latimes--2020-03-16--Despite dire coronavirus warning, some refuse to give up their routines

As schools closed and store shelves emptied of toilet paper , Joseph Sanchez realized that life as he knew it was grinding to a halt .
What was next ?
Perhaps even bars would close to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus that has killed more than 6,500 people worldwide ?
Sanchez invited a friend , Marcos Avina , to meet at their favorite spot , Glendale Tap , for what he termed “ one more moment of normality.
” As he and Avina sipped craft beers Sunday afternoon at the neighborhood bar on San Fernando Road , Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California should close their doors , restaurants should seat customers farther apart and senior citizens should isolate themselves .
“ This could be the last bar we go to in a long time , ” said Avina , 40 , a bill collector for Spectrum , the internet and cable company .
Newsom ’ s directive rippled across California on a day when some people hunkered down at home with stockpiles of supplies while others ventured out for brunch or a stroll at the mall .
For older Californians , the hard-won pleasures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandchildren , breakfast at a diner with friends , dressing up for the opera — were being snatched from them .
Some local seniors were angry and defiant , even as they knew they were especially vulnerable to the virus that causes the disease known as COVID-19 , which can ravage the lungs and has a fatality rate that increases exponentially with age .
For bar and restaurant workers , it was about more than the deprivation of simple joys — it was a question of survival .
“ I understand why , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Glendale Tap , said of the governor ’ s order .
“ We ’ re like walking petri dishes , who could be carrying the virus even though we have no symptoms .
The scariest thing is , what to do about rent this month ?
” Halay , 32 , said the manager called and said the bar would be closed starting the next day .
She lives paycheck to paycheck and will have to appeal to her landlord for extra time .
Sanchez , 30 , is a custodian at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if the campus shuts down .
Avina ‘ s boss said he can cut back on in-person visits and do his work by phone .
They are not worried about surviving .
But for the childhood friends , losing the bar where they meet at least once a month and having to watch old basketball games on television after the postponement of the NBA season — including ones featuring the late Kobe Bryant — is unnerving .
“ We need a place to clear our heads .
We don ’ t like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a war zone , ” Avina said .
In West Hollywood , the iconic gay bar the Abbey had closed because of the virus even before Newsom ’ s announcement .
As happy hour began on Sunday afternoon , bars such as Trunks , Micky ’ s and Fiesta Cantina were packed and blasting loud music .
Drag performer Serena Infinity , who was enjoying happy hour at Micky ’ s , said she was already having a hard time financially because many bars had canceled shows or closed altogether .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inconvenience , especially for people like me , ” said the 22-year-old , who performs drag full time .
“ My primary income is open bars .
It ’ s stopping my flow of money.
” Malcolm Pipkins , 29 , would usually be at Revolver Video Bar , which offers $ 2 drinks on Sunday , or perhaps the Abbey .
Instead , he was at Micky ’ s , frustrated at the governor ’ s call for bar closures .
But , he said , West Hollywood ’ s gay community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ AIDS didn ’ t stop us in the ’ 80s .
Corona isn ’ t going to stop us now , ” he said .
Earlier in the day , before the governor ’ s announcement , popular brunch and shopping spots were less crowded than usual but still drew plenty of die-hards .
At Millie ’ s Cafe on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake , customers packed the outside seats , but there were some empty tables — unheard of on a Sunday morning when the wait is usually half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the tables with a yellow towel on each arm , giving surfaces an extra wipe-down .
He has brought in two extra workers to do more cleaning and sanitizing .
“ I ’ ll try to be open as much as I can , ” said Babish , who has owned the cafe for 20 years .
“ People still want to eat.
” Ken Coon and his husband , Michael L. Miller , eat at Millie ’ s almost every day .
But this would be the last time for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blowing up too much , ” said Coon , of Atwater Village .
The two had stocked up on food and eliminated their weekly movie outings while continuing to eat out .
They trust Babish to keep Millie ’ s as clean as possible .
But there is still a risk , especially because Coon is 56 and Miller is 67 .
They were planning a luxurious dinner at home that night — a seven-bone roast with onions , potatoes and carrots .
At the Americana at Brand outdoor mall in Glendale , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large crowds , was closed .
Most other stores were open , and families strolled with children and dogs , stopping for pretzels or ice cream .
“ Our lives should still go on .
We shouldn ’ t let the virus make us stay home , ” said Maly Lee , 52 , who works in merchandising .
“ We shouldn ’ t just sit home and be depressed .
The more you think about it , the more depressed you get.
” Still , Lee , who was at the mall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband and two aunts in their 60s , was taking precautions .
A mini bottle of hand sanitizer dangled from her purse , and she washed her hands every 20 minutes when eating at the Cheesecake Factory .
Shortly after Newsom ’ s recommendation that people 65 and older isolate themselves , 67-year-old Tamara Sevoian arrived at Pacific Park in Glendale with her daughter and grandson .
She is a licensed vocational nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital and plans to keep working until she is 74 .
She is washing her hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She has no intention of staying home .
“ I have to work .
I have to go out and play with my grandson , ” she said .
“ I ’ m not old .
I ’ m doing a lot.
” Linda Pierce , 76 , of Playa del Rey , was a computer systems engineer for many years , then reinvented herself as a landscape architect .
In retirement , she makes the rounds of opera houses around the country .
Nearly all the performances are canceled , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Chicago next month .
Exercise is on hold , too .
Her trainer is self-quarantining after possibly being exposed to the coronavirus through another client .
With the governor ’ s order to close bars , the happy hour at her local wine bar may also be a thing of the past .
Pierce knows she is in a high-risk group for the virus .
Her partner , who is 79 and smokes , is even more vulnerable .
They have no close relatives nearby , so she will continue to shop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still safe to meet with small groups of friends , perhaps for picnics in the park .
“ Normally , I ’ m a really active person , ” she said .
“ Now , everything , it seems , has been taken away from me .
”

Kim Schoen, left, and Michelle Accardo spend time at Patrick Molloy’s Sports Pub in Hermosa Beach. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday issued an order for bars to close because of the spread of the coronavirus.
As schools closed and store shelves emptied of toilet paper, Joseph Sanchez realized that life as he knew it was grinding to a halt.
What was next? Perhaps even bars would close to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus that has killed more than 6,500 people worldwide?
Sanchez invited a friend, Marcos Avina, to meet at their favorite spot, Glendale Tap, for what he termed “one more moment of normality.”
His hunch proved prescient.
As he and Avina sipped craft beers Sunday afternoon at the neighborhood bar on San Fernando Road, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that bars in California should close their doors, restaurants should seat customers farther apart and senior citizens should isolate themselves.
Advertisement
“This could be the last bar we go to in a long time,” said Avina, 40, a bill collector for Spectrum, the internet and cable company.
(Late Sunday, Mayor Eric Garcetti went even further, ordering bars in Los Angeles to close and restaurants to halt dine-in service until March 31.)
Newsom’s directive rippled across California on a day when some people hunkered down at home with stockpiles of supplies while others ventured out for brunch or a stroll at the mall.
For older Californians, the hard-won pleasures of their golden years — outings with grandchildren, breakfast at a diner with friends, dressing up for the opera — were being snatched from them. Some local seniors were angry and defiant, even as they knew they were especially vulnerable to the virus that causes the disease known as COVID-19, which can ravage the lungs and has a fatality rate that increases exponentially with age.
For bar and restaurant workers, it was about more than the deprivation of simple joys — it was a question of survival.
“I understand why,” Holly Halay, the bartender at Glendale Tap, said of the governor’s order. “We’re like walking petri dishes, who could be carrying the virus even though we have no symptoms. The scariest thing is, what to do about rent this month?”
Advertisement
Halay, 32, said the manager called and said the bar would be closed starting the next day. She lives paycheck to paycheck and will have to appeal to her landlord for extra time.
Sanchez, 30, is a custodian at a community college and will still be paid even if the campus shuts down. Avina‘s boss said he can cut back on in-person visits and do his work by phone.
They are not worried about surviving. But for the childhood friends, losing the bar where they meet at least once a month and having to watch old basketball games on television after the postponement of the NBA season — including ones featuring the late Kobe Bryant — is unnerving.
“We need a place to clear our heads. We don’t like to feel like we’re in a war zone,” Avina said.
In West Hollywood, the iconic gay bar the Abbey had closed because of the virus even before Newsom’s announcement.
As happy hour began on Sunday afternoon, bars such as Trunks, Micky’s and Fiesta Cantina were packed and blasting loud music.
Drag performer Serena Infinity, who was enjoying happy hour at Micky’s, said she was already having a hard time financially because many bars had canceled shows or closed altogether.
“It’s a little bit of an inconvenience, especially for people like me,” said the 22-year-old, who performs drag full time. “My primary income is open bars. It’s stopping my flow of money.”
Malcolm Pipkins, 29, would usually be at Revolver Video Bar, which offers $2 drinks on Sunday, or perhaps the Abbey.
Instead, he was at Micky’s, frustrated at the governor’s call for bar closures. But, he said, West Hollywood’s gay community would find a way to have fun.
“AIDS didn’t stop us in the ’80s. Corona isn’t going to stop us now,” he said.
Earlier in the day, before the governor’s announcement, popular brunch and shopping spots were less crowded than usual but still drew plenty of die-hards.
At Millie’s Cafe on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake, customers packed the outside seats, but there were some empty tables — unheard of on a Sunday morning when the wait is usually half an hour.
Owner Robert Babish rushed among the tables with a yellow towel on each arm, giving surfaces an extra wipe-down. He has brought in two extra workers to do more cleaning and sanitizing.
“I’ll try to be open as much as I can,” said Babish, who has owned the cafe for 20 years. “People still want to eat.”
Ken Coon and his husband, Michael L. Miller, eat at Millie’s almost every day. But this would be the last time for a while. The virus is “just blowing up too much,” said Coon, of Atwater Village.
The two had stocked up on food and eliminated their weekly movie outings while continuing to eat out. They trust Babish to keep Millie’s as clean as possible. But there is still a risk, especially because Coon is 56 and Miller is 67.
They were planning a luxurious dinner at home that night — a seven-bone roast with onions, potatoes and carrots.
At the Americana at Brand outdoor mall in Glendale, the Apple Store, which usually draws large crowds, was closed. Most other stores were open, and families strolled with children and dogs, stopping for pretzels or ice cream.
“Our lives should still go on. We shouldn’t let the virus make us stay home,” said Maly Lee, 52, who works in merchandising. “We shouldn’t just sit home and be depressed. The more you think about it, the more depressed you get.”
Still, Lee, who was at the mall with her Labrador retriever mix, her husband and two aunts in their 60s, was taking precautions. A mini bottle of hand sanitizer dangled from her purse, and she washed her hands every 20 minutes when eating at the Cheesecake Factory.
Shortly after Newsom’s recommendation that people 65 and older isolate themselves, 67-year-old Tamara Sevoian arrived at Pacific Park in Glendale with her daughter and grandson.
She is a licensed vocational nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital and plans to keep working until she is 74. She is washing her hands often and keeping her house sparkling clean. She has no intention of staying home.
“I have to work. I have to go out and play with my grandson,” she said. “I’m not old. I’m doing a lot.”
Linda Pierce, 76, of Playa del Rey, was a computer systems engineer for many years, then reinvented herself as a landscape architect.
In retirement, she makes the rounds of opera houses around the country. Nearly all the performances are canceled, including Wagner’s “Ring” cycle in Chicago next month.
Exercise is on hold, too. Her trainer is self-quarantining after possibly being exposed to the coronavirus through another client.
With the governor’s order to close bars, the happy hour at her local wine bar may also be a thing of the past.
Pierce knows she is in a high-risk group for the virus. Her partner, who is 79 and smokes, is even more vulnerable.
They have no close relatives nearby, so she will continue to shop at the supermarket. She thinks it is still safe to meet with small groups of friends, perhaps for picnics in the park.
“Normally, I’m a really active person,” she said. “Now, everything, it seems, has been taken away from me.”


latimes--2020-03-16--Business is marvelous ... for sellers of survival supplies and bunkers

The crowd outside the survival store in Upland stood waiting as the manager opened shop a few minutes early .
On a normal Friday , that eager crew wouldn ’ t be there .
But as droves of Californians snap up enough pasta to feed Napoleon ’ s retreat from Moscow and raid shelves of toilet paper in the age of the novel coronavirus , some are prepping for the worst .
That means flocking to stores like Prep and Save and snatching up their stock of survival food , hand sanitizer and masks , canceling vacations and , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelters .
“ Our phones have been ringing off the hook , ” said Tony DeCastro , manager of Prep and Save , as dozens of customers milled around the aisles .
“ People are buying whatever they can get their hands on.
” Over the last few weeks , customers have been peppering staff with questions .
How should I apply this anti-viral stuff ?
What ’ s the best way to store emergency water ?
“ We are running at 300 % to 500 % of business , ” said Keith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s been happening since the end of January , beginning of February.
” The shop is “ parsing ” N-95 masks to buyers , he added .
“ Otherwise , we would run out.
” In California , more than 200 cases of the virus have been reported , including at least four deaths .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom has in response to the outbreak , which the World Health Organization last week .
Most household budgets can cover hand sanitizer and family-size bags of rice .
For some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would-be 1 % , personal shelters are becoming a must-have item .
Underground bunkers at Ron Hubbard ’ s warehouse in Montebello have been selling quickly , purchased by people who had been contemplating buying a shelter over the last few weeks or who had wanted one for a while but never pulled the trigger .
Some of his clientele includes celebrities , he said , “ ones that you see in magazines literally every week.
” “ No one is buying a bunker only because of coronavirus , ” said Hubbard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The people buying a bunker wanted a bunker before corona , but this has pushed them .
This was the straw that broke the camel ’ s back .
They ’ re like , ‘ Let ’ s just do it.
’ ” His bunkers range from those Hubbard says are for the average , working-class American — about 100 square feet , with space for two people — to more luxurious designs , which include a bedroom and room for a leather couch and large TV .
Unlike Cold War-era shelters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dungeon , ” these “ are like a house inside.
” Most are pre-manufactured with steel .
Prices start around $ 25,000 , he said .
He sold most of his inventory last week , he added , with the exception of a “ couple tiny ones.
” “ I sold two within 30 seconds today , ” he said , “ that were almost a quarter-million [ dollars ] apiece.
” Earlier this month , Jim Cobb published a special edition of his Prepper Survival Guide magazine ( $ 9.95 ) dedicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ 25 essential tips to stay safe ” and a section on which face masks “ really work.
” Hundreds of people have reached out to the Wisconsin-based writer via social media and emails over the last few weeks , he said .
Some are people who have been prepping for years and are offering expertise to those without any experience , while others are newcomers who want to learn the basics .
“ I ’ ve been interested in preparedness for decades , ” Cobb said .
“ In the last seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been an increase in interest .
And in the last few weeks , it ’ s like I ’ m the quarterback of the best football team in the world.
” The last thing Cobb wants to do is promote panic , he said , adding that there is no need for people to stuff their shopping carts with toilet paper .
“ The more information we give people , the calmer they tend be , ” he said , “ because now they can make an informed decision rather than fly off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do.
” But what has proved to be a boom for some has turned into a bust for others .
Swarms of vacationers , driven by the same impulses as budding survivalists , have canceled their trips .
Escape today looks different than it did this time last year .
Anthony Ng , owner of Elite 5 Star Travel in Monterey Park , said he had canceled more than 200 trips for clients since January .
“ It ’ s impacted us greatly , ” Ng , 38 , said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have not experienced anything like this .
Travel is the last thing on people ’ s minds right now.
” Customers have canceled their trips all the way through September , he said — they ’ re not re-booking or postponing their vacations .
“ We have been getting a lot of questions like , ‘ Where can you redirect us to ?
’ ” he said .
“ Honestly , with the scenario right now , I wouldn ’ t suggest people travel.
” Only spring breakers seem to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ younger travelers who are headed for destinations such as Cancun or Cabo San Lucas .
DC Vekic estimated that she ’ d lost about a year ’ s worth of income because of cancellations .
“ We really don ’ t get paid until people travel , ” said Vekic , who runs Cosmopolitan Travels Inc. “ All the work that we have booked for the last nine months — groups , weddings — everyone is canceling.
” Travelers have decided against taking trips as far out as November , said Vekic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for about a decade and has been working 14-hour days trying to get her clients refunds — even those who didn ’ t have travel insurance .
Some people have called asking for her help getting money back even though they didn ’ t book through her , she said .
“ We weathered swine flu , bird flu and volcanic ash covering half of Europe , ” she said .
“ It has never been this bad , though.
” The travel business , she added , is always the first to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a lot of people who are booked for the summer hanging on and waiting to see what happens , but I would say that about 70 % of my summer bookings have already been canceled , ” she said .
But not everyone is jumping ship .
She booked two new trips Friday morning after a couple of people felt it would be a good time to travel because prices were low , she said .
“ I was considering getting on a plane and going to Cabo for a few weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ because it ’ s cheaper than staying home .
”

A Costco in Burbank, like other Costcos and grocery stores, has seen a run on water and other goods.
The crowd outside the survival store in Upland stood waiting as the manager opened shop a few minutes early.
On a normal Friday, that eager crew wouldn’t be there.
But as droves of Californians snap up enough pasta to feed Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow and raid shelves of toilet paper in the age of the novel coronavirus, some are prepping for the worst.
That means flocking to stores like Prep and Save and snatching up their stock of survival food, hand sanitizer and masks, canceling vacations and, for those envisioning future disasters, investing in shelters.
“Our phones have been ringing off the hook,” said Tony DeCastro, manager of Prep and Save, as dozens of customers milled around the aisles. “People are buying whatever they can get their hands on.”
Advertisement
Over the last few weeks, customers have been peppering staff with questions. How should I apply this anti-viral stuff? What’s the best way to store emergency water?
“We are running at 300% to 500% of business,” said Keith Hillen, the store’s owner. “It’s been happening since the end of January, beginning of February.”
The shop is “parsing” N-95 masks to buyers, he added. “Otherwise, we would run out.”
In California, more than 200 cases of the virus have been reported, including at least four deaths. Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in response to the outbreak, which the World Health Organization last week officially called a pandemic .
Most household budgets can cover hand sanitizer and family-size bags of rice. For some denizens of the 1% and the would-be 1%, personal shelters are becoming a must-have item.
Underground bunkers at Ron Hubbard’s warehouse in Montebello have been selling quickly, purchased by people who had been contemplating buying a shelter over the last few weeks or who had wanted one for a while but never pulled the trigger.
Some of his clientele includes celebrities, he said, “ones that you see in magazines literally every week.”
Advertisement
“No one is buying a bunker only because of coronavirus,” said Hubbard, owner of Atlas Survival Shelters. “The people buying a bunker wanted a bunker before corona, but this has pushed them. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back. They’re like, ‘Let’s just do it.’”
His bunkers range from those Hubbard says are for the average, working-class American — about 100 square feet, with space for two people — to more luxurious designs, which include a bedroom and room for a leather couch and large TV. Unlike Cold War-era shelters, which he said “felt like a dungeon,” these “are like a house inside.” Most are pre-manufactured with steel.
Prices start around $25,000, he said. He sold most of his inventory last week, he added, with the exception of a “couple tiny ones.”
“I sold two within 30 seconds today,” he said, “that were almost a quarter-million [dollars] apiece.”
Earlier this month, Jim Cobb published a special edition of his Prepper Survival Guide magazine ($9.95) dedicated to the coronavirus. The issue included “25 essential tips to stay safe” and a section on which face masks “really work.”
Hundreds of people have reached out to the Wisconsin-based writer via social media and emails over the last few weeks, he said. Some are people who have been prepping for years and are offering expertise to those without any experience, while others are newcomers who want to learn the basics.
“I’ve been interested in preparedness for decades,” Cobb said. “In the last seven or eight years, there’s been an increase in interest. And in the last few weeks, it’s like I’m the quarterback of the best football team in the world.”
The last thing Cobb wants to do is promote panic, he said, adding that there is no need for people to stuff their shopping carts with toilet paper.
“The more information we give people, the calmer they tend be,” he said, “because now they can make an informed decision rather than fly off the handle with whatever instinct tells them to do.”
But what has proved to be a boom for some has turned into a bust for others. Swarms of vacationers, driven by the same impulses as budding survivalists, have canceled their trips. Escape today looks different than it did this time last year.
Anthony Ng, owner of Elite 5 Star Travel in Monterey Park, said he had canceled more than 200 trips for clients since January.
“It’s impacted us greatly,” Ng, 38, said. “We’re preparing for the worst. We have not experienced anything like this. Travel is the last thing on people’s minds right now.”
Customers have canceled their trips all the way through September, he said — they’re not re-booking or postponing their vacations.
“We have been getting a lot of questions like, ‘Where can you redirect us to?’” he said. “Honestly, with the scenario right now, I wouldn’t suggest people travel.”
Only spring breakers seem to be interested in vacation, Ng said — younger travelers who are headed for destinations such as Cancun or Cabo San Lucas.
DC Vekic estimated that she’d lost about a year’s worth of income because of cancellations.
“We really don’t get paid until people travel,” said Vekic, who runs Cosmopolitan Travels Inc. “All the work that we have booked for the last nine months — groups, weddings —
everyone is canceling.”
Travelers have decided against taking trips as far out as November, said Vekic, who’s been in the industry for about a decade and has been working 14-hour days trying to get her clients refunds — even those who didn’t have travel insurance. Some people have called asking for her help getting money back even though they didn’t book through her, she said.
A worker welds the ends of a 40-foot shelter at Atlas Survival Shelters in Montebello in 2013. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
“We weathered swine flu, bird flu and volcanic ash covering half of Europe,” she said. “It has never been this bad, though.”
The travel business, she added, is always the first to be hit.
“I’ve had a lot of people who are booked for the summer hanging on and waiting to see what happens, but I would say that about 70% of my summer bookings have already been canceled,” she said.
But not everyone is jumping ship. She booked two new trips Friday morning after a couple of people felt it would be a good time to travel because prices were low, she said.
She understood their impulse.
“I was considering getting on a plane and going to Cabo for a few weeks,” she said with a laugh, “because it’s cheaper than staying home.”


latimes--2020-03-16--Amid coronavirus, recovery community urges: Even if you skip 12-step meetings, stay connected

It was time for the coveted sobriety chips , so Grace snapped on a pair of plastic gloves and kept a bit of distance as she doled out medallions to members who had gone 30 , 60 and 90 days without a drink .
Normally , she hugs the people gathered here in this church on the Westside , but on Thursday she offered them a small namaste bow instead .
This is what an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting looks like during a pandemic .
“ AA can ’ t totally close its doors , ” said Grace , a 49-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified by her middle name to respect the group ’ s anonymity pledge .
“ We don ’ t know when someone ’ s going to crawl in in desperation.
” She started coming to the rooms , as she calls the gatherings , two decades ago and now tries to attend two or three meetings a week , a tiny sampling of the more than 350 groups that meet every day in L.A .
They restored her life , she said , and she can ’ t help but think about others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment , were considering whether they had the courage to attend their first meeting .
What if , like Italy , we ’ re headed toward lockdowns ?
These were the questions running through the minds of many in the recovery community this week .
As the words “ Cancel Everything ” began to trend on Twitter and people quipped online about how they planned to self-quarantine with three bottles of tequila , some people wondered what would happen to the 12-step meetings they rely on .
What about the people who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pop a few pills ?
What exactly does the mandate to “ practice social distancing ” look like for people who so intimately know the dangers of isolation ?
“ We rely on community , ” said Rick Manelius , an active member of a 12-step program .
“ It is very hard for people to white-knuckle it.
” For Manelius , 39 , who lives in Colorado and works as a chief technology officer at a start-up , the questions started swirling in his mind last Friday toward the end of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youngest member by about a decade , he said , and he noticed that instead of interlacing hands with people beside them during an end-of-meeting prayer some members decided to clasp their own hands together .
He began to think about all the other meetings like this across the country and how , sometimes by design , they ’ re rather low-tech .
A church , chairs in a circle , some coffee .
A real room people can walk into and find community .
In the days ahead , if quarantines come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will turn to online platforms like Zoom to hold meetings via video chat or maybe download an episode of The Recovery Show podcast to listen to when they ’ re feeling alone .
Still , he worries about older people , who might not be as familiar with technology and who are at the highest risk of dying from COVID-19 .
“ Our elders are being given an extra dose of fear and anxiety , ” he said , and for many people these meetings are like free therapy .
“ You don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagion with a high mortality rate , but at the same time , it ’ s like your mental and emotional health is on the line.
” He ’ s been thinking , too , about people who are in the early stages of recovery .
There ’ s the 90-in-90 concept , he explained , in which , early on , people often try to attend a meeting per day to set new habits .
If we move toward mandatory quarantines , he fears , that will set up yet another barrier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s on the recovery train knows that the second resistance comes up , it ’ s like , ‘ Eh , I can skip it , ’ ” Manelius said , encouraging anyone who doesn ’ t yet have a sponsor to get one as soon as possible and check in with them often by phone .
Back in Los Angeles , this week felt like a tipping point .
Before then , you could see signs of concern on the face of the pregnant cashier at Vons who held her breath when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stern scolding from the mother whose infant child had just gripped the metal pole on the Metro .
But now , the signs were almost everywhere — light traffic , emptied out shelves of thermometers , a tweet saying the L.A. Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous had told members not to hold hands .
A woman who answered the phone at the L.A. Central Office this week explained that that simply wasn ’ t true — each group is autonomous , she stressed , and free to make their own decisions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , she said , and she ’ d started pointing them to a memo on the national Alcoholics Anonymous site .
Some groups had started discussing precautions , the memo said , such as avoiding handshakes and cutting back on serving snacks .
Others had started creating contingency plans in case they can ’ t meet in person , the memo said , such as swapping phone numbers , emails and social media accounts so members can check in on one another .
The memo also pointed members to www.aa-intergroup.org , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zones , which are conducted by phone , email , video conference and 24-hour-a-day chat rooms .
There are dozens and dozens of different groups .
For Spanish speakers in rural areas , there ’ s Grupo Universal de AA , which conducts voice-only meetings through Skype , and for those who are hard of hearing , there ’ s Wednesday Text Chat , which conducts meetings via Zoom .
There ’ s the group a Safe Place for members of the LGBTQ community , a Spiritual Recovery for agnostics and freethinkers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay away from alcohol but still love a good cigar .
For Grace , the yoga teacher , it was comforting to see others start to brainstorm and prepare .
She ’ d been charting the coronavirus ’ path closely since January , keeping in touch with a friend who works as an emergency room nurse in Seattle .
She had started to feel a bit discombobulated , she said , as she read horror stories from Italy and then looked around Los Angeles and saw most people acting rather blasé .
Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or behaving as if Armageddon had already set in and they needed to ransack Trader Joe ’ s immediately .
There didn ’ t seem to be a lot of in between .
So , during her Alcoholics Anonymous meeting Thursday , Grace said she decided to make a bit of a show of her heightened precautions .
After putting on her gloves , she gave each member who got a sobriety chip a bonus gift : an antibacterial wipe .
“ We ’ re living in interesting times , ” she told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the size as usual .
Grace has also been thinking a lot about newcomers to recovery and how these next few days could be so fragile for them .
She thought back to the weeks before she finally went to her first meeting — back to when she was convinced she was terminally unique .
“ You feel like you ’ re in a desert just gasping , ” she said , “ and this oasis comes , and you go , ‘ Oh , I ’ m not the only one.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fear can be such a big trigger for addicts .
For some , Grace said , this will be a breaking point and , for that reason , she ’ s confident that some meetings will stay open .
But she ’ s hopeful , too , that members will adapt by upping the frequency of their group text conversations or hosting meetings on Google Hangouts .
In many ways , she said , the recovery community is better prepared for this moment than almost anyone .
“ We ’ re taught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re taught that there is a way through and that we figure it out one day at a time , step by step.
” People in recovery also have a lot of practice channeling their fears and anger into service , she said .
If you have two days of sobriety , the mantra goes , you can help the person who has one day , and if you have one day , you can help the person who has one minute .
Right now , she said , the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
We support one another to survive .

It was time for the coveted sobriety chips, so Grace snapped on a pair of plastic gloves and kept a bit of distance as she doled out medallions to members who had gone 30, 60 and 90 days without a drink.
Normally, she hugs the people gathered here in this church on the Westside, but on Thursday she offered them a small namaste bow instead.
This is what an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting looks like during a pandemic.
“AA can’t totally close its doors,” said Grace, a 49-year-old yoga teacher, who asked to be identified by her middle name to respect the group’s anonymity pledge. “We don’t know when someone’s going to crawl in in desperation.”
Advertisement
She started coming to the rooms, as she calls the gatherings, two decades ago and now tries to attend two or three meetings a week, a tiny sampling of the more than 350 groups that meet every day in L.A.
They restored her life, she said, and she can’t help but think about others like her, who at this very moment, were considering whether they had the courage to attend their first meeting. What if, like Italy, we’re headed toward lockdowns?
These were the questions running through the minds of many in the recovery community this week. As the words “Cancel Everything” began to trend on Twitter and people quipped online about how they planned to self-quarantine with three bottles of tequila, some people wondered what would happen to the 12-step meetings they rely on.
What about the people who are understandably panicked and tempted to drink or pop a few pills? What exactly does the mandate to “practice social distancing” look like for people who so intimately know the dangers of isolation?
“We rely on community,” said Rick Manelius, an active member of a 12-step program. “It is very hard for people to white-knuckle it.”
For Manelius, 39, who lives in Colorado and works as a chief technology officer at a start-up, the questions started swirling in his mind last Friday toward the end of his weekly meeting. He’s the youngest member by about a decade, he said, and he noticed that instead of interlacing hands with people beside them during an end-of-meeting prayer some members decided to clasp their own hands together.
He began to think about all the other meetings like this across the country and how, sometimes by design, they’re rather low-tech. A church, chairs in a circle, some coffee. A real room people can walk into and find community.
In the days ahead, if quarantines come, Manelius said, he hopes people will turn to online platforms like Zoom to hold meetings via video chat or maybe download an episode of The Recovery Show podcast to listen to when they’re feeling alone. Still, he worries about older people, who might not be as familiar with technology and who are at the highest risk of dying from COVID-19.
Advertisement
“Our elders are being given an extra dose of fear and anxiety,” he said, and for many people these meetings are like free therapy. “You don’t want to help spread this contagion with a high mortality rate, but at the same time, it’s like your mental and emotional health is on the line.”
He’s been thinking, too, about people who are in the early stages of recovery. There’s the 90-in-90 concept, he explained, in which, early on, people often try to attend a meeting per day to set new habits. If we move toward mandatory quarantines, he fears, that will set up yet another barrier for newbies.
“Anyone who’s on the recovery train knows that the second resistance comes up, it’s like, ‘Eh, I can skip it,’” Manelius said, encouraging anyone who doesn’t yet have a sponsor to get one as soon as possible and check in with them often by phone.
Back in Los Angeles, this week felt like a tipping point.
Before then, you could see signs of concern on the face of the pregnant cashier at Vons who held her breath when she heard a customer sneeze or in the stern scolding from the mother whose infant child had just gripped the metal pole on the Metro.
But now, the signs were almost everywhere — light traffic, emptied out shelves of thermometers, a tweet saying the L.A. Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous had told members not to hold hands.
A woman who answered the phone at the L.A. Central Office this week explained that that simply wasn’t true — each group is autonomous, she stressed, and free to make their own decisions. But members had been calling about the coronavirus, she said, and she’d started pointing them to a memo on the national Alcoholics Anonymous site.
Some groups had started discussing precautions, the memo said, such as avoiding handshakes and cutting back on serving snacks. Others had started creating contingency plans in case they can’t meet in person, the memo said, such as swapping phone numbers, emails and social media accounts so members can check in on one another.
The memo also pointed members to www.aa-intergroup.org, a directory of virtual meetings in different time zones, which are conducted by phone, email, video conference and 24-hour-a-day chat rooms.
There are dozens and dozens of different groups.
For Spanish speakers in rural areas, there’s Grupo Universal de AA, which conducts voice-only meetings through Skype, and for those who are hard of hearing, there’s Wednesday Text Chat, which conducts meetings via Zoom. There’s the group a Safe Place for members of the LGBTQ community, a Spiritual Recovery for agnostics and freethinkers, and even Sober Stogies for people who stay away from alcohol but still love a good cigar.
For Grace, the yoga teacher, it was comforting to see others start to brainstorm and prepare. She’d been charting the coronavirus’ path closely since January, keeping in touch with a friend who works as an emergency room nurse in Seattle.
“They’re really strapped,” Grace said.
She had started to feel a bit discombobulated, she said, as she read horror stories from Italy and then looked around Los Angeles and saw most people acting rather blasé. Well, either that, she said, or behaving as if Armageddon had already set in and they needed to ransack Trader Joe’s immediately.
There didn’t seem to be a lot of in between.
So, during her Alcoholics Anonymous meeting Thursday, Grace said she decided to make a bit of a show of her heightened precautions. After putting on her gloves, she gave each member who got a sobriety chip a bonus gift: an antibacterial wipe. “We’re living in interesting times,” she told the group, which was about half the size as usual.
Grace has also been thinking a lot about newcomers to recovery and how these next few days could be so fragile for them. She thought back to the weeks before she finally went to her first meeting — back to when she was convinced she was terminally unique.
“You feel like you’re in a desert just gasping,” she said, “and this oasis comes, and you go, ‘Oh, I’m not the only one.’”
These are stressful and unnerving times and fear can be such a big trigger for addicts. For some, Grace said, this will be a breaking point and, for that reason, she’s confident that some meetings will stay open. But she’s hopeful, too, that members will adapt by upping the frequency of their group text conversations or hosting meetings on Google Hangouts.
In many ways, she said, the recovery community is better prepared for this moment than almost anyone.
“We’re taught resilience,” she said. “We’re taught that there is a way through and that we figure it out one day at a time, step by step.”
People in recovery also have a lot of practice channeling their fears and anger into service, she said. If you have two days of sobriety, the mantra goes, you can help the person who has one day, and if you have one day, you can help the person who has one minute.
Right now, she said, the world could use another message her community knows well.
We support one another to survive.


latimes--2020-03-16--California Legislature will consider a work hiatus due to coronavirus

California lawmakers attempting to help the state respond to the COVID-19 pandemic are grappling with whether to continue to meet as a legislative body or adjourn temporarily to lessen the risk of virus spread inside the state Capitol .
Assembly members will meet on Monday to discuss the possibility of moving up and extending their annual spring recess in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak , according to a memo sent to staffers on Sunday night that was obtained by The Times .
In the Senate , a source said action on moving up the scheduled April 3 spring recess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawmakers have been told they can not close the state Capitol to the public when the Legislature meets as a body or holds committee hearings , making it difficult to limit the number of people inside the building .
The potential hiatus of legislative business comes after Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) announced on Friday that all scheduled hearings would be canceled this week “ in order to focus on an immediate response to COVID-19.
” Since last week , the Senate also has allowed anyone who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the disease or who has been impacted by school closures to request special remote work arrangements from the Senate ’ s human resources department , according to Nick Hardeman , chief of staff for Atkins .
In a staff memo on Sunday night , the Assembly asked its employees who are 65 or older or those with chronic diseases to stay home from work beginning Monday , with telecommute options available to them .
The Assembly has told staffers that they can use sick leave or vacation for childcare needs if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This unprecedented situation is serious and fluid .
Our response has to be calm and clear , ” Atkins said .
“ The Senate has already taken steps to make the Capitol safer and help those in the Capitol community as they strive to follow public health guidelines themselves .
Further actions are being determined .
We will continue doing what is within our power as a legislature to protect the health and well-being of all Californians.
” The Legislature ’ s efforts to reduce the risk inside the Capitol come after Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nightclubs , wineries and breweries in California should shut down operations .
Newsom also called for people over age 65 and those with chronic health conditions to “ practice home isolation.
” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that events of 50 people or more not be held for about two months .
California has had 335 positive cases of COVID-19 and six people in the state have died .
News that the state Capitol could be among the buildings shuttered temporarily was welcomed by some staffers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for relaxed telecommuting policies or shutting the Capitol down for several weeks .
The Assembly Democratic caucus meeting scheduled for Monday has been moved to a large hearing room to ensure there is enough room for social distancing recommended by Newsom and public health officials .
Both houses of the Legislature are scheduled to meet for their regular floor sessions on Monday .

California lawmakers attempting to help the state respond to the COVID-19 pandemic are grappling with whether to continue to meet as a legislative body or adjourn temporarily to lessen the risk of virus spread inside the state Capitol.
Assembly members will meet on Monday to discuss the possibility of moving up and extending their annual spring recess in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to a memo sent to staffers on Sunday night that was obtained by The Times. In the Senate, a source said action on moving up the scheduled April 3 spring recess could happen as early as Monday.
Lawmakers have been told they cannot close the state Capitol to the public when the Legislature meets as a body or holds committee hearings, making it difficult to limit the number of people inside the building.
The potential hiatus of legislative business comes after Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) announced on Friday that all scheduled hearings would be canceled this week “in order to focus on an immediate response to COVID-19.” Since last week, the Senate also has allowed anyone who is 65 or older, at high risk for the disease or who has been impacted by school closures to request special remote work arrangements from the Senate’s human resources department, according to Nick Hardeman, chief of staff for Atkins.
In a staff memo on Sunday night, the Assembly asked its employees who are 65 or older or those with chronic diseases to stay home from work beginning Monday, with telecommute options available to them. The Assembly has told staffers that they can use sick leave or vacation for childcare needs if they are affected by school closures.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Advertisement
“This unprecedented situation is serious and fluid. Our response has to be calm and clear,” Atkins said. “The Senate has already taken steps to make the Capitol safer and help those in the Capitol community as they strive to follow public health guidelines themselves. Further actions are being determined. We will continue doing what is within our power as a legislature to protect the health and well-being of all Californians.”
The Legislature’s efforts to reduce the risk inside the Capitol come after Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday that bars, nightclubs, wineries and breweries in California should shut down operations. Newsom also called for people over age 65 and those with chronic health conditions to “practice home isolation.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that events of 50 people or more not be held for about two months.
California has had 335 positive cases of COVID-19 and six people in the state have died.
News that the state Capitol could be among the buildings shuttered temporarily was welcomed by some staffers and lobbyists, who spent the weekend advocating for relaxed telecommuting policies or shutting the Capitol down for several weeks.
The Assembly Democratic caucus meeting scheduled for Monday has been moved to a large hearing room to ensure there is enough room for social distancing recommended by Newsom and public health officials. Both houses of the Legislature are scheduled to meet for their regular floor sessions on Monday.


latimes--2020-03-15--As the coronavirus pandemic grows, gun sales are surging in many states

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

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


latimes--2020-03-16--L.A. bars forced to close, restaurants go takeout-only: 'Some of these closures might be permanent'

In an aggressive bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus , Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered bars to close and forced restaurants to halt dine-in service .
Food and nightlife proprietors fear some establishments might not reopen .
The restrictions , announced by Garcetti in a Sunday night video news conference , went into effect at midnight and run through March 31 .
They also apply to movie theaters , gyms and fitness centers .
Grocery stores , pharmacies and food banks will remain open .
Garcetti said the measures were necessary to protect public health but acknowledged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I encourage all Angelenos to help support these critical small businesses — the restaurants we love in our neighborhoods — by continuing to order from them or getting takeout or delivery , ” Garcetti said .
In ordinary circumstances , restaurants are known for high overhead costs and relatively narrow margins .
Chefs say an extended shutdown could have far-reaching consequences for the largest private-sector industry in the county , accounting for 355,540 jobs , according to a 2017 L.A. County Economic Development Corp. report .
“ It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Sang Yoon , chef and owner of Lukshon and Father ’ s Office .
“ When this is over , the L.A. restaurant landscape might look dramatically different , so that ’ s a huge fear , ” Yoon said .
“ The lasting implications after this may not be temporary .
Some of these closures might be permanent for a lot of places.
” Josef Centeno , 45 , the chef-owner of Baco Mercat , Bar Ama and Orsa & Winston in downtown L.A. and Amacita in Culver City , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and delivery-only on Friday .
He worries he won ’ t be able to sustain his businesses on such orders for long .
“ We ’ ll be completely out of money in like a week and a half , ” he said .
He has already cut his managers ’ salaries in an attempt to spread the wealth among his staff of 140 and keep his restaurants going as long as possible .
“ Everyone is going to be saving their money , ” Centeno said .
“ No one is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m mentally preparing to pretty much lose everything.
” The announcement came on the heels of a urging bars , nightclubs , wineries and breweries in California to shut down operations .
Around 5 p.m. Sunday , the usually bustling Tabula Rasa wine bar in Hollywood was mostly empty , with a handful of patrons finishing up their glasses .
After Newsom ’ s recommendation , owner Zach Negin , 40 , announced last call before an extended closure .
Some of the employees behind the bar had tears in their eyes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks we ’ d be open and back to business as usual , yeah , no problem — we can afford to pay our employees .
But I don ’ t know that we ’ ll be open in two weeks or six weeks , ” Negin said .
“ We ’ re not looking to be charities .
We are a business and businesses deal with things that are unexpected , and this is an extreme example of that , ” he said .
“ It might put us out of business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of business.
” Tabula Rasa manager Nicole Dougherty , 33 , said she has a staff of 10 people asking her questions she doesn ’ t have answers to .
“ Mostly I ’ m feeling a sense of hopelessness and the inability to provide , ” she said .
“ Do we need to throw away all of our food ?
Just not knowing .
We ’ re a tiny business .
Not knowing where our income is going to come from and how we are going to take care of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , restaurants have struck deals with app-based delivery companies such as Grubhub Inc. , DoorDash Inc. and Postmates Inc .
But quickly shifting to a delivery-only business model isn ’ t easy — nor is it necessarily profitable .
Chad Colby , chef at Italian restaurant Antico on Beverly Boulevard , said his shop doesn ’ t have a delivery service set up .
He plans to spend Monday talking to the delivery services but is hesitant about the financial feasibility .
“ The numbers really don ’ t make sense ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t done it in the past , ” Colby said .
For now , the restaurant is accepting takeout orders via its phone line .
Colby is also considering preparing cook-at-home kits for families of four .
Another major question among restaurateurs is rent .
Garcetti announced the city would put a moratorium on residential evictions , aiming to protect people whose wages will be diminished or lost by coronavirus-related work stoppages .
He said he has asked City Atty .
Mike Feuer to look into whether Los Angeles can “ legally help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also announced that the city is putting together a fund that will offer loans for small businesses .
“ Landlords , depending on how they react , they may be very understanding and they may make some concessions .
Some may not , ” Yoon said .
“ That ’ s going to be the tough part — even if you go to zero staff , your rent ’ s still due .
”

Suhauna Hussain, Andrea Chang, Jenn Harris

In an aggressive bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered bars to close and forced restaurants to halt dine-in service. Food and nightlife proprietors fear some establishments might not reopen.
The restrictions, announced by Garcetti in a Sunday night video news conference, went into effect at midnight and run through March 31. They also apply to movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers. Grocery stores, pharmacies and food banks will remain open.
Garcetti said the measures were necessary to protect public health but acknowledged the economic consequences they pose for small businesses.
Advertisement
“I encourage all Angelenos to help support these critical small businesses — the restaurants we love in our neighborhoods — by continuing to order from them or getting takeout or delivery,” Garcetti said.
In ordinary circumstances, restaurants are known for high overhead costs and relatively narrow margins. Chefs say an extended shutdown could have far-reaching consequences for the largest private-sector industry in the county, accounting for 355,540 jobs, according to a 2017 L.A. County Economic Development Corp. report.
“It’s a gut punch on a Sunday night,” said Sang Yoon, chef and owner of Lukshon and Father’s Office.
“When this is over, the L.A. restaurant landscape might look dramatically different, so that’s a huge fear,” Yoon said. “The lasting implications after this may not be temporary. Some of these closures might be permanent for a lot of places.”
Josef Centeno, 45, the chef-owner of Baco Mercat, Bar Ama and Orsa & Winston in downtown L.A. and Amacita in Culver City, preemptively transitioned all his restaurants to takeout- and delivery-only on Friday. He worries he won’t be able to sustain his businesses on such orders for long.
“We’ll be completely out of money in like a week and a half,” he said.
He has already cut his managers’ salaries in an attempt to spread the wealth among his staff of 140 and keep his restaurants going as long as possible.
Advertisement
“Everyone is going to be saving their money,” Centeno said. “No one is going to be ordering takeout. I’m mentally preparing to pretty much lose everything.”
The announcement came on the heels of a request Sunday afternoon by Gov. Gavin Newsom urging bars, nightclubs, wineries and breweries in California to shut down operations.
Around 5 p.m. Sunday, the usually bustling Tabula Rasa wine bar in Hollywood was mostly empty, with a handful of patrons finishing up their glasses.
After Newsom’s recommendation, owner Zach Negin, 40, announced last call before an extended closure. Some of the employees behind the bar had tears in their eyes.
“If I knew that in two weeks we’d be open and back to business as usual, yeah, no problem — we can afford to pay our employees. But I don’t know that we’ll be open in two weeks or six weeks,” Negin said.
“We’re not looking to be charities. We are a business and businesses deal with things that are unexpected, and this is an extreme example of that,” he said. “It might put us out of business. It will put lots of people out of business.”
Tabula Rasa manager Nicole Dougherty, 33, said she has a staff of 10 people asking her questions she doesn’t have answers to.
“Mostly I’m feeling a sense of hopelessness and the inability to provide,” she said. “Do we need to throw away all of our food? Just not knowing. We’re a tiny business. Not knowing where our income is going to come from and how we are going to take care of our staff and employees.”
In recent years, restaurants have struck deals with app-based delivery companies such as Grubhub Inc., DoorDash Inc. and Postmates Inc. But quickly shifting to a delivery-only business model isn’t easy — nor is it necessarily profitable.
Chad Colby, chef at Italian restaurant Antico on Beverly Boulevard, said his shop doesn’t have a delivery service set up. He plans to spend Monday talking to the delivery services but is hesitant about the financial feasibility.
“The numbers really don’t make sense; that’s why we haven’t done it in the past,” Colby said.
For now, the restaurant is accepting takeout orders via its phone line. Colby is also considering preparing cook-at-home kits for families of four.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Another major question among restaurateurs is rent.
Garcetti announced the city would put a moratorium on residential evictions, aiming to protect people whose wages will be diminished or lost by coronavirus-related work stoppages. He said he has asked City Atty. Mike Feuer to look into whether Los Angeles can “legally help prevent commercial evictions” as well.
He also announced that the city is putting together a fund that will offer loans for small businesses.
“Landlords, depending on how they react, they may be very understanding and they may make some concessions. Some may not,” Yoon said. “That’s going to be the tough part — even if you go to zero staff, your rent’s still due.”
Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-15--Earthquake: 3.4 quake registered near Imperial, Calif.

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake was reported Sunday evening at 7:40 p.m. Pacific time 22 miles from Imperial , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 23 miles from El Centro , 25 miles from Brawley , 29 miles from Calexico and 41 miles from Alpine .
In the last 10 days , there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three-year data sample .
The earthquake occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you ’ re interested in learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list of frequently asked questions .

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake was reported Sunday evening at 7:40 p.m. Pacific time 22 miles from Imperial, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 23 miles from El Centro, 25 miles from Brawley, 29 miles from Calexico and 41 miles from Alpine.
In the last 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.8 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Advertisement
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-03-15--For LAX passengers returning from Europe, it's nothing like the chaos at other major airports

Los Angeles resident Aidan Merryman heard about the long waits for American travelers returning from Europe and braced himself for something similar at Los Angeles International Airport .
But when the 23-year-old and his girlfriend arrived Sunday afternoon from Amsterdam , their experience was nothing like the chaos seen at airports in Chicago , Boston , Dallas and elsewhere .
Problems around the country were blamed in large part on a combination of medical screenings and confusion over new international travel restrictions .
Merryman and his companion , who did not want to be identified , had their temperatures taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held near their foreheads .
They were also asked about whether they had potentially interacted with someone who had the coronavirus and then were told to go home and self-quarantine for two weeks .
“ They did ask several questions of if we knew anybody who had the coronavirus or had come into contact with someone who might have had it , ” Merryman said .
“ That was probably the longest part.
” But the questioning , screening and checkout process lasted only 30 minutes , he said .
Unlike many travelers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut short or alter their plans but instead were at the scheduled end of a one-week vacation .
“ I guess we were lucky , ” he said .
Victorville resident Sharon Rankin , 64 , who was also returning from Amsterdam , described the mostly trouble-free experience going through U.S. customs as a “ welcome relief.
” “ The whole process took maybe an hour , ” Rankin said .
“ We landed here at 1 p.m. and went through customs and picked up our bags , and were ready right around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checked , filled out some paperwork and was given some information on what precautions to take , Rankin said .
“ They gave us some pamphlets that said we were supposed to stay at home and quarantine for 14 days , ” she said .
The 64-year-old was one of 19 members on a family trip that was planned to include two weeks traveling throughout Spain .
Instead , the trip lasted less than half as long as the Spanish government announced Saturday night that it was shutting down restaurants , museums , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to stay home as the country grapples with about 8,000 confirmed coronavirus infections and nearly 300 deaths .
Like Italy and France , the country is essentially on lockdown .
“ They were shutting down Barcelona by 8 p.m. , ” said family traveler Jerry Borja , 45 , also of Victorville .
“ It ’ s a major emergency in Spain , and they ’ re turning hotels into hospitals , so we got out.
” The family flew from Barcelona to Amsterdam before hopping on a 10 ½-hour flight to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 of us , almost all Americans , on this big 747 [ plane ] from Amsterdam , ” Borja said .
“ That was really nice.
” Not everyone ’ s experience through U.S. customs was pleasant Sunday , however .
Los Angeles native Matthew Paragas and a group of family members arrived early at the Tom Bradley International Terminal to await the arrival of his aunt Ada Butio , 61 , from Manila .
Hours passed after the plane landed at 8:30 a.m. and nearly everyone onboard had disembarked , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still had not shown up .
“ We had been waiting for maybe five or six hours and we didn ’ t know what was going on , so we went to the office to ask , ” Paragas said .
Eventually , at 2:45 p.m. , Butio was released , thanks to the help of another Philippine Airlines passenger who had stayed behind to serve as an interpreter .
“ We found out that she almost got rejected and was about to be sent home , ” Paragas said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but she ’ s healthy and I ’ m just happy someone stayed behind to help translate.
” Family members said customs officials had crumpled and disregarded a letter Butio was carrying from USC Keck Hospital explaining that she was a potential kidney donor for her brother Bonnie Paragas .
“ I find it very unnecessary how they treated the situation , ” Matthew Paragas said .
“ They rejected her even though she had a letter stating that she was cleared to go from a doctor.
” Airport workers were also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Sunday , officials announced that a police officer at LAX and two airport workers had tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 .
In San Jose , four Transportation Security Administration employees also tested positive , and San Francisco International Airport reported an Alaska Airlines customer service employee was infected .
Meanwhile , long lines , confusion and general chaos reigned at other airports around the country over the weekend .
Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker described a sense of alarm upon seeing images of travelers returning from Europe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Chicago ’ s O ’ Hare International Airport as they awaited screening .
Similar scenes played out at other major airports .
“ As people were flooding into O ’ Hare airport , they were stuck in a small area , hundreds and hundreds of people , and that ’ s exactly what you don ’ t want in this pandemic , ” the governor said on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” Pritzker predicted the chaotic conditions would persist throughout the weekend at least .
“ There are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming , and they seem completely unprepared , ” he said in the interview .
Many travelers abroad had rushed to return in the mistaken belief that U.S. citizens risked being shut out by a ban on arrivals from much of Europe , effective Friday at midnight , that was announced last week in an Oval Office address by President Trump .
The White House later clarified that the prohibition would not apply to U.S. citizens , their immediate family or permanent residents .
“ They should have increased the Customs and Border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased the number of CDC personnel on the ground doing those checks , ” Pritzker said .
“ They did neither of those.
” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called conditions at O ’ Hare and other airports “ utterly unacceptable.
” Saying she was directly addressing her comments to Vice President Mike Pence and members of the federal coronavirus task force , she said , “ You must listen to mayors and governors and other local officials first — bring us along on the journey.
” Criticizing the airport waits and overcrowding as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread the virus , Lightfoot warned , “ Not only are you creating a disaster , not only are you creating a hazardous circumstance that threatens the public — you risk causing serious illness and death.
” Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , described the size and concentration of airport crowds as worrisome .
“ We ’ d like to not see crowds like that , ” Fauci , who is also part of the administration ’ s coronavirus task force , said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was careful not to cast blame on the president ’ s Oval Office address , which set off a rush of travelers to European airports seeking U.S.-bound flights .
“ I think people understand if you ’ re an American citizen , if you are a family member , that you can get back , you don ’ t need to rush back , ” he said .
“ But it ’ s understandable if when people see a travel ban , they immediately want to … get home.
” Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at airports .
“ We are doing very precise Medical Screenings at our airports .
Pardon the interruptions and delays , we are moving as quickly as possible , but it is very important that we be vigilant and careful .
We must get it right .
Safety first !
”

Travelers returning from trips abroad pass through the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX on Sunday.
Los Angeles resident Aidan Merryman heard about the long waits for American travelers returning from Europe and braced himself for something similar at Los Angeles International Airport.
But when the 23-year-old and his girlfriend arrived Sunday afternoon from Amsterdam, their experience was nothing like the chaos seen at airports in Chicago, Boston, Dallas and elsewhere. Problems around the country were blamed in large part on a combination of medical screenings and confusion over new international travel restrictions.
Merryman and his companion, who did not want to be identified, had their temperatures taken at U.S. customs with an infrared thermometer held near their foreheads. They were also asked about whether they had potentially interacted with someone who had the coronavirus and then were told to go home and self-quarantine for two weeks.
“They did ask several questions of if we knew anybody who had the coronavirus or had come into contact with someone who might have had it,” Merryman said. “That was probably the longest part.”
Advertisement
But the questioning, screening and checkout process lasted only 30 minutes, he said.
Unlike many travelers, Merryman and his girlfriend did not cut short or alter their plans but instead were at the scheduled end of a one-week vacation.
“I guess we were lucky,” he said.
Victorville resident Sharon Rankin, 64, who was also returning from Amsterdam, described the mostly trouble-free experience going through U.S. customs as a “welcome relief.”
“The whole process took maybe an hour,” Rankin said. “We landed here at 1 p.m. and went through customs and picked up our bags, and were ready right around 2 p.m.”
She had her temperature checked, filled out some paperwork and was given some information on what precautions to take, Rankin said.
“They gave us some pamphlets that said we were supposed to stay at home and quarantine for 14 days,” she said.
The 64-year-old was one of 19 members on a family trip that was planned to include two weeks traveling throughout Spain.
Instead, the trip lasted less than half as long as the Spanish government announced Saturday night that it was shutting down restaurants, museums, tourist locations and hotels, while forcing people to stay home as the country grapples with about 8,000 confirmed coronavirus infections and nearly 300 deaths. Like Italy and France, the country is essentially on lockdown.
“They were shutting down Barcelona by 8 p.m.,” said family traveler Jerry Borja, 45, also of Victorville. “It’s a major emergency in Spain, and they’re turning hotels into hospitals, so we got out.”
The family flew from Barcelona to Amsterdam before hopping on a 10 ½-hour flight to Los Angeles.
“There were like 80 of us, almost all Americans, on this big 747 [plane] from Amsterdam,” Borja said. “That was really nice.”
Not everyone’s experience through U.S. customs was pleasant Sunday, however.
Los Angeles native Matthew Paragas and a group of family members arrived early at the Tom Bradley International Terminal to await the arrival of his aunt Ada Butio, 61, from Manila.
Hours passed after the plane landed at 8:30 a.m. and nearly everyone onboard had disembarked, but Butio, who was traveling alone, still had not shown up.
“We had been waiting for maybe five or six hours and we didn’t know what was going on, so we went to the office to ask,” Paragas said.
Eventually, at 2:45 p.m., Butio was released, thanks to the help of another Philippine Airlines passenger who had stayed behind to serve as an interpreter.
“We found out that she almost got rejected and was about to be sent home,” Paragas said. “I know everyone is worried about the coronavirus, but she’s healthy and I’m just happy someone stayed behind to help translate.”
Family members said customs officials had crumpled and disregarded a letter Butio was carrying from USC Keck Hospital explaining that she was a potential kidney donor for her brother Bonnie Paragas.
“I find it very unnecessary how they treated the situation,” Matthew Paragas said. “They rejected her even though she had a letter stating that she was cleared to go from a doctor.”
Airport workers were also feeling the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.
On Sunday, officials announced that a police officer at LAX and two airport workers had tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. In San Jose, four Transportation Security Administration employees also tested positive, and San Francisco International Airport reported an Alaska Airlines customer service employee was infected.
Meanwhile, long lines, confusion and general chaos reigned at other airports around the country over the weekend.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker described a sense of alarm upon seeing images of travelers returning from Europe and elsewhere tightly packed for hours Saturday evening at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport as they awaited screening. Similar scenes played out at other major airports.
Advertisement
“As people were flooding into O’Hare airport, they were stuck in a small area, hundreds and hundreds of people, and that’s exactly what you don’t want in this pandemic,” the governor said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Pritzker predicted the chaotic conditions would persist throughout the weekend at least. “There are a larger number of flights with more people coming, and they seem completely unprepared,” he said in the interview.
Many travelers abroad had rushed to return in the mistaken belief that U.S. citizens risked being shut out by a ban on arrivals from much of Europe, effective Friday at midnight, that was announced last week in an Oval Office address by President Trump. The White House later clarified that the prohibition would not apply to U.S. citizens, their immediate family or permanent residents.
“They should have increased the Customs and Border Patrol numbers, and they should have increased the number of CDC personnel on the ground doing those checks,” Pritzker said. “They did neither of those.”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called conditions at O’Hare and other airports “utterly unacceptable.”
Saying she was directly addressing her comments to Vice President Mike Pence and members of the federal coronavirus task force, she said, “You must listen to mayors and governors and other local officials first — bring us along on the journey.”
Criticizing the airport waits and overcrowding as creating precisely the conditions that would further spread the virus, Lightfoot warned, “Not only are you creating a disaster, not only are you creating a hazardous circumstance that threatens the public — you risk causing serious illness and death.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, described the size and concentration of airport crowds as worrisome.
“We’d like to not see crowds like that,” Fauci, who is also part of the administration’s coronavirus task force, said on “Fox News Sunday.”
However, he was careful not to cast blame on the president’s Oval Office address, which set off a rush of travelers to European airports seeking U.S.-bound flights.
“I think people understand if you’re an American citizen, if you are a family member, that you can get back, you don’t need to rush back,” he said. “But it’s understandable if when people see a travel ban, they immediately want to … get home.”
Meanwhile, Trump tweeted Sunday about the long waits at airports.
“We are doing very precise Medical Screenings at our airports. Pardon the interruptions and delays, we are moving as quickly as possible, but it is very important that we be vigilant and careful. We must get it right. Safety first!”


latimes--2020-03-15--California coronavirus cases hit 335, with six deaths: Here is what you need to know

California had recorded 335 cases of coronavirus as of Sunday , a 14 % increase from the day before , The state also reported six deaths , with the sixth one in San Mateo County , where 32 cases have been recorded .
Los Angeles County reported 15 new cases Sunday .
Five of the people are hospitalized ; one of them has an unknown source of exposure to the virus , and three cases are under investigation .
The new cases bring the total in L.A. County to 69 , 10 of which are believed to be a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you need to know today : SPREAD : Coronavirus appeared to be spreading in communities , with regions including the Bay Area , L.A. and Sacramento reporting new cases .
The Los Angeles Police Department reported its first case .
There are now nine employees at airports who have tested positive and at least seven firefighters in San Jose and several healthcare workers .
SENIORS : Gov .
Gavin Newsom called on the elderly to remain at home , and his request also extended to residents with underlying health issues , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asthma , chronic liver disease , compromised immune systems , pregnancies in the last two weeks , metabolic disorders , heart disease and other conditions that make them more susceptible to serious illness from the coronavirus .
BARS AND WINERIES : The governor also said neighborhood bars , pubs as well as wineries should close their doors as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state continued to rise .
He is allowing restaurants to remain open and advised customers to practice “ deep social distancing ” when dining out — in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by half .
HOMELESS : The state ’ s 108,000 unsheltered homeless people would be prioritized for mitigation policies , with a significant push to move them indoors .
The state had hotels and motels that could be used to provide shelter , along with an additional 450 state-owned trailers sent to “ critical points ” to supplement those that were deployed in Los Angeles , Stockton , Sonoma and other places before the outbreak .
SUPERMARKETS : There were more empty shelves and long lines at supermarkets .
That prompted Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department to caution against panic shopping and hoarding food and other supplies .
“ This is about preparation and prevention , not panic , ” Garcetti said in a tweet .
“ No need to hoard excess items .
”

Alex Wigglesworth, Phil Willon, Richard Winton

A customer that gave his name only as John waits in line outside a gun store in Burbank on March 15, 2020.
California had recorded 335 cases of coronavirus as of Sunday, a 14% increase from the day before,
The state also reported six deaths, with the sixth one in San Mateo County, where 32 cases have been recorded.
Los Angeles County reported 15 new cases Sunday. Five of the people are hospitalized; one of them has an unknown source of exposure to the virus, and three cases are under investigation. The new cases bring the total in L.A. County to 69, 10 of which are believed to be a result of community transmission.
Advertisement
Here is what you need to know today:
SPREAD: Coronavirus appeared to be spreading in communities, with regions including the Bay Area, L.A. and Sacramento reporting new cases. The Los Angeles Police Department reported its first case. There are now nine employees at airports who have tested positive and at least seven firefighters in San Jose and several healthcare workers.
SENIORS: Gov. Gavin Newsom called on the elderly to remain at home, and his request also extended to residents with underlying health issues, such as blood disorders, chronic kidney disease, asthma, chronic liver disease, compromised immune systems, pregnancies in the last two weeks, metabolic disorders, heart disease and other conditions that make them more susceptible to serious illness from the coronavirus.
BARS AND WINERIES: The governor also said neighborhood bars, pubs as well as wineries should close their doors as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state continued to rise. He is allowing restaurants to remain open and advised customers to practice “deep social distancing” when dining out — in effect, a recommendation to reduce occupancy by half.
HOMELESS: The state’s 108,000 unsheltered homeless people would be prioritized for mitigation policies, with a significant push to move them indoors. The state had hotels and motels that could be used to provide shelter, along with an additional 450 state-owned trailers sent to “critical points” to supplement those that were deployed in Los Angeles, Stockton, Sonoma and other places before the outbreak.
SUPERMARKETS: There were more empty shelves and long lines at supermarkets. That prompted Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Police Department to caution against panic shopping and hoarding food and other supplies. “This is about preparation and prevention, not panic,” Garcetti said in a tweet. “No need to hoard excess items.”


latimes--2020-03-15--California airport workers hit by coronavirus: Here is what we know

California airports are beginning to feel the impact of the coronavirus , with at least nine cases reported .
All the airports have said they have increased cleaning and taken other precautions .
Here is a breakdown of what we know : — On Sunday , officials announced that a police officer at Los Angeles International Airport has tested positive .
County health officials “ have the information on the officer and are working to identify any other officers or employees who may have had prolonged or close contact with this individual .
County Health is conducting thorough interviews to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” LAX said in a statement .
— Two LAX workers have positive for coronavirus .
Both checked arriving passengers for signs of the coronavirus and worked at the same quarantine station .
— Four Transportation Security Administration employees have tested positive , with the latest case confirmed Saturday .
They were stationed at the security identification display doors .
According to the TSA , the workers staffed X-ray machines , scanning luggage and performing pat-downs as needed .
— An Alaska Airlines customer service employee tested positive , San Francisco International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted in Terminal 2 , and officials said his last day at work was March 10 .
“ All employees and passengers should monitor their health and assess any symptoms that align with those of COVID-19 : fever , cough , or shortness of breath .
Before going to a doctor ’ s office or the medical clinic , call ahead and tell them about your symptoms and where you work .
Avoid contact with others , and avoid traveling while sick , ” SFO said in statement .

Lita Godfrey, who works in customer service at LAX, at a news conference where workers decried what they called “inadequate training and equipment” amid the coronavirus outbreak.
California airports are beginning to feel the impact of the coronavirus, with at least nine cases reported. All the airports have said they have increased cleaning and taken other precautions.
Here is a breakdown of what we know:
Los Angeles International Airport (Los Angeles Times)
LAX
— On Sunday, officials announced that a police officer at Los Angeles International Airport has tested positive. County health officials “have the information on the officer and are working to identify any other officers or employees who may have had prolonged or close contact with this individual. County Health is conducting thorough interviews to determine who else may be at risk,” LAX said in a statement.
— Two LAX workers have also tested positive for coronavirus. Both checked arriving passengers for signs of the coronavirus and worked at the same quarantine station.
Advertisement
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport in San Jose. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press)
San Jose
— Four Transportation Security Administration employees have tested positive, with the latest case confirmed Saturday. They were stationed at the security identification display doors. According to the TSA, the workers staffed X-ray machines, scanning luggage and performing pat-downs as needed.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
SFO
— An Alaska Airlines customer service employee tested positive, San Francisco International Airport reported Saturday. The worker was posted in Terminal 2, and officials said his last day at work was March 10.
“All employees and passengers should monitor their health and assess any symptoms that align with those of COVID-19: fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Before going to a doctor’s office or the medical clinic, call ahead and tell them about your symptoms and where you work. Avoid contact with others, and avoid traveling while sick,” SFO said in statement.