restaurant has cut hours to bartenders , servers and hosts , she said .
“ We had our schedules for the next three weeks until yesterday , ” she said .
“ We ’ d gotten a heads up that it ’ s probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we were going to go until the wheels fall off.
” Garay did not see the business closures and restrictions as an overreaction .
“ Unless you shut everything down , people are still going to go out and do what they do , ” she said .
“ I live downtown and people were still at bars and partying like nothing , so I feel like if everyone was a little more responsible it might not have had to go this far.
” In other L.A. County cities , many restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the countywide restrictions were announced midday .
Crowds were slim to nil .
At noon — what would , in ordinary times , be peak lunch hour — Ko Hyang Tofu House in San Gabriel was empty .
Benny Xue could not recall so severe a slump in business in the 10 years he has waited tables there .
By midday , Xue said , the restaurant would have ordinarily turned 20 tables ; now , they are lucky to get five .
Xue has seen his hours cut from seven a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is he earning less in wages , but his income from tips had fallen about 50 % , he said .
At the Little Swan Bakery in Alhambra , Vanessa Mach , 23 , boxed up pastries with gloved hands and issued muffled “ thank yous ” to customers through a purple mask .
Mach , a nursing student at Cal State Los Angeles who works about 12 hours a week at the bakery , was worried that the county would issue an order similar to Garcetti ’ s .
She was soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d find another job , but I ’ d have to look , ” Mach said .
One of her friends , a receptionist at a physical therapy center , lost her job and is now seeking work as a baby-sitter .
Outside the bakery , a supermarket and a closed seafood restaurant showed two symptoms of the pandemic .
Cali Mart Market was thronged with shoppers , its butcher case crushed with people trying to buy pork loin , short rib and chicken thighs .
A few doors down , Top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sum restaurant , was closed until May .
Along The Strand in Hermosa Beach , a flashing electronic sign advised the dog-walkers and joggers : “ AVOID GATHERINGS .
COVID-19 LESS IS MORE.
” On a bench by the sand , a woman with cropped gray hair made a phone call , her voice chipper : “ Hi , dear , are you self-quarantining ?
” At Good Stuff restaurant , waiters stood silently on the empty patio , waiting .
Inside , every other table had no silverware , in case crowds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people spread out .
“ I ’ m stressed out , ” said Vi Nguyen , the general manager , who had already cut staffing levels .
Jessica DuBois , 36 , and her husband , mother-in-law and 4-year-old daughter — whose preschool was closed — were the only diners and said they were being doted on by waiters .
DuBois works at a nearby hotel and said it ’ s already hemorrhaging business .
DuBois ’ family comes to Good Stuff all the time and said they wanted to help a local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother-in-law , Rosie DuBois , 69 , said her husband , who has asthma , stayed home .
“ We ’ re trying really hard to not be in a panic mentality , ” Rosie DuBois said .
Down the street , friends Renee Wright and Sherry Fritzel sat outside Java Man coffee shop eating yogurt and gluten-free muffins .
The women , both in their 60s , said they understood steps such as avoiding crowds but thought the restrictions on public life went too far .
“ It is a serious problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But we don ’ t need to freak out .
”

Hailey Branson-Potts, Ruben Vives, Joseph Serna, Matthew Ormseth

Disneyland guests take photos in front of the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Disneyland guests wearing ponchos pass the Marketplace inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on Thursday. Disneyland and California Adventure will temporarily close in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Two children look at movie posters in the lobby of the Arclight theater Thursday in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
A crew member stands on the stern of a cruise ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Alexandria Casserly crosses the street while looking for toilet paper in downtown Los Angeles. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Students leave John C. Fremont High School in Los Angeles at the end of the school day on Friday, Mar. 13, 2020. LAUSD announced it will shut down beginning Monday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times )
Blake Anderson, left, a freshman, walks with his father Oree Anderson, as school is let out at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles. LAUSD announced that schools will be closed due to the Coronavirus. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Students hug as they are let out of school at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 13, 2020. The school has 2,623 students who live in 94 different zip codes, some of whom travel upwards of 30 miles to school on 24 different school bus routes. 221 school staff live in 88 zip codes. Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner announced that schools will be closed due to the coronavirus. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
A guest wears a mask in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland on Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A line at the Martin B. Retting gun store in Culver City on Sunday extends out the door and around the corner. (Francine Orr / The Times)
Carlos Perez, a worker at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles sits in the empty restaurant. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
L.A. has banned restaurants from offering seating at places such as Grand Central Market. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Normally bustling Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. is open only for take out. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
From left, Josh Akamine, of Oahu, Hawaii; Madison Shine of Oahu; Matthew Valencia of Los Altos and Dani Ikeda visit L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Medical personnel surround a car that is going through a coronavirus drive-thru test clinic at the San Mateo County Event Center. Drive-thru test clinics for COVID-19 are popping up across the country as more tests become available. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Emma Bradley, left, and her husband, Samuel Bradley, of Palmdale are walking up the ramp to catch the Metrolink in Union Sation in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
Volunteer Rachel Figueroa, serves a free lunch to go to Destiny Mendez, with her mother, Estefany, at the Dream Center in Los Angeles. LAUSD students can get free breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Dream Center, Monday through Friday. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Muhammad Faruq, an Uber driver, picks his ride Sotero Reyes, left, and Cristian Eguia, visitors from Houston, all in protective masks, from downtown Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Shoppers queue up ahead of the Los Feliz Costco opening for business on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
A large tent is installed for public attendance at Tuesday’s Los Angeles City Council meeting. The public was not allowed in the council chamber. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Mark V. Morocco oversees the testing at UCLA Medical Center. Testing for Covid-19 is going on at UCLA Medical Center, where people can drive up and get tested if they have the symptoms. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Orange County Undersheriff Bob Peterson listens during a board of supervisors discussion on combating the coronavirus in Santa Ana. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Kevin Ezeh, protected with face mask and gloves, addresses the Los Angeles City Council meeting standing under a tent erected outside City Hall. A television livestreamed video of the meeting and the public offered comments remotely. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
An employee of the Trader Joe’s store in Monrovia tells customers waiting in line that it would open doors to everyone at 9 a.m., not just seniors, who arrived believing doors would open earlier to older residents, as some of the people were told by employees and it was reported. Some grocery outlets were offering special morning hours of shopping to accommodate older residents. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
A nurse takes the vital signs of a woman in a medical tent outside the hospital on Catalina. (Francine Orr/Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
Medical personnel screen patients outside the emergency room at Loma Linda University Health during the coronavirus pandemic. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
HOPICS outreach worker Ralph Gomez tosses a clipboard for a signature to homeless client Davis Soto, right, taking care to stay at least six feet away during outreach in Los Angeles. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Mark V. Morocco oversees testing at UCLA Medical Center where people can drive up and get tested if they have the symptoms. Morocco listens to a female patient’s lungs through the car window. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Seniors shop at Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday. The store is doing a “seniors shopping hour” where seniors can go grocery shopping before the store opens to the general public. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Roberta Tabor, 66, of Hermosa Beach, has her ID checked by store director Dennis Sullivan at Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday. The store is doing a “seniors shopping hour” where seniors 65+ can go grocery shopping before anybody else. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Seniors, including Eileen Oda Leaf, 67, left, and her husband Dave Leaf, 67, right, both wearing protective masks, line up outside Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach early on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Dallas Weaver, 79, and his wife, Janet Weaver, 75, of Huntington Beach, walk on the Huntington pier. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
David Barker, 56, is visiting with his friend living in a tent on skidrow in Los Angeles. Barker, who is not homeless, works in the area. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
People walk up the ramp, exiting the secure area at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
Volunteer Nagma Shakur, 16, left, hugs her “Grannie” as she helps senior shoppers with their carts at the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Altadena. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
The City of Santa Monica closed the Santa Monica Pier in an attempt to prevent the further spread of the Coronavirus. Very few people were on the beach in Santa Monica as the epidemic continues. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
The security guards walked in pairs through the Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles on Monday like sentries guarding against the coronavirus. “No dining in!” they shouted. “Only ordering out!”
Most of the food stalls at the market, usually bustling with hipster foodies, tourists and downtown office workers, were closed. The few lines of customers waiting for food-to-go were short. Chairs were stacked on tables. Employees constantly sanitized everything.
Minerva Torres, who runs a produce stall, surveyed the quiet market and worried aloud about keeping her business afloat, paying rent and supporting her children in college.
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Normally bustling Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. is open only for take out. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
“I think all this adds to the hysteria,” said Torres, 47, as a few customers picked through her onions and tomatoes. “This is very strange.”
It was the first day of a slower, more anxious new reality in California as emergency restrictions to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus took effect.
A dramatic quelling of business and public life started Sunday, when Gov. Gavin Newsom urged people 65 and older and those with chronic health conditions to isolate themselves. Hours later, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered bars, movie theaters and gyms to close and restaurants to halt dine-in service and limit business to takeout orders and delivery.
On Monday, Los Angeles County officials announced similar closures and eatery restrictions for all 88 cities and unincorporated regions in the county.
Quintanar Reyes, left, and his wife, Olga Martinez, eat their takeout lunch from Grand Central Market. (Irfan Khan/Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
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Californians were reacting to the escalating orders on Monday — which also marked the start of closures for major school districts, including Los Angeles Unified — with a mix of anxiety, frustration and defiance.
Jose Reyes, 80, walked into Langer’s Deli in Westlake to order pancakes, cream of wheat and coffee to go. Reyes has been coming to the famed pastrami purveyor for the last four decades, and he planned to continue.
“We shouldn’t panic too much,” Reyes said. “I take precaution. I wash my hands and try to stay indoors, but I also need to live a life.”
“If it’s my time to go and it’s because of the coronavirus, then so be it.”
Owner Norm Langer was irked by Garcetti’s orders, saying they would limit people’s food options, instill panic and devastate the restaurant industry. Monday marked the first time in 72 years that his deli was not allowing people to eat inside the restaurant during regular hours, he said.
“I think it’s a big mistake,” Langer said. “You want social distancing, fine. We can put that in effect.”
L.A. has banned restaurants from offering seating at places such as Grand Central Market. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Langer told most of his 40 employees to stay home and was working with a staff of 11. They were doing curb service and takeout and had signed up for delivery apps. The deli already took a financial hit when groups last week started canceling St. Patrick’s Day food orders worth thousands of dollars.
Langer, 75, said that despite his age, he could not just stay home, as the governor recommended.
“We are a union house,” Langer said. “I have 40 employees that are part of my family, and they’re dependent on me. I’m responsible for their livelihood and for their medical care.”
On Monday, President Trump advised people to avoid groups of more than 10 and to stay away from bars, restaurants and food courts. In the hard-hit San Francisco Bay Area, residents of seven counties were ordered to shelter in place, a move that will close virtually all businesses and direct residents to stay home for the next three weeks.
In L.A., the freeways already were eerily empty, a phenomenon that many found unsettling because it meant people were not working.
Reyes Quintanar, 38, and his wife, Olga Martinez, 40, drove from Anaheim to downtown L.A. to buy jewelry for family in Mexico. They thought more businesses would be open downtown. They were wrong.
The couple were eating outside Grand Central Market, and Quintanar squeezed a lemon on his hands in an effort to clean them before biting into a carnitas taco.
“It’s scary, sad and ugly,” he said of the empty market. “We shouldn’t be living like this. It’s good to wash your hands and be cautious, but we should be able to go about and live our lives like we normally do.”
Security guards then came by to tell them they could not sit outside the market and had to leave.
In MacArthur Park, clinics and small clothing stores were open. Police officers patrolled on foot, sipping coffee from Subway. Street food vendors lined up on Alvarado Street, but business suffered.
“People are scared to buy,” said Felipa Silva, 50, who started selling pastries and sweet corn milk around 5:30 a.m.
On a normal day, all of her food would be gone within two and a half hours. On Monday, it was nearly 9 a.m., and Silva had barely sold half. She had another setback when city enforcement officers told the vendors they could not sell on that part of the sidewalk. She packed up and left.
In Koreatown, Samantha Garay, a cook at Post & Beam in Baldwin Hills, shopped at a GameStop for a Nintendo Switch to keep her sane while she’s stuck at home as her boss figured out new work schedules.
Garay, 30, said many of her friends and co-workers are scrambling to figure out what to do. Though she’ll continue to cook for deliveries and to-go orders, the restaurant has cut hours to bartenders, servers and hosts, she said.
“We had our schedules for the next three weeks until yesterday,” she said. “We’d gotten a heads up that it’s probably going to be a mandatory shutdown, but we were going to go until the wheels fall off.”
Garay did not see the business closures and restrictions as an overreaction.
“Unless you shut everything down, people are still going to go out and do what they do,” she said. “I live downtown and people were still at bars and partying like nothing, so I feel like if everyone was a little more responsible it might not have had to go this far.”
In other L.A. County cities, many restaurants were still open to dine-in eaters before the countywide restrictions were announced midday. Crowds were slim to nil.
At noon — what would, in ordinary times, be peak lunch hour — Ko Hyang Tofu House in San Gabriel was empty. Benny Xue could not recall so severe a slump in business in the 10 years he has waited tables there. By midday, Xue said, the restaurant would have ordinarily turned 20 tables; now, they are lucky to get five.
Xue has seen his hours cut from seven a day to five or six. Not only is he earning less in wages, but his income from tips had fallen about 50%, he said.
At the Little Swan Bakery in Alhambra, Vanessa Mach, 23, boxed up pastries with gloved hands and issued muffled “thank yous” to customers through a purple mask.
Mach, a nursing student at Cal State Los Angeles who works about 12 hours a week at the bakery, was worried that the county would issue an order similar to Garcetti’s. She was soon proved right.
“I doubt I’d find another job, but I’d have to look,” Mach said. One of her friends, a receptionist at a physical therapy center, lost her job and is now seeking work as a baby-sitter.
Outside the bakery, a supermarket and a closed seafood restaurant showed two symptoms of the pandemic. Cali Mart Market was thronged with shoppers, its butcher case crushed with people trying to buy pork loin, short rib and chicken thighs. A few doors down, Top Island, a Cantonese seafood and dim sum restaurant, was closed until May.
Along The Strand in Hermosa Beach, a flashing electronic sign advised the dog-walkers and joggers: “AVOID GATHERINGS. COVID-19 LESS IS MORE.” On a bench by the sand, a woman with cropped gray hair made a phone call, her voice chipper: “Hi, dear, are you self-quarantining?”
At Good Stuff restaurant, waiters stood silently on the empty patio, waiting. Inside, every other table had no silverware, in case crowds did materialize and they needed to keep people spread out.
“I’m stressed out,” said Vi Nguyen, the general manager, who had already cut staffing levels.
Jessica DuBois, 36, and her husband, mother-in-law and 4-year-old daughter — whose preschool was closed — were the only diners and said they were being doted on by waiters. DuBois works at a nearby hotel and said it’s already hemorrhaging business.
DuBois’ family comes to Good Stuff all the time and said they wanted to help a local business while they still could. Her mother-in-law, Rosie DuBois, 69, said her husband, who has asthma, stayed home.
“We’re trying really hard to not be in a panic mentality,” Rosie DuBois said.
Down the street, friends Renee Wright and Sherry Fritzel sat outside Java Man coffee shop eating yogurt and gluten-free muffins. The women, both in their 60s, said they understood steps such as avoiding crowds but thought the restrictions on public life went too far.
“It is a serious problem,” said Fritzel, 69. “But we don’t need to freak out.”