latimes--2020-11-16--New COVID-19 rules limit indoor dining, gyms, churches in O.C., Ventura County and beyond

Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s decision Monday to apply the “ emergency brake ” amid a surge in coronavirus cases will mean major changes in some Southern California counties — notably Ventura and Orange .
Here is what we know : The result of the actions taken Monday shift Orange , Ventura , Kern , Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties from the second-most restrictive red tier into the most restrictive purple tier .
That means indoor dining at restaurants and indoor gyms must shut down and move to outdoor operations , and houses of worship holding services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services .
What specifically will change in these counties ?
• Indoor dining rooms at restaurants must close , although restaurants can offer delivery and takeout service .
• Indoor gyms , dance and yoga studios must now operate outdoors only .
• Movie theaters can no longer operate indoors .
• Houses of worship can no longer hold in-person indoor services but can host in-person services outdoors .
• Wedding ceremonies and funerals must occur outdoors only .
Wedding receptions are currently banned statewide .
• Non-grocer retail stores , indoor malls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % capacity instead of 50 % capacity ; grocery store capacity remains the same and remains open at 50 % .
• Museums , zoos and aquariums must close indoor operations and can open only outdoors .
What about the rest of Southern California ?
Los Angeles , San Diego , Riverside , San Bernardino and Imperial counties were already in the most restrictive purple tier , so there is no immediate change in those areas .
But L.A. County officials have been talking about new restrictions amid rising cases , including a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some businesses .
What is the big picture ?
Once the changes go into effect Tuesday , roughly 94 % of Californians will live in counties placed in the strictest purple category of the state ’ s .
Many businesses in those counties will have to suspend or severely limit their indoor operations .
Over the seven-day period ending Sunday , the state averaged 7,985 cases per day , up 89.7 % from just two weeks ago , according to .
The rolling metric hasn ’ t been this high since mid-August , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a month ago , when the seven-day average of new cases dipped below 3,000 .
Counties in the purple tier ( ranked by population ) :

New COVID-19 rules mean indoor malls such as South Coast Plaza must reduce their capacity to 25%.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision Monday to apply the “emergency brake” amid a surge in coronavirus cases will mean major changes in some Southern California counties — notably Ventura and Orange.
Here is what we know:
What areas are affected?
The result of the actions taken Monday shift Orange, Ventura, Kern, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties from the second-most restrictive red tier into the most restrictive purple tier.
That means indoor dining at restaurants and indoor gyms must shut down and move to outdoor operations, and houses of worship holding services indoors must revert to virtual or outdoor services.
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What specifically will change in these counties?
• Indoor dining rooms at restaurants must close, although restaurants can offer delivery and takeout service.
• Indoor gyms, dance and yoga studios must now operate outdoors only.
• Movie theaters can no longer operate indoors.
• Houses of worship can no longer hold in-person indoor services but can host in-person services outdoors.
• Wedding ceremonies and funerals must occur outdoors only. Wedding receptions are currently banned statewide.
• Non-grocer retail stores, indoor malls and libraries are now open to 25% capacity instead of 50% capacity; grocery store capacity remains the same and remains open at 50%.
• Museums, zoos and aquariums must close indoor operations and can open only outdoors.
What about the rest of Southern California?
Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties were already in the most restrictive purple tier, so there is no immediate change in those areas.
But L.A. County officials have been talking about new restrictions amid rising cases, including a curfew and limiting the head count at some businesses.
What is the big picture?
Once the changes go into effect Tuesday, roughly 94% of Californians will live in counties placed in the strictest purple category of the state’s reopening roadmap . Many businesses in those counties will have to suspend or severely limit their indoor operations.
Over the seven-day period ending Sunday, the state averaged 7,985 cases per day, up 89.7% from just two weeks ago, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker .
The rolling metric hasn’t been this high since mid-August, and it is a far cry from just a month ago, when the seven-day average of new cases dipped below 3,000.
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Counties in the purple tier (ranked by population):


latimes--2020-11-16--Newsom apologizes for French Laundry dinner, says he will practice what he preaches on COVID-19

Gov .
Gavin Newsom apologized Monday for visiting a Napa Valley restaurant with people from other households , saying his behavior contradicted the spirit of the safety guidelines and precautions he has asked Californians to adhere to during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ I want to apologize to you because I need to preach and practice , not just preach and not practice , and I ’ ve done my best to do that , ” Newsom said .
“ We ’ re all human .
We all fall short sometimes.
” Newsom acknowledged that the faux pas may result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the coronavirus as California experiences a major surge in cases .
The governor discussed his own behavior on the same day that he announced a reversal of his reopening plans and ordered 28 counties to return to the purple tier — 94 % of Californians will be under the state ’ s most restrictive guidelines as of Tuesday .
The governor has been criticized in recent days following news of his attendance at the dinner party and that his children are back in school while millions of California schoolchildren and their families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer , the governor ’ s most prominent GOP critic who has been urged by some in his party to challenge Newsom in 2022 , condemed the governor in a Tweet last week , suggesting that he has been living a different life during the pandemic than his constituents .
“ His kids can learn in person .
But yours can ’ t , ” Faulconer wrote .
“ He can celebrate birthday parties .
But you can ’ t .
He can dine on a $ 350 meal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants during the worst recession in generations .
But you definitely can ’ t .
Can you believe this ?
I can ’ t. ” Newsom and his wife , Jennifer Siebel Newsom , attended a birthday party for his political advisor Jason Kinney , a registered lobbyist , at the Michelin-starred French Laundry restaurant in Yountville on Nov. 6 , first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle .
The governor visited the restaurant with more than three other households at the same time that he and his administration were warning Californians not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thanksgiving .
California ’ s COVID-19 safety guidelines limit the number of households at a private gathering , but do not explicitly impose those same rules on restaurant patrons .
State guidelines updated in November allow private gatherings of no more than three households at a park or outdoor space .
Rules for dining say restaurants should “ limit the number of patrons at a single table to a household unit or patrons who have asked to be seated together , ” without stating any limits on the number of households that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday that he ’ s visited restaurants three times since February , twice with his wife and once alone .
“ As soon as I sat down at the larger table I realized it was a little larger group than I had anticipated and I made a bad mistake , ” Newsom said of the dinner at the French Laundry .
“ Instead of sitting down , I should have stood up and walked back , got in my car and drove back to my house.
” Last month , the governor said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning at their Sacramento-area private school .
“ So they ’ re phasing back into school and we are phasing out of our very challenging distance learning that we ’ ve been doing , so many parents are doing , up and down the state , ” Newsom said on Oct. 30 .
“ We absolutely believe that the social emotional learning that occurs in the classroom is the best place for our kids — certainly the best place for their parents as well — and so it is absolutely incumbent to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our districts , so they can safely reopen.
” Statewide , millions of students are continuing their studies through distance learning .
Most students in Los Angeles County , which has been stuck in the most restrictive purple tier since the state updated its reopening guidelines in September , are still learning from home .
The new wave of criticism isn ’ t the first time Newsom has faced questions about his lifestyle .
During the 2018 governor ’ s race , Newsom ’ s opponents cast him as a wealthy businessman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom has often talked of his beginnings as a small businessman whose success began with a small San Francisco wine shop and grew into a multimillion-dollar hospitality enterprise .
He also spoke of how he and his sister were raised mainly by their mother , Tessa , a bookkeeper and secretary who sometimes worked more than one job to make ends meet .
But Newsom also benefited from his long-standing business and personal ties to the family of the late oil tycoon J. Paul Getty .
His late father , William A. Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Getty trusts .
The governor and his family live in a $ 3.7-million , six-bedroom home in Fair Oaks , near the banks of the American River .

Gov. Gavin Newsom apologized Monday for visiting a Napa Valley restaurant with people from other households, saying his behavior contradicted the spirit of the safety guidelines and precautions he has asked Californians to adhere to during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I want to apologize to you because I need to preach and practice, not just preach and not practice, and I’ve done my best to do that,” Newsom said. “We’re all human. We all fall short sometimes.”
Newsom acknowledged that the faux pas may result in a loss of his moral authority on the coronavirus as California experiences a major surge in cases. The governor discussed his own behavior on the same day that he announced a reversal of his reopening plans and ordered 28 counties to return to the purple tier — 94% of Californians will be under the state’s most restrictive guidelines as of Tuesday.
The governor has been criticized in recent days following news of his attendance at the dinner party and that his children are back in school while millions of California schoolchildren and their families juggle distance learning with full-time jobs.
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, the governor’s most prominent GOP critic who has been urged by some in his party to challenge Newsom in 2022, condemed the governor in a Tweet last week, suggesting that he has been living a different life during the pandemic than his constituents.
“His kids can learn in person. But yours can’t,” Faulconer wrote. “He can celebrate birthday parties. But you can’t. He can dine on a $350 meal at one of California’s fanciest restaurants during the worst recession in generations. But you definitely can’t. Can you believe this? I can’t.”
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His kids can learn in person. But yours can’t.
He can celebrate birthday parties. But you can’t.
He can dine on a $350 meal at one California’s fanciest restaurants during the worst recession in generations. But you definitely can’t.
Can you believe this? I can’t. https://t.co/lmRBWh9rpS — Kevin Faulconer (@Kevin_Faulconer) November 14, 2020
Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, attended a birthday party for his political advisor Jason Kinney, a registered lobbyist, at the Michelin-starred French Laundry restaurant in Yountville on Nov. 6, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. The governor visited the restaurant with more than three other households at the same time that he and his administration were warning Californians not to gather with their own families during Thanksgiving.
California’s COVID-19 safety guidelines limit the number of households at a private gathering, but do not explicitly impose those same rules on restaurant patrons. State guidelines updated in November allow private gatherings of no more than three households at a park or outdoor space. Rules for dining say restaurants should “limit the number of patrons at a single table to a household unit or patrons who have asked to be seated together,” without stating any limits on the number of households that can sit at a table.
Newsom said Monday that he’s visited restaurants three times since February, twice with his wife and once alone.
“As soon as I sat down at the larger table I realized it was a little larger group than I had anticipated and I made a bad mistake,” Newsom said of the dinner at the French Laundry. “Instead of sitting down, I should have stood up and walked back, got in my car and drove back to my house.”
Last month, the governor said his children were transitioning back to classroom learning at their Sacramento-area private school.
“So they’re phasing back into school and we are phasing out of our very challenging distance learning that we’ve been doing, so many parents are doing, up and down the state,” Newsom said on Oct. 30. “We absolutely believe that the social emotional learning that occurs in the classroom is the best place for our kids — certainly the best place for their parents as well — and so it is absolutely incumbent to do everything in our power to provide support to our districts, so they can safely reopen.”
Statewide, millions of students are continuing their studies through distance learning. Most students in Los Angeles County, which has been stuck in the most restrictive purple tier since the state updated its reopening guidelines in September, are still learning from home.
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The new wave of criticism isn’t the first time Newsom has faced questions about his lifestyle. During the 2018 governor’s race, Newsom’s opponents cast him as a wealthy businessman out of touch with everyday Californians.
Newsom has often talked of his beginnings as a small businessman whose success began with a small San Francisco wine shop and grew into a multimillion-dollar hospitality enterprise. He also spoke of how he and his sister were raised mainly by their mother, Tessa, a bookkeeper and secretary who sometimes worked more than one job to make ends meet.
But Newsom also benefited from his long-standing business and personal ties to the family of the late oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. His late father, William A. Newsom III, was once the administrator of the Getty trusts.
The governor and his family live in a $3.7-million, six-bedroom home in Fair Oaks, near the banks of the American River.


latimes--2020-11-16--L.A. police union spurns City Hall's request to meet on the budget crisis

The union that represents more than 9,800 Los Angeles police officers has rejected a request from the city ’ s labor negotiators to meet and discuss the city ’ s financial crisis , dealing a fresh setback to Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council as they struggle to close a looming budget deficit .
Craig Lally , president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League , said in a letter to the city ’ s chief employee relations officer that the LAPD had already received a $ 150-million budget cut this year , with some of the savings used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lally said in his three-page letter , which was distributed to the union ’ s members , that officers had spent months on the front lines of the city ’ s COVID-19 response while contending with “ protests , riots and professional sports ‘ celebrations ’ that devolved into chaos.
” LAPD officers have been “ hit in the head with bricks , had urine thrown at them , attacked with frozen water bottles and even injured with eye-damaging lasers , ” Lally said in the letter , which was sent Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wish you luck.
” The union ’ s response reflects some of the deep divisions between the LAPD ’ s rank-and-file and the elected officials charged with balancing the city ’ s books amid a pandemic .
The union has already expressed deep dissatisfaction with Police Chief Michel Moore over his handling of this year ’ s protests and posted a video criticizing Garcetti ’ s police commissioners over the city ’ s recent increase in homicides and shooting victims .
Garcetti and the council face a projected revenue shortfall of at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nearly all of the city ’ s reserve funds .
A more dire scenario has put the deficit at $ 600 million , or nearly a tenth of the city ’ s general fund , which pays for police , firefighters and other core services .
“ Pandemic-driven revenue loss has put the city in dire financial straits , ” Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar said in a statement Monday .
“ Now is a critical time to be at the table with all employee representatives to discuss cost-cutting options.
” The exchange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bloody weekend in Los Angeles .
On Sunday , a woman who was seven months pregnant was shot to death shortly before noon while she sat in a parked car in Wilmington .
Two other women were gunned down earlier that day outside an underground warehouse party in South Los Angeles , police said .
And in L.A. 's Arts District , a tow truck driver was shot to death Sunday evening as he worked on a stalled vehicle , police said .
In addition , police said , there were at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where people were shot but survived .
The City Council voted to cut the LAPD budget in July , reducing the number of police officers to 9,757 — the department ’ s lowest staffing level since 2008 .
Garcetti and the council announced the cut during massive citywide protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Council members put a portion of the $ 150-million cut into a fund set up to delay furloughs for civilian workers , which are now scheduled to begin in January .
City leaders also attempted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program , but that initiative is expected to yield only $ 2.6 million .
On Nov. 10 , city negotiators sent the LAPD union a letter asking for a meeting to discuss the league ’ s contract , which contained a series of raises , including a combined 4.8 % increase for the current fiscal year and a 3 % increase scheduled for January 2022 .
Councilman Mike Bonin , who represents neighborhoods stretching from Westchester to Brentwood , said Monday that the union ’ s refusal to meet or make concessions would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency preparedness , neighborhood police patrols , gang intervention programs and LAPD ’ s civilian staffing .
Bonin , who has been at odds with the union for months , has repeatedly called for the league to postpone its pay increases , in part because the LAPD consumes more than half of the city ’ s discretionary funds .
“ It is incredibly disappointing that our largest union has turned its back on the people of Los Angeles , and is refusing to even discuss actions that will spare cuts to vital city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eviction , feeding hungry seniors , and supporting small businesses , ” Bonin said Monday in an email .
Bonin has drawn the ire of the union by coming out publicly against any cuts at the Fire Department , which he said is on the “ front lines ” of the fight against climate change .
The firefighters union received a 4.75 % raise in July , and is on track to receive another 3 % increase next summer .
The LAPD ’ s raises are expected to cost the city an additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while firefighter pay hikes are on track to consume $ 19.3 million over the same period , according to the city ’ s top budget analyst .
For months , activists have called in to public meetings demanding that the council defund or abolish the LAPD , arguing the money would be better spent on healthcare , mental health services and aid to renters .
The union , in turn , called the $ 150-million reduction an arbitrary figure aimed at placating protesters .
Appearing last week on KPCC-FM ’ s “ Airtalk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council and others in city government had treated the LAPD like “ a punching bag.
” He pointed out that the city was experiencing an uptick in crime , including a 25 % increase in homicides .
Garcetti , in an interview that aired Sunday with KNBC ’ s Conan Nolan , said many cities across the country — including those that maintain police spending at existing levels — are seeing higher homicide numbers .
Shifting some assignments , such as mental health calls , out of the LAPD and into other agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
“ I am not a fan of ‘ defund the police.
’ I ’ m not a fan of abolishing the police .
I think those things are wrong , ” he said in the interview .
“ But at the same time , police can ’ t do everything .
”

The union that represents Los Angeles police officers said it had no intention of meeting with city negotiators to discuss the ongoing budget crisis.
The union that represents more than 9,800 Los Angeles police officers has rejected a request from the city’s labor negotiators to meet and discuss the city’s financial crisis, dealing a fresh setback to Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council as they struggle to close a looming budget deficit.
Craig Lally, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said in a letter to the city’s chief employee relations officer that the LAPD had already received a $150-million budget cut this year, with some of the savings used to delay reductions at other city agencies.
Lally said in his three-page letter, which was distributed to the union’s members, that officers had spent months on the front lines of the city’s COVID-19 response while contending with “protests, riots and professional sports ‘celebrations’ that devolved into chaos.”
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LAPD officers have been “hit in the head with bricks, had urine thrown at them, attacked with frozen water bottles and even injured with eye-damaging lasers,” Lally said in the letter, which was sent Friday and ended with the message “We wish you luck.”
The union’s response reflects some of the deep divisions between the LAPD’s rank-and-file and the elected officials charged with balancing the city’s books amid a pandemic. The union has already expressed deep dissatisfaction with Police Chief Michel Moore over his handling of this year’s protests and posted a video criticizing Garcetti’s police commissioners over the city’s recent increase in homicides and shooting victims.
Garcetti and the council face a projected revenue shortfall of at least $400 million, a figure equal to nearly all of the city’s reserve funds. A more dire scenario has put the deficit at $600 million, or nearly a tenth of the city’s general fund, which pays for police, firefighters and other core services.
“Pandemic-driven revenue loss has put the city in dire financial straits,” Garcetti spokesman Alex Comisar said in a statement Monday. “Now is a critical time to be at the table with all employee representatives to discuss cost-cutting options.”
The exchange between the union and city leaders spanned a bloody weekend in Los Angeles. On Sunday, a woman who was seven months pregnant was shot to death shortly before noon while she sat in a parked car in Wilmington.
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Two other women were gunned down earlier that day outside an underground warehouse party in South Los Angeles, police said. And in L.A.’s Arts District, a tow truck driver was shot to death Sunday evening as he worked on a stalled vehicle, police said.
In addition, police said, there were at least another six incidents across the city where people were shot but survived.
The City Council voted to cut the LAPD budget in July, reducing the number of police officers to 9,757 — the department’s lowest staffing level since 2008. Garcetti and the council announced the cut during massive citywide protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Council members put a portion of the $150-million cut into a fund set up to delay furloughs for civilian workers, which are now scheduled to begin in January. City leaders also attempted to save money through an employee buyout program, but that initiative is expected to yield only $2.6 million.
On Nov. 10, city negotiators sent the LAPD union a letter asking for a meeting to discuss the league’s contract, which contained a series of raises, including a combined 4.8% increase for the current fiscal year and a 3% increase scheduled for January 2022.
Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents neighborhoods stretching from Westchester to Brentwood, said Monday that the union’s refusal to meet or make concessions would threaten public safety, triggering cuts to emergency preparedness, neighborhood police patrols, gang intervention programs and LAPD’s civilian staffing.
Bonin, who has been at odds with the union for months, has repeatedly called for the league to postpone its pay increases, in part because the LAPD consumes more than half of the city’s discretionary funds.
“It is incredibly disappointing that our largest union has turned its back on the people of Los Angeles, and is refusing to even discuss actions that will spare cuts to vital city services, such as helping renters avoid eviction, feeding hungry seniors, and supporting small businesses,” Bonin said Monday in an email.
Bonin has drawn the ire of the union by coming out publicly against any cuts at the Fire Department, which he said is on the “front lines” of the fight against climate change. The firefighters union received a 4.75% raise in July, and is on track to receive another 3% increase next summer.
The LAPD’s raises are expected to cost the city an additional $35 million this fiscal year, while firefighter pay hikes are on track to consume $19.3 million over the same period, according to the city’s top budget analyst.
For months, activists have called in to public meetings demanding that the council defund or abolish the LAPD, arguing the money would be better spent on healthcare, mental health services and aid to renters. The union, in turn, called the $150-million reduction an arbitrary figure aimed at placating protesters.
Appearing last week on KPCC-FM’s “Airtalk,” Lally said Garcetti, the council and others in city government had treated the LAPD like “a punching bag.” He pointed out that the city was experiencing an uptick in crime, including a 25% increase in homicides.
Garcetti, in an interview that aired Sunday with KNBC’s Conan Nolan, said many cities across the country — including those that maintain police spending at existing levels — are seeing higher homicide numbers. Shifting some assignments, such as mental health calls, out of the LAPD and into other agencies will not make residents any less safe, he said.
“I am not a fan of ‘defund the police.’ I’m not a fan of abolishing the police. I think those things are wrong,” he said in the interview. “But at the same time, police can’t do everything.”


latimes--2020-11-16--Dry heat, wet feet: Record temperatures and king tides collide in Southern California

Towering high tides hitting the Southern California coast will be met with record-high temperatures Monday , according to the National Weather Service .
The astronomical tides , known as king tides , occur when the moon is closest to the Earth and are often the highest tides of the year , said Mike Wofford , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
Monday ’ s tides could be as high as 7 feet , carrying with them elevated surf conditions and the possibility of tidal overflows .
“ There are a few spots where they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Wofford said .
“ And if you have big waves on top of king tides or a high tide like that , you can get some issues.
” Waves in the coastal areas of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara could be as high as 9 feet , the weather service said , warning that swimmers and inexperienced surfers should stay out of the water .
King tides combined with high surf can bring dangerous rip currents , minor beach erosion and an increased risk of drowning .
The coast isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see anomalous weather this week .
After several days of fall-like chill , downtown Los Angeles will soar to 91 degrees Monday afternoon — a record high for Nov. 16 , a .
The previous record for the date — 88 degrees — was set in 2008 , Wofford said .
The heat is being driven by warm Santa Ana winds moving through a hot air system , the combination of which will elevate some areas to brief critical fire weather conditions .
“ We have a high-pressure ridge over us , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start off with , ” Wofford said .
“ Then , when offshore winds come down the mountains , they heat up that already pretty hot air.
” Mountain areas , particularly the Santa Lucia Range , could see gusts as high as 50 mph .
No red flag warnings have been issued , Wofford said , but residents are being advised to avoid burning trash or brush outdoors .
Despite what feels like a confluence of extremes , Wofford said the day ’ s unusual weather was no cause for concern .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule , and the simmering heat will soon dissipate .
“ It ’ ll be cool , then it ’ ll be hot , then it ’ ll go back to being cool again , ” Wofford said .
“ That ’ s a pretty typical fall scenario .
”

John Doughty of Costa Mesa unties his boat from a mooring Monday amid a king tide at Balboa Island in Newport Beach.
Towering high tides hitting the Southern California coast were met with record-high temperatures Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
The astronomical tides, known as king tides, occur when the moon is closest to Earth and are often the highest tides of the year, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Combined with high surf, king tides can bring tidal overflows, minor beach erosion and an increased risk of drowning.
Monday’s tides were as high as 7 feet, and a beach hazard advisory will remain in effect in parts of Orange County and San Diego through Tuesday morning, when tides are expected to reach their peak of more than 6 feet in La Jolla and Newport Beach, according to the NWS.
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“There are a few spots where they’ll be getting extra water near the coast,” Wofford said. “And if you have big waves on top of king tides or a high tide like that, you can get some issues.”
The coast isn’t the only area that saw anomalous weather on Monday. After several days of fall-like chill, the temperature in downtown Los Angeles soared to 91 degrees Monday afternoon — a record high for Nov. 16, a day that’s typically cool .
The previous record for the date — 88 degrees — was set in 2008, Wofford said.
A jogger is reflected in minor street flooding following king tides on Balboa Island in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The heat is being driven by warm Santa Ana winds moving through a hot air system, the combination of which will elevate some areas to brief critical fire weather conditions.
“We have a high-pressure ridge over us, so the air mass is already warm to start off with,” Wofford said. “Then, when offshore winds come down the mountains, they heat up that already pretty hot air.”
Mountain areas, particularly the Santa Lucia Range, saw gusts as high as 50 mph. No red flag warnings have been issued, Wofford said, but residents are being advised to avoid burning trash or brush outdoors.
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Despite what feels like a confluence of extremes, Wofford said the day’s unusual weather was no cause for concern. The king tides are arriving right on schedule, and the simmering heat will soon dissipate.
“It’ll be cool, then it’ll be hot, then it’ll go back to being cool again,” Wofford said. “That’s a pretty typical fall scenario.”
A dock is partially submerged in Newport Harbor after king tides hit the area. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Times staff writer Alejandra Reyes-Velarde contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-16--Tow truck driver shot to death in downtown L.A.

A 26-year-old tow truck driver was shot and killed Sunday night while working on a stalled vehicle in downtown Los Angeles , the Los Angeles Police Department said .
The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. at 8th and Mateo streets , according to LAPD Officer Drake Madison .
The victim and another driver were responding to a call in the area when a witness heard a shot and found the man bleeding , Madison said .
The witness drove the man to the guard shack of the nearby Los Angeles Times Olympic printing plant , at 2000 E. 8th St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. Times spokeswoman Hillary Manning said The Times ’ security team was at the plant at the time , as was the majority of the production team that is responsible for printing the newspaper .
“ We ’ re grateful to the security team for the work they do to keep our employees safe and , as in this situation , their efforts to assist members of the community , ” Manning said .
“ We send our condolences to the victim ’ s family and friends and hope that the investigation will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring them peace.
” Police did not have any information about a suspect in the shooting Monday .
The victim was identified by the Los Angeles County coroner ’ s office as Michael McGarry .

An investigation is underway after a tow truck driver working on a stalled vehicle in downtown Los Angeles was shot to death Sunday night.
A 26-year-old tow truck driver was shot and killed Sunday night while working on a stalled vehicle in downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. at 8th and Mateo streets, according to LAPD Officer Drake Madison.
The victim and another driver were responding to a call in the area when a witness heard a shot and found the man bleeding, Madison said. The witness drove the man to the guard shack of the nearby Los Angeles Times Olympic printing plant, at 2000 E. 8th St., where he was pronounced dead.
L.A. Times spokeswoman Hillary Manning said The Times’ security team was at the plant at the time, as was the majority of the production team that is responsible for printing the newspaper.
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“We’re grateful to the security team for the work they do to keep our employees safe and, as in this situation, their efforts to assist members of the community,” Manning said. “We send our condolences to the victim’s family and friends and hope that the investigation will bring them answers and that time will bring them peace.”
Police did not have any information about a suspect in the shooting Monday. The victim was identified by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office as Michael McGarry.
City News Service contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-16--California dramatically rolls back reopenings amid unprecedented COVID-19 surge

Faced with a skyrocketing number of new coronavirus cases , California officials on Monday pulled what they characterized as an emergency brake , announcing a dramatic rollback of reopening in much of the state .
Once the changes go into effect Tuesday , 94 % of Californians — roughly 37 million people — will live in counties that are in the strictest tier of the state ’ s reopening roadmap .
Many businesses in those counties will have to suspend or severely limit their indoor operations .
“ We are seeing community spread broadly now throughout the state of California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last week , just 13 of California ’ s 58 counties were in the strictest tier , purple , indicating widespread transmission of the disease .
Newsom announced Monday that the number would more than triple , to 41 .
Among the counties that have newly fallen back into the purple tier are Orange , Ventura , Santa Barbara , Kern and San Luis Obispo .
Los Angeles , San Bernardino , Riverside , San Diego and Imperial counties were already in that category .
The most populated counties in the Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purple tier , including Santa Clara , Alameda , Contra Costa , Napa and Solano .
All eight counties in the San Joaquin Valley are now in the purple tier .
The purple swath also covers all of California ’ s Central Coast and much of the area in and around Sacramento County .
Monday ’ s dramatic announcement comes amid the steepest rise in COVID-19 cases that California has seen .
Over the seven-day period that ended Sunday , the state averaged 7,985 cases per day , a rate that has nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to data compiled by The Times .
The rolling metric hasn ’ t been that high since mid-August , and it is a far cry from just a month ago , when the seven-day average of new cases dipped below 3,000 .
“ This is simply the fastest increase California has seen since the beginning of this pandemic , ” Newsom said .
Los Angeles County reported more than 3,000 new infections on both Saturday and Sunday ; the 3,780 cases on Saturday represented the highest one-day total since mid-July .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically lower because of reporting lags over the weekend , officials announced 2,795 new cases .
“ It is clear that L.A. County is at a very dangerous point in the pandemic , ” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said .
As the case count swells , officials stress that it ’ s essential for residents to follow infection-prevention protocols : Wear a mask in public , wash hands regularly , stay home when sick and keep a physical distance from , and avoiding gathering with , those outside your household .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the battle against the novel coronavirus .
As Ferrer put it , “ This isn ’ t like we don ’ t know what to do .
This is about getting back to doing what works.
” “ As a community and as individuals , we ’ re going to need to be laser-focused on reducing transmission , ” she said during a briefing .
“ To say many lives are at stake is not an exaggeration.
” The widespread reassignment announced Monday means that only 17 counties won ’ t be subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other facilities outlined in California ’ s four-tier , color-coded blueprint .
Once the changes go into effect , 11 counties will be in the second-most severe , or red , category : Del Norte , Modoc , Humboldt , Plumas , Colusa , Lake , Marin , San Francisco , San Mateo , Amador and Mono .
Four are in the third , orange , tier — Lassen , Sierra , Calaveras and Inyo — and only two , Alpine and Mariposa , remain in the least-restrictive , yellow , tier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Although California has typically updated its tier assignments weekly on Tuesdays , Newsom said those determinations would now be made and announced closer to real time .
“ We need now to be more aggressive , ” he said , “ more surgical , more targeted.
” The tier system categorizes counties based on their average daily number of new coronavirus cases for every 100,000 residents and the percentage of conducted tests that detect the virus .
Counties used to regress only if their metrics fell in the range of a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now , those decisions can be made based on one week ’ s worth of data .
Some counties saw their metrics worsen this week to the point that they slid back multiple categories .
Among them was San Francisco , which was long hailed as a coronavirus success story but is now “ seeing an explosion of new cases throughout the city , ” Public Health Director Grant Colfax said during an online news conference .
Though some of California ’ s increased case count is likely the byproduct of ramped-up testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are coming back positive is also increasing .
About a month ago , the seven-day positivity rate stood at 2.58 % .
Now , it ’ s 5 % .
The number of those infected with the coronavirus who are ill enough to require hospitalization has also spiked in recent weeks .
As of the latest tally , there were 3,852 COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide — up roughly 48 % from two weeks ago .
There are 1,031 COVID-19 patients in intensive care .
“ As I say to my patients often , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll tell you , so you can worry with me.
’ And we ’ re there , ” said Dr. Mark Ghaly , California ’ s Health and Human Services secretary .
Eventually , “ about 12 % of those cases end up in the hospital , ” he said during a briefing Friday , “ and when you look at a high number of cases day over day , and that ’ s sustained , that ’ s exactly what we worry about in terms of overwhelming our hospital system.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosed with COVID-19 at some point during the pandemic .
Although most have recovered , more than 18,200 have died .
The spate of new cases comes as California — and the rest of the nation — heads into what officials already predict will be a particularly dangerous time for the pandemic , when cooler temperatures push people indoors and holidays tempt residents to gather with other households .
Last week , Newsom issued an advisory recommending that residents avoid unnecessary travel — including for Thanksgiving — and urging those who do head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 days when they return .
As the latest surge shows no signs of slowing , some L.A. County officials have discussed potentially limiting businesses ’ hours or instituting some type of curfew in a bid to stymie community spread .
Newsom said the state , too , was assessing the possibility of a curfew , though the idea is still being studied .
Though Ghaly and other health officials have regularly preached that personal responsibility is key to warding off the worst the pandemic can bring , it remains to be seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that message falls on deaf ears .
That ’ s an especially worrying possibility as some residents and businesses grow increasingly tired of , or resentful toward , the sacrifices they ’ ve been asked to make for months .
Among those who have stumbled is Newsom , who has come under fire after attending a birthday party with other households at an upscale Napa Valley restaurant .
“ I want to apologize to you , because I need to preach and practice , not just preach and not practice , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , ” he said Monday .
“ We ’ re all human .
We all fall short sometimes.
” Thanksgiving could prove a particularly hard sell for pandemic-weary Californians .
The state has generally banned large gatherings — although brief , small ones of no more than three households may be held , provided they take place outdoors and attendees physically distance and wear face coverings .
Whether large numbers of families will willingly forgo fellowship and food around the Thanksgiving table remains to be seen .
Officials and experts say it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends and family through video calls or by phone , while limiting in-person celebrations to those you live with .
“ I know everybody wants to know what to do for Thanksgiving , and the basic answer — to be the Grinch who stole Thanksgiving — is not to do it , ” Dr. George Rutherford , an epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco , said at a recent campus town hall meeting .
Times staff writers Maura Dolan , Taryn Luna , Alex Wigglesworth , David Zahniser and Iris @ @ @ @ @ @

In his weekly televised coronavirus update, California Gov. Gavin Newsom made the dramatic announcement of a possible statewide curfew on business activity amid the steepest rise in coronavirus cases that California had seen.
California officials on Monday pulled what they characterized as an emergency brake, announcing a dramatic rollback of reopening in much of the state as it broke its single-day record for new coronavirus cases.
Once the changes go into effect Tuesday, 94% of Californians — roughly 37 million people — will live in counties that are in the strictest tier of the state’s reopening roadmap. Many businesses in those counties will have to suspend or severely limit their indoor operations.
The move came as California recorded 13,412 new cases Monday, according to The Times’ coronavirus tracker. That is the highest daily total since the pandemic began and a sign of how quickly the coronavirus is spreading.
“We are seeing community spread broadly now throughout the state of California,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
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Last week, just 13 of California’s 58 counties were in the strictest tier, purple, indicating widespread transmission of the disease. Newsom announced Monday that the number would more than triple, to 41.
Among the counties that have newly fallen back into the purple tier are Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and San Luis Obispo. Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties were already in that category.
The most populated counties in the Bay Area were also sent back to the purple tier, including Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa and Solano. All eight counties in the San Joaquin Valley are now in the purple tier.
The purple swath also covers all of California’s Central Coast and much of the area in and around Sacramento County.
Among counties in the purple tier, California officials require that the following types of indoor settings be closed to the public: restaurant dining rooms, gyms, dance and yoga studios, movie theaters, museums, zoos and aquariums. Houses of worship can no longer hold in-person services indoors, and most retail stores, indoor malls and libraries can only open to 25% capacity; grocery stores are allowed to open to 50% capacity.
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Monday’s announcement comes amid the steepest rise in coronavirus cases that California has seen. Over the seven-day period that ended Sunday, the state averaged 7,985 cases per day, a rate that has nearly doubled in the past two weeks, according to data compiled by The Times.
The rolling metric hasn’t been that high since mid-August, and it is a far cry from just a month ago, when the seven-day average of new cases dipped below 3,000.
“This is simply the fastest increase California has seen since the beginning of this pandemic,” Newsom said.
Los Angeles County reported more than 3,000 new infections on both Saturday and Sunday; the 3,780 cases on Saturday represented the highest one-day total since mid-July.
Even on Monday, when case counts are typically lower because of reporting lags over the weekend, officials announced 2,795 new cases.
“It is clear that L.A. County is at a very dangerous point in the pandemic,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.
As the case count swells, officials stress that it’s essential for residents to follow infection prevention protocols: Wear a mask in public, wash hands regularly, stay home when sick and keep a physical distance from, and avoid gathering with, those outside your household.
None of those are novel concepts in the battle against the coronavirus. As Ferrer put it, “This isn’t like we don’t know what to do. This is about getting back to doing what works.”
“As a community and as individuals, we’re going to need to be laser-focused on reducing transmission,” she said during a briefing. “To say many lives are at stake is not an exaggeration.”
The widespread reassignment announced Monday means that only 17 counties won’t be subject to the most stringent restrictions on businesses and other facilities outlined in California’s four-tier, color-coded blueprint.
Once the changes go into effect, 11 counties will be in the second-most severe, or red, category: Del Norte, Modoc, Humboldt, Plumas, Colusa, Lake, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Amador and Mono.
Four are in the third, orange, tier — Lassen, Sierra, Calaveras and Inyo — and only two, Alpine and Mariposa, remain in the least-restrictive, yellow, tier.
Even more changes could be coming. Although California has typically updated its tier assignments weekly on Tuesdays, Newsom said those determinations would now be made and announced closer to real time.
“We need now to be more aggressive,” he said, “more surgical, more targeted.”
The tier system categorizes counties based on their average daily number of new coronavirus cases for every 100,000 residents and the percentage of conducted tests that detect the virus.
Counties used to regress only if their metrics fell in the range of a more restrictive tier for two straight weeks. Now, those decisions can be made based on one week’s worth of data.
Some counties saw their metrics worsen this week to the point that they slid back multiple categories. Among them was San Francisco, which was long hailed as a coronavirus success story but is now “seeing an explosion of new cases throughout the city,” Public Health Director Grant Colfax said during an online news conference.
California California coronavirus surge worsens, prompting new pleas to avoid travel A travel advisory issued Friday encourages Californians to stay local and avoid nonessential travel, and asks those who arrive from another state or country to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Though some of California’s increased case count is likely the byproduct of ramped-up testing, the rate at which those tests are coming back positive is also increasing. About a month ago, the seven-day positivity rate stood at 2.58%. Now, it’s 5%.
The number of those infected with the coronavirus who are ill enough to require hospitalization has also spiked in recent weeks. As of the latest tally, there were 3,852 COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide — up roughly 48% from two weeks ago. There are 1,031 COVID-19 patients in intensive care.
“As I say to my patients often, ‘When I’m worried, I’ll tell you, so you can worry with me.’ And we’re there,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s Health and Human Services secretary.
Eventually, “about 12% of those cases end up in the hospital,” he said during a briefing Friday, “and when you look at a high number of cases day over day, and that’s sustained, that’s exactly what we worry about in terms of overwhelming our hospital system.”
More than 1 million Californians have been diagnosed with COVID-19 at some point during the pandemic. Although most have recovered, more than 18,200 have died.
The spate of new cases comes as California — and the rest of the nation — heads into what officials already predict will be a particularly dangerous time for the pandemic, when cooler temperatures push people indoors and holidays tempt residents to gather with other households.
Last week, Newsom issued an advisory recommending that residents avoid unnecessary travel — including for Thanksgiving — and urging those who do head out of the state to self-quarantine for 14 days when they return.
As the latest surge shows no signs of slowing, some L.A. County officials have discussed potentially limiting businesses’ hours or instituting some type of curfew in a bid to stymie community spread.
Newsom said the state, too, was assessing the possibility of a curfew, though the idea is still being studied.
Though Ghaly and other health officials have regularly preached that personal responsibility is key to warding off the worst the pandemic can bring, it remains to be seen what additional measures California could contemplate if that message falls on deaf ears. That’s an especially worrying possibility as some residents and businesses grow increasingly tired of, or resentful toward, the sacrifices they’ve been asked to make for months.
Among those who have stumbled is Newsom, who has come under fire after attending a birthday party with other households at an upscale Napa Valley restaurant.
“I want to apologize to you, because I need to preach and practice, not just preach and not practice, and I’ve done my best to do that,” he said Monday. “We’re all human. We all fall short sometimes.”
Thanksgiving could prove a particularly hard sell for pandemic-weary Californians. The state has generally banned large gatherings — although brief, small ones of no more than three households may be held, provided they take place outdoors and attendees physically distance and wear face coverings.
Whether large numbers of families will willingly forgo fellowship and food around the Thanksgiving table remains to be seen. Officials and experts say it’s safest to connect with extended friends and family through video calls or by phone, while limiting in-person celebrations to those you live with.
“I know everybody wants to know what to do for Thanksgiving, and the basic answer — to be the Grinch who stole Thanksgiving — is not to do it,” Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco, said at a recent campus town hall meeting.
Times staff writers Maura Dolan, Taryn Luna, Alex Wigglesworth, David Zahniser and Iris Lee contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-16--Maryland executive charged with bribing Harvard fencing coach to guarantee sons' admission

A Maryland telecommunications executive ensured his two sons were admitted to Harvard University by plying the school ’ s fencing coach with inducements totaling $ 1.5 million , including buying the coach ’ s house at an inflated price , paying his car loan and utility bills , and funneling payoffs through charitable foundations , according to court papers charging the pair in a bribery conspiracy .
The executive , Jie “ Jack ” Zhao , and the coach , Peter Brand , were arrested Monday morning , federal authorities said .
Harvard fired the coach , saying he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managing conflicts of interest , after the Boston Globe detailed a series of transactions linking Zhao to Brand in 2019 .
The case against Zhao , 61 , and Brand , 67 , was brought by the same federal prosecutor ’ s office that uncovered William “ Rick ” Singer ’ s cash-for-admissions scheme , and the Internal Revenue Service agent who signed the charging documents against Zhao and Brand , Elizabeth Keating , was among the case agents who oversaw Singer ’ s cooperation .
Yet there is no indication that Singer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Harvard deal .
Bill Weinreb , who represents Zhao , described his client ’ s sons as “ academic stars ” and talented fencers “ who obtained admission to Harvard on their own merit.
” “ Mr .
Zhao adamantly denies these charges and will vigorously contest them in court , ” Weinreb said in a statement .
Brand ’ s attorney , Douglas Brooks , said the coach “ did nothing wrong ” concerning the admission of Zhao ’ s children , whom he described as “ academic and fencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ looks forward to the truth coming out in court.
” Federal authorities contend that Zhao and Brand began conspiring in 2012 , at a time when the coach and his wife were under immense financial strain .
“ We have almost no money in Bank of America and there are bill ( sic ) pending , ” his wife wrote in an email that year , according to Keating ’ s affidavit .
“ Do NOT use the atm for ANYTHING.
” After Brand withdrew money at a grocery store , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject line , “ STOP .
STOP .
STOP.
” “ We are down to $ 100 in the account until Friday and there may be pending purchases , ” she wrote , according to the affidavit .
In May 2012 , Brand tapped out a text message to a fencing coach in Virginia .
“ Jack doesn ’ t need to take me anywhere and his boys don ’ t have to be great fencers , ” he wrote , according to the affidavit .
“ All I need is a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s older son was a high school sophomore at the time and an “ accomplished fencer , ” Keating wrote .
His coach , unnamed in the affidavit , told investigators that he and Zhao proposed making a donation to Harvard ’ s fencing program in exchange for Brand recruiting Zhao ’ s son , but Brand rejected the plan in favor of one “ that would provide him with a personal financial benefit , ” the affidavit said .
The Virginia coach , who is cooperating in hopes of being granted immunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million to a fencing charity in 2013 with the understanding the charity would then pass the money to a foundation established by Brand , according to the affidavit .
That year , a charity called the National Fencing Foundation of Washington , D.C. , which listed Zhao as its vice president , reported accepting $ 1,002,275 in gifts , grants or contributions , according to public tax records .
The figure dwarfed its reported income in previous and ensuing years ; the charity , by comparison , recorded just $ 7,560 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2011 , $ 25,534 in 2012 , and nothing in 2014 and 2015 , the tax records show .
In October 2013 , Harvard admissions officers notified Brand that they ’ d deemed the admission of Zhao ’ s older son as “ likely , ” the agent ’ s affidavit said .
Brand forwarded the email to his wife , adding , “ Good news indeed : ) ” He also texted the boy ’ s coach : “ Your man is good to go , ” he wrote , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Zhao ’ s son matriculated at Harvard , the “ National Fencing Foundation of D.C. ” paid $ 100,000 to the “ Peter Brand Foundation , ” tax records show .
The foundation , which was dissolved in 2016 , listed its officers in public records as Brand and his wife , Jacqueline Phillips .
Zhao also paid Brand directly , Keating wrote in her affidavit , listing a number of expenses the businessman covered : $ 2,573 for Brand ’ s water and sewer bill , $ 34,563 for his car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s tuition at Penn State , $ 32,339 to cover a student loan payment , and $ 119,051 for three mortgage payments on Brand ’ s Needham , Mass.
, home , the affidavit says .
In May 2016 , Zhao purchased Brand ’ s home for $ 989,500 , Keating wrote .
The price — $ 440,000 above its assessed value — triggered an inspection from a perplexed town assessor , who described the home in his notes as “ vintage 1960s ” and “ in bad shape , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the assessor wrote .
Four months after his father bought Brand ’ s house , Zhao ’ s younger son received a letter from Harvard saying his admission as a recruited fencer had been deemed “ likely , ” the affidavit said .
Brand , meanwhile , had purchased a $ 1.3-million condominium in Cambridge with the help of Zhao , who contributed $ 50,000 to an escrow account , Keating wrote .
Zhao also paid a contractor $ 154,626 to renovate the condominium , the affidavit said .
In July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ d purchased from Brand 14 months earlier for $ 699,000 .
Although Zhao told the Boston Globe in 2019 that he ’ d bought the house as an investment , he ultimately sold it for $ 665,000 , taking a loss of $ 324,500 , the affidavit said .
Zhao ’ s older son , who captained Harvard ’ s fencing team , graduated in 2018 .
His younger son is a senior at Harvard and remains on the fencing team .

A group tours Harvard in 2012. The school’s former fencing coach Peter Brand has been charged in a bribery scheme.
A Maryland telecommunications executive ensured his two sons were admitted to Harvard University by plying the school’s fencing coach with inducements totaling $1.5 million, including buying the coach’s house at an inflated price, paying his car loan and utility bills, and funneling payoffs through charitable foundations, according to court papers charging the pair in a bribery conspiracy.
The executive, Jie “Jack” Zhao, and the coach, Peter Brand, were arrested Monday morning, federal authorities said. Harvard fired the coach, saying he had violated the school’s policies on managing conflicts of interest, after the Boston Globe detailed a series of transactions linking Zhao to Brand in 2019.
The case against Zhao, 61, and Brand, 67, was brought by the same federal prosecutor’s office that uncovered William “Rick” Singer’s cash-for-admissions scheme, and the Internal Revenue Service agent who signed the charging documents against Zhao and Brand, Elizabeth Keating, was among the case agents who oversaw Singer’s cooperation. Yet there is no indication that Singer or any of his conspirators were involved in the Harvard deal.
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Bill Weinreb, who represents Zhao, described his client’s sons as “academic stars” and talented fencers “who obtained admission to Harvard on their own merit.”
“Mr. Zhao adamantly denies these charges and will vigorously contest them in court,” Weinreb said in a statement.
Brand’s attorney, Douglas Brooks, said the coach “did nothing wrong” concerning the admission of Zhao’s children, whom he described as “academic and fencing stars.” Brand, his lawyer said, “looks forward to the truth coming out in court.”
Federal authorities contend that Zhao and Brand began conspiring in 2012, at a time when the coach and his wife were under immense financial strain.
“We have almost no money in Bank of America and there are bill (sic) pending,” his wife wrote in an email that year, according to Keating’s affidavit. “Do NOT use the atm for ANYTHING.” After Brand withdrew money at a grocery store, she sent him an email with the subject line, “STOP. STOP. STOP.”
“We are down to $100 in the account until Friday and there may be pending purchases,” she wrote, according to the affidavit.
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In May 2012, Brand tapped out a text message to a fencing coach in Virginia. “Jack doesn’t need to take me anywhere and his boys don’t have to be great fencers,” he wrote, according to the affidavit. “All I need is a good incentive to recruit him.”
Zhao’s older son was a high school sophomore at the time and an “accomplished fencer,” Keating wrote. His coach, unnamed in the affidavit, told investigators that he and Zhao proposed making a donation to Harvard’s fencing program in exchange for Brand recruiting Zhao’s son, but Brand rejected the plan in favor of one “that would provide him with a personal financial benefit,” the affidavit said.
The Virginia coach, who is cooperating in hopes of being granted immunity, told authorities that Zhao contributed $1 million to a fencing charity in 2013 with the understanding the charity would then pass the money to a foundation established by Brand, according to the affidavit.
That year, a charity called the National Fencing Foundation of Washington, D.C., which listed Zhao as its vice president, reported accepting $1,002,275 in gifts, grants or contributions, according to public tax records. The figure dwarfed its reported income in previous and ensuing years; the charity, by comparison, recorded just $7,560 in contributions in 2010, $2,150 in 2011, $25,534 in 2012, and nothing in 2014 and 2015, the tax records show.
In October 2013, Harvard admissions officers notified Brand that they’d deemed the admission of Zhao’s older son as “likely,” the agent’s affidavit said. Brand forwarded the email to his wife, adding, “Good news indeed :)” He also texted the boy’s coach: “Your man is good to go,” he wrote, according to the affidavit.
The following year, after Zhao’s son matriculated at Harvard, the “National Fencing Foundation of D.C.” paid $100,000 to the “Peter Brand Foundation,” tax records show. The foundation, which was dissolved in 2016, listed its officers in public records as Brand and his wife, Jacqueline Phillips.
Zhao also paid Brand directly, Keating wrote in her affidavit, listing a number of expenses the businessman covered: $2,573 for Brand’s water and sewer bill, $34,563 for his car loan, $8,428 for his son’s tuition at Penn State, $32,339 to cover a student loan payment, and $119,051 for three mortgage payments on Brand’s Needham, Mass., home, the affidavit says.
In May 2016, Zhao purchased Brand’s home for $989,500, Keating wrote. The price — $440,000 above its assessed value — triggered an inspection from a perplexed town assessor, who described the home in his notes as “vintage 1960s” and “in bad shape,” the affidavit said. “MAKES NO SENSE,” the assessor wrote.
Four months after his father bought Brand’s house, Zhao’s younger son received a letter from Harvard saying his admission as a recruited fencer had been deemed “likely,” the affidavit said.
Brand, meanwhile, had purchased a $1.3-million condominium in Cambridge with the help of Zhao, who contributed $50,000 to an escrow account, Keating wrote. Zhao also paid a contractor $154,626 to renovate the condominium, the affidavit said.
In July 2017, Zhao listed the Needham house he’d purchased from Brand 14 months earlier for $699,000. Although Zhao told the Boston Globe in 2019 that he’d bought the house as an investment, he ultimately sold it for $665,000, taking a loss of $324,500, the affidavit said.
Zhao’s older son, who captained Harvard’s fencing team, graduated in 2018. His younger son is a senior at Harvard and remains on the fencing team.


latimes--2020-11-16--Two women shot and killed at large gathering in South L.A.

Two women were fatally shot early Sunday at a gathering in South Los Angeles , authorities said .
The Los @ @ @ @ @ call around 1:53 a.m. and responded to the 3100 block of Hill Street , according @ @ @ @ @ The nature of the initial call was not immediately clear , police said .
Lt. @ @ @ @ @ scene that it was “ some type of gathering ” and that officers found dozens @ @ @ @ @ woman who was there when the shooting began said the crowd was celebrating a birthday @ @ @ @ @ An unknown suspect approached the women and “ fired multiple shots , striking both victims @ @ @ @ @ Both women were pronounced dead at the scene .
The women were identified by the @ @ @ @ @ office as Shaterika Howard , 33 , from Los Angeles , and Shanell Traina Williams @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s unknown if this is gang-related at this time , ” @ @ @ @ @ the suspect fled in a car .

Two women were fatally shot early Sunday at a gathering in South Los Angeles, authorities said.
The Los Angeles Police Department received a call around 1:53 a.m. and responded to the 3100 block of Hill Street, according to Officer Drake Madison. The nature of the initial call was not immediately clear, police said.
Lt. Ryan Rabbett told KCBS-TV on scene that it was “some type of gathering” and that officers found dozens of people outside.
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A woman who was there when the shooting began said the crowd was celebrating a birthday party in a warehouse.
An unknown suspect approached the women and “fired multiple shots, striking both victims,” Madison said. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene.
The women were identified by the L.A. County coroner’s office as Shaterika Howard, 33, from Los Angeles, and Shanell Traina Williams, 30, from Victorville.
“It’s unknown if this is gang-related at this time,” Madison said, adding that the suspect fled in a car.


latimes--2020-11-16--Rep. Mike Garcia holds razor-thin lead in hotly contested 25th congressional race

Republican incumbent Mike Garcia ’ s razor-thin lead over Democratic Assemblywoman Christy Smith in the race for the 25th Congressional District has narrowed yet again , according to the latest data from the Los Angeles and Ventura county registrars ’ offices .
The hotly contested race has seesawed between the two candidates , with Garcia holding an early lead of 432 votes , then Smith taking a on Nov. 9 and Garcia of 159 votes on Nov. 10 .
Garcia ’ s lead has since narrowed .
The two are now separated by 104 votes ; Garcia currently holds 166,617 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , based on the county registrars ’ latest tallies .
The 25th District , which overlaps both Los Angeles and Ventura counties , includes Simi Valley , Santa Clarita , Palmdale and Lancaster .
The district has flipped twice in the last two years , starting in 2018 when Democratic newcomer Katie Hill unseated Republican incumbent Steve Knight .
However , Hill about halfway into her term after allegations arose of an between her and a campaign staffer .
Garcia then flipped the district red after winning the May special election to fill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 56 % of the votes against Smith ’ s 44 % .
Chapman University research analyst Michael Moodian previously told The Times that Garcia ’ s win in the special election might not be indicative of the district ’ s political alignment .
“ Special elections draw in more registered Republicans , ” Moodian said .
“ It also comes off the heels of the Katie Hill controversy , so that all bodes well for Mike Garcia.
” Two months before the special election , Smith was leading over Garcia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Nov. 20 if they were postmarked by election day .
According to the California secretary of state , final results will be certified by Dec. 11 .
Updated figures are expected to be released Tuesday afternoon .

Republican incumbent Mike Garcia’s razor-thin lead over Democratic Assemblywoman Christy Smith in the race for the 25th Congressional District has narrowed yet again, according to the latest data from the Los Angeles and Ventura county registrars’ offices.
The hotly contested race has seesawed between the two candidates, with Garcia holding an early lead of 432 votes, then Smith taking a 1,287-vote lead on Nov. 9 and Garcia regaining a slim lead of 159 votes on Nov. 10.
Garcia’s lead has since narrowed. The two are now separated by 104 votes; Garcia currently holds 166,617 votes to Smith’s 166,513 votes, based on the county registrars’ latest tallies.
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The 25th District, which overlaps both Los Angeles and Ventura counties, includes Simi Valley, Santa Clarita, Palmdale and Lancaster.
The district has flipped twice in the last two years, starting in 2018 when Democratic newcomer Katie Hill unseated Republican incumbent Steve Knight. However, Hill resigned about halfway into her term after allegations arose of an inappropriate relationship between her and a campaign staffer. Garcia then flipped the district red after winning the May special election to fill the remainder of Hill’s term, with 56% of the votes against Smith’s 44%.
Chapman University research analyst Michael Moodian previously told The Times that Garcia’s win in the special election might not be indicative of the district’s political alignment.
“Special elections draw in more registered Republicans,” Moodian said. “It also comes off the heels of the Katie Hill controversy, so that all bodes well for Mike Garcia.”
Two months before the special election, Smith was leading over Garcia.
Vote-by-mail ballots will continue to be accepted through Nov. 20 if they were postmarked by election day. According to the California secretary of state, final results will be certified by Dec. 11. Updated figures are expected to be released Tuesday afternoon.


latimes--2020-11-16--If you must travel over Thanksgiving, here is how to minimize your COVID-19 risk

Doing so increases your risk of being exposed to the coronavirus and of possibly spreading it to others , experts warn .
Nonetheless , millions of Americans are expected to take to the skies for the holiday .
Although it marks a 48 % decline from last year , AAA estimates that 2.4 million Americans will still travel by air for Thanksgiving .
An additional 48 million people will travel by car , a 4 % drop .
Health officials across the country are urging people to avoid nonessential travel .
“ We ’ re actually recommending this Thanksgiving be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ferrer , the L.A. County director of public health .
“ If you are going to travel , we do ask when you come back that you quarantine for 14 days.
” Gov .
Gavin Newsom echoed that plea on Friday , urging Californians to not travel out of state and to quarantine if they do .
“ Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 .
Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 , ” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be concerned : Early this year in China , a large spike in travel around the Lunar New Year holiday accelerated the spread of the coronavirus throughout the country and beyond its borders .
Here in the U.S. , coronavirus cases are rising significantly , at rates not seen previously in the pandemic .
“ The more cases at your destination , the more likely you are to get infected during travel and spread the virus to others when you return , ” the CDC cautions .
Airports , train stations and rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of being exposed to the virus and it can be difficult to stay six feet away from others , as health experts strongly recommend .
At airports , for example , travelers must wait in security lines and gather at gates before boarding their planes .
Once on a plane , where you sit matters .
“ There ’ s actually research on this , believe it or not : You want to sit at the window , ” Dr. George Rutherford , epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hall .
“ And you want to sit as far away from the toilets as much as possible , which would minimize how often you ’ re near passengers walking past you ... You want to be as far away from that action as possible.
” Rutherford also recommended choosing airlines that are not selling the middle seats in rows to increase distancing between passengers .
“ I think that ’ s important , ” he said .
“ Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the CDC says .
“ However , social distancing is difficult on crowded flights , and sitting within six feet of others , sometimes for hours , may increase your risk of getting COVID-19.
” If you find yourself needing to take a taxi or rideshare , the CDC recommends to avoid riding with unmasked drivers or passengers ; avoid touching surfaces ; don ’ t accept free water bottles ; sit as far as possible from the driver ; and ask the driver to improve ventilation by opening the windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-recirculation mode , the agency said .
Bay Area health officials took an even stronger stance about car travel , saying in a statement : “ Don ’ t share vehicles with people you don ’ t live with .
Vehicles are small enclosed spaces where COVID-19 can spread easily between people .
“ If you must share a vehicle , try to ride with the same people each time , make sure everyone wears a face covering and open the windows to maximize outdoor air circulation as much as you can , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a .
Those taking public transit should avoid touching surfaces , travel during non-peak hours and stay at least six feet from other travelers whenever possible .
“ Stay out of crowded spaces when possible , especially at transit stations and stops , ” the CDC says .
Rutherford also suggested that college students not return home for the holidays this winter .
But if that ’ s not possible , he suggested having them get tested before they depart and tested again at home with about three days between tests .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it .
You got to get tested twice , ” Rutherford said .
A single negative test is not proof that someone is not infected .
If a person is tested shortly after becoming infected and before the virus has reproduced enough copies of itself , a test could fail to detect the virus and produce a false negative result .
At the University of Notre Dame in Indiana , campus officials voiced dismay at students swarming the football field to celebrate an upset victory over Clemson University .
The university is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus before returning home at the end of the semester and are threatening to tie up the students ’ registration for the next semester if they don ’ t get tested before leaving the campus near South Bend , Ind .
“ You may not leave the South Bend area until you receive the results of your exit test , ” the campus said .
“ Obviously , the preference is for people not to be flying home for the holidays — for students or for others — at this point in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. County director of public health .
She said that some colleges are recommending that if students do return home for Thanksgiving , they stay home for the rest of the year and finish up the rest of the semester remotely online “ so that you ’ re not really exposing lots more people when you come back ... to finish out the semester.
” The L.A. County recommendation to quarantine for 14 days when returning from travel means staying at home as much as possible , and not leaving to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , people in quarantine should order food to be delivered , Ferrer said .
During quarantine , you can go out for a walk by yourself , said Ferrer , as long as you don ’ t come in contact with other people .
“ We don ’ t want you go to restaurants and sitting and eating outside .
And we don ’ t want you going into retail establishments , either , when we ’ ve asked you to quarantine.
” “ The tighter you can restrict your activities over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we all are , ” Ferrer said .
Similarly , health officials in the Bay Area self-quarantining for 14 days after returning to the region if a traveler ’ s activities put them at higher risk for infection .
That can include traveling on planes and other public transit where face masks were not worn at all times by everyone or being within six feet of people outside your nuclear family if anyone was not wearing a mask .

Two travelers off a flight from New York find their Lyft driver at Los Angeles International Airport on Aug. 20. Health officials across the country are urging people to avoid nonessential travel over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Determined to travel for Thanksgiving?
Doing so increases your risk of being exposed to the coronavirus and of possibly spreading it to others, experts warn. Nonetheless, millions of Americans are expected to take to the skies for the holiday. Although it marks a 48% decline from last year, AAA estimates that 2.4 million Americans will still travel by air for Thanksgiving. An additional 48 million people will travel by car, a 4% drop.
Health officials across the country are urging people to avoid nonessential travel.
“We’re actually recommending this Thanksgiving be a stay-at-home Thanksgiving,” said Barbara Ferrer, the L.A. County director of public health. “If you are going to travel, we do ask when you come back that you quarantine for 14 days.”
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Gov. Gavin Newsom echoed that plea on Friday, urging Californians to not travel out of state and to quarantine if they do.
“Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website .
Travel & Experiences Your guide to traveling this holiday season How to travel this holiday season by plane, train and car, and how to safely stay in a hotel or a rental. If you’re staying local, we have ideas for how to spend the time.
There’s reason to be concerned: Early this year in China, a large spike in travel around the Lunar New Year holiday accelerated the spread of the coronavirus throughout the country and beyond its borders.
Here in the U.S., coronavirus cases are rising significantly, at rates not seen previously in the pandemic. “The more cases at your destination, the more likely you are to get infected during travel and spread the virus to others when you return,” the CDC cautions.
Airports, train stations and rest stops are places where people are at risk of being exposed to the virus and it can be difficult to stay six feet away from others, as health experts strongly recommend. At airports, for example, travelers must wait in security lines and gather at gates before boarding their planes.
Once on a plane, where you sit matters. “There’s actually research on this, believe it or not: You want to sit at the window,” Dr. George Rutherford, epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco, said during a recent campus town hall. “And you want to sit as far away from the toilets as much as possible, which would minimize how often you’re near passengers walking past you...You want to be as far away from that action as possible.”
Rutherford also recommended choosing airlines that are not selling the middle seats in rows to increase distancing between passengers. “I think that’s important,” he said.
“Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes,” the CDC says. “However, social distancing is difficult on crowded flights, and sitting within six feet of others, sometimes for hours, may increase your risk of getting COVID-19.”
Travel & Experiences Need to fly? 11 things you need to know Airplane fares are rising, middle seats are filling up and the number of people flying has nearly doubled since June. Here are things to know if you’re traveling by plane.
If you find yourself needing to take a taxi or rideshare, the CDC recommends to avoid riding with unmasked drivers or passengers; avoid touching surfaces; don’t accept free water bottles; sit as far as possible from the driver; and ask the driver to improve ventilation by opening the windows or setting the air ventilation system on non-recirculation mode, the agency said.
Bay Area health officials took an even stronger stance about car travel, saying in a statement: “Don’t share vehicles with people you don’t live with. Vehicles are small enclosed spaces where COVID-19 can spread easily between people.
“If you must share a vehicle, try to ride with the same people each time, make sure everyone wears a face covering and open the windows to maximize outdoor air circulation as much as you can,” Bay Area health officials said in a joint statement .
Those taking public transit should avoid touching surfaces, travel during non-peak hours and stay at least six feet from other travelers whenever possible. “Stay out of crowded spaces when possible, especially at transit stations and stops,” the CDC says.
Rutherford also suggested that college students not return home for the holidays this winter. But if that’s not possible, he suggested having them get tested before they depart and tested again at home with about three days between tests.
“One single test is not going to do it. You got to get tested twice,” Rutherford said.
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Travel & Experiences Need to stay at a hotel or motel? Try these pandemic tactics With care, you can reduce the risks that come with spending a night in a hotel or motel. Use these tips when choosing a room and for when you arrive at your destination.
A single negative test is not proof that someone is not infected. If a person is tested shortly after becoming infected and before the virus has reproduced enough copies of itself, a test could fail to detect the virus and produce a false negative result.
At the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, campus officials voiced dismay at students swarming the football field to celebrate an upset victory over Clemson University. The university is now mandating that students get tested for the virus before returning home at the end of the semester and are threatening to tie up the students’ registration for the next semester if they don’t get tested before leaving the campus near South Bend, Ind.
“You may not leave the South Bend area until you receive the results of your exit test,” the campus said.
“Obviously, the preference is for people not to be flying home for the holidays — for students or for others — at this point in time,” said Ferrer, the L.A. County director of public health.
She said that some colleges are recommending that if students do return home for Thanksgiving, they stay home for the rest of the year and finish up the rest of the semester remotely online “so that you’re not really exposing lots more people when you come back ... to finish out the semester.”
The L.A. County recommendation to quarantine for 14 days when returning from travel means staying at home as much as possible, and not leaving to go to the grocery store or to restaurants. Instead, people in quarantine should order food to be delivered, Ferrer said.
During quarantine, you can go out for a walk by yourself, said Ferrer, as long as you don’t come in contact with other people. “We don’t want you go to restaurants and sitting and eating outside. And we don’t want you going into retail establishments, either, when we’ve asked you to quarantine.”
“The tighter you can restrict your activities over those 14 days, the better off we all are,” Ferrer said.


latimes--2020-11-16--California faces new wave of restrictions and business limitations amid coronavirus surge

With coronavirus again surging across California , officials are faced with a narrowing number of options to slow the spread .
Weekly coronavirus cases have doubled in the last month around the state , and Los Angeles County recorded more than 6,800 cases over the weekend , an alarming spike that has officials talking about more restrictions .
The most immediate concern is the Thanksgiving holiday , which officials fear could spread the illness further if people take part in gatherings .
But beyond that , officials are trying to balance the necessity of combating this latest spike with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — already devastated by the pandemic — or to slow their reopening .
Here is a look at what officials are doing , and what ’ s coming : California officials are urging those who head out of state to self-quarantine for 14 days when they return .
Though officials were quick to point out that issued Friday was just that — “ it isn ’ t a ban ; it isn ’ t a restriction , ” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said — they hope that residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re encouraging Californians to stay close to home , ” Ghaly said , “ to avoid nonessential travel to other states , other countries and , frankly , across the state if that ’ s avoidable.
” The advisory , which Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced in conjunction with his counterparts in Oregon and Washington , also asks those who arrive in California from another state or country self-quarantine for 14 days .
Essential travel , as defined by the advisory , is “ for work and study , critical infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , health , immediate medical care and safety and security , ” according to Newsom ’ s office .
One idea Los Angeles County officials have discussed is a curfew of some type designed to limit the time businesses are open and people are “ mingling.
” New York imposed a curfew last week on restaurants and bars beginning at 10 p.m. Only takeout orders are allowed after that .
Barbara Ferrer , L.A. County ’ s public health director , said two local possibilities were a curfew or a limitation on businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it makes sense to do everything we can to encourage people not to be out and about , not to be mingling with others , ” she said .
“ And if we can ’ t make those choices ourselves , you ’ re forced to sort of look at , structurally , how do you make it harder for people to intermingle , particularly in activities where we know there ’ s going to be spread.
” Added Supervisor Sheila Kuehl : “ After people drink for a while , perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so possibly a curfew might help .
But we would have to see if it worked in other jurisdictions .
That might help us keep our businesses open so long as they are perfectly compliant.
” Los Angeles County is examining other options as well .
Among them : reducing occupancy levels at sites where people are indoors ; dedicating more resources to ensuring businesses follow public health orders ; and encouraging certain safety measures , such as telling everyone who can work from home to go back to doing so , Ferrer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a repeat of the lockdown California experienced in the spring .
On Friday , Ghaly said the state was “ not looking , today , at a statewide stay-at-home order.
” “ All of that said , ” he added , “ this is a quickly , rapidly evolving situation , and we will do whatever it takes to make sure that we appropriately protect the public health of California.
” Reopening businesses and activities is guided by the state ’ s four-tiered , The tiers begin with purple , the most restrictive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orange , then yellow — each carrying its own limitations on what kinds of businesses can reopen and how widely they can do so .
Ghaly said the state planned to stick with the current road map , which categorizes counties based on their average daily number of new coronavirus cases for every 100,000 residents and the percentage of conducted tests that detect the virus .
“ We know and feel and hear about the hurt of many businesses , and the difficulty , ” Ghaly said .
“ But we continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between health and business — that that ’ s a false choice , that what we really need to do is do everything we can at this moment to get these very rapidly rising cases back down.
” California has generally banned large gatherings but says shorter , smaller ones of no more than three households may be held , provided they take place in the hardest-hit counties , and that attendees physically distance and wear face coverings .
Thanksgiving offers profound risks if large numbers of guests hailing from different households — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gather .
Those who are elderly or have underlying medical conditions are at particular risk for severe illness or death should they be infected with the coronavirus .
Also , taking a coronavirus test before Thanksgiving isn ’ t a sure way to stave off the spread of the illness .
If a person is tested shortly after becoming infected and before the virus has reproduced enough copies of itself , a test could fail to detect the virus and produce a false negative result .
People can be even when showing no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ should not be used as a free pass to gather with others or to not follow the basic core public health measures that are essential to keeping us all healthy , ” said Dr. Christina Ghaly , Los Angeles County ’ s director of health services .
That ’ s why the safest bet is to stick to your own household for the holiday this year , public health officials say .
“ I know everybody wants to know what to do for Thanksgiving , and the basic answer — to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to do it , ” Dr. George Rutherford , an epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco , said at a recent campus town hall meeting .
Feel free to make a special dinner .
But to “ host , ” it ’ s safest to connect with extended friends and family through video calls or the telephone , while keeping in-person guests among only the members of your household .
Times staff writers David Zahniser and Iris Lee contributed to this report .

Luke Money, Alex Wigglesworth, Rong-Gong Lin II

Travelers wearing masks and protective clothing prepare to head to their gate at Terminal 2 at LAX. Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging Californians to restrict travel.
With coronavirus again surging across California, officials are faced with a narrowing number of options to slow the spread.
Weekly coronavirus cases have doubled in the last month around the state, and Los Angeles County recorded more than 6,800 cases over the weekend, an alarming spike that has officials talking about more restrictions.
The most immediate concern is the Thanksgiving holiday, which officials fear could spread the illness further if people take part in gatherings. But beyond that, officials are trying to balance the necessity of combating this latest spike with their desire to minimize further closures of businesses — already devastated by the pandemic — or to slow their reopening.
Advertisement
Here is a look at what officials are doing, and what’s coming:
Travel quarantine
California officials are urging those who head out of state to self-quarantine for 14 days when they return.
Though officials were quick to point out that the state travel advisory issued Friday was just that — “it isn’t a ban; it isn’t a restriction,” California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said — they hope that residents take the guidance to heart.
“We’re encouraging Californians to stay close to home,” Ghaly said, “to avoid nonessential travel to other states, other countries and, frankly, across the state if that’s avoidable.”
The advisory, which Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in conjunction with his counterparts in Oregon and Washington, also asks those who arrive in California from another state or country self-quarantine for 14 days.
Advertisement
Essential travel, as defined by the advisory, is “for work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care and safety and security,” according to Newsom’s office.
California California issues travel advisory ahead of holidays as COVID-19 surges The advisory encourages residents to avoid nonessential travel. It also asks those arriving from another state or country to quarantine for 14 days.
Curfew
One idea Los Angeles County officials have discussed is a curfew of some type designed to limit the time businesses are open and people are “mingling.” New York imposed a curfew last week on restaurants and bars beginning at 10 p.m. Only takeout orders are allowed after that.
Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County’s public health director, said two local possibilities were a curfew or a limitation on businesses’ hours of operation.
“I think it makes sense to do everything we can to encourage people not to be out and about, not to be mingling with others,” she said. “And if we can’t make those choices ourselves, you’re forced to sort of look at, structurally, how do you make it harder for people to intermingle, particularly in activities where we know there’s going to be spread.”
Added Supervisor Sheila Kuehl: “After people drink for a while, perhaps they lose inhibition and judgment, and so possibly a curfew might help. But we would have to see if it worked in other jurisdictions. That might help us keep our businesses open so long as they are perfectly compliant.”
Reducing occupancy levels
Los Angeles County is examining other options as well.
Among them: reducing occupancy levels at sites where people are indoors; dedicating more resources to ensuring businesses follow public health orders; and encouraging certain safety measures, such as telling everyone who can work from home to go back to doing so, Ferrer said.
Another lockdown?
Officials are trying to avoid a repeat of the lockdown California experienced in the spring.
On Friday, Ghaly said the state was “not looking, today, at a statewide stay-at-home order.”
“All of that said,” he added, “this is a quickly, rapidly evolving situation, and we will do whatever it takes to make sure that we appropriately protect the public health of California.”
Reopening businesses and activities is guided by the state’s four-tiered, color-coded system. The tiers begin with purple, the most restrictive, then shift to red, then orange, then yellow — each carrying its own limitations on what kinds of businesses can reopen and how widely they can do so.
Ghaly said the state planned to stick with the current road map, which categorizes counties based on their average daily number of new coronavirus cases for every 100,000 residents and the percentage of conducted tests that detect the virus.
“We know and feel and hear about the hurt of many businesses, and the difficulty,” Ghaly said. “But we continue to believe that this is not a choice between health and business — that that’s a false choice, that what we really need to do is do everything we can at this moment to get these very rapidly rising cases back down.”
Thanksgiving gatherings
California has generally banned large gatherings but says shorter, smaller ones of no more than three households may be held, provided they take place outdoors in the hardest-hit counties, and that attendees physically distance and wear face coverings.
Thanksgiving offers profound risks if large numbers of guests hailing from different households — especially those traveling from far away — gather. Those who are elderly or have underlying medical conditions are at particular risk for severe illness or death should they be infected with the coronavirus.
Also, taking a coronavirus test before Thanksgiving isn’t a sure way to stave off the spread of the illness. If a person is tested shortly after becoming infected and before the virus has reproduced enough copies of itself, a test could fail to detect the virus and produce a false negative result.
People can be highly contagious even when showing no signs of illness.
A negative test “should not be used as a free pass to gather with others or to not follow the basic core public health measures that are essential to keeping us all healthy,” said Dr. Christina Ghaly, Los Angeles County’s director of health services.
That’s why the safest bet is to stick to your own household for the holiday this year, public health officials say.
“I know everybody wants to know what to do for Thanksgiving, and the basic answer — to be the Grinch who stole Thanksgiving — is not to do it,” Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco, said at a recent campus town hall meeting.
Feel free to make a special dinner. But to “host,” it’s safest to connect with extended friends and family through video calls or the telephone, while keeping in-person guests among only the members of your household.
Times staff writers David Zahniser and Iris Lee contributed to this report.