latimes--2020-12-17--Long Beach police orchestrated a coronavirus super-spreader event, complaint alleges

An outbreak of coronavirus at the Long Beach Police Department , following a training session where hundreds of officers reportedly gathered indoors without masks , has some residents charging that police held a super-spreader event .
A complaint filed this week with the Citizen Police Complaint Coalition centers on a large gathering of police officers Nov. 5 at the Long Beach Convention Center .
Police had just completed a series of training exercises to prepare for potential unrest around the time of the election , Chief Robert Luna said in an interview last week .
The chief stopped by to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , praising them for working “ their butts off this year.
” “ As police chief , I needed to get in front of my men and women , ” Luna said .
“ I wanted to thank them for their commitment , their personal sacrifice .
… Not only for that week but everything they had been through that year.
” Many of the hundreds of officers gathered at the center didn ’ t wear masks , according to a photo about a month later — alongside the Police Department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing masks .
The story sparked criticism , including from the two activist groups People of Long Beach and Long Beach Reform Coalition that signed the complaint .
Soon after the Nov. 5 gathering , coronavirus cases in the department started surging .
Of the 99 COVID cases the LBPD has counted since the beginning of the pandemic , 63 occurred since Nov. 1 , a department spokesperson said Thursday .
Luna said that no cases in the recent outbreak have been linked to the training , citing an internal contact tracing detail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of People of Long Beach , isn ’ t buying it .
“ We essentially are being asked to believe the police chief that the police is policing itself .
I find that highly suspect , ” Ovalle said .
“ To me , it makes [ no ] sense that you have a large event , maskless , no social distancing — and coincidentally , all of a sudden , these police officers come down with COVID.
” Ovalle said he ’ s witnessed police officers not following protocol for wearing personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasion , he recorded a video of several officers standing close together in line , then entering a bakery without wearing masks , despite posted signs to do so .
He ’ s offered to give city employees masks for free .
“ To me , it ’ s critical that first responders follow the rules , ” Ovalle said .
“ Not only are our lives dependent on them [ and ] the safety of the citizens , but they are constantly in contact with a segment of the population that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Latino people of color.
” In filing the complaint , Ovalle said he hopes the commission does independent contact tracing to determine the origin of the department ’ s outbreak .
He also alleges in the complaint that the photo of masked officers was taken days after training events , at a gathering specifically designed for a photo op .
A Police Department spokesperson denied the allegation .
In acknowledging the incident , Luna said he wished he “ could ’ ve done it differently.
” “ As I sit here today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I should ’ ve absolutely made sure everybody had a face covering before I walked in there , ” Luna said last week .
“ Obviously when I think about the potentialities of somebody getting sick because I was addressing this group , that would be very difficult to live with .
So I really regret that happening.
” In recent weeks , the department ramped up its prevention efforts , mandating officers wear masks on duty all the time , unless they are alone .
Luna said the internal contact tracing detail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak and recommend how to prevent the spread in potential hot spots for infection , such as a station ’ s break room .

In the official photo released by the Long Beach Police Department, officers are masked. The Long Beach Post published a story with a photo of hundreds of officers gathered without wearing masks.
An outbreak of coronavirus at the Long Beach Police Department, following a training session where hundreds of officers reportedly gathered indoors without masks, has some residents charging that police held a super-spreader event.
A complaint filed this week with the Citizen Police Complaint Coalition centers on a large gathering of police officers Nov. 5 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Police had just completed a series of training exercises to prepare for potential unrest around the time of the election, Chief Robert Luna said in an interview last week. The chief stopped by to address the officers for about 10 minutes, praising them for working “their butts off this year.”
“As police chief, I needed to get in front of my men and women,” Luna said. “I wanted to thank them for their commitment, their personal sacrifice. … Not only for that week but everything they had been through that year.”
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Many of the hundreds of officers gathered at the center didn’t wear masks, according to a photo the Long Beach Post published about a month later — alongside the Police Department’s official photo of the group, all wearing masks. The story sparked criticism, including from the two activist groups People of Long Beach and Long Beach Reform Coalition that signed the complaint.
This photo showing hundreds of maskless LBPD officers gathered to hear the chief speak has made national news. Join us here at 10 a.m. for a live-streamed discussion about how the Long Beach Post uncovered the photo last week and why the story has now taken on a life of its own. pic.twitter.com/npKJapIU0e — Long Beach Post (@LongBeachPost) December 17, 2020
Soon after the Nov. 5 gathering, coronavirus cases in the department started surging. Of the 99 COVID cases the LBPD has counted since the beginning of the pandemic, 63 occurred since Nov. 1, a department spokesperson said Thursday.
Luna said that no cases in the recent outbreak have been linked to the training, citing an internal contact tracing detail. But Carlos Ovalle, executive director of People of Long Beach, isn’t buying it.
“We essentially are being asked to believe the police chief that the police is policing itself. I find that highly suspect,” Ovalle said. “To me, it makes [no] sense that you have a large event, maskless, no social distancing — and coincidentally, all of a sudden, these police officers come down with COVID.”
Ovalle said he’s witnessed police officers not following protocol for wearing personal protective equipment for months. On one occasion, he recorded a video of several officers standing close together in line, then entering a bakery without wearing masks, despite posted signs to do so. He’s offered to give city employees masks for free.
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“To me, it’s critical that first responders follow the rules,” Ovalle said. “Not only are our lives dependent on them [and] the safety of the citizens, but they are constantly in contact with a segment of the population that is most at risk — Black, Indigenous, Latino people of color.”
In filing the complaint, Ovalle said he hopes the commission does independent contact tracing to determine the origin of the department’s outbreak. He also alleges in the complaint that the photo of masked officers was taken days after training events, at a gathering specifically designed for a photo op. A Police Department spokesperson denied the allegation.
In acknowledging the incident, Luna said he wished he “could’ve done it differently.”
“As I sit here today and I reflect back on it, I should’ve absolutely made sure everybody had a face covering before I walked in there,” Luna said last week. “Obviously when I think about the potentialities of somebody getting sick because I was addressing this group, that would be very difficult to live with. So I really regret that happening.”
In recent weeks, the department ramped up its prevention efforts, mandating officers wear masks on duty all the time, unless they are alone. Luna said the internal contact tracing detail has been working diligently to track the outbreak and recommend how to prevent the spread in potential hot spots for infection, such as a station’s break room.


latimes--2020-12-17--San Bernardino County sues Newsom over coronavirus restrictions

As coronavirus cases rise , San Bernardino County has asked the California Supreme Court to overturn Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s stay-at-home order , alleging overreach under the state ’ s emergency act .
County officials are asking the state ’ s highest court to act by Dec. 28 , when the three-week order is set to expire or be renewed .
Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman said in a statement that Gov .
Newsom has improperly acted as both the executive and legislative branch under the California Emergency Services Act since the pandemic hit nine months ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that power , then the act itself is unconstitutional , Hagman said .
Newsom ’ s office vowed to defend against the suit , as it has others , “ staying laser focused on protecting Californians ’ health and safety within the legal authorities available to us , ” said Jesse Melgar , Newsom ’ s communications director , in an email .
Some legal experts say the emergency act confers broad powers on the governor during an emergency , such as a war or global pandemic .
That ’ s the gist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Brandon Stracener , who examined the law in April for a blog dedicated to the California Supreme Court .
“ Typically , the state constitution requires policy decisions … to be made through the deliberative legislative process , ” Duvernay and Stracener wrote .
“ But in a crisis , that authority … may be consolidated and exercised by one executive.
” Representing the county is law firm Tyler & Bursch , which has sued the state over other coronavirus orders , including a temporary ban on singing in churches .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Education pro bono in a fight to reopen schools over the summer .
The latest suit alleges that the state stay-at-home order robs the county of its police powers and ability to craft its own regulations .
Under the state order , San Bernardino County is included in the Southern California region , which has dipped below the 15 % intensive care capacity that triggers the order .
Capacity rates at hospitals across the state “ are at the most critical point that they have been since the start of the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a grim trend across the state , San Bernardino County has seen COVID-19 cases skyrocket in recent weeks .
Over the past seven days , the county has reported an average of just over 3,364 new cases per day , a 187 % increase from two weeks ago , according to data compiled by the Times .
Over that same period , there have been nearly 14 deaths a day .
According to the suit , the state ’ s orders “ stretch the county ’ s resources thin , ” making it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide other critical services .
The Sheriff ’ s Department has spent more than 117,000 regular hours and 24,000 overtime hours on pandemic-related issues , the suit states .
Former Supervisor Josie Gonzalez , who joined the suit as a private citizen , slammed the state for failing to provide data backing up its decisions .
“ The state has not produced science or data that suggest the restrictions ... would address the current trajectory of the pandemic in San Bernardino County , ” Gonzalez said .

Sylvia Carpio, a licensed vocational nurse, scans a client’s QR code at a community COVID-19 testing site run by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health in August.
As coronavirus cases rise, San Bernardino County has asked the California Supreme Court to overturn Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order, alleging overreach under the state’s emergency act.
County officials are asking the state’s highest court to act by Dec. 28, when the three-week order is set to expire or be renewed.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman said in a statement that Newsom has improperly acted as both the executive and legislative branch under the California Emergency Services Act since the pandemic hit nine months ago.
If the act grants the governor that power, then the act itself is unconstitutional, Hagman said.
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Newsom’s office vowed to defend against the suit, as it has others, “staying laser focused on protecting Californians’ health and safety within the legal authorities available to us,” said Jesse Melgar, Newsom’s communications director, in an email.
Some legal experts say the emergency act confers broad powers on the governor during an emergency, such as a war or global pandemic.
That’s the gist of an analysis by attorneys Stephen Duvernay and Brandon Stracener, who examined the law in April for a blog dedicated to the California Supreme Court.
“Typically, the state constitution requires policy decisions … to be made through the deliberative legislative process,” Duvernay and Stracener wrote. “But in a crisis, that authority … may be consolidated and exercised by one executive.”
Representing the county is law firm Tyler & Bursch, which has sued the state over other coronavirus orders, including a temporary ban on singing in churches. The firm also represented the Orange County Board of Education pro bono in a fight to reopen schools over the summer.
The latest suit alleges that the state stay-at-home order robs the county of its police powers and ability to craft its own regulations.
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Under the state order, San Bernardino County is included in the Southern California region, which has dipped below the 15% intensive care capacity that triggers the order.
Capacity rates at hospitals across the state “are at the most critical point that they have been since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Melgar said.
Mirroring a grim trend across the state, San Bernardino County has seen COVID-19 cases skyrocket in recent weeks. Over the past seven days, the county has reported an average of just over 3,364 new cases per day, a 187% increase from two weeks ago, according to data compiled by The Times. Over that same period, there have been nearly 14 deaths a day.
According to the suit, the state’s orders “stretch the county’s resources thin,” making it difficult for the sheriff and health department to provide other critical services. The Sheriff’s Department has spent more than 117,000 regular hours and 24,000 overtime hours on pandemic-related issues, the suit states.
Former Supervisor Josie Gonzalez, who joined the suit as a private citizen, slammed the state for failing to provide data backing up its decisions.
“The state has not produced science or data that suggest the restrictions ... would address the current trajectory of the pandemic in San Bernardino County,” Gonzalez said.


latimes--2020-12-17--Family of Black man shot dead by Orange County sheriff's deputies sues

The family of a Black man shot dead by an Orange County sheriff ’ s deputy in San Clemente in an encounter captured on video sued the county on Thursday , alleging the death was a result of a homeless detail that disproportionately targets people of color and is ill-equipped to deal with mental illness .
Keith Reinhold , a well-educated , youth soccer coach and father of two , died Sept. 23 after two deputies approached him on a San Clemente thoroughfare as he walked in the street , tried to stop him , tackled him to the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twice .
A bystander the deadly encounter , which spurred protests and arrests of activists .
The lawsuit on behalf of his wife , Latoya Reinhold , his children and his mother , Judy Reinhold Tucker , accuses the deputies of using deadly force on an unarmed man who “ never posed an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury , ” and that Reinhold , who been sleeping outside in the area , was harassed by the deputies .
“ The Reinhold family is frustrated by the Department ’ s complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor , lead attorney for the family .
“ The Department and Sheriff Don Barnes still have not provided an explanation as to why these deputies were interacting with Kurt in the first place , and despite multiple requests , the Department has failed to turn over their investigative reports relating to the shooting.
” Barnes , in the wake of the shooting , produced a grainy still shot from a security camera on a nearby building that he said showed Reinhold trying to unholster one of the deputies ’ guns before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragedy , he asked people to “ reserve judgment until a full and complete investigation has been completed by the Orange County District Attorney ’ s Office.
” The video recording shows two deputies confronting Reinhold at about 1:15 p.m. in the middle of El Camino Real , not far from Hotel Miramar .
In the video , the deputies tell Reinhold he is walking in the middle of the street .
“ Stop touching me , ” Reinhold tells them repeatedly .
“ Go sit down , ” one deputy tells him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignore the deputy and tries to walk past them .
The deputies wrestle him to the ground .
Reinhold wriggles as they try to restrain his arms .
Then a voice shouts : “ He ’ s got my gun !
He ’ s got my gun !
” Two shots ring out .
There is not enough detail in the video to tell whether Reinhold grabbed the weapon .
Orange County sheriff ’ s deputies do not wear body cameras .
“ Oh , my God , ” says the bystander who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed Thursday noted that as the encounter began a deputy already had his stun gun drawn and the deputies were raising their voices and “ closing space ” before ultimately tackling him .
The suit alleges the deputies were not adequately trained in deescalating situations and that led to a violation of Reinhold ’ s constitutional rights .
“ One thing is clear : the deputies who shot and killed Kurt did exactly the opposite of what well-trained officers are expected to do .
Instead of de-escalating the situation , these deputies clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tackling Kurt , and then shooting and killing him , ” said attorney Neil Gehlawat , who is also litigating the case .
“ This is happening in the wake of George Floyd ’ s killing in Minneapolis by police .
He is a Black man being approached by deputies with a weapon drawn and he is trying to avoid being harmed , ” Gehlawat said .
“ He is one step away from the curb when they start shoving him for jaywalking ” he added .
“ If Kurt Reinhold was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the gun touch defense , Taylor said Barnes is trying to alter the narrative and putting an image out of context to try to justify the deputies ’ actions .
The attorneys said a deputy had Reinhold in a headlock and that the Los Angeles man was flailing his arms .
The department , in a response to a Times public records request , identified the deputies as Eduardo Duran and Jonathan Israel , two homeless services deputies assigned to the city .
Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said she did not know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who had been in San Clemente for about a month before he was shot to death .
During that time , Braun said , the deputies had spoken to him at least twice , in part about trespassing .
Reinhold had never been cited or arrested in San Clemente , Braun said .
None of the interactions had been combative .
The shooting echoes the 2015 death of a Black man named Charly “ Africa ” Keunang , who was mentally ill and homeless .
Keunang was shot to death by Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on skid row .
In that case , one officer , a rookie , shouted that the homeless man had his gun .
Keunang allegedly grabbed it as the officer knelt on his chest and pummeled him .
The Los Angeles County district attorney declined to prosecute the two officers , saying the dead man had had his fingers around the weapon .

Kurt Reinhold at Kenneth Hahn soccer fields during an AYSO match in Ladera, Nov. 25, 2018. Reinhold was shot and killed by two O.C. sheriff’s deputies in San Clemente this past September.
The family of a Black man shot dead by an Orange County sheriff’s deputy in San Clemente in an encounter captured on video sued the county on Thursday, alleging the death was a result of a homeless detail that disproportionately targets people of color and is ill-equipped to deal with mental illness.
Kurt Andras Reinhold, a well-educated, youth soccer coach and father of two, died Sept. 23 after two deputies approached him on as he walked in a San Clemente street, tried to stop him, tackled him to the ground and then one of them shot him twice. A bystander captured on a cellphone video the deadly encounter, which spurred protests and arrests of activists.
The lawsuit on behalf of his wife, Latoya Reinhold, his children and his mother, Judy Reinhold Tucker, accuses the deputies of using deadly force on an unarmed man who “never posed an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury,” and that Reinhold, who been sleeping outside in the area, was harassed by the deputies.
“The Reinhold family is frustrated by the department’s complete lack of transparency,” said John Taylor, lead attorney for the family. “The department and Sheriff Don Barnes still have not provided an explanation as to why these deputies were interacting with Kurt in the first place, and despite multiple requests, the department has failed to turn over their investigative reports relating to the shooting.”
Barnes, in the wake of the shooting, produced a grainy still shot from a security camera on a nearby building that he said showed Reinhold trying to unholster one of the deputies’ guns before the shots were fired. Calling it a tragedy, he asked people to “reserve judgment until a full and complete investigation has been completed by the Orange County district attorney’s office.”
The video recording shows two deputies confronting Reinhold at about 1:15 p.m. in the middle of El Camino Real, not far from Hotel Miramar. In the video, the deputies tell Reinhold he is walking in the middle of the street. “Stop touching me,” Reinhold tells them repeatedly.
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“Go sit down,” one deputy tells him. But the agitated man appears to ignore the deputy and tries to walk past them. The deputies wrestle him to the ground. Reinhold wriggles as they try to restrain his arms. Then a voice shouts: “He’s got my gun! He’s got my gun!”
Two shots ring out. There is not enough detail in the video to tell whether Reinhold grabbed the weapon. Orange County sheriff’s deputies do not wear body cameras. “Oh, my God,” says the bystander who was recording the altercation.
The lawsuit filed Thursday noted that as the encounter began a deputy already had his stun gun drawn and the deputies were raising their voices and “closing space” before ultimately tackling Reinhold. The suit alleges the deputies were not adequately trained in deescalating situations and that led to a violation of Reinhold’s constitutional rights.
“One thing is clear: the deputies who shot and killed Kurt did exactly the opposite of what well-trained officers are expected to do. Instead of deescalating the situation, these deputies clearly escalated — by having a taser drawn, tackling Kurt, and then shooting and killing him,” said attorney Neil Gehlawat, who is also litigating the case.
“This is happening in the wake of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis by police. He is a Black man being approached by deputies with a weapon drawn and he is trying to avoid being harmed,” Gehlawat said. “He is one step away from the curb when they start shoving him for jaywalking. If Kurt Reinhold was white, this never happens.”
As to the gun touch defense, Taylor said Barnes is trying to alter the narrative and putting an image out of context to try to justify the deputies’ actions. The attorneys said a deputy had Reinhold in a headlock and that the Los Angeles man was flailing his arms.
The department, in a response to a Times public records request, identified the deputies as Eduardo Duran and Jonathan Israel, two homeless services deputies assigned to the city.
Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said she did not know what caused the deputies to approach Reinhold, who had been in San Clemente for about a month before he was shot to death. During that time, Braun said, the deputies had spoken to him at least twice, in part about trespassing. Reinhold had never been cited or arrested in San Clemente, Braun said. None of the interactions had been combative.
The shooting echoes the 2015 death of a Black man named Charly “Africa” Keunang, who was mentally ill and homeless. Keunang was shot to death by Los Angeles Police Department officers in broad daylight on skid row.
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In that case, one officer, a rookie, shouted that the homeless man had his gun. Keunang allegedly grabbed it as the officer knelt on his chest and pummeled him. The Los Angeles County district attorney declined to prosecute the two officers, saying the dead man had had his fingers around the weapon.


latimes--2020-12-17--San Francisco issues COVID-19 travel order requiring Bay Area visitors to quarantine

San Francisco issued a travel order effective Friday requiring anyone visiting the city from outside the Bay Area to quarantine for 10 days .
The order , announced during a virtual news conference by Dr. Grant Colfax , the city ’ s public health director , takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday .
Violating the order is a misdemeanor .
Medical workers , first responders and essential workers are exempt .
Colfax described the rise in coronavirus cases in the Bay Area as “ staggering , ” but added that catastrophe could still be avoided if residents remain with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traveling .
“ While cases remain far too high , the rate of increase of this virus has slowed just a bit , and this indicates we still have time to turn this dire situation around , and as a result , save hundreds of lives , ” Colfax said .
San Francisco ’ s travel order follows one issued by Santa Clara County in late November , requiring people to quarantine for 14 days after returning from travel of more than 150 miles .
Hoping to preserve hospital bed availability , San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Dec. 4 adopted an early stay-at-home order .
Despite that effort , intensive care availability at Bay Area hospitals has now fallen below 13 % .
San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties have run out of intensive care beds , Colfax said .
If gatherings at Christmas and New Year ’ s bring more cases , the region will be in “ a truly catastrophic situation , ” he said .
Coronavirus cases have risen by 50 % in San Francisco since Thanksgiving .
“ Imagine not having a hospital bed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even your child … and imagine them getting suboptimal care , ” Colfax said.
“ Would you want that ?
” San Francisco has a total of 286 intensive care beds , and 207 were filled on Thursday , he said .
As the city scrambles to stem infections , healthcare workers are beginning to receive the COVID-19 vaccine .
Colfax said 95 medical workers were vaccinated against the virus on Wednesday , and another 180 were expected to receive the injections on Thursday .
A second dose will be required weeks @ @

San Francisco issued a travel order effective Friday requiring anyone visiting the city from outside the Bay Area to quarantine for 10 days.
The order, announced during a virtual news conference by Dr. Grant Colfax, the city’s public health director, takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Violating the order is a misdemeanor. Medical workers, first responders and essential workers are exempt.
Colfax described the rise in coronavirus cases in the Bay Area as “staggering,” but added that catastrophe could still be avoided if residents remain with their households during the holidays and refrain from traveling.
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“While cases remain far too high, the rate of increase of this virus has slowed just a bit, and this indicates we still have time to turn this dire situation around, and as a result, save hundreds of lives,” Colfax said.
San Francisco’s travel order follows one issued by Santa Clara County in late November, requiring people to quarantine for 14 days after returning from travel of more than 150 miles.
Hoping to preserve hospital bed availability, San Francisco and four other Bay Area counties on Dec. 4 adopted an early stay-at-home order. Despite that effort, intensive care availability at Bay Area hospitals has now fallen below 13%. San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties have run out of intensive care beds, Colfax said.
If gatherings at Christmas and New Year’s bring more cases, the region will be in “a truly catastrophic situation,” he said. Coronavirus cases have risen by 50% in San Francisco since Thanksgiving.
“Imagine not having a hospital bed for your mom or dad, your grandmother or even your child … and imagine them getting suboptimal care,” Colfax said.“Would you want that?”
San Francisco has a total of 286 intensive care beds, and 207 were filled on Thursday, he said.
As the city scrambles to stem infections, healthcare workers are beginning to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Colfax said 95 medical workers were vaccinated against the virus on Wednesday, and another 180 were expected to receive the injections on Thursday. A second dose will be required weeks later.


latimes--2020-12-17--ICU availability in Southern California at 0%, and it's going to get worse, officials warn

The availability of intensive care unit beds throughout Southern California hit 0 % Thursday , and officials warned that conditions in hospitals are expected to erode further if COVID-19 continues to spread unchecked .
With ICUs filled , hospitals will step up measures to ensure the sickest patients still get the highest levels of care possible during the crisis .
That often means moving some patients who would typically be in intensive care to other areas of the hospital , such as the emergency room .
That can work to a point .
But the more critically ill patients are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chances of them not getting the specialized care they need .
And that can lead to increases in mortality .
Once ICU beds are full , hospitals go into surge mode , which can accommodate 20 % over usual capacity .
Officials have also been training medical personnel who work elsewhere in hospitals to allow them to work in ICUs , and seeking nurses from outside the United States .
But new projections from Los Angeles County suggest that hospitals could blow past even those contingencies in the coming weeks .
There were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County ’ s intensive care units this week .
Forecasts say that by early January , there could be 1,600 to 3,600 COVID-19 patients in need of ICU beds if virus transmission trends remain the same .
There are only 2,500 licensed ICU beds in L.A. County .
“ There are simply not enough trained staff to care for the volume of patients that are projected to come and need care , ” Dr. Christina Ghaly , the county ’ s director of health services , said .
“ Our hospitals are under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end in sight.
” About 600 new patients with COVID-19 need hospital admission daily , and officials expect that that could rise to 750 to 1,350 a day by New Year ’ s Eve .
“ If the numbers continue to increase the way they have , I am afraid that we may run out of capacity within our hospitals , ” said Dr. Denise Whitfield , associate medical director with the L.A. County emergency medical services agency and an emergency room physician at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance .
“ And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles County deserves may be threatened just by the fact that we are overwhelmed.
” Though officials have noted that the number of available ICU beds changes constantly as new patients are admitted or stabilized , the number of unoccupied beds in California ’ s most populous region has steadily eroded as hospitals have been flooded by unprecedented numbers of COVID-19 patients .
ICU availability throughout Southern California — which the state defines as Imperial , Inyo , Los Angeles , Mono , Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino , San Diego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ventura counties — had been a scant 0.5 % Wednesday before falling further Thursday .
The San Joaquin Valley — which has hit 0 % availability in its ICUs a few times in recent days , most recently Wednesday — saw that number tick up slightly Thursday , to a still-perilous 0.7 % .
California is now opening to help with overflow patients .
The field hospitals will care for non-ICU patients in places such as Costa Mesa , Porterville , Sacramento , Imperial and Orange County ; other facilities are on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fresno , San Diego and San Francisco .
The number of people hospitalized in California for COVID-19 has broken records for 18 consecutive days .
On Tuesday , the most recent data available , 14,939 people across the state were in hospitals with coronavirus infections — more than six times more than the number on Halloween .
The virus was touching all corners of the region .
Mayor Eric Garcetti said Thuesday his 9-year-old daughter , Maya , had tested positive for coronavirus .
Both Garcetti and his wife tested negative , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the novel coronavirus , it can take two to three weeks for spikes in cases to trigger a corresponding increase in hospitalizations .
When that happens , though , the consequences can be sudden and severe .
State officials have previously estimated that 12 % of newly diagnosed coronavirus cases are likely to require hospitalization , with 12 % of those eventually ending up in the ICU .
That means , the most recent record-high hospitalizations do not account for the sky-high numbers of new infections , a chilling prospect for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .
Hospitals in L.A. County are desperately trying to free up beds by discharging recovering patients as quickly as possible , but there is only so much longer that hospitals can stretch their staff to meet the demand until the quality of patient care starts to worsen .
“ Many hospitals have already broken nurse staffing ratios , and their staff are not necessarily getting either the breaks or rest that they ’ re supposed to be getting , ” Ghaly said .
Over the past weekend , Whitfield said , Harbor-UCLA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients , but crowding meant that some patients needed to stay in the emergency department when they should have been transferred elsewhere in the hospital .
“ What that means is that when a patient needs to be admitted to the hospital , requiring either an ICU or an inpatient bed , that we just don ’ t have the staffing or the actual bed space to to to care for them , ” Whitfield said .
A backed-up emergency room then makes it harder for emergency physicians and nurses to take care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strokes , heart attacks and trauma .
Whitfield said she ’ s been an emergency room doctor for a decade , but the past weekend was the first time when she felt the overcrowding situation “ has actually threatened the level of care that we can provide for our patients.
” “ And so looking at ... how these numbers are increasing throughout the county , it ’ s really , really quite frightening to me , ” Whitfield said .
The surge in coronavirus cases continues to set records .
For the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county-by-county tally found more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases and nearly 400 deaths in California reported in a single day .
The Times survey Wednesday night found 51,724 new coronavirus cases reported , shattering the state ’ s previous record , set Monday , when 42,088 cases were reported .
The Times tally also found 393 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday across California , breaking the record set Tuesday , when 295 deaths were recorded .
Cumulatively , California has now reported 1.7 million coronavirus cases and 21,887 COVID-19 deaths .
The state is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day over a weekly period , and 35,200 daily cases — both records , and both quadruple the numbers from mid-November .
San Francisco issued requiring anyone visiting the city from outside the Bay Area to quarantine for 10 days .
The order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday .
Violating the order is a misdemeanor .
Medical workers , first responders and essential workers are exempt .
San Francisco ’ s travel order follows one issued by Santa Clara County in late November after returning from travel of more than 150 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Dakota Smith contributed to this report .

Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II, Soumya Karlamangla

Registered nurse Michelle Goldson works with a COVID-19 patient in the ICU at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital on Thursday.
The availability of intensive care unit beds throughout Southern California hit 0% Thursday, and officials warned that conditions in hospitals are expected to erode further if the coronavirus continues to spread unchecked.
With ICUs filled, hospitals will step up measures to ensure the sickest patients still get the highest levels of care possible. That often means moving some patients who would typically be in the intensive care unit to other areas of the hospital, such as a recovery area, or keeping them in the emergency room for longer than normal.
The patients are still getting intensive care, and that strategy can work to a point. But eventually, there may be too many critically ill patients for the limited numbers of ICU doctors and nurses available, leading to greater chances of patients not getting the specialized care they need. And that can lead to increases in mortality.
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Once ICU beds are full, hospitals go into surge mode, which can accommodate 20% over usual capacity. Officials have also been training medical personnel who work elsewhere in hospitals to allow them to work in ICUs, and seeking nurses from outside the United States.
But the forecasted size of the surge of severely ill COVID-19 patients needing hospitalization in the coming weeks is now so large, it blew past projections issued just a few weeks ago. Officials were forced to redraw their charts to accommodate the enormous surges in projected ICU bed demand.
There are now more than 1,000 people with COVID-19 in L.A. County’s intensive care units, quadruple the number from Nov. 1. Forecasts say that by early January, there could be 1,600 to 3,600 COVID-19 patients in need of ICU beds if virus transmission trends remain the same.
There are only 2,500 licensed ICU beds in L.A. County.
Projections of intensive care unit bed demand in L.A. County as of Dec. 16, 2020. (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services)
“There are simply not enough trained staff to care for the volume of patients that are projected to come and need care,” Dr. Christina Ghaly, the county’s director of health services, said. “Our hospitals are under siege, and our model shows no end in sight.”
About 600 new patients with COVID-19 are now being admitted to hospitals daily in L.A. County, and officials say that could rise to 750 to 1,350 a day by New Year’s Eve.
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Projections of how many people will need hospitalizations daily for COVID-19, as of Dec. 16, 2020.
(Los Angeles County Department of Health Services)
“If the numbers continue to increase the way they have, I am afraid that we may run out of capacity within our hospitals,” said Dr. Denise Whitfield, associate medical director with the L.A. County emergency medical services agency and an emergency room physician at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. “And the level of care that every resident in Los Angeles County deserves may be threatened just by the fact that we are overwhelmed.”
Though officials have noted that the number of available ICU beds changes constantly as new patients are admitted, stabilized or die, the number of unoccupied beds in California’s most populous region has steadily eroded as hospitals have been flooded by unprecedented numbers of COVID-19 patients.
Available ICU beds by region in California (Dec. 17, 2020)
ICU availability throughout Southern California — which the state defines as Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties — had been a scant 0.5% Wednesday before falling to zero Thursday.
The San Joaquin Valley — which has hit 0% availability in its ICUs a few times in recent days, most recently Wednesday — saw that number tick up slightly Thursday, to a still-perilous 0.7%.
California coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents recorded in the last week by region
Both regions in the southern half of the state have the worst rates of new coronavirus cases on a per capita basis. In the last week, Southern California is reporting 712 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents, and the San Joaquin Valley, 532 cases per 100,000 residents.
By contrast, the greater Sacramento area is reporting 451 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents, and the Bay Area, 335 cases per 100,000 residents, over the same time period.
California is now opening temporary field hospitals to help with overflow patients. The field hospitals will care for non-ICU patients in places such as Porterville, Sacramento, Imperial and Orange County; other facilities are on standby status in Riverside, Richmond, Fresno, San Diego and San Francisco.
The number of people hospitalized in California for COVID-19 has broken records for 19 consecutive days. On Wednesday, the most recent data available, 15,431 people across the state were in hospitals with coronavirus infections — more than six times more than the number on Halloween.
The virus was touching all corners of the region. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Thursday that his 9-year-old daughter, Maya, had tested positive. Both Garcetti and his wife tested negative, he said.
Garcetti said he doesn’t know how his daughter was infected. “We haven’t mixed households,” he said. “There’s no behavior that she is engaged in that doesn’t adhere strictly to the protocols of our health officials.”
Which California counties are reopening? To contain the spread of COVID-19, parks, restaurants and stores are slowly reopening.
Because of the lagging nature of the novel coronavirus, it can take two to three weeks for spikes in cases to trigger a corresponding increase in hospitalizations. When that happens, though, the consequences can be sudden and severe. State officials have previously estimated that 12% of newly diagnosed coronavirus cases are likely to require hospitalization, with 12% of those eventually ending up in the ICU.
That means the most recent record-high hospitalizations do not account for the sky-high numbers of new infections, a chilling prospect for the state’s stretched-thin hospitals and healthcare workers. State officials this week said they expect hospitalizations to worsen particularly in the lead-up to Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Hospitals in L.A. County are desperately trying to free up beds by discharging recovering patients as quickly as possible, but there is only so much longer that hospitals can stretch their staff to meet the demand until the quality of patient care starts to worsen.
“Many hospitals have already broken nurse staffing ratios, and their staff are not necessarily getting either the breaks or rest that they’re supposed to be getting,” Ghaly said.
Last weekend, Whitfield said, Harbor-UCLA was able to manage its COVID patients, but crowding meant that some patients needed to stay in the emergency department when they should have been transferred elsewhere in the hospital.
“What that means is that when a patient needs to be admitted to the hospital, requiring either an ICU or an inpatient bed, that we just don’t have the staffing or the actual bed space to care for them,” Whitfield said.
A backed-up emergency room then makes it harder for emergency physicians and nurses to take care of patients with other emergencies, including strokes, heart attacks and trauma.
Whitfield said she’s been an emergency room doctor for a decade, but the past weekend was the first time she felt the overcrowding situation “has actually threatened the level of care that we can provide for our patients.”
“And so looking at ... how these numbers are increasing throughout the county, it’s really, really quite frightening to me,” Whitfield said.
The surge in coronavirus cases continues to set records. For the first time, a Los Angeles Times county-by-county tally found more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases and nearly 400 deaths in California reported in a single day. A Times survey Wednesday night found 51,724 new coronavirus cases reported, shattering the state’s previous record, set Monday, when 42,088 cases were reported.
Tracking the coronavirus in L.A. County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
The Times tally also found 393 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday across California, breaking the record set Tuesday, when 295 deaths were recorded.
On Thursday, 51,209 coronavirus cases were reported statewide — the second-highest single-day tally. There were 288 deaths reported Thursday, the third-highest single-day tally.
Cumulatively, California has now reported 1.7 million coronavirus cases and more than 22,000 COVID-19 deaths.
The state is now recording an average of 220 COVID-19 deaths a day over a weekly period, and about 38,000 daily cases — both records, and both quadruple the numbers from mid-November.
San Francisco issued a travel order effective Friday requiring anyone visiting, moving or returning to the city from outside the Bay Area to quarantine for 10 days.
The mandatory order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Violating the order is a misdemeanor. Medical workers, first responders and essential workers are exempt.
San Francisco’s travel order follows one issued by Santa Clara County in late November requiring people to quarantine for 14 days after returning from travel of more than 150 miles.
Times staff writers Maura Dolan, Sean Greene and Dakota Smith contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-17--Next in line for California's COVID-19 vaccine? Teachers and first responders, panel says

California ’ s first responders , farmworkers and educators would be among those next in line to be vaccinated against COVID-19 under recommendations that a state advisory committee discussed this week .
Should that guidance eventually be put into effect , those workers — as well as others in the broadly defined fields of education and childcare , emergency services , and food and agriculture — would be prioritized within the second major stage of the state ’ s wider vaccination push .
Though California ’ s vaccine rollout plans continue to be defined , Wednesday ’ s meeting of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a window into how the process may play out in the weeks to come .
The state ’ s initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are earmarked for front-line healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities , such as nursing homes .
After that , officials have said essential workers come next .
As was noted during Wednesday ’ s committee meeting , though , the classification of “ essential workers ” is expansive — encompassing almost 12 million Californians , roughly two-thirds of the state ’ s entire workforce , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us are essential .
That ’ s nice to know , ” said Dr. Oliver Brooks , co-chairman of the state work group that ’ s developing guidance on vaccine distribution .
The recommendations presented Wednesday would prioritize workers in some of the following fields : • Education and childcare : Childcare workers , preschools , elementary and secondary school personnel , community colleges , colleges and universities , and trade schools .
• Emergency services : Nonmedical first responders , law enforcement , firefighters , child and youth services , shelters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and people with disabilities , and justice and safety activities .
• Food and agriculture : Agricultural workers ; animal/seafood/bakeries/food manufacturing and slaughtering/processing ; fruit , vegetable , dairy and special foods manufacturing ; grocery stores/food markets ; food and drinking establishments ; pharmacies/drugstores ; warehouse clubs ; community food services ; nurseries/florists ; and sawmills .
State officials have previously said that California ’ s first allocation of the recently approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would total about 327,000 doses .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said this week that the state expects to receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as potentially 672,000 additional doses of another vaccine from Moderna , should that receive U.S. authorization , as expected .
However , Newsom ’ s office confirmed Thursday that the next shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be more in the neighborhood of 233,000 doses , significantly lower than initially thought .
Erin Mellon , a spokeswoman for Newsom ’ s office , wrote in an email that the original projection “ was based on what the federal government had communicated to us ” and that “ the federal government delayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will receive in the next shipment — many states received new estimated shipment amounts.
” That many doses is a drop in the bucket in a state the size of California .
Though the state expects to receive millions more doses by early next year , and additional vaccines in development could further expand availability , officials face difficult choices about which Californians should be protected next against COVID-19 .
“ We ’ ll be grappling with trying to determine criteria that can be used practically and efficiently to sort between worthy recipients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s using age or medical conditions or other factors to be able to give providers and the public and the workers clarity as to ... what are some practical tools that can be used to be able to let the highest risk or those at priority go first , ” said Dr. Robert Schechter , the other co-chairman of California ’ s Drafting Guidelines Workgroup .
Different groups ranging from waste workers to meatpackers to the ride-hailing company Uber are already jockeying to secure early position in the vaccination line .
Debra Duardo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Education , sent a letter to the governor Wednesday calling for teachers to be a high priority .
“ School closures have had a negative impact on our children , particularly those from lower-income families .
As you have stated , ” Duardo wrote , referring to Newsom , “ reopening schools is also a crucial first step in an economic recovery.
” Most public school campuses remain closed in L.A. County .
In a poll of more than 500 Los Angeles teachers released Wednesday , 36 % rated a widely available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeling comfortable in returning to the classroom .
Along with determining how best to order future vaccines , however , an ongoing challenge will be confirming that people work in specified fields or meet other criteria , as well as screening those attempting to game the system .
“ There ’ s a social solidarity here that we all say , ‘ Yes , the healthcare workers go first , ’ ” Anthony Wright , executive director of the consumer advocacy group Health Access , said during Wednesday ’ s committee meeting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are sort of cutting the line , that dissolves the social compact that we ’ re all in , and I ’ m really scared about that.
” Conversations about the vaccine rollout all point to the same hopeful future : a time when California , along with the rest of the world , can finally declare victory over the coronavirus pandemic .
Such long-view optimism , however , is tempered by near-term devastation .
More Californians are becoming infected with , hospitalized by and dying from the coronavirus than at any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials warn that those figures are likely to get worse before they get better .
Single-day pandemic records were shattered across the state again Wednesday , with 51,724 new coronavirus cases and 393 additional deaths reported .
California is now tallying an average of 203 COVID-19 deaths a day over a weekly period , and 35,200 cases a day — both records , and both quadruple the numbers from mid-November , according to data compiled by The Times .
More than 21,800 Californians have died from COVID-19 throughout the pandemic , and almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enormous wave of infections comes as hospitals are already inundated with record numbers of coronavirus-positive patients .
On Tuesday , the most recent data available , 14,939 people across the state were in the hospital with coronavirus infections — more than six times the number on Halloween — and a record 3,188 of them were in intensive care .
Officials are now describing the state of California ’ s healthcare system in increasingly dire terms , saying the long-held fear of overwhelmed hospitals and overtaxed staff is now closer to reality than ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trained staff to care for the volume of patients that are projected to come and need care , ” said Dr. Christina Ghaly , Los Angeles County ’ s director of health services .
“ Our hospitals are under siege , and our model shows no end in sight.
” Because of the lagging nature of the coronavirus , it can take two to three weeks for spikes in cases to trigger a corresponding increase in hospitalizations .
When that happens , though , the consequences can be sudden and severe .
State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of newly diagnosed coronavirus cases are likely to require hospitalization , with 12 % of those eventually ending up in the ICU .
The most recent record-high hospitalizations do not account for the sky-high numbers of new infections , a chilling prospect for the state ’ s stretched-thin hospitals and healthcare workers .
On Thursday , that fear became reality when ICU bed availability reached 0.0 % in Southern California — a sprawling region the state defines as Imperial , Inyo , Los Angeles , Mono , Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Santa Barbara and Ventura counties , state figures show .
The day before , ICU availability again tumbled to zero in the San Joaquin Valley , though it bounced back to 0.7 % on Thursday .
“ If the numbers continue to increase the way they have , I am afraid that we may run out of capacity within our hospitals , ” said Dr. Denise Whitfield , associate medical director with the L.A. County emergency medical services agency and an emergency room physician at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance .
Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Associated Press contributed to this report .

Erik Mara, a respiratory therapist at UCI Health, receives a vaccination from Pam Samuelson, a registered nurse, at UC Irvine Medical Center on Wednesday in Orange.
California’s first responders, farmworkers and educators would be among those next in line to be vaccinated against COVID-19 under recommendations a state advisory committee discussed this week.
Should that guidance eventually be put into effect, those workers — as well as others in the broadly defined fields of education and childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture — would be prioritized within the second major stage of the state’s wider vaccination push.
Roughly 5.9 million Californians work in those sectors.
Though California’s vaccine rollout plans continue to be defined, Wednesday’s meeting of the state Community Vaccine Advisory Committee provided a window into how the process may play out in the weeks to come.
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The state’s initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are earmarked for front-line healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. After that, officials have said essential workers come next.
But the classification of “essential workers” is expansive — encompassing almost 12 million Californians, roughly two-thirds of the state’s entire workforce, in 13 wide-ranging fields.
“So two-thirds of us are essential. That’s nice to know,” said Dr. Oliver Brooks, co-chairman of the state work group that’s developing guidance on vaccine distribution.
The recommendations presented Wednesday would prioritize workers in some of the following fields:
Education and childcare: Childcare workers, preschools, elementary and secondary school personnel, community colleges, colleges and universities, and trade schools.
Emergency services: Nonmedical first responders, law enforcement, firefighters, child and youth services, shelters, nonresidential social services for the elderly and people with disabilities, and justice and safety activities.
Food and agriculture: Agricultural workers; animal/seafood/bakeries/food manufacturing and slaughtering/processing; fruit, vegetable, dairy and special foods manufacturing; grocery stores/food markets; food and drinking establishments; pharmacies/drugstores; warehouse clubs; community food services; nurseries/florists; and sawmills.
State officials have previously said California’s first allocation of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would total about 327,000 doses. Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that the state expects to receive 393,900 more doses on top of that, as well as potentially 672,000 additional doses of another vaccine from Moderna, should that receive U.S. authorization, as expected.
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But Newsom’s office confirmed Thursday that the next shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be more in the neighborhood of 233,000 doses, significantly lower than initially thought.
Erin Mellon, a spokeswoman for Newsom’s office, wrote in an email that the original projection “was based on what the federal government had communicated to us” and that “the federal government delayed the number of Pfizer vaccines that California will receive in the next shipment — many states received new estimated shipment amounts.”
California SoCal cities consider renewed ‘hero pay’ for grocery store workers amid COVID-19 surge The Long Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to draft an urgent ordinance mandating an extra $4 per hour for grocery store workers for at least the next 120 days. Other cities are considering similar measures.
That many doses is a drop in the bucket for a state the size of California.
Though the state expects to receive millions more doses by early next year, and additional vaccines in development could further expand availability, officials face difficult choices about which Californians should be protected next against COVID-19.
“We’ll be grappling with trying to determine criteria that can be used practically and efficiently to sort between worthy recipients of scarce vaccine, whether that’s using age or medical conditions or other factors to be able to give providers and the public and the workers clarity as to ... what are some practical tools that can be used to be able to let the highest risk or those at priority go first,” said Dr. Robert Schechter, the other co-chairman of California’s Drafting Guidelines Workgroup.
Different groups ranging from waste workers to meatpackers to the ride-hailing company Uber are already jockeying to secure early position in the vaccination line.
Debra Duardo, superintendent of the L.A. County Office of Education, sent a letter to the governor Wednesday calling for teachers to be a high priority.
“School closures have had a negative impact on our children, particularly those from lower-income families. As you have stated,” Duardo wrote, referring to Newsom, “reopening schools is also a crucial first step in an economic recovery.”
Most public school campuses remain closed in L.A. County. In a poll of more than 500 Los Angeles teachers released Wednesday, 36% rated a widely available vaccine as “critically important” to feeling comfortable in returning to the classroom.
Health officials estimate the vaccine will not be widely available to the general public until the spring or early summer.
The goal is to eventually integrate it into the larger healthcare system and for people to be able to get their vaccinations in pharmacies, clinics and other common locations, Dr. Seira Kurian, director of the L.A. County health department’s Division of Medical Affairs, said in a virtual town hall meeting Thursday evening.
But to get people quickly inoculated during the health emergency, she said, officials are considering setting up vaccination “pods,” or locations similar to current testing sites where many people can get inoculated — something that could be difficult in the midst of a pandemic surge in which people still need to maintain distance.
Among the considerations, she said, are drive-through vaccination sites where people stay in their vehicles and remain for several minutes to be observed by a medical professional after getting their shots, Kurian said.
The vaccine will be provided for free and will be available to people without health insurance, Kurian said.
People who have already tested positive for COVID-19 should still get vaccinated, Dr. Paul Simon, chief science officer for the L.A. County Department of Public Health, said during the town hall.
“Those who’ve had past infections are still encouraged to be vaccinated. However, if we do run into a shortage, we would recommend then that those who’ve had documented infection in the past 90 days delay getting vaccinated,” he said. That is because there is evidence, he said, that people are more protected from getting sick again, at least temporarily, after recent infections.
Conversations about the vaccine rollout all point to the same hopeful future: a time when California, along with the rest of the world, can finally declare victory over the COVID-19 pandemic. Such long-view optimism, however, is tempered by near-term devastation.
More Californians are becoming infected with, hospitalized by and dying from the coronavirus than at any other point in the outbreak.
Single-day pandemic records were shattered across the state again Wednesday, with 51,724 new coronavirus cases and 393 additional deaths reported.
On Thursday, 51,209 coronavirus cases were reported statewide — the second-highest single-day tally. There were 288 deaths reported Thursday, the third-highest single-day tally.
The state is now recording an average of 220 COVID-19 deaths a day over a weekly period, and about 38,000 daily cases — both records, and both quadruple the numbers from mid-November.
The enormous wave of infections comes as hospitals are already inundated with record numbers of coronavirus-positive patients.
On Wednesday, the most recent data available, 15,431 people across the state were in hospitals with coronavirus infections — more than six times more than the number on Halloween — and a record 3,280 of them were in intensive care.
The most recent record-high hospitalizations do not account for the sky-high numbers of new infections, a chilling prospect for the state’s stretched-thin hospitals and healthcare workers.
On Thursday, ICU bed availability reached 0.0% in Southern California — a sprawling region the state defines as Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, state figures show.
The day before, ICU availability again tumbled to zero in the San Joaquin Valley, though it bounced back to 0.7% on Thursday.
“If the numbers continue to increase the way they have, I am afraid that we may run out of capacity within our hospitals,” said Dr. Denise Whitfield, associate medical director with the L.A. County Emergency Medical Services Agency and an emergency room physician at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Times staff writers Sean Greene and Howard Blume and the Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-17--Orange County bishop tests positive for the coronavirus

The Roman Catholic bishop of Orange County has tested positive for the coronavirus , church authorities announced Wednesday .
Bishop Kevin Vann , 69 , has mild symptoms and is isolating at his home , the Diocese of Orange said in a statement .
Initial contact tracing suggests that Vann contracted the virus from a member of his support team , the statement said .
Vann has canceled all appearances and won ’ t resume his normal activities until he ’ s cleared by a doctor , the church said .
The announcement came as Orange County , like most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unprecedented surge in new coronavirus cases and related hospitalizations .
There were 1,519 coronavirus patients in county hospitals on Wednesday , an increase of nearly 463 % from a month before , when there were 270 patients .
The rapid rise prompted the county public health department to issue an order that forbids hospital emergency rooms from redirecting ambulances to other medical facilities .
The order — the first of its kind in the region — went into effect at 7 p.m. Tuesday after 20 of the county ’ s 25 emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients that they began diverting ambulances to other facilities in Orange County .
As a result , ambulances were having difficulty finding a hospital that would take patients .
Earlier in the week , county officials announced they would deploy mobile field hospitals to relieve some of the stress on the region ’ s healthcare system .
“ Every day we break the record of the number of people who have been infected , ” Dr. Clayton Chau , Orange County ’ s health officer and Health Care Agency director , told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So I ’ m pleading with the community : Please , please do not gather , and make sure you follow the public health guidance , because our hospitals are now bombarded.
” Times staff writers Hayley Smith , Luke Money and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report .

Bishop Kevin Vann is shown with Christ Cathedral behind him.
The Roman Catholic bishop of Orange County has tested positive for the coronavirus, church authorities announced Wednesday.
Bishop Kevin Vann, 69, has mild symptoms and is isolating at his home, the Diocese of Orange said in a statement. Initial contact tracing suggests that Vann contracted the virus from a member of his support team, the statement said.
Vann has canceled all appearances and won’t resume his normal activities until he’s cleared by a doctor, the church said.
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The announcement came as Orange County, like most of the state, continued to record an unprecedented surge in new coronavirus cases and related hospitalizations.
There were 1,519 coronavirus patients in county hospitals on Wednesday, an increase of nearly 463% from a month before, when there were 270 patients.
The rapid rise prompted the county public health department to issue an order that forbids hospital emergency rooms from redirecting ambulances to other medical facilities.
The order — the first of its kind in the region — went into effect at 7 p.m. Tuesday after 20 of the county’s 25 emergency medical centers became so overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients that they began diverting ambulances to other facilities in Orange County. As a result, ambulances were having difficulty finding a hospital that would take patients.
Earlier in the week, county officials announced they would deploy mobile field hospitals to relieve some of the stress on the region’s healthcare system.
“Every day we break the record of the number of people who have been infected,” Dr. Clayton Chau, Orange County’s health officer and Health Care Agency director, told the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. “So I’m pleading with the community: Please, please do not gather, and make sure you follow the public health guidance, because our hospitals are now bombarded.”
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Times staff writers Hayley Smith, Luke Money and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-17--Mayor Garcetti to be deposed in harassment case involving former aide

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered that Mayor Eric Garcetti be deposed in a sexual harassment lawsuit involving his former top aide .
Judge Ruth A. Kwan advised attorneys to schedule Garcetti ‘ s deposition to begin no later than Jan. 30 , 2021 , in the sexual harassment case brought against the city by Garcetti ’ s longtime bodyguard , LAPD Officer Matthew Garza .
Garza alleges he was sexually harassed repeatedly by former Garcetti advisor Rick Jacobs and that the mayor witnessed some of the inappropriate behavior but did not stop it .
Garza ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take the mayor ’ s deposition , while attorneys for the city argued that Garza ’ s legal team needed to meet the threshold for showing that the mayor must be deposed .
City attorneys wanted Garza ’ s attorneys to first depose lower-level staffers and do other discovery .
At a hearing Thursday , Kwan said Garcetti ’ s possible “ failure to act ” to stop Jacobs ’ alleged harassment of Garza made him a critical witness for Garza ’ s attorneys to depose .
There were instances of alleged misconduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present , ” she said .
Garza ’ s attorney , Greg Smith , said he plans to confine his questions for the mayor to inquiries about Jacobs , Garza and whether or not other allegations of impropriety were made against the former mayoral aide .
“ The court came to the right conclusion , ” Smith said .
“ This is not an indifferent boss or absentee boss hearing about sexual harassment.
” “ This is a case of the mayor of the city of Los Angeles who sets the policies for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasions sexual harassment and failing to protect a city employee , ” Smith said .
Jacobs has denied harassing Garza and has called his lawsuit “ pure fiction.
” Garcetti has also denied witnessing the alleged harassment outlined by Garza .
Garza sued in July , alleging that Jacobs made crude sexual comments and touched him inappropriately over several years .
In a sworn declaration submitted to the court this month , Garza said that Garcetti was in the car with Jacobs and himself when Jacobs massaged his shoulders and made sexually explicit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deposition can be done in person or via video communications .
At least one person — a mayoral aide — has already been deposed in the case and a former aide is slated to be deposed Thursday , according to sources familiar with the case .

James Queally, Dakota Smith, Richard Winton

A judge ordered that Mayor Eric Garcetti be deposed in the harassment case filed by an LAPD officer involving a former Garcetti aide.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered that Mayor Eric Garcetti be deposed in a sexual harassment lawsuit involving his former top aide.
Judge Ruth A. Kwan advised attorneys to schedule Garcetti‘s deposition to begin no later than Jan. 30, 2021, in the sexual harassment case brought against the city by Garcetti’s longtime bodyguard, LAPD Officer Matthew Garza.
Garza alleges he was sexually harassed repeatedly by former Garcetti advisor Rick Jacobs and that the mayor witnessed some of the inappropriate behavior but did not stop it.
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Garza’s attorneys pushed in recent weeks to take the mayor’s deposition, while attorneys for the city argued that Garza’s legal team needed to meet the threshold for showing that the mayor must be deposed.
City attorneys wanted Garza’s attorneys to first depose lower-level staffers and do other discovery.
At a hearing Thursday, Kwan said Garcetti’s possible “failure to act” to stop Jacobs’ alleged harassment of Garza made him a critical witness for Garza’s attorneys to depose.
There were instances of alleged misconduct where “Garcetti was the only witness present,” she said.
Garza’s attorney, Greg Smith, said he plans to confine his questions for the mayor to inquiries about Jacobs, Garza and whether or not other allegations of impropriety were made against the former mayoral aide.
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“The court came to the right conclusion,” Smith said. “This is not an indifferent boss or absentee boss hearing about sexual harassment.”
“This is a case of the mayor of the city of Los Angeles who sets the policies for the city witnessing first hand on multiple occasions sexual harassment and failing to protect a city employee,” Smith said.
Jacobs has denied harassing Garza and has called his lawsuit “pure fiction.” Garcetti has also denied witnessing the alleged harassment outlined by Garza.
Garza sued in July, alleging that Jacobs made crude sexual comments and touched him inappropriately over several years.
In a sworn declaration submitted to the court this month, Garza said that Garcetti was in the car with Jacobs and himself when Jacobs massaged his shoulders and made sexually explicit comments.
Smith said Garcetti’s deposition can be done in person or via video communications.
At least one person — a mayoral aide — has already been deposed in the case and a former aide is slated to be deposed Thursday, according to sources familiar with the case.


latimes--2020-12-17--With ICUs 100% full, Marin County turns down calls for help from San Joaquin Valley

Marin County this week reported that it has 0 % intensive care unit beds available and workers in the county north of San Francisco were being stretched thin .
Marin County Supervisor Damon Connolly said at a public meeting this week that some healthcare workers “ are pulling double shifts and working tirelessly to save lives.
” But the loss of available ICU beds due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic is leaving few good options .
Marin County has already had to turn down requests to accept patients from overloaded hospitals in the San Joaquin Valley region , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent days and has appealed to other regions to accept as many as 40 patients .
“ We ’ re not allowing patients from the outside to come into our ICUs right now , because we ’ re not able to accept them , ” Dr. Matt Willis , the Marin County health officer , told the Marin County Board of Supervisors this week .
Dr. Laura Eberhard , chief of the critical care department at Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center , told the Board of Supervisors in a video message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this surge in her 20 years of caring for the critically ill in Marin County .
“ As an ICU doctor I ’ m not scared by much , ” Eberhard said .
“ But I find the prospect of having a hospital and an ICU overflowing — and concerned about not being able to take good care of our residents of Marin — I find that scary .
“ We ’ re not the first line , we are the last line , ” Eberhard said .
She urged the community to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much as possible .
“ It really starts with our community by the time people get to us .
It ’ s really late in the game .
Only our community really can stop this epidemic , ” Eberhard said .
In response to the crisis , some hospitals are canceling scheduled procedures and asking ICU nurses to take care of multiple patients .
Marin County , however , hasn ’ t yet had to raise nursing ratios just yet .
“ That will be one of the first things that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see more cases coming in , ” Willis , told the Board of Supervisors this week .
Other options include asking other nurses to take a quick online training course so they can help care for critically ill patients .
“ Those are probably the most important measures that can be taken right now .
And none of them are good .
I mean , none of them feel safe , ” Willis said .
“ And that ’ s why the only ultimate solution is to reduce the number of people going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Few of the options a hospital could normally take to reduce strain on its ICU are available with the entire nation facing the same crisis simultaneously .
Bringing in outside , traveling nurses is not really possible .
“ The historical systems are not working right now , because there ’ s never been a level of strain on the system as a whole , ” Willis said .
“ As soon as we start encroaching into those other elements , it also immediately begins to affect the standard of care , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these steps we would take to increase our functional ICU capacity has an associated harm that we would need to take into account .
”

Pulmonologist Dr. Laren Tan, left, gathers his team of nurses and respiratory therapists to intubate a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit at Loma Linda University Medical Center in San Bernardino County on Tuesday.
Marin County this week reported that it has 0% intensive care unit beds available and workers in the county north of San Francisco were being stretched thin.
Marin County Supervisor Damon Connolly said at a public meeting this week that some healthcare workers “are pulling double shifts and working tirelessly to save lives.”
But the loss of available ICU beds due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic is leaving few good options. Marin County has already had to turn down requests to accept patients from overloaded hospitals in the San Joaquin Valley region, which has seen its ICU availability drop to zero in recent days and has appealed to other regions to accept as many as 40 patients.
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“We’re not allowing patients from the outside to come into our ICUs right now, because we’re not able to accept them,” Dr. Matt Willis, the Marin County health officer, told the Marin County Board of Supervisors this week.
Dr. Laura Eberhard, chief of the critical care department at Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center, told the Board of Supervisors in a video message that she has never seen anything like this surge in her 20 years of caring for the critically ill in Marin County.
“As an ICU doctor I’m not scared by much,” Eberhard said. “But I find the prospect of having a hospital and an ICU overflowing — and concerned about not being able to take good care of our residents of Marin — I find that scary.
“We’re not the first line, we are the last line,” Eberhard said. She urged the community to follow public health orders to stay home as much as possible.
“It really starts with our community by the time people get to us. It’s really late in the game. Only our community really can stop this epidemic,” Eberhard said.
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In response to the crisis, some hospitals are canceling scheduled procedures and asking ICU nurses to take care of multiple patients.
Marin County, however, hasn’t yet had to raise nursing ratios just yet. “That will be one of the first things that would start to erode as we start to see more cases coming in,” Willis, told the Board of Supervisors this week.
Other options include asking other nurses to take a quick online training course so they can help care for critically ill patients.
“Those are probably the most important measures that can be taken right now. And none of them are good. I mean, none of them feel safe,” Willis said. “And that’s why the only ultimate solution is to reduce the number of people going in with infections that require critical care.”
Few of the options a hospital could normally take to reduce strain on its ICU are available with the entire nation facing the same crisis simultaneously. Bringing in outside, traveling nurses is not really possible.
“The historical systems are not working right now, because there’s never been a level of strain on the system as a whole,” Willis said.
“As soon as we start encroaching into those other elements, it also immediately begins to affect the standard of care,” Willis said. “So each of these steps we would take to increase our functional ICU capacity has an associated harm that we would need to take into account.”


latimes--2020-12-17--Small boat carrying 23 Mexican nationals comes ashore near downtown Long Beach

A fishing boat carrying 23 Mexican nationals came ashore Wednesday in Long Beach , U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said .
The small , open-bowed panga vessel made landfall around 4 p.m. near 55th Place and Ocean Boulevard , less than four miles from downtown Long Beach , Border Patrol spokesman Jaime Ruiz said .
Its occupants , 21 men and two women , including two juveniles , identified themselves as Mexican citizens and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents .
No one was injured during the boat landing .
Migrant vessels don ’ t typically land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noting they mostly come ashore farther south , near San Diego County .
It was not immediately clear where the travelers departed or how long their journey was , although similar vessels have come from the Baja area , Ruiz said .
The trips are often initiated at night and can take up to 24 hours , depending on routes and currents .
“ They go full-speed on the ocean , no navigational lights , no life vests , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a very , very dangerous journey.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents from Border Patrol , the U.S. Coast Guard , Homeland Security and other law enforcement partners has seen an uptick in migrants arriving by water over the last three years — a trend he attributed to increased concerns about tightened border security on land .
Smugglers often promise easy passage and charge up to $ 10,000 per person for the journey , he said .
Each passenger on the vessel found in Long Beach will be interviewed individually , according to Ruiz .
Those for whom the trip was a first offense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the rest will be considered on a “ case by case ” basis , he said .
He could not yet say what the juveniles ’ outcome would be , noting that it will depend on the findings of the investigation .
The boat has been seized by the Department of Homeland Security .

A fishing boat carrying 23 Mexican nationals came ashore Wednesday in Long Beach, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said.
The small, open-bowed panga vessel made landfall around 4 p.m. near 55th Place and Ocean Boulevard, less than four miles from downtown Long Beach, Border Patrol spokesman Jaime Ruiz said.
Its occupants, 21 men and two women, including two juveniles, identified themselves as Mexican citizens and were taken into custody by Border Patrol agents. No one was injured during the boat landing.
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Migrant vessels don’t typically land in Long Beach, Ruiz said, noting they mostly come ashore farther south, near San Diego County.
It was not immediately clear where the travelers departed or how long their journey was, although similar vessels have come from the Baja area, Ruiz said. The trips are often initiated at night and can take up to 24 hours, depending on routes and currents.
“They go full-speed on the ocean, no navigational lights, no life vests,” he said. “It’s a very, very dangerous journey.”
Ruiz said a task force of agents from Border Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security and other law enforcement partners has seen an uptick in migrants arriving by water over the last three years — a trend he attributed to increased concerns about tightened border security on land.
Smugglers often promise easy passage and charge up to $10,000 per person for the journey, he said.
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Each passenger on the vessel found in Long Beach will be interviewed individually, according to Ruiz. Those for whom the trip was a first offense will likely be repatriated back to Mexico, while the rest will be considered on a “case by case” basis, he said.
He could not yet say what the juveniles’ outcome would be, noting that it will depend on the findings of the investigation.
The boat has been seized by the Department of Homeland Security.


latimes--2020-12-17--With COVID stimulus in sight, L.A.'s desperate nightclub owners hope it's not too little, too late

This week , Michael Swier had an unusual feeling for a music venue owner in 2020 : optimism that government might do something to help him .
Swier , who runs the downtown L.A. independent venues Teragram Ballroom and Moroccan Lounge , had no choice but to shut his doors in March and watch the coronavirus crisis decimate his industry .
None of his venues have had a show or any meaningful revenue since county and state regulations silenced clubs and concerts in the spring .
Still , he wasn ’ t too surprised that federal and local governments did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sens .
Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) and John Cornyn ( R-Texas ) had championed a bill , Save Our Stages , that would have offered $ 10 billion in grants to venues like his .
But the bill was embedded within a larger COVID-19 relief package that , although it was passed by the House , stalled out in the Republican-led Senate this fall .
“ It ’ s government , ” Swier said .
“ I think people outside our industry didn ’ t know how deeply live music would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week that COVID-19 vaccines began to be distributed , a second reason for hope emerged .
Save Our Stages , which seemed like another victim of Republican resistance to the stimulus measure , might actually make it into the final sprint as part of a $ 900-billion economic aid package .
“ We ’ re in a good place , ” Sen. Klobuchar told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday morning after a Senate hearing on COVID-19 and the live events industry .
She was careful to note the aid package was , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , and likely will be right up until Congress adjourns for the holidays .
( Congress faces a Friday deadline to pass a bill to avert a government shutdown as well . )
“ It ’ s been too long in coming , and we ’ re dependent on the package passing .
But Save Our Stages has always had bipartisan strength , ” Sen Klobuchar said .
“ I ’ m very optimistic .
We shouldn ’ t be the Congress that let music die.
” If a COVID-19 relief bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included — is signed into law by President Trump in the waning days of his presidency , it might keep venues alive until enough Americans receive a vaccine and , perhaps in late spring or summer , shows can safely resume .
“ We ’ re waiting with bated breath , ” Swier said .
“ We ’ ve been on the cusp a couple of times , so hopefully this will happen and everyone can take a big breath of fresh air.
” For months , music venues big and small , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been paralyzed with uncertainty about how to move forward .
As long as the pandemic continued to rip through the country — on Wednesday alone , California tallied more than 50,000 new cases and 400 deaths , both records — indoor concerts seemed a distant hypothetical .
Even mega-promoters like Live Nation and AEG have seen revenues vanish and instituted draconian layoffs and cutbacks .
Groups like the National Independent Venue Assn .
have pushed for federal relief since summer , and Save Our Stages looked like the best hope .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion that the Small Business Administration would tap for grants to independent venues .
The measure was included in the Heroes Act passed by the Democratic-led house in November , but as negotiations over a comprehensive bill ground down in the Senate , its prospects dimmed , as did any sense among venue operators that help was ever coming .
“ We ’ ve lost millions in revenue .
It ’ s probably been the worst year for our industry since Prohibition , ” said Mitch Edelson , who owns the Silver Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mid-City venue and dance club famous in Black LGBTQ history .
As Save Our Stages seemed thwarted , Edelson said , “ Was I surprised ?
No .
Disappointed ?
Incredibly .
We bailed out the airlines , but how about the venues where we all have memories ?
” Some clubs had to turn to their fanbases to keep the lights on .
“ After 24 years , the pandemic just exhausted me , and I thought maybe now was the time to throw in the towel , ” said Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ nightclub and electronic-music mainstay Akbar .
The club announced this week it was on the verge of closing .
A successful GoFundMe effort raised $ 180,000 , but “ we don ’ t expect to open until early summer .
It ’ s heartbreaking , ” Craig said .
“ This bar was created out of the AIDS epidemic , and with the present pandemic , not being able to console people physically is real tough .
Government needs to recognize the value of small institutions like ours.
” With just days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good news , the first shipments of vaccines offered a measure of relief , and a vague timeline around which venues could begin to plan .
But the day when they can fling open their doors might still be six months or more in the future .
Unlike at many restaurants , opening at reduced capacity makes little sense for a venue paying to book bands and staff for a show .
It would be a bitter irony if clubs that have lasted this long ran out of funds now , with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The vaccines are going to take months to be fully effective , so we have to help these businesses so they don ’ t fail , ” Sen. Klobuchar said .
“ Smaller venues and smaller markets operate on even slimmer margins .
There ’ s a whole ecosystem of jobs there , so we ’ ve got to make sure they survive the next few months.
” Sen. Klobuchar said on Tuesday that , so far , all four of the main negotiators of the bill — House Speaker Nancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy — had included Save Our Stages provisions in their proposed packages of legislation .
Sen. McConnell ’ s approval was widely seen as the bill ’ s main obstacle , but even he ’ s had conversations with Kentucky musicians Sturgill Simpson and My Morning Jacket ’ s Jim James , who pushed for Save Our Stages ’ relief measures .
Although nothing is final yet , Save Our Stages seems closer to becoming law than it ever has been .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money would provide , as Swier said , a “ bridge to the other side ” of the pandemic .
After it ’ s signed into law , eligible independent venues could apply for grants of up to 45 % of their 2019 revenue , as much as $ 12 million .
( It ’ s uncertain how long it would actually take for applications to be processed and checks to arrive . )
With another six months of shutdown looming even with widespread vaccination , that money could mean the difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still some hard months to go through , ” Swier said , “ but this relief will help.
” “ It does feel like almost time to start our engines , ” Edelson agreed .
“ It ’ s been super painful with bills stacking up and the city and state still expecting us to pay for licenses and taxes .
I know it ’ s going to take patience , but I really hope this stimulus comes through.
” But in the meantime , venue owners like Akbar ’ s Craig @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Klobuchar ’ s Save Our Stages bill makes it over the finish line , for Silver Lake gay disco clubs and small-town juke joints alike .
“ I always did like her , ” Craig said , laughing .
“ All across the country , these institutions need help , otherwise all the life in these towns will go away .
L.A. ’ s music scene is incredible , and Lord knows large corporations have been getting help .
I can imagine that there ’ s a great little bar in Omaha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

This week, Michael Swier had an unusual feeling for a music venue owner in 2020: optimism that government might do something to help him.
Swier, who runs the downtown L.A. independent venues Teragram Ballroom and Moroccan Lounge, had no choice but to shut his doors in March and watch the coronavirus crisis decimate his industry. None of his venues have had a show or any meaningful revenue since county and state regulations silenced clubs and concerts in the spring.
Still, he wasn’t too surprised that federal and local governments did little to help the live music industry. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) had championed a bill, Save Our Stages, that would have offered $10 billion in grants to venues like his. But the bill was embedded within a larger COVID-19 relief package that, although passed by the House, had stalled out in the Republican-led Senate in fall.
“It’s government,” Swier said. “I think people outside our industry didn’t know how deeply live music would be affected.”
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But in the same week that COVID-19 vaccines began to be distributed, a second reason for hope emerged. As of Sunday afternoon, Save Our Stages, which seemed like another victim of Republican resistance to the stimulus measure, looks to have made it into the final $900-billion economic aid package.
“We’re in a good place,” Sen. Klobuchar told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday morning after a Senate hearing on COVID-19 and the live events industry. She was careful to note that the exact language of the aid package was still being finalized. The latest bill would direct $15 billion for direct grants to independent music venues, movie theaters and cultural spaces.
“It’s been too long in coming, and we’re dependent on the package passing. But Save Our Stages has always had bipartisan strength,” Sen Klobuchar said. “I’m very optimistic. We shouldn’t be the Congress that let music die.”
Dayna Frank, owner and chief executive of First Avenue Productions and board president of the National Independent Venue Association, said in a statement on Sunday that “We’re thrilled that Congress has heard the call of shuttered independent venues across the country and provided us a crucial lifeline by including the Save Our Stages Act in the Omnibus COVID- 19 Relief Bill. We’re also incredibly grateful that this bill provides Pandemic Unemployment Assistance which will help the millions of people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own during this economic crisis. We urge swift passage of this legislation, which will assist those in the greatest need and ensure the music lives on for generations to come.”
Michael Swier, in the Teragram Ballroom in 2015, says local clubs are waiting “with bated breath” to see whether the stimulus passes. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
If a COVID-19 relief bill — one with Save Our Stages provisions included — is signed into law by President Trump in the waning days of his presidency, it might keep venues alive until enough Americans receive a vaccine and, perhaps in late spring or summer, shows can safely resume.
“We’re waiting with bated breath,” Swier said. “We’ve been on the cusp a couple of times, so hopefully this will happen and everyone can take a big breath of fresh air.”
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For months, music venues big and small, in major markets and smaller ones, have been paralyzed with uncertainty about how to move forward. As long as the pandemic continued to rip through the country — on Wednesday alone, California tallied more than 50,000 new cases and 400 deaths, both records — indoor concerts seemed a distant hypothetical. Even mega-promoters like Live Nation and AEG have seen revenues vanish and instituted draconian layoffs and cutbacks.
Groups like the National Independent Venue Assn. have pushed for federal relief since summer, and Save Our Stages looked like the best hope. The initial version proposed a pool of $10 billion that the Small Business Administration would tap for grants to independent venues. The measure was included in the Heroes Act passed by the Democratic-led house in November, but as negotiations over a comprehensive bill ground down in the Senate, its prospects dimmed, as did any sense among venue operators that help was ever coming.
“We’ve lost millions in revenue. It’s probably been the worst year for our industry since Prohibition,” said Mitch Edelson, who owns the Silver Lake venue El Cid and Catch One, the Mid-City venue and dance club famous in Black LGBTQ history. As Save Our Stages seemed thwarted, Edelson said, “Was I surprised? No. Disappointed? Incredibly. We bailed out the airlines, but how about the venues where we all have memories?”
Pre-pandemic, patrons mingle at El Cid in Silver Lake. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Some clubs had to turn to their fanbases to keep the lights on.
“After 24 years, the pandemic just exhausted me, and I thought maybe now was the time to throw in the towel,” said Scott Craig, co-owner of the Silver Lake LGBTQ nightclub and electronic-music mainstay Akbar. The club announced this week it was on the verge of closing. A successful GoFundMe effort raised $180,000, but “we don’t expect to open until early summer. It’s heartbreaking,” Craig said. “This bar was created out of the AIDS epidemic, and with the present pandemic, not being able to console people physically is real tough. Government needs to recognize the value of small institutions like ours.”
With just days left in a 2020 often bereft of good news, the first shipments of vaccines offered a measure of relief, and a vague timeline around which venues could begin to plan. But the day when they can fling open their doors might still be six months or more in the future. Unlike at many restaurants, opening at reduced capacity makes little sense for a venue paying to book bands and staff for a show.
It would be a bitter irony if clubs that have lasted this long ran out of funds now, with an end to the pandemic finally in sight.
“The vaccines are going to take months to be fully effective, so we have to help these businesses so they don’t fail,” Sen. Klobuchar said. “Smaller venues and smaller markets operate on even slimmer margins. There’s a whole ecosystem of jobs there, so we’ve got to make sure they survive the next few months.”
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Sen. Klobuchar said on Tuesday that, so far, all four of the main negotiators of the bill — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy — had included Save Our Stages provisions in their proposed packages of legislation.
Sen. McConnell’s approval was widely seen as the bill’s main obstacle, but even he’s had conversations with Kentucky musicians Sturgill Simpson and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, who pushed for Save Our Stages’ relief measures. Although nothing is final yet, Save Our Stages seems closer to becoming law than it ever has been.
For L.A. venues in dire straits, the money would provide, as Swier said, a “bridge to the other side” of the pandemic. After it’s signed into law, eligible independent venues could apply for grants of up to 45% of their 2019 revenue, as much as $12 million. (It’s uncertain how long it would actually take for applications to be processed and checks to arrive.) With another six months of shutdown looming even with widespread vaccination, that money could mean the difference between shuttering and surviving.
“There are still some hard months to go through,” Swier said, “but this relief will help.”
“It does feel like almost time to start our engines,” Edelson agreed. “It’s been super painful with bills stacking up and the city and state still expecting us to pay for licenses and taxes. I know it’s going to take patience, but I really hope this stimulus comes through.”
But in the meantime, venue owners like Akbar’s Craig are crossing their fingers that the language from Klobuchar’s Save Our Stages bill makes it over the finish line, for Silver Lake gay disco clubs and small-town juke joints alike.
“I always did like her,” Craig said, laughing. “All across the country, these institutions need help, otherwise all the life in these towns will go away. L.A.’s music scene is incredible, and Lord knows large corporations have been getting help. I can imagine that there’s a great little bar in Omaha that can really use these funds too.”