latimes--2020-04-28--L.A. coronavirus clean air streak has already come to an end. Here's why

It ’ s been hailed as a silver lining of the coronavirus lockdown : With fewer cars on the road , air quality has improved , bringing clearer skies to cities across the world .
Los Angeles had its longest streak of good air days in decades , and social media is full of photos of an unusually crisp skyline .
“ Coronavirus Got Rid of Smog , ” proclaimed a headline in the Wall Street Journal .
So has L.A. smog been eliminated ?
While there is no question the restrictions to stem the pandemic have reduced air pollution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full responsibility for the weeks of clean air Californians have enjoyed .
Dramatic reductions in vehicle and industrial emissions contributed to lower smog levels , air quality experts say , but much of the improvement was also due to stormy spring weather .
“ We have the readings that show us that the air has been better , and presumably it ’ s not a coincidence that it happens at the same time that people are sheltering in place and the economy is at a fraction of its normal activity , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air Resources Board .
But determining how much is due to weather versus pandemic-triggered emissions reductions , she said , “ will take us a while to figure that one out.
” At least for now , scientists and regulators say , the situation offers an unintended glimpse at what the nation ’ s smoggiest region could be like with more electric vehicles on the road .
“ If I could wave my magic wand and we all had electric cars tomorrow , I think this is what the air would look like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor of atmospheric chemistry at UC Berkeley who has been studying the effects of the stay-at-home orders on air quality .
The experience also underscores what it would take to clean Southern California ’ s air to federal health standards permanently , through a dramatic transition from fossil fuel combustion to zero-emission cars , trucks and power .
“ There is technology that would allow us to have the clean air that we ’ re seeing now .
.
.
on a permanent basis , ” said Wayne Nastri , executive officer for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Zero-emission technology is something that we all need to pursue very aggressively so that we can maintain these clean-air benefits , to see as far as we can and take those deep breaths.
” Unfortunately , the clean air spell has already come to an end , thanks to a heat wave in recent days that generated unhealthy smog levels across Southern California .
Air quality officials are predicting more bad air days to come , even with public health restrictions in effect , as the region enters a hotter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air has been unusually clean .
In March , the area enjoyed 21 straight days of air in the green , “ good ” category on the Air Quality Index , in what was the longest stretch in at least four decades , according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitoring data going back to 1980 .
While that streak sounds exceptional , it began on March 7 , well before Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued statewide stay-at-home orders on March 19 .
It ’ s a time of year in Southern California that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the winter soot season and before summer smog .
“ The period in green was particularly stormy , with frequent storm systems , rain , and atypically high inversion heights , ” said Nahal Mogharabi , a spokeswoman for the South Coast air district .
“ It is possible that this was partially due to reduced emissions , but meteorology likely played a much larger role.
” L.A. pollution levels crossed back into the “ moderate ” range on March 28 .
In the Inland Empire , where pollution is typically higher , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 days before jumping back to moderate levels .
At least partly responsible for the recent gains , experts say , are restrictions from the pandemic that have brought abrupt and dramatic reductions in the vehicle traffic that is the biggest source of California ’ s air pollution .
Data from roadside monitors in Southern California show that passenger vehicle traffic has decreased by one-third under the stay-at-home orders , while trucks — which contribute a greater share of smog-forming emissions — have declined by about 20 % , according to air quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulators have reported more than 60 % fewer cars on the road .
Cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles , a major hub for polluting trucks , ships and trains , were down 31 % in March compared to March 2019 .
Emissions have plummeted too , with researchers detecting roughly 30 % declines in nitrogen dioxide and other key air pollutants in Southern California and the Bay Area .
Satellite measurements have revealed similar drops in air pollution during lockdowns in the northeastern U.S. , China and India .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorable weather has made it hard to disentangle the effect of reduced emissions .
For example , an analysis of satellite measurements by Cohen and his team found a 32 % decline in levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution in Southern California in the three weeks after the stay-at-home orders compared to the three weeks before .
But they also found a 26 % reduction between the same time periods in 2019 , suggesting that spring weather played a big role .
“ Driving is dramatically lower , ” Cohen said , “ but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last still make it hard to put numbers on how much cleaner the air is because of the shelter-in-place.
” Weather is such a dominant factor in determining the region ’ s smog levels , according to the South Coast air district , that it can more than double the pollutant concentrations we are breathing , even when emissions remain constant .
Other evidence is emerging , nonetheless .
The South Coast air district is starting to see below-average levels of key pollutants that form ozone , as well as days where concentrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carbon monoxide are lower than any recorded within 15 calendar days before and after that date in the past five years .
“ However , we still expect to have ozone exceedances this year , even if emissions are reduced throughout the summer , ” Mogharabi said .
Southern California ’ s air quality has , in fact , reached unhealthy levels during the shutdown .
On April 1 , the region logged its first bad air day since stay-at-home-orders took effect .
It racked up a string of additional violations since last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and boosted smog levels .
Even under lockdown , ozone pollution has exceeded federal health standards across the region , including in downtown Los Angeles , the San Fernando Valley , Pasadena , Pomona , Riverside and San Bernardino .
How can that be ?
The explanation lies in how a key ingredient in L.A. 's pollution is formed .
Ozone , the lung-searing gas in smog that triggers asthma attacks and other health problems , is not emitted directly , but forms when pollution — from cars , trucks , factories and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heat and sunlight .
Higher temperatures boost those smog-forming chemical reactions in the atmosphere .
Combine that with dry , still conditions with strong inversion layers , and you get more pollution trapped near the ground where people are breathing .
That ’ s why more ozone violations are sure to come as the warm season brings the more stagnant , pollution-trapping pattern that besets Southern California for much of the year .
But regulators and scientists could see a clearer signal of the effect of lowered emissions as time goes on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forecast but don ’ t materialize .
The temporary drop in pollution has surely benefited people ’ s health during a time when healthy lungs are critical to confront the new coronavirus .
But those gains have , of course , come at a heavy cost , including sickness , death , lost jobs and restricted freedom , that have environmentalists , scientists and regulators cautious not to celebrate .
“ It ’ s terrible to get that view by people getting sick , ” Cohen said .
“ It ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiment if we had a choice.
” It ’ s also an unsustainable way to improve air quality , experts point out .
If history is any guide , emissions will come roaring back once economic crisis fades , erasing these temporary gains .
Before the pandemic , air quality had been on the decline across the U.S. in recent years , reversing decades of improvement .
Southern California has long suffered the nation ’ s worst ozone pollution .
Adrian Martinez , an attorney at the environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air actually feels like will bring a new moment of clarity and shake off any complacency over cleaning Southern California ’ s air .
“ It ’ s going to change people ’ s frame of reference from how much worse it was in the sixties , seventies and eighties , to how do we get back to that time where we could go outside and breathe a deep breath of air and it ’ s safe ?
” Martinez said .
Environmentalists at the same time have raised alarms about the perils @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic and economic downturn .
The Trump administration has moved forward with major environmental rollbacks in recent weeks that are expected to hinder progress toward healthful air long after the pandemic wanes .
California regulators are also fielding numerous requests to relax air quality rules and delay new regulations to provide relief to industries in upheaval .
South Coast air board Chairman William A. Burke vowed to continue the work of cleaning pollution while being sensitive to both business and environmental concerns , but said he fears air quality will take a nosedive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think that everybody who ’ s been holding all the goods that haven ’ t been shipping during this pandemic are going to let it go , ” Burke said .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ s enough trucks to carry all the stuff that Americans and Californians are going to need.
” Burke predicted a surge in complaints to the district ’ s air pollution hotline , 1-800-CUT-SMOG , “ because I think that commerce will spring back into action .
”

Light traffic on the 110 freeway in downtown Los Angeles in March.
It’s been hailed as a silver lining of the coronavirus lockdown: With fewer cars on the road, air quality has improved, bringing clearer skies to cities across the world.
Los Angeles had its longest streak of good air days in decades, and social media is full of photos of an unusually crisp skyline. “Coronavirus Got Rid of Smog,” proclaimed a headline in the Wall Street Journal.
So has L.A. smog been eliminated?
Not exactly.
While there is no question the restrictions to stem the pandemic have reduced air pollution, the coronavirus lockdown does not bear full responsibility for the weeks of clean air Californians have enjoyed. Dramatic reductions in vehicle and industrial emissions contributed to lower smog levels, air quality experts say, but much of the improvement was also due to stormy spring weather.
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A man relaxes next to caution tape at Griffith Observatory during a clear day as the city remains locked down because of the coronavirus outbreak. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
“We have the readings that show us that the air has been better, and presumably it’s not a coincidence that it happens at the same time that people are sheltering in place and the economy is at a fraction of its normal activity,” said Mary Nichols, who chairs the California Air Resources Board. But determining how much is due to weather versus pandemic-triggered emissions reductions, she said, “will take us a while to figure that one out.”
At least for now, scientists and regulators say, the situation offers an unintended glimpse at what the nation’s smoggiest region could be like with more electric vehicles on the road.
“If I could wave my magic wand and we all had electric cars tomorrow, I think this is what the air would look like,” said Ronald Cohen, a professor of atmospheric chemistry at UC Berkeley who has been studying the effects of the stay-at-home orders on air quality.
× Environmental factors including deforestation, air pollution and urbanization contribute to the severity of pandemics like COVID-19. Experts warn that if we continue to destroy the environment, future pandemics could become more common.
The experience also underscores what it would take to clean Southern California’s air to federal health standards permanently, through a dramatic transition from fossil fuel combustion to zero-emission cars, trucks and power.
1 / 83 Socially distanced bikers and walkers, against a backdrop of the Queen Mary, make their way along pedestrian and beach bike path on the first day that Long Beach reopened the path on Monday May 11, 2020. The city of Long Beach eased a few of its public health restrictions, allowing under certain guidelines the reopening of pedestrian and beach bike paths, tennis centers and courts. Beach bathrooms are also reopening, but the parking lots and beaches still remain closed. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 83 Traffic remains light on the southbound 110 Freeway headed toward downtown Los Angeles on April 28. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 83 Dominique Barrett, center, known as “King Vader” to his 2.4 million TikTok followers, prepares to shoot a video on April 30 in Glendora. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 83 Cody Purcell of Redondo Beach rides a wave, glowing from the bioluminescence, in Hermosa Beach, CA, after midnight Friday morning, May 8. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 83 Friends play spikeball, a game perfect for social distancing on an open but restricted San Buenaventura State Beach. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 83 The majority of golfers are wearing masks while hitting balls on the driving range at Van Buren Executive Golf Course in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 83 Beaches including Harbor Cove Beach were open but beachgoers were not supposed to be sitting on the sand. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 83 Tango instructor Yelizaveta Nersesova leads a Zoom tango event from her Los Angeles home April 27 that brought together hundreds of dancers from around the world. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 83 Grocery store workers, joined by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 770 representatives and community members, hold a rally in support of strict social distancing on May 1 at a Ralphs store in Hollywood where 19 employees have tested positive for COVID-19. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 83 Mostly masked commuters keep their distance from one another on a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles on April 29. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 83 Gregory Kuhl, 69, heads home after a shopping trip in Hollywood on April 28. Big cracks in the street, cars parked in driveways blocking sidewalks and uneven pavement levels make navigating his route difficult. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 83 Tenants and their supporters from across Los Angeles gather at city hall to call on L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, the L.A. City Council and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to cancel rent and mortgage payments during the COVID-19 crisis. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 83 Aerial view of over 100 vehicles lined up at the West Valley COVID-19 testing center at Warner Center in Woodland Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 83 Senior Mason Wise, left, helps his sister, Mackenzie, a sophomore, clean out her PE locker at El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills. School officials were allowing no more than five students at a time on campus to take home their belongings. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 83 Shuttered storefront businesses in the garment district of Los Angeles. California’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed since the statewide coronavirus shutdown took effect. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 83 Healthcare workers celebrate as Claudia Martinez is discharged from the ICU after she recovered from COVID-19 at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 83 Carson residents Kaeli Burks, 3, left, and her cousin Bailey Watson, 5, look out the window of their car after their mothers helped them with self-testing at a new drive-up testing site for COVID-19 in Carson. Free COVID-19 testing is available to all city residents thanks to a partnership between the city and US Health Fairs. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 83 Norm and Tracy Kahn enjoy eating dinner outside on a small cafe table sitting in blue chairs on their side yard during the coronavirus pandemic on April 27 in Riverside. “During this pandemic, eating outside offers us an opportunity to change surrounding and appreciate the calmness of being outdoors among trees, scents from nature and the sounds of birds,” she said. Also adding, “Mixing up where we eat puts variety into our days and takes away the sameness of feeling trapped at home.” (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 83 Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center nurses carry supplies outside the hospital. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 83 Tom Sean Foley pauses on a walk with his kids, Cathelen Claire, “C.C.,” 3, and Timothy Joseph, 4, to take a photo in front of the “Love Wall,” mural by artist Curtis Kulig, outside of Smashbox Studios in Culver City. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 83 Protesters stand along Mission Blvd. in Pacific Beach during A Day of Liberty rally on April 26. The protesters were against the government shutdown due to the coronavirus. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 83 People make orders at a food truck along Shoreline Avenue in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 83 Medical staff, wearing protective gear, work inside a COVID-19 isolation area inside the emergency department at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, where patients with the virus are being treated. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 83 Neighbors practice social distancing while enjoying the nice weather near The Strand in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 83 Counter-protesters attend a protest to call on state and local officials to reopen the economy in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 83 A group of protesters cheer on cars during a vehicle caravan protest to call on state and local officials to reopen the economy in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 83 Cedar Mountain Post Acute Rehabilitation staff member Navi Cavaltera waters a flower pot put up by the community to show their support for the nursing staff of the facility in Yucaipa. Eighteen of 20 coronavirus-related deaths in Yucaipa were residents of the skilled nursing facility. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 83 A pedestrian wearing a protective mask passes a mural on a store on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 83 Jonte Florence, a freestyle dancer, does a handstand on a mostly empty Hollywood Walk of Fame. Florence said he normally performs for hundreds of tourists along the busy street. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 83 The Tyrannosaurus rex overlooking the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue wears a protective mask while practicing social distancing. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 83 Businesses are shuttered and pedestrians are few and far between on Hollywood Boulevard. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 83 Daniel Rogerson wears a vintage military gas mask while riding a bike along the beach path in Santa Monica, which is closed to enforce social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 83 A face mask seller in colorful dress appears to be part of a mural behind a bus stop on Soto Street in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 83 Life around Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Soto Street has slowed down as California officials extended stay-at-home orders into May and residents entered Easter weekend with unprecedented limits on their movements. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 83 UC Irvine Medical Center health care workers return their gratitude as about 25 Orange County first responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade of gratitude as they battle COVID-19 at the hospital. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 83 Billy Budd, 55, of Hollywood, walks along Hollywood Boulevard with a protective face covering. Budd is a scenic artist for movies and television who is currently out of work due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 83 Stuart Reyes and his sister, Stephanie, sell masks for $5 each on the 3000 block of West Century Boulevard in Inglewood. Stuart Reyes said he is selling masks to support his mother. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 83 A jogger runs on a closed trail past dozens of pieces of caution tape, torn off by hikers and mountain bikers at El Escorpion Canyon Park in West Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 83 Alex Herron and nurse Mercy Pineda at a blood drive sponsored by USC athletics and the American Red Cross at USC’s Galen Center. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 83 Los Angeles City Hall displays blue lights to show support for healthcare workers and first responders. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 83 After being indoors for several days because of rainy weather and coronavirus stay-at-home orders, Olivia Jacobs, 4, and her mom, Cia Jacobs, enjoy a warm and sunny afternoon making chalk drawings on the sidewalk in front of their home in West Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 83 An Oceanview Plaza security guard sports a whimsical mask while on patrol. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 83 Jacob De Wilde, left, and Lesli Lytle load a car with food during a food distribution organized to mark Good Friday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 83 As a late season storm continues to make its way across the Southland, a young basketball player dribbles along an alley through an Elysian Park neighborhood in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 83 People are silhouetted in a window of an apartment building in Hollywood, where a stay-at-home order remains in effect to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 83 The Wilshire Grand Center display blue lights and a heart to show support for healthcare workers and first responders. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 83 Women wear masks as they stroll along Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Wearing masks while outdoors is mandatory in the city of Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 83 Patients are removed from Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after 39 tested positive for the coronavirus and nursing staff was not showing up to work. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 83 A specimen is turned in at the new mobile testing site for people with symptoms of the coronavirus at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 83 Hippie Kitchen in Los Angeles hands out food, water and toiletries to homeless people and residents of skid row. Additionally, masks were offered to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 83 Nurses pose for a fun photo during a break in drive-through public testing for the coronavirus at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 83 A woman shows a notice from her doctor that allows her to obtain a test for coronavirus at a new drive-up testing site in a parking lot at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 83 A person who wishes to remain anonymous strikes from her car to support McDonald’s employees who are demanding the company cover healthcare costs of any worker or immediate family member who gets sick from COVID-19 in Los Angeles. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 83 Cassidy Roosen, with Beach Cities Health District, holds up a sign that says, “We’re All in This Together,” while waiting to direct cars at a drive-through, appointment-only coronavirus testing location at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 83 Juliann Hartman, center, and her husband, Butch, wave signs they created to cheer up people on Calabasas Road in Calabasas during the pandemic. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 83 Grace Carter, 15, of Riverside, practices a dance routine at home after dance classes and school were canceled. She has to use the Zoom app on her iPhone to practice with her dance group. “It’s hard,” she said. “My bedroom is a smaller space. I miss all my friends at the studio.” (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 83 A man works from his home in Long Beach. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 83 A San Bernardino County healthcare worker takes a sample at a coronavirus drive-through testing site at the county fairgrounds in Victorville. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 83 A Metro general service employee disinfects a bench in Boyle Heights. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 60 / 83 A runner jogs past the Pottery Barn in Pasadena. Some businesses in the area have boarded up their stores. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 61 / 83 Raquel Lezama and daughter Monica Ramos collect meals for their family at Manual Arts High School. Lezama was laid off from her $17.76-an-hour job at a Beverly Hills hotel. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 62 / 83 The Iron City Tavern in San Pedro tries an incentive to lure takeout customers. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 63 / 83 Healthcare workers gather outside UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center to call for further action from the federal government in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 64 / 83 Kristen Edgerle, of Victorville, collects information from a blood donor before drawing blood at The Richard Nixon Presidential Library blood drive during the coronavirus pandemic in Yorba Linda. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 65 / 83 Shauna Jin, of Los Angeles, with her dog, Bodhi, practices social distancing with John Kiss, of Los Angeles, at the entrance of Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 83 A lending library had some additional useful items, including a roll of toilet paper and cans of beans and corn, in a Hermosa Beach neighborhood. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 67 / 83 Protesters drive by the Getty House, the home of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, in Hancock Park. Tenant advocates are demanding a total moratorium on evictions during the coronavirus crisis. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 68 / 83 Venice residents Emily Berry and Gavin Kelley take a break at Venice Beach. Berry, a cocktail waitress at Enterprise Fish Co., lost her job due to the coronavirus outbreak. Kelley, a manager at a performing arts school with a focus on music, said that he still has a job and that classes at the school will resume online this coming Monday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 69 / 83 The JW Marriott at L.A. Live is sharing a message of hope with red lights in 34 windows, creating a 19-story display on the hotel’s north side. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 70 / 83 Juan Diaz Jr., a lifelong Dodgers fan, prays that the season will start by May in front of Dodger Stadium on what would have been opening day. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 71 / 83 Hayley, CEO and founder of Love My Neighbor Foundation, right, dances with Crystal Armster, 51, while she and her colleagues continue to feed the homeless on skid row amid the pandemic. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 72 / 83 A masked passenger on a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 73 / 83 Dede Oneal waits for a coronavirus test at the Crenshaw Christian Center in South Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 74 / 83 A man in a mask passes a closed restaurant along Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 75 / 83 Artist Corie Mattie paints a mural on the side of a pop-up store as a man takes a picture in West Hollywood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 76 / 83 Medical assistant Zoila Villalta works with Rosie Boston, 32, of Glendale, who is donating blood for her first time at L.A. Care Health Plan downtown. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 77 / 83 A couple wait for a bus outside the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 78 / 83 With all Los Angeles schools closed until further notice, LAUSD buses sit idle in Gardena. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 79 / 83 A lone traveler makes his way to catch a flight in Tom Bradley International Terminal. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 80 / 83 Denise Young looks on as her daughter, Allison, 9, a fourth-grader at EARThS (Environmental Academy of Research Technology and Earth Sciences) Magnet School in Newbury Park, receives a Chromebook. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 81 / 83 Hollywood Boulevard is devoid of the usual crowds. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 82 / 83 Michael Ray, 11, plays before a movie at the Paramount Drive-In. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 83 / 83 Isabella Leader, 15, counts how many flags have been left for World War II veteran Lt. Col. Sam Sachs who was celebrating his 105th birthday at the Mom & Dad’s House, an assisted living facility, in Lakewood. Lt. Col. Sachs appealed to the public for birthday cards after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of a big celebration and wound up receiving thousands, including a letter and photo from President Trump. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
“There is technology that would allow us to have the clean air that we’re seeing now . . . on a permanent basis,” said Wayne Nastri, executive officer for the South Coast Air Quality Management District. “Zero-emission technology is something that we all need to pursue very aggressively so that we can maintain these clean-air benefits, to see as far as we can and take those deep breaths.”
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Unfortunately, the clean air spell has already come to an end, thanks to a heat wave in recent days that generated unhealthy smog levels across Southern California. Air quality officials are predicting more bad air days to come, even with public health restrictions in effect, as the region enters a hotter, drier time of year.
L.A.’s air has been unusually clean. In March, the area enjoyed 21 straight days of air in the green, “good” category on the Air Quality Index, in what was the longest stretch in at least four decades, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitoring data going back to 1980.
While that streak sounds exceptional, it began on March 7, well before Gov. Gavin Newsom issued statewide stay-at-home orders on March 19. It’s a time of year in Southern California that typically has the cleanest air, after the winter soot season and before summer smog.
“The period in green was particularly stormy, with frequent storm systems, rain, and atypically high inversion heights,” said Nahal Mogharabi, a spokeswoman for the South Coast air district. “It is possible that this was partially due to reduced emissions, but meteorology likely played a much larger role.”
L.A. pollution levels crossed back into the “moderate” range on March 28. In the Inland Empire, where pollution is typically higher, the good air quality lasted a shorter 10 days before jumping back to moderate levels.
At least partly responsible for the recent gains, experts say, are restrictions from the pandemic that have brought abrupt and dramatic reductions in the vehicle traffic that is the biggest source of California’s air pollution.
In the time of Coronavirus this is an aerial view of 110 and 105 interchange in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Data from roadside monitors in Southern California show that passenger vehicle traffic has decreased by one-third under the stay-at-home orders, while trucks — which contribute a greater share of smog-forming emissions — have declined by about 20%, according to air quality officials. In the Bay Area, regulators have reported more than 60% fewer cars on the road.
Cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles, a major hub for polluting trucks, ships and trains, were down 31% in March compared to March 2019.
Emissions have plummeted too, with researchers detecting roughly 30% declines in nitrogen dioxide and other key air pollutants in Southern California and the Bay Area. Satellite measurements have revealed similar drops in air pollution during lockdowns in the northeastern U.S., China and India.
But in Southern California, experts say that favorable weather has made it hard to disentangle the effect of reduced emissions.
For example, an analysis of satellite measurements by Cohen and his team found a 32% decline in levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution in Southern California in the three weeks after the stay-at-home orders compared to the three weeks before. But they also found a 26% reduction between the same time periods in 2019, suggesting that spring weather played a big role.
(Priya Krishnakumar and Anthony Pesce / Los Angeles Times)
“Driving is dramatically lower,” Cohen said, “but differences in weather between this year and last still make it hard to put numbers on how much cleaner the air is because of the shelter-in-place.”
Weather is such a dominant factor in determining the region’s smog levels, according to the South Coast air district, that it can more than double the pollutant concentrations we are breathing, even when emissions remain constant.
Other evidence is emerging, nonetheless. The South Coast air district is starting to see below-average levels of key pollutants that form ozone, as well as days where concentrations of fine-particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide or carbon monoxide are lower than any recorded within 15 calendar days before and after that date in the past five years.
“However, we still expect to have ozone exceedances this year, even if emissions are reduced throughout the summer,” Mogharabi said.
Southern California’s air quality has, in fact, reached unhealthy levels during the shutdown.
On April 1, the region logged its first bad air day since stay-at-home-orders took effect. It racked up a string of additional violations since last week as temperatures climbed into the 90s and boosted smog levels. Even under lockdown, ozone pollution has exceeded federal health standards across the region, including in downtown Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, Pomona, Riverside and San Bernardino.
How can that be? The explanation lies in how a key ingredient in L.A.’s pollution is formed. Ozone, the lung-searing gas in smog that triggers asthma attacks and other health problems, is not emitted directly, but forms when pollution — from cars, trucks, factories and other combustion sources — bakes in the heat and sunlight.
Higher temperatures boost those smog-forming chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Combine that with dry, still conditions with strong inversion layers, and you get more pollution trapped near the ground where people are breathing.
That’s why more ozone violations are sure to come as the warm season brings the more stagnant, pollution-trapping pattern that besets Southern California for much of the year. But regulators and scientists could see a clearer signal of the effect of lowered emissions as time goes on, such as bad air days that are forecast but don’t materialize.
The temporary drop in pollution has surely benefited people’s health during a time when healthy lungs are critical to confront the new coronavirus. But those gains have, of course, come at a heavy cost, including sickness, death, lost jobs and restricted freedom, that have environmentalists, scientists and regulators cautious not to celebrate.
“It’s terrible to get that view by people getting sick,” Cohen said. “It’s not at all how we would design the experiment if we had a choice.”
It’s also an unsustainable way to improve air quality, experts point out. If history is any guide, emissions will come roaring back once economic crisis fades, erasing these temporary gains.
Before the pandemic, air quality had been on the decline across the U.S. in recent years, reversing decades of improvement. Southern California has long suffered the nation’s worst ozone pollution.
Adrian Martinez, an attorney at the environmental law nonprofit Earthjustice, said he remains optimistic that experiencing what clean air actually feels like will bring a new moment of clarity and shake off any complacency over cleaning Southern California’s air.
“It’s going to change people’s frame of reference from how much worse it was in the sixties, seventies and eighties, to how do we get back to that time where we could go outside and breathe a deep breath of air and it’s safe?” Martinez said.
Environmentalists at the same time have raised alarms about the perils of loosening air quality protections during the pandemic and economic downturn.
The Trump administration has moved forward with major environmental rollbacks in recent weeks that are expected to hinder progress toward healthful air long after the pandemic wanes. California regulators are also fielding numerous requests to relax air quality rules and delay new regulations to provide relief to industries in upheaval.
South Coast air board Chairman William A. Burke vowed to continue the work of cleaning pollution while being sensitive to both business and environmental concerns, but said he fears air quality will take a nosedive once the economy reopens.
“Because I think that everybody who’s been holding all the goods that haven’t been shipping during this pandemic are going to let it go,”Burke said. “I don’t think there’s enough trucks to carry all the stuff that Americans and Californians are going to need.”
Burke predicted a surge in complaints to the district’s air pollution hotline, 1-800-CUT-SMOG, “because I think that commerce will spring back into action.”


latimes--2020-04-28--When will California reopen? Here's a reality check

Gov .
Gavin Newsom continues to get requests from some local officials in California who want to begin easing stay-at-home rules put in place to help slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Most of the calls to reopen have come from areas that haven ’ t been hit as hard by the outbreak as hot spots such as Los Angeles and the Bay Area , where many officials say they are concerned about the effects of restarting the economy too soon .
That fear is echoed by many health experts , who say lifting social distancing prematurely could cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all requests by local governments to modify the statewide stay-at-home order , Newsom has been hesitant to pin any action to a specific date , saying reports on the spread of the virus , along with hospitalizations and deaths , would “ drive our decision-making.
” Here is a snapshot of what ’ s going on across the state : Mayor Eric Garcetti seemed measures were proving effective and said he believed “ the curve really is beginning to flatten , ” even suggesting that easing restrictions under the city ’ s Safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Testing capabilities continue to increase , according to Garcetti , who said asymptomatic essential workers — including delivery , ride-hail and taxi drivers — as well as journalists , would now be able to be tested for the virus .
“ These are folks that are on the front line , helping us get where we need to go , delivering food to our apartments , ” he said .
Los Angeles County wrapped up a week in which the number of doubled .
That number crept higher Monday , as county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 942 new cases .
Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said 11 of those deaths were among healthcare workers , and 92 % of those who have died in the county had underlying health issues .
Ferrer has said the rising death count means staying home is more important than ever .
Six San Francisco Bay Area counties plan to keep stay-at-home orders through the end of May but will ease some restrictions , officials announced Monday .
“ Thanks to the collective effort and sacrifice of the 7 million residents across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus , ensuring our local hospitals are not overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases , and saving lives , ” a statement by Bay Area health officers said .
The statement was sent on behalf of health officers for Alameda , Contra Costa , Marin , San Francisco , San Mateo and Santa Clara counties as well as the city of Berkeley , which has its own health department separate from Alameda County ’ s .
The statement did not elaborate on what kinds of restrictions would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Breed said she understood it would be challenging to endure another month of staying at home as much as possible .
“ It has already been very difficult , I ’ m sure for many of you , especially kids who can not play with their friends or a lot of the seniors who are graduating high school .
The kids who want to go to the parks .
Not being able to see your grandma or grandpa , ” Breed said Monday .
But , she said , “ public health is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties also extended their stay-at-home orders .
Solano County , which includes Vallejo and Fairfield , extended its order through May 17 .
Napa County announced its stay-at-home order will now be in effect indefinitely , but with the following changes : • Permits construction with proper physical distancing .
• Permits drive-in religious services with proper physical distancing .
• Permits in-person residential real estate viewings with proper protocols .
• Permits landscaping and gardening maintenance that is not purely for cosmetic purposes .
• Allows the use of golf courses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strongly recommends the use of cloth face coverings when outside the home .
Elected officials in Butte , Glenn , Tehama , Yuba , Sutter and Colusa counties in Northern California are among those who ’ ve asked Newsom to ease restrictions .
They say that cases and deaths in the region appear to have stabilized and that the stay-at-home order should be modified in those areas to help restart the economy .
They said that as of Friday , there was only one coronavirus patient in the intensive care unit at local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the COVID-19 numbers locally — and our enhanced healthcare capacity — we ask you to allow our counties to exercise local authority to implement a careful and phased reopening of our local economies , ” Central Coast Last week , San Luis Obispo County officials asked Newsom to begin a slow and gradual reopening process , one they say is guided by science , but also recognition that their region might be in better shape to ease stay-at-home rules faster than more populous areas such as Los Angeles County and Silicon Valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eased some rules on beach access but urged those who went to follow social distancing .
A group of cities in Stanislaus County last week sent Newsom steps to loosen restrictions , saying that “ a reopening process that may fit , and make sense , for Los Angeles and our neighboring Bay Area regions does not work for our county .
Stanislaus County is nothing like the regions of San Francisco or Los Angeles.
” The cities suggested a first phase of reopening parks , churches and other houses of worship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses , all following strict rules .
Some beaches in San Diego County were reopened Monday , and officials said for the most part , those who came out followed social distancing rules .
“ I ’ m happy to report you stayed classy , San Diego , ” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said .
San Diego is still seeing growth in coronavirus deaths and cases .
The mayor said lifeguards and police officers were out in force , prepared to educate residents about what is and isn ’ t allowed — but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gartland said that while the water was crowded during the early morning , it thinned out as the day progressed .
Although most people followed the rules , he added that there were some “ trouble spots ” on boardwalks and at pocket beaches .
San Diego County has also been the scene of several protests calling for the reopening of the economy .
Thousands flocked to Orange County beaches this weekend , raising eyebrows .
Orange County and Ventura County had beaches open during a heat wave , while Los Angeles County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday criticized Californians who flocked to the beaches and defied the statewide stay-at-home order .
He vowed to increase statewide enforcement , if necessary .
“ This virus doesn ’ t take the weekends off , ” Newsom said .
“ The only thing that will set us back is people stopping to practice physical distancing and appropriate social distancing .
That ’ s the only thing that ’ s going to slow down our ability to reopen this economy.
” Sandy stretches in Newport Beach could be off-limits over the next few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring heat wave drew thousands to the city ’ s shoreline despite stay-at-home orders .
The Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday will consider closing the beaches for three weekends in May or blocking roads leading to popular beach spots on the Balboa Peninsula and in Corona del Mar .
City officials say they have tried to keep most public beaches , parks and open spaces accessible to the public for the mental and physical well-being of residents .
But the over the weekend — looking to beat the heat and weary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood impacts , ” according to a news release from the city .
Laguna Beach had already kept its beaches closed .
The governor has maintained that most of the six milestones he set to consider loosening the stay-at-home order have not been met .
The only change the governor has made is to allow some elective surgeries to again be scheduled in hospitals , citing sufficient capacity .
The six criteria are the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases ; prevent infection of high-risk people ; prepare hospitals to handle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; ensure schools , businesses and child-care facilities can support social distancing ; and develop guidelines for when to ask Californians to stay home again if necessary .
The rules have devastated the California economy .
A March report showed a jobless rate of 5.3 % , up from 3.9 % in February , the largest jump in more than four decades of state data collection .
But the rate is based on a survey that ended March 12 , so it doesn ’ t reflect the positions axed by thousands of employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to a California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey , 75 % want the order to continue as long as it ’ s needed .
Only 11 % wanted to stop the stay-at-home order , while 13 % had no opinion .
Among low-income residents , support was even stronger : 78 % support the stay-at-home order and only 3 % oppose it .

Rong-Gong Lin II, Hannah Fry, Colleen Shalby, James Queally, Phil Willon

Isabella Leader, 15, counts how many flags have been left for World War II veteran Lt. Col. Sam Sachs who was celebrating his 105th birthday at the Mom & Dad’s House, an assisted living facility, in Lakewood. Lt. Col. Sachs appealed to the public for birthday cards after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of a big celebration and wound up receiving thousands, including a letter and photo from President Trump. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Denise Young looks on as her daughter, Allison, 9, a fourth-grader at EARThS (Environmental Academy of Research Technology and Earth Sciences) Magnet School in Newbury Park, receives a Chromebook. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
With all Los Angeles schools closed until further notice, LAUSD buses sit idle in Gardena. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Medical assistant Zoila Villalta works with Rosie Boston, 32, of Glendale, who is donating blood for her first time at L.A. Care Health Plan downtown. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Artist Corie Mattie paints a mural on the side of a pop-up store as a man takes a picture in West Hollywood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Hayley, CEO and founder of Love My Neighbor Foundation, right, dances with Crystal Armster, 51, while she and her colleagues continue to feed the homeless on skid row amid the pandemic. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Juan Diaz Jr., a lifelong Dodgers fan, prays that the season will start by May in front of Dodger Stadium on what would have been opening day. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
The JW Marriott at L.A. Live is sharing a message of hope with red lights in 34 windows, creating a 19-story display on the hotel’s north side. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Venice residents Emily Berry and Gavin Kelley take a break at Venice Beach. Berry, a cocktail waitress at Enterprise Fish Co., lost her job due to the coronavirus outbreak. Kelley, a manager at a performing arts school with a focus on music, said that he still has a job and that classes at the school will resume online this coming Monday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Protesters drive by the Getty House, the home of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, in Hancock Park. Tenant advocates are demanding a total moratorium on evictions during the coronavirus crisis. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A lending library had some additional useful items, including a roll of toilet paper and cans of beans and corn, in a Hermosa Beach neighborhood. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Shauna Jin, of Los Angeles, with her dog, Bodhi, practices social distancing with John Kiss, of Los Angeles, at the entrance of Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Kristen Edgerle, of Victorville, collects information from a blood donor before drawing blood at The Richard Nixon Presidential Library blood drive during the coronavirus pandemic in Yorba Linda. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Healthcare workers gather outside UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center to call for further action from the federal government in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Iron City Tavern in San Pedro tries an incentive to lure takeout customers. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Raquel Lezama and daughter Monica Ramos collect meals for their family at Manual Arts High School. Lezama was laid off from her $17.76-an-hour job at a Beverly Hills hotel. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A runner jogs past the Pottery Barn in Pasadena. Some businesses in the area have boarded up their stores. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Grace Carter, 15, of Riverside, practices a dance routine at home after dance classes and school were canceled. She has to use the Zoom app on her iPhone to practice with her dance group. “It’s hard,” she said. “My bedroom is a smaller space. I miss all my friends at the studio.” (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Juliann Hartman, center, and her husband, Butch, wave signs they created to cheer up people on Calabasas Road in Calabasas during the pandemic. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Cassidy Roosen, with Beach Cities Health District, holds up a sign that says, “We’re All in This Together,” while waiting to direct cars at a drive-through, appointment-only coronavirus testing location at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
A person who wishes to remain anonymous strikes from her car to support McDonald’s employees who are demanding the company cover healthcare costs of any worker or immediate family member who gets sick from COVID-19 in Los Angeles. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
A woman shows a notice from her doctor that allows her to obtain a test for coronavirus at a new drive-up testing site in a parking lot at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Nurses pose for a fun photo during a break in drive-through public testing for the coronavirus at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Hippie Kitchen in Los Angeles hands out food, water and toiletries to homeless people and residents of skid row. Additionally, masks were offered to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
A specimen is turned in at the new mobile testing site for people with symptoms of the coronavirus at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Patients are removed from Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after 39 tested positive for the coronavirus and nursing staff was not showing up to work. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Women wear masks as they stroll along Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Wearing masks while outdoors is mandatory in the city of Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
The Wilshire Grand Center display blue lights and a heart to show support for healthcare workers and first responders. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
People are silhouetted in a window of an apartment building in Hollywood, where a stay-at-home order remains in effect to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
As a late season storm continues to make its way across the Southland, a young basketball player dribbles along an alley through an Elysian Park neighborhood in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
After being indoors for several days because of rainy weather and coronavirus stay-at-home orders, Olivia Jacobs, 4, and her mom, Cia Jacobs, enjoy a warm and sunny afternoon making chalk drawings on the sidewalk in front of their home in West Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Alex Herron and nurse Mercy Pineda at a blood drive sponsored by USC athletics and the American Red Cross at USC’s Galen Center. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
A jogger runs on a closed trail past dozens of pieces of caution tape, torn off by hikers and mountain bikers at El Escorpion Canyon Park in West Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Stuart Reyes and his sister, Stephanie, sell masks for $5 each on the 3000 block of West Century Boulevard in Inglewood. Stuart Reyes said he is selling masks to support his mother. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Billy Budd, 55, of Hollywood, walks along Hollywood Boulevard with a protective face covering. Budd is a scenic artist for movies and television who is currently out of work due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
UC Irvine Medical Center health care workers return their gratitude as about 25 Orange County first responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade of gratitude as they battle COVID-19 at the hospital. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Life around Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Soto Street has slowed down as California officials extended stay-at-home orders into May and residents entered Easter weekend with unprecedented limits on their movements. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
A face mask seller in colorful dress appears to be part of a mural behind a bus stop on Soto Street in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Daniel Rogerson wears a vintage military gas mask while riding a bike along the beach path in Santa Monica, which is closed to enforce social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Businesses are shuttered and pedestrians are few and far between on Hollywood Boulevard. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The Tyrannosaurus rex overlooking the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue wears a protective mask while practicing social distancing. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Jonte Florence, a freestyle dancer, does a handstand on a mostly empty Hollywood Walk of Fame. Florence said he normally performs for hundreds of tourists along the busy street. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A pedestrian wearing a protective mask passes a mural on a store on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Cedar Mountain Post Acute Rehabilitation staff member Navi Cavaltera waters a flower pot put up by the community to show their support for the nursing staff of the facility in Yucaipa. Eighteen of 20 coronavirus-related deaths in Yucaipa were residents of the skilled nursing facility. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
A group of protesters cheer on cars during a vehicle caravan protest to call on state and local officials to reopen the economy in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Counter-protesters attend a protest to call on state and local officials to reopen the economy in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Neighbors practice social distancing while enjoying the nice weather near The Strand in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Medical staff, wearing protective gear, work inside a COVID-19 isolation area inside the emergency department at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, where patients with the virus are being treated. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Protesters stand along Mission Blvd. in Pacific Beach during A Day of Liberty rally on April 26. The protesters were against the government shutdown due to the coronavirus. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Tom Sean Foley pauses on a walk with his kids, Cathelen Claire, “C.C.,” 3, and Timothy Joseph, 4, to take a photo in front of the “Love Wall,” mural by artist Curtis Kulig, outside of Smashbox Studios in Culver City. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Norm and Tracy Kahn enjoy eating dinner outside on a small cafe table sitting in blue chairs on their side yard during the coronavirus pandemic on April 27 in Riverside. “During this pandemic, eating outside offers us an opportunity to change surrounding and appreciate the calmness of being outdoors among trees, scents from nature and the sounds of birds,” she said. Also adding, “Mixing up where we eat puts variety into our days and takes away the sameness of feeling trapped at home.” (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Carson residents Kaeli Burks, 3, left, and her cousin Bailey Watson, 5, look out the window of their car after their mothers helped them with self-testing at a new drive-up testing site for COVID-19 in Carson. Free COVID-19 testing is available to all city residents thanks to a partnership between the city and US Health Fairs. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Healthcare workers celebrate as Claudia Martinez is discharged from the ICU after she recovered from COVID-19 at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Shuttered storefront businesses in the garment district of Los Angeles. California’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed since the statewide coronavirus shutdown took effect. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Senior Mason Wise, left, helps his sister, Mackenzie, a sophomore, clean out her PE locker at El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills. School officials were allowing no more than five students at a time on campus to take home their belongings. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Aerial view of over 100 vehicles lined up at the West Valley COVID-19 testing center at Warner Center in Woodland Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Tenants and their supporters from across Los Angeles gather at city hall to call on L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, the L.A. City Council and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to cancel rent and mortgage payments during the COVID-19 crisis. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Gregory Kuhl, 69, heads home after a shopping trip in Hollywood on April 28. Big cracks in the street, cars parked in driveways blocking sidewalks and uneven pavement levels make navigating his route difficult. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Mostly masked commuters keep their distance from one another on a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles on April 29. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Grocery store workers, joined by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 770 representatives and community members, hold a rally in support of strict social distancing on May 1 at a Ralphs store in Hollywood where 19 employees have tested positive for COVID-19. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Tango instructor Yelizaveta Nersesova leads a Zoom tango event from her Los Angeles home April 27 that brought together hundreds of dancers from around the world. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Beaches including Harbor Cove Beach were open but beachgoers were not supposed to be sitting on the sand. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
The majority of golfers are wearing masks while hitting balls on the driving range at Van Buren Executive Golf Course in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Cody Purcell of Redondo Beach rides a wave, glowing from the bioluminescence, in Hermosa Beach, CA, after midnight Friday morning, May 8. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Dominique Barrett, center, known as “King Vader” to his 2.4 million TikTok followers, prepares to shoot a video on April 30 in Glendora. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Socially distanced bikers and walkers, against a backdrop of the Queen Mary, make their way along pedestrian and beach bike path on the first day that Long Beach reopened the path on Monday May 11, 2020. The city of Long Beach eased a few of its public health restrictions, allowing under certain guidelines the reopening of pedestrian and beach bike paths, tennis centers and courts. Beach bathrooms are also reopening, but the parking lots and beaches still remain closed. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to get requests from some local officials in California who want to begin easing stay-at-home rules put in place to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Most of the calls to reopen have come from areas that haven’t been hit as hard by the outbreak as hot spots such as Los Angeles and the Bay Area, where many officials say they are concerned about the effects of restarting the economy too soon. That fear is echoed by many health experts, who say lifting social distancing prematurely could cause additional outbreaks.
While promising to review all requests by local governments to modify the statewide stay-at-home order, Newsom has been hesitant to pin any action to a specific date, saying reports on the spread of the virus, along with hospitalizations and deaths, would “drive our decision-making.”
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Here is a snapshot of what’s going on across the state:
Tom Sean Foley pauses on a walk with his children to take a photo in front of the “Love Wall,” a mural by artist Curtis Kulig, outside of Smashbox Studios in Culver City. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles
Mayor Eric Garcetti seemed optimistic that social distancing measures were proving effective and said he believed “the curve really is beginning to flatten,” even suggesting that easing restrictions under the city’s Safer at Home order could be weeks away.
Testing capabilities continue to increase, according to Garcetti, who said asymptomatic essential workers — including delivery, ride-hail and taxi drivers — as well as journalists, would now be able to be tested for the virus.
“These are folks that are on the front line, helping us get where we need to go, delivering food to our apartments,” he said.
Los Angeles County wrapped up a week in which the number of deaths linked to the coronavirus doubled.
That number crept higher Monday, as county health officials confirmed an additional 29 deaths and 942 new cases. Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said 11 of those deaths were among healthcare workers, and 92% of those who have died in the county had underlying health issues.
Ferrer has said the rising death count means staying home is more important than ever.
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Bay Area
Six San Francisco Bay Area counties plan to keep stay-at-home orders through the end of May but will ease some restrictions, officials announced Monday.
“Thanks to the collective effort and sacrifice of the 7 million residents across our jurisdictions, we have made substantial progress in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, ensuring our local hospitals are not overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases, and saving lives,” a statement by Bay Area health officers said.
The statement was sent on behalf of health officers for Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties as well as the city of Berkeley, which has its own health department separate from Alameda County’s.
The statement did not elaborate on what kinds of restrictions would be eased.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed said she understood it would be challenging to endure another month of staying at home as much as possible.
“It has already been very difficult, I’m sure for many of you, especially kids who cannot play with their friends or a lot of the seniors who are graduating high school. The kids who want to go to the parks. Not being able to see your grandma or grandpa,” Breed said Monday. But, she said, “public health is our priority.”
North Bay
Two northern Bay Area counties also extended their stay-at-home orders. Solano County, which includes Vallejo and Fairfield, extended its order through May 17.
Napa County announced its stay-at-home order will now be in effect indefinitely, but with the following changes:
• Permits construction with proper physical distancing.
• Permits drive-in religious services with proper physical distancing.
• Permits in-person residential real estate viewings with proper protocols.
• Permits landscaping and gardening maintenance that is not purely for cosmetic purposes.
• Allows the use of golf courses and driving ranges with documented protocol.
• Strongly recommends the use of cloth face coverings when outside the home.
North state
Elected officials in Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties in Northern California are among those who’ve asked Newsom to ease restrictions.
They say that cases and deaths in the region appear to have stabilized and that the stay-at-home order should be modified in those areas to help restart the economy.
They said that as of Friday, there was only one coronavirus patient in the intensive care unit at local hospitals.
“At this point, given the COVID-19 numbers locally — and our enhanced healthcare capacity — we ask you to allow our counties to exercise local authority to implement a careful and phased reopening of our local economies,” the letter said.
Central Coast
Last week, San Luis Obispo County officials asked Newsom to begin a slow and gradual reopening process, one they say is guided by science, but also recognition that their region might be in better shape to ease stay-at-home rules faster than more populous areas such as Los Angeles County and Silicon Valley.
Santa Cruz County earlier this month eased some rules on beach access but urged those who went to follow social distancing.
Central Valley
A group of cities in Stanislaus County last week sent Newsom a letter proposing steps to loosen restrictions, saying that “a reopening process that may fit, and make sense, for Los Angeles and our neighboring Bay Area regions does not work for our county. Stanislaus County is nothing like the regions of San Francisco or Los Angeles.”
The cities suggested a first phase of reopening parks, churches and other houses of worship, restaurants, car washes and some other businesses, all following strict social distancing rules.
San Diego County
Some beaches in San Diego County were reopened Monday, and officials said for the most part, those who came out followed social distancing rules.
“I’m happy to report you stayed classy, San Diego,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said.
San Diego is still seeing growth in coronavirus deaths and cases.
The mayor said lifeguards and police officers were out in force, prepared to educate residents about what is and isn’t allowed — but it was largely unnecessary.
Lifeguard Chief James Gartland said that while the water was crowded during the early morning, it thinned out as the day progressed. Although most people followed the rules, he added that there were some “trouble spots” on boardwalks and at pocket beaches.
San Diego County has also been the scene of several protests calling for the reopening of the economy.
California Photos show county lines separate packed beaches from empty ones Southern California had its first big heat wave over the weekend, but L.A. County beaches are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Beaches in nearby counties were open, however. Here are a few scenes from the weekend.
Orange County
Thousands flocked to Orange County beaches this weekend, raising eyebrows. Orange County and Ventura County had beaches open during a heat wave, while Los Angeles County kept its beaches closed.
Newsom on Monday criticized Californians who flocked to the beaches and defied the statewide stay-at-home order. He vowed to increase statewide enforcement, if necessary.
“This virus doesn’t take the weekends off,” Newsom said. “The only thing that will set us back is people stopping to practice physical distancing and appropriate social distancing. That’s the only thing that’s going to slow down our ability to reopen this economy.”
Sandy stretches in Newport Beach could be off-limits over the next few weekends after Southern California’s first spring heat wave drew thousands to the city’s shoreline despite stay-at-home orders.
The Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday will consider closing the beaches for three weekends in May or blocking roads leading to popular beach spots on the Balboa Peninsula and in Corona del Mar.
City officials say they have tried to keep most public beaches, parks and open spaces accessible to the public for the mental and physical well-being of residents. But the crowds that swarmed the sand over the weekend — looking to beat the heat and weary of isolating at home —”generated significant neighborhood impacts,” according to a news release from the city.
Laguna Beach had already kept its beaches closed.
Newsom’s criteria
The governor has maintained that most of the six milestones he set to consider loosening the stay-at-home order have not been met. The only change the governor has made is to allow some elective surgeries to again be scheduled in hospitals, citing sufficient capacity.
The six criteria are the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases; prevent infection of high-risk people; prepare hospitals to handle surges; develop therapies to meet demand; ensure schools, businesses and child-care facilities can support social distancing; and develop guidelines for when to ask Californians to stay home again if necessary.
The rules have devastated the California economy. A March report showed a jobless rate of 5.3%, up from 3.9% in February, the largest jump in more than four decades of state data collection. But the rate is based on a survey that ended March 12, so it doesn’t reflect the positions axed by thousands of employers in the second half of the month.
According to a California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey, 75% want the order to continue as long as it’s needed. Only 11% wanted to stop the stay-at-home order, while 13% had no opinion. Among low-income residents, support was even stronger: 78% support the stay-at-home order and only 3% oppose it.
San Diego Union-Tribune staff writer Lyndsay Winkley contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-04-28--Dramatic video shows avalanche after hikers stranded in San Jacinto Mountains

Two hikers were rescued by helicopter from the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County on Friday after a spike in temperatures triggered an avalanche in the area , sending a torrent of snow and ice down the mountainside , authorities said .
Rescuers called to the scene captured a second avalanche in a dramatic video that shows a portion of the powerful 90-second slide .
The Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit , a volunteer search and rescue team , received a call at 3:30 p.m. from two hikers who were stuck at 7,000-feet elevation on the north face of the mountain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pair said they were unable to move up or down after being struck by an avalanche and losing their equipment .
Mountain snow deposited by a series of early April storms rapidly melted during a heat wave last week that sent temperatures soaring into the triple digits .
As the snowpack loosened , multiple avalanches rushed down in a river of ice .
“ It was over 100 degrees on the desert floor , and with the recent heavy snowstorm that occurred in early April , loose wet avalanches and rockfall were of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of the rescue team , wrote in a post on the unit ’ s website .
A Riverside County sheriff ’ s helicopter crew flew the rescue team to a rock outcropping about 50 yards below the hikers .
One hiker was loaded onto the helicopter and transported to safety , while Shumway stayed with the second hiker .
During their wait , another avalanche sent snow cascading down the trail in what looked like a rushing stream .
Video taken by rescuers showed a portion of the powerful 90-second slide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness the raw power of the mountain .
Being at 7,000 feet , they were at the worst spot since the entire north face of the mountain was being radiated by the sun and all the couloirs from Kristen Peak and San Jacinto Peak funnel into this chokepoint , ” Shumway wrote .
The helicopter returned minutes later and evacuated the second hiker .
No one was injured .
Officials urge anyone using the trails to exercise extreme caution as warm temperatures in the region continue to cause snow to melt on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colors , which can help rescuers find them in an emergency , and attempt a route only when it is clear that conditions are safe .

Two hikers were rescued from an avalanche in the San Jacinto Mountains on April 24.
Two hikers were rescued by helicopter from the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County on Friday after a spike in temperatures triggered an avalanche in the area, sending a torrent of snow and ice down the mountainside, authorities said.
Rescuers called to the scene captured a second avalanche in a dramatic video that shows a portion of the powerful 90-second slide.
The Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit, a volunteer search and rescue team, received a call at 3:30 p.m. from two hikers who were stuck at 7,000-feet elevation on the north face of the mountain along the Snow Creek route. The pair said they were unable to move up or down after being struck by an avalanche and losing their equipment.
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Mountain snow deposited by a series of early April storms rapidly melted during a heat wave last week that sent temperatures soaring into the triple digits. As the snowpack loosened, multiple avalanches rushed down in a river of ice.
“It was over 100 degrees on the desert floor, and with the recent heavy snowstorm that occurred in early April, loose wet avalanches and rockfall were of primary concern,” Tyler Shumway, a member of the rescue team, wrote in a post on the unit’s website.
A Riverside County sheriff’s helicopter crew flew the rescue team to a rock outcropping about 50 yards below the hikers.
One hiker was loaded onto the helicopter and transported to safety, while Shumway stayed with the second hiker. During their wait, another avalanche sent snow cascading down the trail in what looked like a rushing stream. Video taken by rescuers showed a portion of the powerful 90-second slide.
“It was utterly amazing to witness the raw power of the mountain. Being at 7,000 feet, they were at the worst spot since the entire north face of the mountain was being radiated by the sun and all the couloirs from Kristen Peak and San Jacinto Peak funnel into this chokepoint,” Shumway wrote.
The helicopter returned minutes later and evacuated the second hiker. No one was injured.
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Officials urge anyone using the trails to exercise extreme caution as warm temperatures in the region continue to cause snow to melt on the mountain. They suggest hikers wear bright colors, which can help rescuers find them in an emergency, and attempt a route only when it is clear that conditions are safe.


latimes--2020-04-28--Ten essential workers describe what their lives are like during the coronavirus outbreak

Lines snake through parking lots at grocery stores .
Buses carry people to essential jobs .
Packages wait outside doorsteps .
And doctors and nurses gear up for long shifts in packed hospitals .
While many people work from home and await the end of stay-at-home guidelines , some workers continue to brave the to go to work to keep essential parts of society running .
“ I just want to thank everybody who ’ s out here working because at the end of the day , people are laying their lives on the line , ” said Alonzo Wells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So just thanking everyone .
Thank you for taking the time just to talk to us.
” Karla Barrera , 28 , is a deli manager at a grocery store in Sun Valley and the mother of two .
She likes her work but has not felt safe since the coronavirus outbreak .
She said the company started providing employees with protective masks when it became a city ordinance but still doesn ’ t provide gloves to all employees .
There was some crowd control at first , but then it stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not up to her to control how many customers enter the store .
“ If the company preps us and gives us the right equipment , we wouldn ’ t be so scared.
” She said that one of her co-workers was diagnosed with COVID-19 but that the store stayed open .
She is waiting for the results of her COVID-19 test .
“ My boss said we all probably already got it .
How is it that management can say don ’ t worry about it , because we all have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel about that ?
I ’ m so scared for my babies .
I ’ m praying that I don ’ t have it.
” Ruben Rios is a senior maintenance and construction worker at the Puente Hills landfill .
He helps maintain the gas system , where the gas is trapped , sent to an energy plant and used to create electricity , servicing some 30,000 homes a day .
At work , social distancing is strictly enforced : Workers do not change in the locker room at the same time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , break times and lunch times , have been staggered .
Rios says that his employer has been great during this time .
“ They ’ ve been really good at responding to what we need.
” Mary Gay Dacquel , administrative nurse in the medical surgical department at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center , holds a sign that says “ Give US Safe PPE Now !
!
!
” Dacquel has worked at the medical center for 21 years .
During the COVID-19 pandemic , Daquel is concerned that first responders are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as valuable healthcare workers .
“ We need to support our healthcare workers and our essential workers .
We need to stay home and save lives.
” Alex Alvarez , 42 , is a driver for Lyft who recently lost his second job as a security guard and booking agent for a local bar in Highland Park .
He has a daughter who lives in another city with her mom , but he has not seen her since the coronavirus outbreak because the risk is too high with his work .
He says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same amount of money with Lyft but must work longer hours .
He is grateful for a care package that Lyft sent with hand sanitizer , wipes and face masks .
“ I live paycheck to paycheck .
I don ’ t have the financial security of some people .
I don ’ t qualify for unemployment .
If I don ’ t pay child support , they could take my license .
I ’ m basically working to pay child support and rent.
” He lives with his mom , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blows over and that he can see his daughter by June .
“ It ’ s my birthday and then Father ’ s Day.
” Esbeida Refugio , 39 , disinfects hospital rooms at LAC + USC in Boyle Heights .
She ’ s been on the job for eight years and loves what she does .
She takes pride in knowing that her work is giving the patient who takes over one of her disinfected rooms the opportunity for a clean slate .
“ That ’ s what I ’ m here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid other people getting infected with the virus.
” On any given day she cleans up to five rooms that were spaces for COVID-19 patients .
Even when the patient is negative for the coronavirus , she still disinfects the room in the same way .
She wants everyone who is admitted to go home healthy and be safe .
“ I ’ m here for patient care ” but also “ to protect the doctors and nurses too.
” They all have families , just like her .
She has four children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 , and they are aware of what she does .
“ I know if I get the virus and have to quarantine , I can depend on my family to take care of the kids.
” She ’ s found herself cooking more these days because she does not want to go out anymore than she has to .
“ If I ’ m exposed at work , I don ’ t want to be exposed on the street.
” Simboa Wright has been a wastewater collection worker since 2001 with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off , as union members , we are proud to serve Los Angeles and protect the environment .
We are fearful , of course , of catching a virus .
We are here to maintain 6,700 miles of sewer system .
We have the largest municipal sewer system in the nation .
And we have a lot of catch basins that we have to maintain also .
My wife is a nurse .
We ’ re really concerned with her being on the front line .
And also , she does have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfortunately .
Every day union members are putting ourselves out there on the front line , to not only protect sewers from overflowing and debris going into the ocean , but we are out to continue to maintain the streets .
We ’ re out to continue to maintain the parks .
We ’ re out to continue to maintain all these essential services that many Angelenos take for granted.
” Evelyn Jarillo has worked as a cashier at a grocery store in South L.A. for six years .
She tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-isolating with her husband and daughter ever since .
The city sent an e-document for her to sign stating that she would shelter-in-place for two weeks .
Her husband has diabetes and works at a pawn shop but also came down with the virus , although her daughter ’ s test came out negative .
“ This isn ’ t a joke , ” she said .
Customers should “ do what authorities tell [ them ] .
If you need groceries , get what you need for your family .
We all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community.
” Deep down , she thinks that people will not truly listen until the pandemic touches their lives .
She does not know what can be done to change the social fabric at her store to protect people from spreading the virus but feels that her managers can do more .
Alonzo Wells , left , and Dante Mitchell are security guards at Home Depot in Alhambra .
Before the pandemic , Mitchell worked as a P.E .
teacher , coach , writer and performer .
Wells was a barber , teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ We started working here because of the recent events , unfortunately .
And since we got here , you can definitely see it ’ s like half and half — people who you can tell they ’ re being super supportive and sensitive to other people ’ s feelings .
And then you have people that are fearful , and that fear is making them ostracize other humans .
So that ’ s what I ’ ve observed so far .
The workers here have treated us so good .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ things , like always giving us drinks , food , telling us that they appreciate us .
And we ’ ve only been here for , what , two and a half weeks now ?
So we definitely feel appreciated .
It ’ s just our workload , which is kind of heavy , dealing with all these people.
” Wells added : “ I definitely have to talk to myself more , give myself that pep talk , to just remember that people are stressed out and you ’ re fearful .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it becomes a defense .
And I just feel like everybody ’ s trying to protect themselves , to protect their physical well-being and , like mentally , some people are slipping away .
...
But then you do see the good .
I do see some people coming together and just being kind .
I just want to thank everybody who ’ s out here working because at the end of the day , people are laying their lives on the line .
So just thanking everyone .
Thank you for taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Jazz Hager , 33 , of Hollywood , has been a delivery driver for Yummy Foods for almost two years and has been getting more hours due to the Safer at Home orders .
The company has provided her with gloves and disinfectant wipes as well as instructions on how to clean the company cars at the start and end of every shift .
Hager said that the job was already physically demanding and that , with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , it ’ s added a lot more mental stress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder about who I interact with , and how I interact with them , ” she said .
She ’ s noticed that customers have been generous in tipping when getting their groceries delivered , to the point that her tips have almost doubled .

Kent Nishimura , Dania Maxwell, Jason Armond, Gabriella Angotti-Jones

Lines snake through parking lots at grocery stores. Buses carry people to essential jobs. Packages wait outside doorsteps. And doctors and nurses gear up for long shifts in packed hospitals.
While many people work from home and await the end of stay-at-home guidelines, some workers continue to brave the COVID-19 pandemic to go to work to keep essential parts of society running.
“I just want to thank everybody who’s out here working because at the end of the day, people are laying their lives on the line,” said Alonzo Wells, a security guard in Alhambra. “So just thanking everyone. Thank you for taking the time just to talk to us.”
Karla Barrera, deli manager
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Karla Barrera, 28, is a deli manager at a grocery store in Sun Valley and the mother of two.
She likes her work but has not felt safe since the coronavirus outbreak. She said the company started providing employees with protective masks when it became a city ordinance but still doesn’t provide gloves to all employees. There was some crowd control at first, but then it stopped, and she was told it’s not up to her to control how many customers enter the store.
“If the company preps us and gives us the right equipment, we wouldn’t be so scared.”
Advertisement
She said that one of her co-workers was diagnosed with COVID-19 but that the store stayed open. She is waiting for the results of her COVID-19 test.
“My boss said we all probably already got it. How is it that management can say don’t worry about it, because we all have it? How am I going to feel about that? I’m so scared for my babies. I’m praying that I don’t have it.”
Ruben Rios, maintenance and construction worker
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Ruben Rios is a senior maintenance and construction worker at the Puente Hills landfill. He helps maintain the gas system, where the gas is trapped, sent to an energy plant and used to create electricity, servicing some 30,000 homes a day.
At work, social distancing is strictly enforced: Workers do not change in the locker room at the same time, and their schedules, including start times, break times and lunch times, have been staggered. Rios says that his employer has been great during this time. “They’ve been really good at responding to what we need.”
Mary Gay Dacquel, administrative nurse
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Mary Gay Dacquel, administrative nurse in the medical surgical department at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, holds a sign that says “Give US Safe PPE Now!!!” Dacquel has worked at the medical center for 21 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Daquel is concerned that first responders are being viewed as sacrificial workers and not as valuable healthcare workers. “We need to support our healthcare workers and our essential workers. We need to stay home and save lives.”
Advertisement
Alex Alvarez, Lyft driver
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Alex Alvarez, 42, is a driver for Lyft who recently lost his second job as a security guard and booking agent for a local bar in Highland Park. He has a daughter who lives in another city with her mom, but he has not seen her since the coronavirus outbreak because the risk is too high with his work.
He says that he is able to make the same amount of money with Lyft but must work longer hours. He is grateful for a care package that Lyft sent with hand sanitizer, wipes and face masks.
“I live paycheck to paycheck. I don’t have the financial security of some people. I don’t qualify for unemployment. If I don’t pay child support, they could take my license. I’m basically working to pay child support and rent.”
He lives with his mom, who is 72. He hopes that this all blows over and that he can see his daughter by June. “It’s my birthday and then Father’s Day.”
Esbeida Refugio, disinfectant specialist
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Esbeida Refugio, 39, disinfects hospital rooms at LAC + USC in Boyle Heights. She’s been on the job for eight years and loves what she does. She takes pride in knowing that her work is giving the patient who takes over one of her disinfected rooms the opportunity for a clean slate.
“That’s what I’m here for. I’m trying to avoid other people getting infected with the virus.”
On any given day she cleans up to five rooms that were spaces for COVID-19 patients. Even when the patient is negative for the coronavirus, she still disinfects the room in the same way. She wants everyone who is admitted to go home healthy and be safe.
“I’m here for patient care” but also “to protect the doctors and nurses too.”
They all have families, just like her. She has four children that range in age from 21 to 1, and they are aware of what she does. “I know if I get the virus and have to quarantine, I can depend on my family to take care of the kids.”
She’s found herself cooking more these days because she does not want to go out anymore than she has to. “If I’m exposed at work, I don’t want to be exposed on the street.”
Advertisement
Simboa Wright, wastewater collection worker
(Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Simboa Wright has been a wastewater collection worker since 2001 with the city of Los Angeles.
“First off, as union members, we are proud to serve Los Angeles and protect the environment. We are fearful, of course, of catching a virus. We are here to maintain 6,700 miles of sewer system. We have the largest municipal sewer system in the nation. And we have a lot of catch basins that we have to maintain also. My wife is a nurse. We’re really concerned with her being on the front line. And also, she does have to deal with patients with the virus, unfortunately. Every day union members are putting ourselves out there on the front line, to not only protect sewers from overflowing and debris going into the ocean, but we are out to continue to maintain the streets. We’re out to continue to maintain the parks. We’re out to continue to maintain all these essential services that many Angelenos take for granted.”
Evelyn Jarillo, cashier
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Evelyn Jarillo has worked as a cashier at a grocery store in South L.A. for six years. She tested positive for COVID-19 in early April and has been self-isolating with her husband and daughter ever since. The city sent an e-document for her to sign stating that she would shelter-in-place for two weeks. Her husband has diabetes and works at a pawn shop but also came down with the virus, although her daughter’s test came out negative.
“This isn’t a joke,” she said. Customers should “do what authorities tell [them]. If you need groceries, get what you need for your family. We all have to go through this as a community.”
Advertisement
Deep down, she thinks that people will not truly listen until the pandemic touches their lives. She does not know what can be done to change the social fabric at her store to protect people from spreading the virus but feels that her managers can do more.
Alonzo Wells and Dante Mitchell, security guards
(Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Alonzo Wells, left, and Dante Mitchell are security guards at Home Depot in Alhambra. Before the pandemic, Mitchell worked as a P.E. teacher, coach, writer and performer. Wells was a barber, teacher assistant, poet and writer.
Mitchell said, “We started working here because of the recent events, unfortunately. And since we got here, you can definitely see it’s like half and half — people who you can tell they’re being super supportive and sensitive to other people’s feelings. And then you have people that are fearful, and that fear is making them ostracize other humans. So that’s what I’ve observed so far. The workers here have treated us so good. They’ve been buying us little things, like always giving us drinks, food, telling us that they appreciate us. And we’ve only been here for, what, two and a half weeks now? So we definitely feel appreciated. It’s just our workload, which is kind of heavy, dealing with all these people.”
Wells added: “I definitely have to talk to myself more, give myself that pep talk, to just remember that people are stressed out and they’re fearful. What comes with that comes anger; it becomes a defense. And I just feel like everybody’s trying to protect themselves, to protect their physical well-being and, like mentally, some people are slipping away. ... But then you do see the good. I do see some people coming together and just being kind. I just want to thank everybody who’s out here working because at the end of the day, people are laying their lives on the line. So just thanking everyone. Thank you for taking the time just to talk to us.”
Jazz Hager, delivery driver
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Jazz Hager, 33, of Hollywood, has been a delivery driver for Yummy Foods for almost two years and has been getting more hours due to the Safer at Home orders. The company has provided her with gloves and disinfectant wipes as well as instructions on how to clean the company cars at the start and end of every shift.
Hager said that the job was already physically demanding and that, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s added a lot more mental stress.
“It’s made me think harder about who I interact with, and how I interact with them,” she said. She’s noticed that customers have been generous in tipping when getting their groceries delivered, to the point that her tips have almost doubled.
California Photos: County lines separate a day at the beach from empty sand Southern California is having its first big heat wave of the year. Residents are ready to cool off at beaches, but many in L.A. County are closed due to the pandemic. Here are a few scenes from across the Southland.