latimes--2020-03-15--California calls for closure of bars, Starbucks announces major changes to battle coronavirus

Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Sunday significantly ramped up California ’ s response to the coronavirus , calling for the closure of all bars , nightclubs , wineries and brewpubs , and urging people 65 and older and those with chronic health conditions to stay indoors in an effort to slow the virus ’ spread .
The governor also called on much greater social distancing measures for restaurants .
They will be directed to reduce their occupancy by roughly half and ensure that tables are at least six feet apart , he said .
“ We recognize that social isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we recognize what all the science bears out and ... we need to meet this moment head-on and lean in , ” Newsom said .
The governor said the request of older Californians was made in hopes of limiting their exposure to the virus , given that health officials have pointed out higher dangers for those who are older .
“ We are prioritizing their safety , ” he said .
Local bar owners greeted the news with a mixture of emotions .
“ What can I really say but it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance , ” said Robert Kim , owner of the Koreatown bar and lounge Mama Lion .
“ My biggest concern is for my staff and their livelihood and separately , protecting the business from possible theft or looting in these dire times.
” Jimmy Han , who owns Frank ‘ n Hank bar in Koreatown , said he decided to close his bar down yesterday 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ 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.
” Starbucks also announced new efforts to limit the number of people gathering there .
All of its stores in the U.S. and Canada will move to a “ to go ” model for at least two weeks , removing all seating in cafe and patio areas , the company announced Sunday .
Some stores in high-traffic locations like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed , and others in communities with high concentrations of the virus will be either closed or their operating hours reduced .
California had recorded 335 cases of the virus as of Sunday , a 14 % increase from the day before , Newsom said .
The state also reported six deaths , with the sixth taking place in San Mateo County , where 32 cases have been recorded , the county said .
Los Angeles County reported 15 new coronavirus cases Sunday .
Five of the people are hospitalized ; one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the virus , and three others are under investigation , the county Department of Public Health said in a news release .
Three other cases are believed to be travel-related , four had close contact with another confirmed case , and two were healthcare workers exposed to the virus in a healthcare setting , officials said .
The new cases bring the total in L.A. County to 69 , 10 of which are believed to be a result of community transmission .
That means that the people who were diagnosed did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus is widespread or have contact with another confirmed case , likely indicating that the virus is spreading from person to person within the community Cases are being identified across the county , so everyone is advised to practice social distancing , the county Department of Public Health said .
A USC undergraduate student has also tested positive for the virus , the school announced Sunday .
The student recently returned from international travel , arrived directly in Orange County , and has not been on or near the USC campuses , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and faculty .
The person is in good condition and in isolation at home , officials said .
As testing ramps up and the number of confirmed cases continues to grow , Dockweiler Beach will be used to temporarily house people who have been ordered to isolate or quarantine because of the coronavirus , officials said .
The beach is one of multiple locations that the county may use throughout the region , the city of El Segundo said in a statement .
The beach and adjacent RV park are not in El @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are advised to avoid the area north of the Dockweiler Youth Center .
There are currently 25 RVs set aside for the purpose and up to 25 more are being delivered each day , with a plan to have all of them in place by Thursday , according to a bulletin sent to El Segundo city staffers .
Dr. Barbara Ferrer , director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health , said at a news conference Friday that the county was looking at multiple places to keep people who are ordered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to be hospitalized .
“ Those plans haven ’ t been finalized but we ’ re looking all across the county to make sure that nobody who needs to be in a safe place to serve a quarantine or isolation order doesn ’ t have a safe place to be , ” she said .
She said that such sites would likely be used to house people who are homeless or visiting the area and have nowhere else to stay .
“ This is an effort to make sure that we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with mild illness in hospital beds because they have no place else to go , ” she said .
The facilities will be distributed across all areas of the county to limit disruptions , the city of El Segundo said .
As coronavirus continued its spread in both California and throughout the nation , officials urged residents to dramatically restrict their interaction in hopes of slowing the virus ’ march through communities .
The government ’ s top infectious disease expert , Dr. Anthony Fauci , said Sunday that Americans needed to step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of coronavirus — including being much more diligent about social distancing .
“ I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing , ” Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” Fauci applauded measures taken so far to limit the spread of the virus but said even everyday steps that many people considered drastic were insufficient .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is clearer community spread , you have to be much , much more intense about how you do that , ” he said .
“ When you think you are doing too much , you are probably doing enough , or not enough.
” Despite the warnings from government officials to limit gatherings , crowds amassed at several major airports due to confusion over new travel restrictions and as screenings for the virus caused bottlenecks of people returning from abroad .
The governor of Illinois , J.B. Pritzker , described a sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Europe and elsewhere tightly packed together for hours Saturday evening at Chicago ’ s O ’ Hare airport .
Similar scenes played out at major airports across the country .
“ As people were flooding into O ’ Hare Airport , they were stuck in a small area , hundreds and hundreds of people , and that ’ s exactly what you don ’ t want in this pandemic , ” the governor said on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” Pritzker predicted the chaotic conditions would persist throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a larger number of flights with more people coming , and they seem completely unprepared , ” the governor said in the NBC interview .
Many travelers had rushed to return to the United States in the mistaken belief that American citizens risked being shut out by a ban on arrivals from much of Europe , effective Friday at midnight , announced last week by President Trump .
The White House later clarified that the prohibition did not apply to U.S. citizens , permanent residents and others exempted .
“ They should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they should have increased the number of CDC personnel on the ground doing those checks , ” Pritzker said .
“ They did neither of those.
” Marc Morgan , acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection , said in a statement that the wait times “ at some locations were unacceptable ” and that “ some of the resources of our partners are stretched thin.
” “ With this national emergency , there will unfortunately be times of disruption and increased processing times for travelers , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clock to minimize these inconveniences.
” President Trump weighed in on Twitter , writing , “ We are doing very precise Medical Screenings at our airports .
Pardon the interruptions and delays , we are moving as quickly as possible , but it is very important that we be vigilant and careful.
” Fauci , a member of the administration ’ s coronavirus task force , described the size and concentration of airport crowds as worrisome .
“ We ’ d like to not see crowds like that , ” Fauci said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reported at grocery stores across the country and in the Los Angeles area , with lines of people outside waiting for stores to open on Sunday morning .
The scenes prompted Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Police Department to caution against panic-shopping and hoarding food and other supplies .
“ This is about preparation and prevention , not panic , ” Garcetti said in a tweet .
“ No need to hoard excess items.
” The LAPD said on Twitter that there is no food shortage and stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is clean & safe to drink , so there ’ s no need to buy water in bulk , ” the department said .
The warnings came as grocery stores announced changes to deal with the throngs of shoppers that descended on retail outlets in recent days .
Ralphs said it is stepping up cleanings and working with suppliers to replenish high-demand products .
Its store hours have been curtailed to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. so employees have more time to restock .
Albertsons , which operates the grocery chains Vons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking similar steps .
Whole Foods said that it is suspending food sampling and demonstrations and modifying store operations to accommodate additional deep cleanings .
The efforts come as more coronavirus cases were reported , including a positive test for a police officer at Los Angeles International Airport .
County health officials “ have the information on the officer and are working to identify any other officers or employees who may have had prolonged or close contact with this individual .
County Health is conducting thorough interviews to determine who else may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
Santa Clara County , which has been the hardest-hit county in the state , announced 23 more cases for a total of 114 .
Forty-eight people there have been hospitalized .
Fifteen of the cases are believed to be related to travel , and 52 are believed to be instances of community transmission .
San Luis Obispo County announced its first two cases of the virus Saturday and Sunday , and both are believed to be evidence of community transmission , officials said .
The county has declared public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The first person who tested positive is a north county resident over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions who had a fever , cough and shortness of breath , officials said .
In a statement , the department commended the person and their physician for taking steps to limit transmission of the virus .
The person called their doctor ’ s office in advance and their doctor met them in their car to collect a swab specimen for testing , the department said .
The second person diagnosed is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 with underlying health conditions , officials said .
That person contacted their healthcare provider when they developed a fever and cough , and a private laboratory performed testing and notified the county public health department .
“ Because local testing capacity increased both at our public lab and at private-sector labs last week , we will likely see more confirmed cases in the coming days , ” said Dr. Penny Borenstein , the county health officer , in a statement .
Both people were recovering in isolation at home , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to those who had close contact with them in recent days to determine whether testing or quarantine was needed .
Santa Barbara County also confirmed its first case of the coronavirus , a person in their 60s with no underlying health conditions .
The person remains is isolation at home .
The person has no history of travel in the last six weeks , and officials said it appears to be a case of community transmission .
And San Bernardino County recorded its first case of coronavirus , a patient of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London last week .
The patient , a 53-year-old woman , went to the emergency room on Thursday with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 , San Bernardino County said in a statement .
“ We knew it was only a matter of time before we recorded our first case , ” Acting County Health Officer Dr. Erin Gustafson said in a statement .
San Francisco reported 37 cases Saturday , up from 28 the day before , and Sacramento reported three additional cases for a total of 32 .
Meanwhile , Health and Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside criticism over the Trump administration ’ s handling of developments surrounding the spread of the coronavirus .
“ I appreciate that people are concerned , and that is why we ’ re being radically transparent about what we know , and also what the full range of potential scenarios could be , ” he said on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” Azar added that the administration intended to treat Americans as “ adults.
” But some of the administration ’ s messaging remained confused .
Trump told reporters on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongly ” at the southern border in connection with moves to keep the virus out , but Azar , in his ABC interview , played down the prospect of any move to curtail normal movement of people and goods from Mexico .
“ That ’ s not one of the highest priority areas that we ’ re looking at right now , because Mexico only has a couple of cases , ” he said .
Both Azar and Vice President Mike Pence , who was tasked by Trump last week with coordinating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the president ’ s opponents were seeking to politicize the outbreak .
Pence , interviewed on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press , ” was asked repeatedly about comments by Trump ’ s allies suggesting that Democrats relished the outbreak as a chance to tarnish the president – particularly the president ’ s son Don Jr. saying that Democrats “ seemingly hope ( the virus ) comes here and kills millions of people so that they could end Donald Trump ’ s streak of winning.
” Pence largely deflected the questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks as valid .
“ When you see voices on our side pushing back on outrageous and irresponsible rhetoric on the other side , I think that ’ s important , and I think it ’ s justified .
Azar , on ABC , defended the president ’ s use last week of the word “ hoax ” to describe criticism of the way the administration had handled the virus threat to date .
“ He ’ s talking about the partisan sniping that we ’ re seeing , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have this made a political issue.
” But there was more criticism on Sunday from former Vice President Joe Biden , fresh from his primary victory in South Carolina .
“ The idea that Donald Trump said just several days ago this was a Democratic hoax -- what in God ’ s name is he talking about ?
” Biden said on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union.
” “ What in God ’ s name is he talking about ?
Has he no shame ?
We ’ re in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Pence , and his -- him being put in charge , but we should be hearing from the scientists.
” Amid the political infighting , life in the Bay Area , which has seen more than 200 cases , was rapidly changing .
Counties across the region have issued public orders banning gatherings — including at restaurants , bars and theaters — of as few as 10 people unless all attendees can be 6 feet away from each other and prospective attendees are warned they face a higher risk of coronavirus infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Mateo County placed limits on gatherings of 10 or more people and officially banned those of 50 or more ; Santa Clara County on Friday restricted gatherings of 35 or more and banned those of 100 or more .
San Francisco and Contra Costa County banned all nonessential events of 100 or more people .
Alameda County suggested all gatherings of 250 or more be canceled .
San Francisco also banned visitors and nonessential personnel from hospitals and psychiatric hospitals .
Officials called the rules radical but said they were needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are designed to slow the spread of disease and preserve critical healthcare capacity and other essential services , ” said Santa Clara County health officer Dr. Sara Cody .
On Friday night , the rush at the Safeway in Millbrae , near San Francisco International Airport , had finally ebbed , with shoppers in masks picking through boxes to find the last few packages of toilet paper .
A nearby Baskin-Robbins had stopped giving out ice cream samples .
And a cellphone store farther down Broadway posted a sign promising that its door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Farther south , in places like Sunnyvale in the heart of Silicon Valley , workers were settling into a new reality — no more free food from their tech cafeterias , forcing them to order in .
A Stanford University undergraduate student tested positive for the coronavirus , prompting more actions on campus , such as students being told to leave the dining hall once they ’ re given pre-filled to-go containers and eat outdoors or in their dorm rooms .
A UC Berkeley graduate student also tested positive for the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and had no serious symptoms and was under self-isolation in the individual ’ s city of residence , which is not Berkeley , the university said .
Of California ’ s 288 confirmed cases , 70 are believed to be from community transmission , and 66 others are under investigation , the state Department of Public Health said .
The rest are a mix of confirmed person-to-person transmissions related to travel or patients returning to the country after contracting the disease elsewhere .
Los Angeles County reported 14 more cases Saturday , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing the county ’ s total to 54 .
Two people among the most recent cases reported were hospitalized , the L.A. County Department of Public Health said in a news release .
Two cases are suspected to be related to travel , and four had close contact with another confirmed case , officials said .
Two of the cases have an unidentified source of exposure , meaning they could be more evidence of community spread , officials said .
In Long Beach , a woman in her 60s who was diagnosed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the city said in a statement .
She did not have contact with another known COVID-19 case and did not travel to an area where the virus was widespread , meaning her diagnosis might be the first instance of community spread in Long Beach , officials said .
“ This case highlights the need for continued vigilance and preparation , especially for those at higher risk of severe illness and those with underlying health conditions , ” said Dr. Anissa Davis , the city health officer , in a statement .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Southern California and beyond .
The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks announced it would close all recreation and senior centers and cancel all activities through at least April 4 .
All events that involve 50 people or more scheduled at Recreation and Parks locations were canceled , and new reservations for facilities or permits were suspended , the department said .
Two healthcare workers at UC San Diego Health had confirmed coronavirus infections and were on home quarantine , according to a statement released by the university Saturday afternoon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ specify where they worked or their positions .
It was also unclear whether either employee was wearing protective equipment while on duty .
Both employees were said to be in good health , and the university had “ launched an extensive effort to identify any patients or health system colleagues who may have been in recent contact with either of the two health workers.
” Officials announced that a former patient at the Coachella Valley nursing home had the coronavirus , prompting them to test workers and patients at the facility .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent time at Rancho Mirage Health and Rehabilitation Center before being transferred to a hospital .
Orange County now has reported its first case of coronavirus that appears to have spread through the community as the total number of presumed cases has risen to 13 .
The Orange County Health Care Agency said a woman acquired the virus locally and was hospitalized in stable condition .
Times staff writers Garrett Snyder and Jenn Harris contributed to this report .

Alex Wigglesworth, Laura King, Rong-Gong Lin II, Joseph Serna, Ruben Vives, Phil Willon

Mayor Eric Garcetti on Sunday night announced an emergency action to close bars, nightclubs, restaurants — with the exception of takeout and delivery — entertainment venues and gyms in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Garcetti also announced 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.
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“Our decisions will determine the fate of our loved ones, the length of this crisis,” Garcetti said. “We need to take these steps to protect our city right now…The work we do now will have an impact on the city’s history. We need to do everything now to stop the spread of this virus.”
The order takes effect midnight Monday, he said. He also called on houses of worship to close. “We have an incredible Constitution and a First Amendment, so while we can’t mandate that churches, mosques or synagogues close, please, we are asking you to close them.”
The moves came hours after Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday significantly ramped up California’s response to the coronavirus, calling for the closure of all bars, nightclubs, wineries and brewpubs, and urging people 65 and older and those with chronic health conditions to stay indoors in an effort to slow the virus’ spread.
Newsom stopped short of requiring restaurants to close completely, but also called on much greater social distancing measures for restaurants. Statewide they will be directed to reduce their occupancy by roughly half and ensure that tables are at least 6 feet apart, he said.
“We recognize that social isolation for millions of Californians is anxiety-inducing, but we recognize what all the science bears out and ... we need to meet this moment head-on and lean in,” Newsom said.
The governor said the request of older Californians was made in hopes of limiting their exposure to the virus, given that health officials have pointed out higher dangers for those who are older. “We are prioritizing their safety,” he said.
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Where are the latest local cases?
Amid the stepped-up measures, California had recorded 335 cases of the virus as of Sunday, a 14% increase from the day before, Newsom said. The state also reported six deaths, with the sixth taking place in San Mateo County, where 32 cases have been recorded. Of the statewide COVID-19 cases, 116 patients are 65 or older.
Los Angeles County reported 16 new coronavirus cases by midday Sunday, bringing the county total to 69. Five of the cases confirmed Sunday required hospitalization. Also of the 16, one person has an unknown source of exposure, and three others are under investigation, the county Department of Public Health said in a news release. Three other cases are believed to be travel-related, four had close contact with another confirmed case, and two were healthcare workers exposed to the virus in a healthcare setting, officials said.
A Los Angeles police supervisor in the Pacific Division was also identified as a COVID-19 patient, the LAPD’s first confirmed case, according to a news statement about 5 p.m. It was not clear if the officer is included in the county report of 16 new cases.
The uniformed supervisor “exhibited flu-like symptoms around March 5th. He went home and sought medical treatment including being tested” for COVID-19, according to the statement. The test came back positive Sunday, the supervisor is improving and he is expected to make a full recovery, the statement said. “Thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the involved employee’s work area at the Pacific Division should be completed by the end of the day” Sunday, the statement said.
A police officer at Los Angeles International Airport has tested positive, said county health officials, who added they are “working to identify any other officers or employees who may have had prolonged or close contact with this individual.” “County Health is conducting thorough interviews to determine who else may be at risk,” LAX said in a statement.
A USC undergraduate student also tested positive for the virus, the school announced Sunday. The student recently returned from international travel, arrived directly in Orange County and has not been on or near the USC campus, the school said in an email to students and faculty. The person is in good condition and in isolation at home, officials said.
In Long Beach, a woman in her 60s who was diagnosed with the virus was hospitalized in stable condition, the city said in a statement. She did not have contact with another known COVID-19 case and did not travel to an area where the virus was widespread, meaning her diagnosis might be the first instance of community spread in Long Beach, officials said.
“This case highlights the need for continued vigilance and preparation, especially for those at higher risk of severe illness and those with underlying health conditions,” Dr. Anissa Davis, the city’s health officer, said in a statement.
As testing ramps up and the number of confirmed cases continues to grow, Dockweiler Beach will be one of the sites used to temporarily house people who have been ordered to isolate or quarantine because of the coronavirus, officials said. Garcetti also said the city is looking into building capacity at motels and other shelters.
Concerned for their livelihoods
Before Garcetti’s announcement, California’s new restrictions left local bar owners and patrons with a mix of emotions.
“What can I really say but it’s unfortunate, however, safety is the utmost importance,” said Robert Kim, owner of the Koreatown bar and lounge Mama Lion. “My biggest concern is for my staff and their livelihood and, separately, protecting the business from possible theft or looting in these dire times.”
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.”
Midday on Sunday, bars along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood were mostly empty or quiet. But at a few, where drag performances were going on, social distancing did not seem to be on the minds of cheerful crowds. 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.
However, 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.”
Some proprietors and performers said they were concerned for their livelihoods.
“If they can’t [work], how are they going to survive?” said Adolfo Espinoza, an owner of Rocco’s WeHo.
He said that bar management is taking precautions, such as deep cleanings every night, limiting the bar to a 300-person capacity versus 600 to 900 on its most crowded nights, and using throwaway cups only.
Before hearing about Newsom’s directive, Espinoza said he had no plans to close, despite bad reviews and social media posts from people who shamed Rocco’s for not shutting down for people’s safety.
“We live in a sick world,” he said. “Sex and alcohol is always going to sell.”
Starbucks also announced new efforts to limit the number of people gathering there. All of its stores in the U.S. and Canada will move to a “to go” model for at least two weeks, removing all seating in cafe and patio areas, the company announced Sunday. Some stores in high-traffic locations such as malls and college campuses will be temporarily closed, and others in communities with high concentrations of the virus will either be closed or have their operating hours reduced.
Flattening the curve
As the coronavirus continued its spread in both California and throughout the nation, officials urged residents to dramatically restrict their interaction in hopes of slowing the virus’ march through communities.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that in-person events planned with more than 50 people over the next eight weeks should be postponed across the country.
The government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said that Americans needed to step up individual and community efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus — including being much more diligent about social distancing.
“I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Fauci applauded measures taken so far to limit the spread of the virus but said even everyday steps that many people considered drastic were insufficient.
“If you are in an area where there is clearer community spread, you have to be much, much more intense about how you do that,” he said. “When you think you are doing too much, you are probably doing enough, or not enough.”
Despite the warnings from government officials to limit gatherings, crowds amassed at several major airports due to confusion over new travel restrictions and as screenings for the virus caused bottlenecks of people returning from abroad.
The governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, described a sense of alarm upon seeing images of travelers returning from Europe and elsewhere tightly packed together for hours Saturday evening at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Similar scenes played out at major airports across the country.
“As people were flooding into O’Hare airport, they were stuck in a small area, hundreds and hundreds of people, and that’s exactly what you don’t want in this pandemic,” the governor said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Pritzker predicted the chaotic conditions would persist throughout the weekend at least. “There are a larger number of flights with more people coming, and they seem completely unprepared,” the governor said in the NBC interview.
Many travelers had rushed to return to the United States in the mistaken belief that American citizens risked being shut out by a ban on arrivals from much of Europe, effective Friday at midnight, announced last week by President Trump. The White House later clarified that the prohibition did not apply to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and others exempted.
“They should have increased the customs and border patrol numbers, and they should have increased the number of CDC personnel on the ground doing those checks,” Pritzker said. “They did neither of those.”
Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said in a statement that the wait times “at some locations were unacceptable” and that “some of the resources of our partners are stretched thin.”
“With this national emergency, there will unfortunately be times of disruption and increased processing times for travelers,” he said. “CBP is working around the clock to minimize these inconveniences.”
Trump weighed in on Twitter, writing, “We are doing very precise Medical Screenings at our airports. Pardon the interruptions and delays, we are moving as quickly as possible, but it is very important that we be vigilant and careful.”
Fauci, a member of the administration’s coronavirus task force, described the size and concentration of airport crowds as worrisome.
“We’d like to not see crowds like that,” Fauci said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Similar backups were reported at grocery stores across the country and in the Los Angeles area, with lines of people outside waiting for stores to open on Sunday morning.
The scenes prompted Garcetti and the L.A. Police Department to caution against panic-shopping and hoarding food and other supplies.
“This is about preparation and prevention, not panic,” Garcetti said in a tweet. “No need to hoard excess items.”
The LAPD said on Twitter that there is no food shortage and stores will restock.
“The water supply is clean & safe to drink, so there’s no need to buy water in bulk,” the department said.
The warnings came as grocery stores announced changes to deal with the throngs of shoppers that descended on retail outlets in recent days.
Ralphs said it is stepping up cleanings and working with suppliers to replenish high-demand products. Its store hours have been curtailed to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. so employees have more time to restock.
Albertsons, which operates the grocery chains Vons, Pavilions and Safeway, said it is taking similar steps. Whole Foods said it is suspending food sampling and demonstrations, and modifying store operations to accommodate additional deep cleanings.
The host of services in the region extends to the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, which announced it would close all recreation and senior centers and cancel all activities through at least April 4. All events that involve 50 people or more scheduled at Recreation and Parks locations were canceled, and new reservations for facilities or permits were suspended.
Northern California continues to be hard hit
Santa Clara County, which has seen the most cases in the state, announced 23 more cases for a total of 114. Forty-eight people there have been hospitalized. Fifteen of the cases are believed to be related to travel, and 52 are believed to be instances of community transmission.
San Luis Obispo County announced its first two cases of the virus Saturday and Sunday, and both are believed to be evidence of community transmission, officials said. The county has declared public health and local emergencies because of the virus.
The first person who tested positive is a north county resident older than 65 with underlying health conditions who had a fever, cough and shortness of breath, officials said. In a statement, the department commended the person and their physician for taking steps to limit transmission of the virus. The person called their doctor’s office in advance and their doctor met them in their car to collect a swab specimen for testing, the department said.
The second person diagnosed is a south county resident younger than 60 with underlying health conditions, officials said. That person contacted their healthcare provider when they developed a fever and cough, and a private laboratory performed testing and notified the county public health department.
“Because local testing capacity increased both at our public lab and at private-sector labs last week, we will likely see more confirmed cases in the coming days,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, the county health officer, in a statement.
Both people were recovering in isolation at home, and the county department of public health was reaching out to those who had close contact with them in recent days to determine whether testing or quarantine was needed.
Santa Barbara County also confirmed its first case of the coronavirus, a person in their 60s with no underlying health conditions. The person remains in isolation at home. The person has no history of travel in the last six weeks, and officials said it appears to be a case of community transmission.
And San Bernardino County recorded its first case of coronavirus, a patient of the Kaiser hospital in Fontana who returned from London last week. The patient, a 53-year-old woman, went to the emergency room on Thursday with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, San Bernardino County said in a statement.
San Francisco reported 37 cases Saturday, up from 28 the day before, and Sacramento reported three additional cases for a total of 32.
Life in the Bay Area, which has seen more than 200 cases, was rapidly changing.
Counties across the region have issued public orders banning gatherings — including at restaurants, bars and theaters — of as few as 10 people unless all attendees can be 6 feet away from each other and prospective attendees are warned they face a higher risk of coronavirus infection.
Each county issued various rules. San Mateo County placed limits on gatherings of 10 or more people and officially banned those of 50 or more; Santa Clara County on Friday restricted gatherings of 35 or more and banned those of 100 or more.
San Francisco and Contra Costa County banned all nonessential events of 100 or more people. Alameda County suggested all gatherings of 250 or more be canceled. San Francisco also banned visitors and nonessential personnel from hospitals and psychiatric hospitals.
Officials called the rules radical but said they were needed to battle the virus.
“These measures are designed to slow the spread of disease and preserve critical healthcare capacity and other essential services,” said Santa Clara County health officer Dr. Sara Cody.
A Stanford University undergraduate student tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting more actions on campus, such as students being told to leave the dining hall once they’re given pre-filled to-go containers and eat outdoors or in their dorm rooms.
A UC Berkeley graduate student also tested positive for the coronavirus. The student was in good condition and had no serious symptoms and was under self-isolation in the individual’s city of residence, which is not Berkeley, the university said.
Farther south
Two healthcare workers at UC San Diego Health had confirmed coronavirus infections and were on home quarantine, according to a statement released by the university Saturday afternoon.
The university’s statement did not specify where they worked or their positions. It was also unclear whether either employee was wearing protective equipment while on duty.
Both employees were said to be in good health, and the university had “launched an extensive effort to identify any patients or health system colleagues who may have been in recent contact with either of the two health workers.”
Officials announced that a former patient at the Coachella Valley nursing home had the coronavirus, prompting them to test workers and patients at the facility. The county public health department said the patient spent time at Rancho Mirage Health and Rehabilitation Center before being transferred to a hospital.
Orange County now has reported its first case of coronavirus that appears to have spread through the community as the total number of presumed cases has risen to 13. The Orange County Health Care Agency said a woman acquired the virus locally and was hospitalized in stable condition.
Times staff writers Sonali Kohli, Garrett Snyder, Cindy Chang, Emily Alpert-Reyes and Jenn Harris contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-15--Another group of homeless moms and families are taking over a house — this time in L.A.

Weeks after a group of homeless mothers took over a vacant house in Oakland and managed to keep it , another group of moms is trying to do the same in Los Angeles .
On Saturday morning , the protesters and their families moved into a two-bedroom bungalow in El Sereno .
They say they plan to remain indefinitely and potentially take over more houses .
They are calling on state and local governments to use all publicly owned vacant homes , libraries , recreation centers and other properties to house people immediately .
They say the region ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat of the novel coronavirus pushed them to act .
“ I am a mother of two daughters .
I need a home , ” said Martha Escudero , 42 , who has spent the last 18 months living on couches with friends and family members in neighborhoods across East Los Angeles .
“ There ’ s these homes that are vacant , and they belong to the community.
” Escudero and her family moved into the house with Ruby Gordillo , 33 , and Gordillo ’ s three children .
The Gordillos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pico-Union .
Joining the two families in the El Sereno home is Benito Flores , 64 , a welder who had been living in his van .
Like the Moms 4 Housing group in Oakland , the protesters in L.A. are receiving assistance from the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment , an organizing group that has advocated for state measures to expand rent control and other tenant protections .
But unlike in Oakland , where the mothers successfully pressured Wedgewood Inc. of Redondo Beach to sell a vacant home that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the families in L.A. are moving into a home that they say is owned by the state .
The home is one of many that Caltrans bought years ago in preparation for a now-aborted plan to extend the 710 Freeway .
Decades of litigation and legislation stalled the 6.2-mile project before construction could begin , leaving transportation officials as landlords for 460 properties that range from modest bungalows in El Sereno to Craftsman mansions on stately streets in South Pasadena .
One of the best-known is the childhood home of chef Julia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1911 , has been vacant for more than 35 years .
Caltrans has started the process of selling the homes , which are required by law to be offered first to former owners and current tenants who meet certain income requirements , but the vast majority are still owned by the state .
Caltrans did not respond to a request for comment .
Escudero , who works two days a week as an elderly caregiver , said the mothers in Oakland inspired her to occupy the vacant home on Saturday morning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ push the state and city to take care of homeless residents and those without stable housing , especially given the new risks associated with the spread of COVID-19 .
“ With the coronavirus , they want us to be quarantined in our homes , but some of us don ’ t have homes , ” she said .
In speaking to supporters , the protesters , who call themselves Reclaiming Our Homes , said they understood what they were doing is illegal , but the more significant issue was that homes were left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeless .
“ They say it ’ s a crime to come and occupy these houses , ” Benito Flores said .
“ But this is not a crime .
This is justice.
” Roberto Flores , 72 , who is a part of United Caltrans Tenants , said that the state agency has long neglected its properties .
Tenants have sued Caltrans , alleging it has not followed its own rules to ensure that low-income and longtime residents get access to the houses .
He estimates 200 of the agency ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not fixing them , and they ’ re not renting them , ” he said .
Records kept by The Times show that in 2015 , 37 of the El Sereno homes were listed as “ uninhabitable , ” including two dozen apartment units .
Over the years , residents have complained of break-ins , mold and vermin infestations .
That figure appears to have increased in recent years .
An investigation by the Pasadena Star-News found that 163 of the 460 homes sat vacant last year .
Caltrans said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be sold according to state laws , but did not provide a timeline .
On Saturday morning , the families and their supporters moved furniture and plants from a U-Haul truck and into the bungalow .
Escudero said they planned to bring in a generator for electricity and urged state and local officials to turn on water service .
Originally , the protesters had planned to take over multiple vacant , Caltrans-owned houses in El Sereno .
But in the pre-dawn hours , the Los Angeles Police Department was alerted that multiple men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Los Angeles police Officer Drake Madison , an LAPD spokesman .
Two people were arrested and cited for misdemeanor trespassing , Madison said .
By late morning , officers had gathered across the street but were not attempting to evict the families .
While they watched , supporters stood , chanting , “ Housing is a human right.
” In recent months , homeless and low-income residents in Los Angeles and the Bay Area have cited the state ’ s affordable housing crisis as justification for simply taking over houses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest example .
California has an estimated shortage of 1.4 million homes for low-income families and its homeless population stands at about 151,000 on any given night — an increase of 16 % from last year .
Last month , Los Angeles City Councilman Gil Cedillo proposed using eminent domain to force a landlord in Chinatown to sell his building .
Cedillo ’ s proposal came after tenants protested a plan for the building to switch to market-rate rentals following the expiration of an agreement with the city to keep rents low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the L.A. City Council .
In Oakland , the group of mothers occupied the house for two months before they were evicted in January .
After that happened , Wedgewood agreed to give community land trusts , affordable housing organizations and the city the right of first refusal for the vacant home and about 50 others it owned in Oakland .
The company is finalizing a deal with the land trust for the property , which is intended to house those who had occupied it .
The case attracted national attention and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal , which was announced on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and portrayed by some as a successful act of civil disobedience .
The protesters sent a letter to Newsom on Saturday morning , asking for his direct assistance .
In response to the broader homelessness crisis , Newsom has , among other actions , allowed state-owned travel trailers to be used as temporary homeless housing and offered state property to local governments for use as shelters and other solutions .
The protesters said their actions were aligned with the governor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing .
But they maintained that Newsom and other elected officials needed to do more and work faster to get people off the streets and into stable housing .
The governor ’ s office did not respond to a request for comment .
“ There ’ s so many vacant homes while there ’ s people on the streets , ” Escudero said .
“ He should be able to empathize with that and figure out how to reach an agreement with us .
”

Sisters Meztli Escudero, 8, left, and Victoria Escudero, 10, stand in the window of a vacant house they and their families occupied on Saturday morning. The homeless and housing insecure protesters said they were inspired by a similar protest in Oakland earlier this year and by fear of the coronavirus outbreak.
Weeks after a group of homeless mothers took over a vacant house in Oakland and managed to keep it, another group of moms is trying to do the same in Los Angeles.
On Saturday morning, the protesters and their families moved into a two-bedroom bungalow in El Sereno. They say they plan to remain indefinitely and potentially take over more houses.
For the record: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that two men were arrested and charged with burglary. They were cited for misdemeanor trespassing.
They are calling on state and local governments to use all publicly owned vacant homes, libraries, recreation centers and other properties to house people immediately. They say the region’s extreme lack of affordable housing and the threat of the novel coronavirus pushed them to act.
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“I am a mother of two daughters. I need a home,” said Martha Escudero, 42, who has spent the last 18 months living on couches with friends and family members in neighborhoods across East Los Angeles. “There’s these homes that are vacant, and they belong to the community.”
Escudero and her family moved into the house with Ruby Gordillo, 33, and Gordillo’s three children. The Gordillos had been living in a small studio in Pico-Union. Joining the two families in the El Sereno home is Benito Flores, 64, a welder who had been living in his van.
Like the Moms 4 Housing group in Oakland, the protesters in L.A. are receiving assistance from the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, an organizing group that has advocated for state measures to expand rent control and other tenant protections.
A group of housing insecure and homeless people and families and their supporters stage a rally on Sheffield Avenue on Saturday morning to “reclaim” a vacant house that they say is owned by Caltrans. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
But unlike in Oakland, where the mothers successfully pressured Wedgewood Inc. of Redondo Beach to sell a vacant home that the company was planning to renovate and flip, the families in L.A. are moving into a home that they say is owned by the state.
The home is one of many that Caltrans bought years ago in preparation for a now-aborted plan to extend the 710 Freeway. Decades of litigation and legislation stalled the 6.2-mile project before construction could begin, leaving transportation officials as landlords for 460 properties that range from modest bungalows in El Sereno to Craftsman mansions on stately streets in South Pasadena.
One of the best-known is the childhood home of chef Julia Child. The Pasadena house, built in 1911, has been vacant for more than 35 years.
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Caltrans has started the process of selling the homes, which are required by law to be offered first to former owners and current tenants who meet certain income requirements, but the vast majority are still owned by the state.
Caltrans did not respond to a request for comment.
Escudero, who works two days a week as an elderly caregiver, said the mothers in Oakland inspired her to occupy the vacant home on Saturday morning. She said the protesters are trying to push the state and city to take care of homeless residents and those without stable housing, especially given the new risks associated with the spread of COVID-19.
“With the coronavirus, they want us to be quarantined in our homes, but some of us don’t have homes,” she said.
In speaking to supporters, the protesters, who call themselves Reclaiming Our Homes, said they understood what they were doing is illegal, but the more significant issue was that homes were left vacant while people in the community were homeless.
“They say it’s a crime to come and occupy these houses,” Benito Flores said. “But this is not a crime. This is justice.”
Roberto Flores, 72, who is a part of United Caltrans Tenants, said that the state agency has long neglected its properties. Tenants have sued Caltrans, alleging it has not followed its own rules to ensure that low-income and longtime residents get access to the houses. He estimates 200 of the agency’s homes are now vacant.
“They’re not fixing them, and they’re not renting them,” he said.
Volunteers help move Martha Escudero into a vacant house she and other protesters occupied Saturday morning. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Records kept by The Times show that in 2015, 37 of the El Sereno homes were listed as “uninhabitable,” including two dozen apartment units. Over the years, residents have complained of break-ins, mold and vermin infestations. That figure appears to have increased in recent years.
An investigation by the Pasadena Star-News found that 163 of the 460 homes sat vacant last year. Caltrans said at the time that the vacant homes would be sold according to state laws, but did not provide a timeline.
On Saturday morning, the families and their supporters moved furniture and plants from a U-Haul truck and into the bungalow. Escudero said they planned to bring in a generator for electricity and urged state and local officials to turn on water service.
Originally, the protesters had planned to take over multiple vacant, Caltrans-owned houses in El Sereno. But in the pre-dawn hours, the Los Angeles Police Department was alerted that multiple men were attempting to break into a property, said Los Angeles police Officer Drake Madison, an LAPD spokesman. Two people were arrested and cited for misdemeanor trespassing, Madison said.
By late morning, officers had gathered across the street but were not attempting to evict the families. While they watched, supporters stood, chanting, “Housing is a human right.”
In recent months, homeless and low-income residents in Los Angeles and the Bay Area have cited the state’s affordable housing crisis as justification for simply taking over houses. Saturday’s attempted occupation is just the latest example.
California has an estimated shortage of 1.4 million homes for low-income families and its homeless population stands at about 151,000 on any given night — an increase of 16% from last year.
Last month, Los Angeles City Councilman Gil Cedillo proposed using eminent domain to force a landlord in Chinatown to sell his building. Cedillo’s proposal came after tenants protested a plan for the building to switch to market-rate rentals following the expiration of an agreement with the city to keep rents low. His effort is awaiting a hearing at the L.A. City Council.
A group of homeless and housing insecure protesters and their supporters hold a rally on Sheffield Avenue on Saturday to take over a vacant home. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
In Oakland, the group of mothers occupied the house for two months before they were evicted in January. After that happened, Wedgewood agreed to give community land trusts, affordable housing organizations and the city the right of first refusal for the vacant home and about 50 others it owned in Oakland. The company is finalizing a deal with the land trust for the property, which is intended to house those who had occupied it.
The case attracted national attention and Gov. Gavin Newsom helped broker the deal, which was announced on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and portrayed by some as a successful act of civil disobedience.
The protesters sent a letter to Newsom on Saturday morning, asking for his direct assistance.
In response to the broader homelessness crisis, Newsom has, among other actions, allowed state-owned travel trailers to be used as temporary homeless housing and offered state property to local governments for use as shelters and other solutions.
The protesters said their actions were aligned with the governor’s call to turn public property into homeless housing. But they maintained that Newsom and other elected officials needed to do more and work faster to get people off the streets and into stable housing.
The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
“There’s so many vacant homes while there’s people on the streets,” Escudero said. “He should be able to empathize with that and figure out how to reach an agreement with us.”


latimes--2020-03-16--Coronavirus forces radical changes to California with sweeping restrictions on life

In a sweeping effort to slow the spread of coronavirus in 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 .
Hours later , Mayor Eric Garcetti said Los Angeles bars and nightclubs will close and restaurants must halt dine-in service and limit their business to takeout orders until March 31 .
The order became effective at midnight Sunday .
Movie theaters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Garcetti said in a video news conference Sunday night .
Grocery stores , pharmacies and food banks will remain open .
Garcetti also announced a moratorium on evictions for renters .
Newsom also called on bars and brewery and winery tasting rooms statewide 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 six deaths and 335 confirmed cases in the state .
Instead , the governor said his request of bars and pubs is 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by half .
The efforts come as more coronavirus cases were reported , including a positive test for a police officer at Los Angeles International Airport .
Los Angeles County reported 16 new cases Sunday , bringing the county ’ s total to 69 .
A USC student who had recently returned from international travel but has not been on or near the USC campuses — also tested positive for coronavirus , the university said Sunday .
The student was reportedly in good condition and self-isolating at home .
San Luis Obispo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their first cases of the virus over the weekend .
Santa Clara County , which has been the hardest-hit county in the state , announced 23 more cases for a total of 114 .
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 or patients returning to the country after contracting the disease elsewhere .
On Sunday night , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more for eight weeks .
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 .
On Friday , Newsom issued an executive order assuring those schools of continued funding during closures .
The governor said he would issue additional directives on Tuesday to schools that remain open and said he was especially focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested some local school officials had not fully thought through the consequences when closing their campuses , including how to continue providing meals to students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches and how to ensure that students with special needs receive adequate care and supervision .
“ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Gov .
Newsom , build on them for local needs , and put the health and safety of the most vulnerable above all else.
” Newsom estimated that his directive to seniors would affect 5.3 million Californians .
While that number includes those most at risk simply due to their age , he said it does not include the millions more who have underlying health conditions that would make them vulnerable .
The governor ’ s office said his request for seniors to remain at home also extended to residents with underlying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease , asthma , chronic liver disease , pregnancies in the last two weeks , metabolic disorders , heart disease and other conditions that make them more susceptible to serious illness from the coronavirus .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 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 mind-set 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 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 that 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or quarantine because of The beach ’ s RV park on Vista del Mar is one of 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 is no food shortage and stores will restock .
“ The water supply is clean & safe to drink , so there ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the department said .
Grocery chains have announced changes to deal with the relentless throngs of shoppers .
Ralphs , for example , said it is 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 is 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go ” model for at least two weeks and will remove all seating in cafe and patio 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 streams of customers , bars in West Hollywood were packed on Sunday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long term.
” Times staff writers Suhauna Hussain , Alejandra Reyes-Velarde , John Myers , Anita Chabria and Benjamin Oreskes and contributed to this report .

Phil Willon, Alex Wigglesworth, Taryn Luna, Laura Newberry

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.