latimes--2020-03-21--Los Angeles County reports two more coronavirus deaths and 59 new cases

Los Angeles County health officials on Saturday confirmed two more coronavirus deaths and 59 new cases , bringing the total confirmed cases in the county to 353 .
The individuals who died were both older than 65 with underlying health conditions ; one person lived in the Miracle Mile area and the other in Del Rey , public health officials said in a statement .
“ Because there are positive cases across the entire county , the public should not think one location is safer than another , ” according to the statement .
The total number of confirmed cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , in California now stands at more than 1,400 , with 27 deaths , but officials have said that the number of cases is a gross underestimation due to the lack of tests for the virus .
Testing picked up this week , but healthcare authorities said they still don ’ t have anything close to a firm estimate of how many people are infected .
About 25,200 tests had been conducted in California , by both commercial and private labs , as of 2 p.m. Friday , the state Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more than 12,700 of them were pending .
A growing number of the cases in California are instances of community transmission , in which the person diagnosed had not recently traveled or been in contact with another confirmed case .
Those cases indicate that the virus is spreading locally within communities .
Community transmission has been identified in California since late February , and since early March , most of the cases in the state have been unrelated to international travel , the state Public Health Department said Saturday .
Therefore , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about travelers returning to California from countries with confirmed outbreaks of COVID-19 , the Public Health Department said .
In Los Angeles County , the median age for the total number of those who have been infected is 47 , county Public Health Department Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said .
There are 138 people between the ages of 18 and 65 who have tested positive .
“ The risk is spread across everyone , ” Ferrer said .
On Saturday , a third Los Angeles police officer tested positive for the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a vacation out of the country , was “ coughing and sweating ” during roll call earlier this week in the Central Division , which patrols areas that include downtown L.A. , sources told The Times .
At least 14 Los Angeles Police Department employees have shown symptoms and been tested for the virus , sources said .
The other two who tested positive are a sergeant in the Pacific Division , who is hospitalized , and the other is a high-ranking command staffer , the sources said .
The LAPD has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing , they said .
On Saturday , Long Beach announced that it had recorded three more cases of the virus , for a total of 15 .
New cases were also reported in Orange County , which rose from 65 to 78 , and Riverside County , which rose from 22 to 28 .
In Orange County , a resident of graduate student housing at UC Irvine tested positive for the coronavirus , the school said Saturday .
The person , who is not a student , had recently returned from an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Albert Chang , medical director of the UCI Student Health Center , said in a statement .
The person is isolated and in good condition , and the risk of transmission to others on campus is low , the school said .
Big Bear Lake mayor Rick Herrick tested positive for the coronavirus , becoming the first confirmed case in Big Bear Lake and the 10th in San Bernardino County , the city announced Saturday .
Herrick was tested on Thursday and received a positive result late Friday .
He is doing well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ This is not the announcement that I imagined , but I hope that by going public on what is normally a private , HIPAA-type subject can be a learning moment for our tight-knit community , ” Herrick said in a statement .
He said that he became sick with relatively mild symptoms about a week ago and self-quarantined at his home .
He will continue to conduct his mayoral duties from home , he said .
The mayor had limited contact with other city officials , and none are currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the public who had contact with the mayor before he self-quarantined can call the San Bernardino County Public Health Department for advice , officials said .
In San Jose , a reserve police officer who tested positive for coronavirus is now in an intensive care unit at a local hospital , while another 20 officers or reserves remain self-quarantined , according to a source .
Eleven city firefighters have tested positive , and more than 50 are in self-quarantine .
Intensive care beds at L.A. County ’ s emergency-room hospitals are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as those facilities have doubled the number available for COVID-19 patients in recent days , according to newly released data .
Fewer than 200 ICU beds were available Wednesday , with most occupied by patients who don ’ t have the virus , according to the data , which cover the roughly 70 public and private hospitals in Los Angeles County that receive emergency patients .
County health officials have advised doctors to refrain from testing some patients unless a positive result could change how they would be treated .
The guidance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , was prompted by a crush of patients and shortage of test kits , and could make it difficult to ever know precisely how many people in the county contracted the virus .
The health department “ is shifting from a strategy of case containment to slowing disease transmission and averting excess morbidity and mortality , ” according to the letter .
Doctors should test symptomatic patients only when “ a diagnostic result will change clinical management or inform public health response.
” Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Friday deployed the California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are serving residents facing food shortages .
Newsom said the short-term deployment will initially assist a food bank warehouse in Sacramento County and will also assess the needs of other counties that have requested assistance with their programs .
The move came a day after he took the extraordinary action of telling most Californians so stay home .
The mandatory order allows residents to continue to visit grocery stores , pharmacies , farmers markets , food banks , convenience stores , takeout and delivery restaurants , banks , gas stations and laundromats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to care for a relative or a friend or seek healthcare services .
Newsom asked Californians to practice social distancing when performing such “ necessary activities.
” “ We ’ re going to keep the grocery stores open , ” he said .
“ We ’ re going to make sure that you ’ re getting critical medical supplies .
You can still take your kids outside , practicing common sense and social distancing .
You can still walk your dog.
” On Saturday , after a day of confusion about the reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the state announced that more stringent sets of mandatory restrictions implemented by some California counties and cities will remain in place .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said he strongly supported the move by Newsom , as well as a similar directive by New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , and urged residents of the two hard-hit states to heed the new orders .
President Trump also praised Newsom and Cuomo , saying , “ I applaud them ” for “ taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their states .
On Saturday , Trump said he is continuing to work with the two governors .
“ We coordinate very much with them , ” he said .
Saturday will be a key test of the governor ’ s order .
On Friday , automobile traffic was “ pandemic light.
” Hiking trails , meanwhile , were filled with cabin-fever sufferers who stayed the requisite six feet apart and smiled a lot more than normal , grateful to be anywhere but home .
The city of El Segundo blocked off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where sit-down service is prohibited , and posted cheerful “ Gundo to Go ” signs .
Masks and latex gloves were the garb of the day for those who ventured out .
At Los Angeles International Airport at 10:30 a.m. Friday , there were twice as many workers as there were travelers at the Air Canada counter in Terminal 6 .
The LAXit lot looked all but closed .
The four zones where travelers wait for Uber and Lyft rides had a total of three cars at 11:15 a.m .
There were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forget about it .
At Griffith Park , dog walkers and exercisers were out in force Friday morning .
People did lunges on the grass and push-ups on the picnic tables .
A sign flashed “ Observatory closed until further notice.
” Robert Dolan , a 64-year-old Los Feliz resident , said he ’ d been cooped up at home for nearly a week .
But on Friday he decided to resume his regular speed-walking routine .
“ I was feeling stuck in the house because of the coronavirus and all that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said today I need to get out of here , because it ’ s driving me crazy.
” He sat on a stone ledge and watched a robin land on a tree .
He listened to the flow of water near his feet .
“ It ’ s better than it usually is , ” he said , “ because I ’ ve actually stopped and looked.
” Additional deaths were reported Friday across the state .
Contra Costa County announced its first death related to the virus : a person in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and had recently traveled to Europe .
The patient died Thursday in an undisclosed hospital .
Riverside County .
Information about the victim wasn ’ t immediately available .
Santa Clara County announced two additional deaths from COVID-19 on Friday , bringing its total to eight .

Alex Wigglesworth, Maria L. La Ganga, Richard Winton, James Queally

During the coronavirus epidemic people continue to walk, ride thier bikes, and play basketball at Junipero Beach in Long Beach. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
People walk the beach, but maintain “social distancing” during the coronavirus outbreak at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. (Gina Ferazzi/Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
With all the stores closed, Fashion Island is a ghost town except for an occasional customer getting food for take-out Newport Beach. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The Apple store is among all the stores which have closed during the coronavirus outbreak in Newport Beach. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Popular shopping destination Rodeo Drive is all but deserted as retail shops are shuttered in Beverly Hills. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
On the first day of L.A.’s ‘Safer at Home,” most major avenues and streets in downtown Los Angeles have very little traffic. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Hollywood Blvd. is devoid of the usual crowds as most shops are closed. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Hollywood Blvd. is devoid of the usual crowds as most shops are closed. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
The intersection of the 101 and 110 freeways in downtown Los Angeles. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
The city of Santa Monica has closed the Santa Monica Pier, and few people were on the beach Friday. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Vehicles flow smoothly along Interstate 5 and the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles in this drone image. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
In this drone image, the Westfield Topanga mall parking lot sits empty, as new regulations have closed all indoor shopping centers in Canoga Park. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
School buses sit idle since all schools have been closed in Los Angeles County. The image was taken by drone. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
The sparsely trafficked intersection of the 101 and 110 freeways in downtown Los Angeles is seen in a drone image. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Spooked by coronavirus fears, people from nearby Inland Empire cities lined-up to buy eggs at Maust’s California Poultry in Chino. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Xiao Ping, holding a tray of eggs, looks back at the long line of egg buyers on Saturda morning in Chino. Spooked by coronavirus people from nearby Inland Empire cities started lining up early morning at Maust’s California Poultry in Chino. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Drivers line-up to get a coronavirus test administered by Riverside County medical personnel at a drive-though testing facility at Diamond Stadium in Lake Elsinore. Those tested have symptoms or have had a risk of exposure. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Jesus Mendoza sells roses on the sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles. Mendoza said his business was overwhelmed by hundred of boxes of roses they could not sell. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
People run and walk on the Veterans Parkway in Manhattan Beach even with signage saying the space is closed to help minimize the spread of the coronavirus. (Dania Maxwell/Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)
During the coronavirus pandemic, people continue to walk and ride their bikes along the path at Junipero Beach in Long Beach. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
At Echo Park Lake, friends gather with their dogs and enjoy a Sunday afternoon in the park. Social distancing and home isolation remain in effect due to the coronavirus. (Carolyn Cole/Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Workers at the Ralphs grocery store in Westchester measure out social distancing guidelines for its customers with markers every six feet and limiting the number of customers it allows in to shop. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
The death toll rose in California this weekend as coronavirus cases spread and residents tried to adjust to extraordinary restrictions on their movement.
Los Angeles County health officials on Sunday confirmed one more coronavirus death, bringing the total number of deaths to five. They also reported 71 new cases in the county, with the total number now at 409. There were 132 new cases reported in last 48 hours.
The number of coronavirus deaths statewide stands at 35.
“It is critical that everyone practices social distancing, obey the Safer at Home Health Officer Order and assume that anyone can have COVID-19, and anyone could unintentionally infect others,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Public Health Director. “Please know that the actions you take today to stay 6 feet away from others and limit all non-essential activities outside your home are the best way for us to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.”
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The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, in California now stands at more than 1,500, with 30 deaths, but officials have said that the number of cases is a gross underestimation due to the lack of tests for the virus. Testing picked up this week, but healthcare authorities said they still don’t have anything close to a firm estimate of how many people are infected.
More than 25,200 tests had been conducted in California, by both commercial and private labs, the state Department of Public Health said Saturday. Results for more than 12,700 of them were pending.
A growing number of the cases in California are instances of community transmission, in which the person diagnosed had not recently traveled or been in contact with another confirmed case. Those cases indicate that the virus is spreading locally within communities.
Community transmission has been identified in California since late February, and since early March, most of the cases in the state have been unrelated to international travel, the state Public Health Department said Saturday. Therefore, the state will no longer collect information about travelers returning to California from countries with confirmed outbreaks of COVID-19, the Public Health Department said.
In Los Angeles County, the median age for the total number of those who have been infected is 47, Ferrer said. There are 138 people between the ages of 18 and 65 who have tested positive.
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“The risk is spread across everyone,” she said.
On Saturday, a third Los Angeles police officer tested positive for the coronavirus. The officer, who had recently returned from a vacation out of the country, was “coughing and sweating” during roll call earlier this week in the Central Division, which patrols areas that include downtown L.A., sources told The Times.
At least 14 Los Angeles Police Department employees have shown symptoms and been tested for the virus, sources said. The other two who tested positive are a sergeant in the Pacific Division, who is hospitalized, and the other is a high-ranking command staffer, the sources said. The LAPD has now set up a plan for first-responder testing, they said.
On Saturday, Long Beach announced that it had recorded three more cases of the virus, for a total of 15.
New cases were also reported in Orange County, which rose from 65 to 95, and Riverside County, which rose from 22 to 45, with six deaths.
In Orange County, a resident of graduate student housing at UC Irvine tested positive for the coronavirus, the school said Saturday.
The person, who is not a student, had recently returned from an international trip and reported symptoms, Dr. Albert Chang, medical director of the UCI Student Health Center, said in a statement. The person is isolated and in good condition, and the risk of transmission to others on campus is low, the school said.
Big Bear Lake mayor Rick Herrick tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first confirmed case in Big Bear Lake and the 10th in San Bernardino County, the city announced Saturday.
Herrick was tested on Thursday and received a positive result late Friday. He is doing well and expected to recover, the city said.
“This is not the announcement that I imagined, but I hope that by going public on what is normally a private, HIPAA-type subject can be a learning moment for our tight-knit community,” Herrick said in a statement.
He said that he became sick with relatively mild symptoms about a week ago and self-quarantined at his home. He will continue to conduct his mayoral duties from home, he said.
The mayor had limited contact with other city officials, and none are currently symptomatic, the release said. Any members of the public who had contact with the mayor before he self-quarantined can call the San Bernardino County Public Health Department for advice, officials said.
In San Jose, a reserve police officer who tested positive for coronavirus is now in an intensive care unit at a local hospital, while another 20 officers or reserves remain self-quarantined, according to a source. Eleven city firefighters have tested positive, and more than 50 are in self-quarantine.
Intensive care beds at L.A. County’s emergency-room hospitals are already at or near capacity, even as those facilities have doubled the number available for COVID-19 patients in recent days, according to newly released data.
Fewer than 200 ICU beds were available Wednesday, with most occupied by patients who don’t have the virus, according to the data, which cover the roughly 70 public and private hospitals in Los Angeles County that receive emergency patients.
County health officials have advised doctors to refrain from testing some patients unless a positive result could change how they would be treated.
The guidance, sent to doctors in a letter last week, was prompted by a crush of patients and shortage of test kits, and could make it difficult to ever know precisely how many people in the county contracted the virus.
The health department “is shifting from a strategy of case containment to slowing disease transmission and averting excess morbidity and mortality,” according to the letter. Doctors should test symptomatic patients only when “a diagnostic result will change clinical management or inform public health response.”
Sweeping orders
On Sunday, President Trump approved a request from Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a major disaster in California to help the state respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with “mass care,” emergency aid, unemployment assistance and disaster legal services, among others.
Newsom on Friday deployed the California National Guard to assist food banks statewide that are serving residents facing food shortages.
Newsom said the short-term deployment will initially assist a food bank warehouse in Sacramento County and will also assess the needs of other counties that have requested assistance with their programs.
The move came a day after he took the extraordinary action of telling most Californians so stay home.
The mandatory order allows residents to continue to visit grocery stores, pharmacies, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, takeout and delivery restaurants, banks, gas stations and laundromats. People may also leave their homes to care for a relative or a friend or seek healthcare services.
Newsom asked Californians to practice social distancing when performing such “necessary activities.”
“We’re going to keep the grocery stores open,” he said. “We’re going to make sure that you’re getting critical medical supplies. You can still take your kids outside, practicing common sense and social distancing. You can still walk your dog.”
On Saturday, after a day of confusion about the reach of Newsom’s historic executive order, the state announced that more stringent sets of mandatory restrictions implemented by some California counties and cities will remain in place.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he strongly supported the move by Newsom, as well as a similar directive by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and urged residents of the two hard-hit states to heed the new orders.
President Trump also praised Newsom and Cuomo, saying, “I applaud them” for “taking very bold steps” to limit activities in their states.
On Saturday, Trump said he is continuing to work with the two governors. “We coordinate very much with them,” he said.
Lives changing
Saturday will be a key test of the governor’s order.
On Friday, automobile traffic was “pandemic light.” Hiking trails, meanwhile, were filled with cabin-fever sufferers who stayed the requisite six feet apart and smiled a lot more than normal, grateful to be anywhere but home.
The city of El Segundo blocked off parking spots in front of local restaurants, where sit-down service is prohibited, and posted cheerful “Gundo to Go” signs. Masks and latex gloves were the garb of the day for those who ventured out.
At Los Angeles International Airport at 10:30 a.m. Friday, there were twice as many workers as there were travelers at the Air Canada counter in Terminal 6. The LAXit lot looked all but closed. The four zones where travelers wait for Uber and Lyft rides had a total of three cars at 11:15 a.m. There were 13 taxis. And the travelers? Forget about it.
At Griffith Park, dog walkers and exercisers were out in force Friday morning. People did lunges on the grass and push-ups on the picnic tables. A sign flashed “Observatory closed until further notice.”
Robert Dolan, a 64-year-old Los Feliz resident, said he’d been cooped up at home for nearly a week. But on Friday he decided to resume his regular speed-walking routine.
“I was feeling stuck in the house because of the coronavirus and all that,” he said. “Finally I said today I need to get out of here, because it’s driving me crazy.”
He sat on a stone ledge and watched a robin land on a tree. He listened to the flow of water near his feet.
“It’s better than it usually is,” he said, “because I’ve actually stopped and looked.”
Additional deaths
Additional deaths were reported Friday across the state. Contra Costa County announced its first death related to the virus: a person in their 70s who had an underlying medical condition and had recently traveled to Europe. The patient died Thursday in an undisclosed hospital.
Riverside County reported its fourth death . Information about the victim wasn’t immediately available.
Santa Clara County announced two additional deaths from COVID-19 on Friday, bringing its total to eight.


latimes--2020-03-20--Coronavirus testing hits another snag as labs need emergency funding to meet high demand

One week after the Trump administration promised a massive expansion of free coronavirus testing , the commercial labs tasked with the effort say they need emergency funding to meet rapidly increasing demand , marking the latest snag in the problem-plagued program .
In a letter sent to congressional leaders Wednesday , the industry trade group for the laboratories requested $ 5 billion and expressed concern over whether they would bear the costs of the administration ’ s promise that testing would be free for all Americans .
The concerns come just one week after executives of the commercial labs stood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 news conference where he promised expanded testing .
Two days later , Vice President Mike Pence confirmed that , under a deal with Congress , testing would be free to all Americans .
“ We are growing increasingly concerned that the federal government is not recognizing the strain on the laboratory industry to meet the demand for testing for COVID-19 , ” Julie Khani , president of the trade group , the American Clinical Laboratory Assn.
, wrote in the letter .
“ Free testing for COVID-19 has now been promised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Laboratories should not bear the cost of ‘ free ’ testing.
” The funding plea signals a note of discord between the industry and the administration at a critical moment when testing levels remain far behind those needed to stem the spread of the disease .
A group of at least six lab companies , including Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp , say they are now performing thousands of tests for hospitals and doctors across the country .
Yet in Southern California the tests are still almost impossible for many to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 of fever , tightness in the chest , shortness of breath , ” said one Long Beach resident , who said his primary care doctor has made multiple attempts to secure approval for a COVID-19 test for him .
“ I was tested for influenza , rhinovirus , viral pneumonia .
They all came back negative .
No one wants to use the word ‘ coronavirus ’ because we all know there aren ’ t enough tests to go around.
” An emergency room doctor at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces tight restrictions on which patients qualify for testing because Quest and LabCorp have limited capacity .
“ I had six suspected COVID patients last night , ” she said .
“ And guess how many I could get tests for ?
None.
” At the March 13 news conference , Trump repeatedly thanked the industry for swiftly working with his administration to provide the tests .
Standing beside him was Stephen Rusckowski , the chairman of Quest , as well as top executives from LabCorp , Roche Diagnostics and other companies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ half a million additional tests will be available early next week , ” Trump said that day .
The actual numbers have increased much more slowly .
By Thursday , the industry labs had completed 63,000 tests , according to the trade association .
The companies conducted 8,200 of those tests on Monday , 14,300 on Tuesday , and 20,100 on Wednesday , the association said .
Experts say the nation needs to exponentially increase the number of tests to ensure the virus does not spread as widely as it has in places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Until we can expand the circle of people we are testing to include those with mild symptoms or even the asymptomatic ones , they ’ re going to keep on spreading , ” said Dr. Georges Benjamin , the head of the American Public Health Assn .
“ The more testing you do , the more likely you are to pick up on that population.
” The commercial labs have taken on a central role in the emergency response , but they have provided little information about the slow rollout in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus samples taken from patients across the country .
Federal and state labs , as well as some hospitals , are also processing tests .
The original test was designed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , but labs found in early February that it was flawed .
Under tremendous pressure to increase the number of tests , federal regulators said Feb. 29 that they would let other companies and laboratories design their own tests , which have each required different equipment and chemicals .
Some of those ingredients quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough staff to perform the tests and buying enough nasal swabs to take patient samples has been difficult .
The procedure often requires two swabs so that duplicate specimens from each patient can be taken .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said this week that officials are looking into new protocols that use just one swab , thereby doubling the number of patients who can be tested .
Meanwhile , the demand for chemicals known as reagents , used to extract genetic material from a nasal swab sample , has left companies scrambling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplier of the ingredients , said last week that the pandemic was “ challenging our capacity to supply certain products ” and that it would boost production by hiring additional employees and adjust staffing to cover three shifts , working seven days a week .
Because of the shortage of tests , doctors have been told that only certain patients qualify .
And patients can obtain the tests only through a physician .
In recent days , executives at both Quest and LabCorp said they expect the numbers of tests processed to accelerate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology known as high-throughput screening .
The machines greatly speed the analysis of test samples .
“ By the end of the week , by Saturday , we will have close to 20,000-tests-per-day capacity within Quest , ” Rusckowski said at a Thursday news conference in Marlborough , Mass .
Both Quest and LabCorp are continuing to tell doctors it will take three or four days for results .
The difficulties help explain why testing shortages continue , even as officials insisted there were enough test kits .
“ We have no idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Brandon Brown , an epidemiologist at UC Riverside who has studied the spread of infectious diseases including MERS and SARS , said in an interview Friday .
“ If we really want to flatten the curve , we need to find every person who has this and isolate them , ” Brown said .
“ We need to really , really put the brakes on this .
”

Roper St. Francis Healthcare employee Raeanne Castillo, right, gives specimen collection kits to a LabCorp worker at the hospital’s office in North Charleston, S.C.
One week after the Trump administration promised a massive expansion of free coronavirus testing, the commercial labs tasked with the effort say they need emergency funding to meet rapidly increasing demand, marking the latest snag in the problem-plagued program.
In a letter sent to congressional leaders Wednesday, the industry trade group for the laboratories requested $5 billion and expressed concern over whether they would bear the costs of the administration’s promise that testing would be free for all Americans.
The concerns come just one week after executives of the commercial labs stood next to President Trump at a March 13 news conference where he promised expanded testing. Two days later, Vice President Mike Pence confirmed that, under a deal with Congress, testing would be free to all Americans.
“We are growing increasingly concerned that the federal government is not recognizing the strain on the laboratory industry to meet the demand for testing for COVID-19,” Julie Khani, president of the trade group, the American Clinical Laboratory Assn., wrote in the letter.
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“Free testing for COVID-19 has now been promised to the American people,” Khani wrote. “Laboratories should not bear the cost of ‘free’ testing.”
The funding plea signals a note of discord between the industry and the administration at a critical moment when testing levels remain far behind those needed to stem the spread of the disease.
A group of at least six lab companies, including Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp, say they are now performing thousands of tests for hospitals and doctors across the country. Yet in Southern California the tests are still almost impossible for many to find.
“I’m on Day 13 of fever, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath,” said one Long Beach resident, who said his primary care doctor has made multiple attempts to secure approval for a COVID-19 test for him. “I was tested for influenza, rhinovirus, viral pneumonia. They all came back negative. No one wants to use the word ‘coronavirus’ because we all know there aren’t enough tests to go around.”
An emergency room doctor at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in Los Angeles County said Thursday that she still faces tight restrictions on which patients qualify for testing because Quest and LabCorp have limited capacity. “I had six suspected COVID patients last night,” she said. “And guess how many I could get tests for? None.”
At the March 13 news conference, Trump repeatedly thanked the industry for swiftly working with his administration to provide the tests. Standing beside him was Stephen Rusckowski, the chairman of Quest, as well as top executives from LabCorp, Roche Diagnostics and other companies.
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“We … expect up to a half a million additional tests will be available early next week,” Trump said that day.
The actual numbers have increased much more slowly. By Thursday, the industry labs had completed 63,000 tests, according to the trade association. The companies conducted 8,200 of those tests on Monday, 14,300 on Tuesday, and 20,100 on Wednesday, the association said.
Experts say the nation needs to exponentially increase the number of tests to ensure the virus does not spread as widely as it has in places such as Italy and Wuhan, China.
“Until we can expand the circle of people we are testing to include those with mild symptoms or even the asymptomatic ones, they’re going to keep on spreading,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, the head of the American Public Health Assn. “The more testing you do, the more likely you are to pick up on that population.”
The commercial labs have taken on a central role in the emergency response, but they have provided little information about the slow rollout in testing availability. The commercial labs process coronavirus samples taken from patients across the country. Federal and state labs, as well as some hospitals, are also processing tests.
The original test was designed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but labs found in early February that it was flawed. Under tremendous pressure to increase the number of tests, federal regulators said Feb. 29 that they would let other companies and laboratories design their own tests, which have each required different equipment and chemicals. Some of those ingredients quickly became hard to find.
Even hiring enough staff to perform the tests and buying enough nasal swabs to take patient samples has been difficult.
The procedure often requires two swabs so that duplicate specimens from each patient can be taken. Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that officials are looking into new protocols that use just one swab, thereby doubling the number of patients who can be tested.
Meanwhile, the demand for chemicals known as reagents, used to extract genetic material from a nasal swab sample, has left companies scrambling to keep up. Qiagen, a top supplier of the ingredients, said last week that the pandemic was “challenging our capacity to supply certain products” and that it would boost production by hiring additional employees and adjust staffing to cover three shifts, working seven days a week.
Because of the shortage of tests, doctors have been told that only certain patients qualify. And patients can obtain the tests only through a physician.
In recent days, executives at both Quest and LabCorp said they expect the numbers of tests processed to accelerate as they start using more machines with technology known as high-throughput screening. The machines greatly speed the analysis of test samples.
“By the end of the week, by Saturday, we will have close to 20,000-tests-per-day capacity within Quest,” Rusckowski said at a Thursday news conference in Marlborough, Mass.
Both Quest and LabCorp are continuing to tell doctors it will take three or four days for results.
The difficulties help explain why testing shortages continue, even as officials insisted there were enough test kits.
“We have no idea about the real number of cases,” Brandon Brown, an epidemiologist at UC Riverside who has studied the spread of infectious diseases including MERS and SARS, said in an interview Friday.
“If we really want to flatten the curve, we need to find every person who has this and isolate them,” Brown said. “We need to really, really put the brakes on this.”


latimes--2020-03-22--California seeks 'major disaster' declaration from Trump over coronavirus

Gov .
Gavin Newsom asked President Trump on Sunday for a declaration of a “ major disaster ” in California to help the state respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with mass care and emergency assistance , unemployment assistance and disaster legal services , among others .
“ Unfortunately , California has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 , ” Newsom wrote to Trump .
“ Besides California being home to nearly 40 million people , which itself poses significant logistical issues few other states face , California partnered with the federal government in several extremely complex and challenging repatriation missions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impacted California ’ s healthcare delivery system.
” Newsom noted in the letter that he has issued 10 executive orders in the last week to facilitate a quick response to the outbreak .
“ Thank you for recognizing that without the additional resources requested , impacts will be felt throughout the nation , as well as around the world , and thank you for your concern and leadership during this difficult time in our state , ” Newsom ’ s letter concluded .
President Trump said he received California ’ s disaster declaration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortly .
Trump also said he ’ s signed paperwork so that the federal government will pay for National Guard deployments in California , Washington and New York .
The National Guard will remain under control of state governments , but the federal government will cover the costs .

Gov. Gavin Newsom, in requesting a declaration of a major emergency, said the COVID-19 pandemic has “strained California’s resources and impacted California’s healthcare delivery system.”
President Trump approved a request Sunday from Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a major disaster in California to help the state respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with “mass care,” emergency aid, unemployment assistance and disaster legal services, among others.
“Unfortunately, California has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” Newsom wrote to Trump. “Besides California being home to nearly 40 million people, which itself poses significant logistical issues few other states face, California partnered with the federal government in several extremely complex and challenging repatriation missions, which strained California’s resources and impacted California’s healthcare delivery system.”
Newsom noted in the letter that he has issued 10 executive orders in the last week to facilitate a quick response to the outbreak.
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“Thank you for recognizing that without the additional resources requested, impacts will be felt throughout the nation, as well as around the world, and thank you for your concern and leadership during this difficult time in our state,” Newsom’s letter concluded.
The president said the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be shipping mobile hospital units to the state within the next 48 hours. California is in line to get eight of them for a total of 2,000 beds. New York and Washington states will get 1,000 beds each, he said.
And the Navy hospital ship Mercy, which is based in San Diego, will be deployed to Los Angeles, he said. The ship can be stationed in L.A. in “a week or less,” FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor said. It would not be used to treat COVID-19 patients but will accept other patients in an attempt to relieve the burden on hospitals, Gaynor said.
Trump also announced that he has signed paperwork to have the federal government pay for National Guard deployments in California, New York and Washington.
#USNavy continues preparations to deploy #USNSMercy in support of the nation’s #COVID19 response efforts and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients. This will allow shore-based hospitals to use their ICU and ventilators for COVID-19 patients ashore. @CDCGov pic.twitter.com/2DTvX8hJP8 — U.S. Navy (@USNavy) March 23, 2020
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The National Guard will remain under the control of state governments, but the federal government will cover the cost, as is typical in disaster scenarios.
Newsom on Friday deployed the California National Guard to assist food banks statewide that are serving residents whose needs have left unmet because of supply chain problems and temporary shortages during the pandemic.
The rapid-fire announcements came as Los Angeles County on Sunday reported an additional death related to the virus that causes COVID-19, the county’s fifth. The Culver City resident was older than 65 and had underlying health conditions, the county Department of Public Health said.
The county recorded 71 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 409; 132 of those were announced in the last 48 hours. Eighty-four people have been hospitalized, public health officials said.
“Please know that the actions you take today to stay 6 feet away from others and limit all non-essential activities outside your home are the best way for us to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives,” Barbara Ferrer, the county public health director, said in a statement.
Riverside County on Sunday also reported another death related to the virus, the sixth there. Information about the person who died was not immediately available.


latimes--2020-03-22--Cases of coronavirus infection in Orange County are up to 95

Orange County reported Sunday that coronavirus infection cases had risen to 95 .
Although cases of COVID-19 have been rising steadily , no deaths have yet been reported .
On Saturday , UC Irvine announced that a non-student resident living in campus family housing tested positive for the coronavirus infection but was in good condition .
“ The risk to the general campus population remains low , ” UCI said in a statement .
“ As testing becomes more available in the coming weeks , it is likely that we will become aware of additional positive cases within the UCI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus infection cases topped 1,500 , state officials called on people to stay home as much as possible , raced to get more people tested and enlisted the help of tech giants .
As of Saturday , the Laguna Beach and Newport-Mesa school districts planned to keep their schools closed through April 3 , and with spring break already scheduled for the week of April 6 , they would not reopen until April 13 .
Districts in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley on Wednesday through April 17 , citing local and state recommendations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shift to online instruction beginning Friday .
The start , however , was postponed and now was set to begin with virtual parent and student orientations Monday and Tuesday , according to a Friday .
The district created a to use in the interim and said it planned to help students in third through 12th grades retrieve their district-issued Chromebooks or obtain one if none was available at home .
Danny Morris , principal at Huntington Beach High , said he called Ocean View High Principal Courtney Robinson on Friday morning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meals to students .
“ We ’ re kind of over at Huntington just ... waiting for directions , so we wanted to help and make sure they had the support they needed here , ” Morris said .
As a principal , Morris is responsible for 3,000 kids .
As a parent , he is responsible for two of his own — a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old .
Parents are having to walk a line between maintaining a certain level of enjoyment for their kids while impressing on them the seriousness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a parent is to find that line , ” Morris said .
“ We ’ re not locked down.
” Morris said his family had set up a remote game night with another family .
“ We ’ re going to have a FaceTime Pictionary-off at 7 o ’ clock on Saturday , so we ’ ve been talking smack to each other , ” Morris said .
“ The way I set up our camera is I ’ ve hooked it all up to my TV , so we ’ ll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has four kids ranging from elementary-school to high-school age , said she was trying to keep things as normal as possible at home .
“ It ’ s hard , ” she said .
“ I ’ m trying to make sure that I ’ m [ at Ocean View High ] , but then I ’ m trying to make sure I can be home to help them with their structure when their stuff starts , probably next week .
My high-schooler is a sophomore , almost a junior , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wants to play softball in college .
… But now we ’ re not even thinking about that .
We ’ re just trying to figure out how we ’ re going to do the next week .
“ It ’ s been a shift , ” Robinson added .
“ The biggest thing for us right now is [ they ask ] , ‘ Can I go do this with my friend ?
’ And the answer is , ‘ No , sorry , you can ’ t right now.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Alex Wigglesworth, Lilly Nguyen, Matt Szabo

The 24 Hour Fitness on Anton Boulevard in Costa Mesa is closed, along with other gyms in Orange County.
Orange County reported Sunday that coronavirus infection cases had risen to 95.
Although cases of COVID-19 have been rising steadily, no deaths have yet been reported.
On Saturday, UC Irvine announced that a non-student resident living in campus family housing tested positive for the coronavirus infection but was in good condition.
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“The risk to the general campus population remains low,” UCI said in a statement. “As testing becomes more available in the coming weeks, it is likely that we will become aware of additional positive cases within the UCI community.”
As the number of California coronavirus infection cases topped 1,500, state officials called on people to stay home as much as possible, raced to get more people tested and enlisted the help of tech giants.
As of Saturday, the Laguna Beach and Newport-Mesa school districts planned to keep their schools closed through April 3, and with spring break already scheduled for the week of April 6, they would not reopen until April 13.
Districts in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley on Wednesday extended their closures through April 17, citing local and state recommendations.
Newport-Mesa Unified initially said it planned to shift to online instruction beginning Friday. The start, however, was postponed and now was set to begin with virtual parent and student orientations Monday and Tuesday, according to a district statement Friday.
The district created a tool kit for parents to use in the interim and said it planned to help students in third through 12th grades retrieve their district-issued Chromebooks or obtain one if none was available at home.
Danny Morris, principal at Huntington Beach High, said he called Ocean View High Principal Courtney Robinson on Friday morning to see if he could help distribute free meals to students.
“We’re kind of over at Huntington just ... waiting for directions, so we wanted to help and make sure they had the support they needed here,” Morris said.
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As a principal, Morris is responsible for 3,000 kids. As a parent, he is responsible for two of his own — a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old.
Parents are having to walk a line between maintaining a certain level of enjoyment for their kids while impressing on them the seriousness of the situation.
“My job as a parent is to find that line,” Morris said. “We’re not locked down.”
Morris said his family had set up a remote game night with another family.
“We’re going to have a FaceTime Pictionary-off at 7 o’clock on Saturday, so we’ve been talking smack to each other,” Morris said. “The way I set up our camera is I’ve hooked it all up to my TV, so we’ll be in our front room.”
Robinson, who has four kids ranging from elementary-school to high-school age, said she was trying to keep things as normal as possible at home.
“It’s hard,” she said. “I’m trying to make sure that I’m [at Ocean View High], but then I’m trying to make sure I can be home to help them with their structure when their stuff starts, probably next week. My high-schooler is a sophomore, almost a junior, and she’s at the time when she wants to play softball in college. … But now we’re not even thinking about that. We’re just trying to figure out how we’re going to do the next week.
“It’s been a shift,” Robinson added. “The biggest thing for us right now is [they ask], ‘Can I go do this with my friend?’ And the answer is, ‘No, sorry, you can’t right now.’ But they have been troopers.”


latimes--2020-03-22--What you should know about wearing gloves and a mask if you can't work from home

As state and local officials have issued strict stay-at-home mandates to curb the spread of COVID-19 , there are many workers who don ’ t have the luxury of staying home .
There ’ s the neighbor working at a grocery store with an elderly parent at home , or the gas station clerk keeping the pumps running .
As the virus spreads and more people become infected , you may be wondering how to stay safe .
Here ’ s the best information we have from Southern California public health experts .
Above all , wash your hands First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hot or cold water .
Use soap .
Sing a song while you ’ re doing it so you ’ re washing for at least 20 seconds .
Wash your hands before , during and after your shift and avoid touching your face .
One expert suggested using a scented soap so you could use the scent as a reminder not to touch your face .
Think about what your hands are coming into contact with .
If you ’ re touching doorknobs , rails or elevator buttons , wash your hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than washing hands , ” said Steve Chen , associate dean for clinical studies at USC .
Gloves can serve as a layer of protection but can still transmit the novel coronavirus , which causes COVID-19 , said David Bazzo , a clinical professor of family medicine at UC San Diego .
In short : The gloves may be protecting you but also transmitting the virus .
“ If you ’ re touching surfaces , what else are you touching with those gloves ?
” Bazzo said .
“ Are you taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to another person ?
” Before and after wearing the gloves , experts say to wash your hands .
Think about how often you ’ re changing those gloves , and make sure that the pair , or pairs , you ’ re cycling through fit snugly .
Remember , Bazzo said , that if you ’ re washing your hands and practicing social distancing ( as much as you can ) , that ’ s probably as good as wearing gloves .
Experts also said to use the same precautions you would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Sometimes when people wear protective equipment , it gives them a false sense of security , and we should protect against that as well , ” Bazzo said .
Answers to this question are mixed .
Masks are recommended for people who are sick to help keep them from spreading the virus , experts said .
If you ’ re wearing the CDC-recommended mask — the N95 respirator — it needs to fit right .
Experts said they ’ d seen widespread misuse of masks : People will touch the mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then put it back on .
Sometimes they ’ re upside down or and worn for too long , said Bernadette Boden-Albala , the dean of public health at UC Irvine .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not recommended that people wear masks for everyday activities , and with a shortage of supplies , experts urged caution .
Ask yourself whom you might be taking it away from .
The evidence suggests there ’ s no benefit to wearing a mask if you ’ re not infected , USC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , have recommended that medical workers treating suspected coronavirus patients wear the N95 mask .
If an infected person uses “ the mask diligently , it should reduce transmission , ” Chen said .
That means putting on the mask with your hands only after they ’ ve been washed .
Experts acknowledge that it ’ s tough to know how to keep yourself safe .
And for the people who have an elderly parent at home or who must work in jobs that require interaction with others , there isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can say here ’ s what we know , ” Bazzo said .
“ Here are best practices , and please try to stick to those as best you can because that ’ s your best chance of preventing spread and trying to keep you and your family safe .
”

As state and local officials have issued strict stay-at-home mandates to curb the spread of COVID-19, there are many workers who don’t have the luxury of staying home. There’s the neighbor working at a grocery store with an elderly parent at home, or the gas station clerk keeping the pumps running.
As the virus spreads and more people become infected, you may be wondering how to stay safe. Here’s the best information we have from Southern California public health experts.
Above all, wash your hands
First, experts say, handwashing is unbeatable. Hot or cold water. Use soap. Sing a song while you’re doing it so you’re washing for at least 20 seconds. Wash your hands before, during and after your shift and avoid touching your face. One expert suggested using a scented soap so you could use the scent as a reminder not to touch your face.
Think about what your hands are coming into contact with. If you’re touching doorknobs, rails or elevator buttons, wash your hands again.
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“There’s nothing better than washing hands,” said Steve Chen, associate dean for clinical affairs at USC.
What about gloves?
Gloves can serve as a layer of protection but can still transmit the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, said David Bazzo, a clinical professor of family medicine at UC San Diego. In short: The gloves may be protecting you but also transmitting the virus.
“If you’re touching surfaces, what else are you touching with those gloves?” Bazzo said. “Are you taking something from one person and giving it to another person?”
Before and after wearing the gloves, experts say to wash your hands. Think about how often you’re changing those gloves, and make sure that the pair, or pairs, you’re cycling through fit snugly.
Remember, Bazzo said, that if you’re washing your hands and practicing social distancing (as much as you can), that’s probably as good as wearing gloves.
Experts also said to use the same precautions you would if you weren’t wearing gloves.
“Sometimes when people wear protective equipment, it gives them a false sense of security, and we should protect against that as well,” Bazzo said.
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Should you wear a mask?
Answers to this question are mixed. With widespread shortages prompting some medical professionals to resort to bandannas for protection, experts caution not to wear the mask unless you’re showing symptoms of the virus or are already sick, experts said.
If you’re wearing the CDC-recommended mask — the N95 respirator — it needs to fit right.
Experts said they’d seen widespread misuse of masks: People will touch the mask, fidget with it, drop it, then put it back on. Sometimes they’re upside down or and worn for too long, said Bernadette Boden-Albala, the dean of public health at UC Irvine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not recommended that people wear masks for everyday activities, and with a shortage of supplies, experts urged caution. Ask yourself whom you might be taking it away from.
The evidence suggests there’s no benefit to wearing a mask if you’re not infected, USC’s Chen said. U.S. health officials, however, have recommended that medical workers treating suspected coronavirus patients wear the N95 mask.
If an infected person uses “the mask diligently, it should reduce transmission,” Chen said. That means putting on the mask with your hands only after they’ve been washed.
Experts acknowledge that it’s tough to know how to keep yourself safe. And for the people who have an elderly parent at home or who must work in jobs that require interaction with others, there isn’t an easy answer.
“I can say here’s what we know,” Bazzo said. “Here are best practices, and please try to stick to those as best you can because that’s your best chance of preventing spread and trying to keep you and your family safe.”


latimes--2020-03-22--Despite coronavirus rules, beaches still crowded. Santa Monica is now closing parking lots

California ’ s sweeping stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus resulted in a weekend like no other , with people staying indoors and , when outside , keeping at least six feet apart .
But there were exceptions — including at the state ’ s beloved beaches .
Santa Monica closed its beach parking lots because of the crowds .
“ Today is not the day to go to the beach , ” City Manager Rick Cole said in a statement .
“ We know that it ’ s difficult to stay at home when the weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beach is one of the primary reasons why we love to call Santa Monica home .
Yet this is a time when we must take the guidelines from our health officials to heart.
” The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority also said Sunday that it was closing all of its parks and trails , which include the parkland owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy .
Parking lots and access roads also will be closed .
The Cleveland National Forest said that it was shutting down the Three Sisters Falls and Cedar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after this weekend marked the highest usage numbers ever recorded at both .
“ Illegal parking was rampant and several people had to be airlifted out , ” the national forest said on Twitter .
Complaints of noncompliance have popped up on social media and apps such as the neighborhood forum Nextdoor.com .
The Marin County Sheriff ’ s Office on Saturday tweeted out a photo of people who had congregated along the coastline and implored residents to stay home .
“ We understand the communities ’ frustrations with the LARGE amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NOT practicing social distancing .
We are working with the Public Health Officers to address the issue .
Please stay at home !
” the Sheriff ’ s Office said .
Malibu city officials also have received reports of people flocking to beaches and hiking trails , the city said in an update posted to its website .
The city pointed out that it did not own or operate county beaches , state parks or National Park Service areas such as Solstice Canyon but said it was working with state and county officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue of people not abiding by social distancing guidelines while using outdoor spaces and stay at home orders.
” And the city of Calabasas announced Sunday that it was closing city parks , playgrounds and all gatherings spaces as a result of the stay-at-home order .
At Torrance Beach on Sunday , people were well spread out on the sand , but a narrow walking path alongside the beach was jammed by 10 a.m. At Long Beach ’ s Junipero Beach , besides the occasional person in mask or gloves , all seemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sun shone on beachgoers , young and old .
Groups of basketball players used all three hoops .
There were bikers , joggers and roller skaters , men doing pull-ups on the outdoor exercise machines and women exercising on the grass .
And many were ignoring calls for social distancing , which recommend that people stay at least six feet apart .
Along the shore , a family of three , wearing masks , took a walk .
A lone fishermen waded knee deep in the water , with his family nearby .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ called two children nearby to help pull the line .
Strangers , including the family , gathered to see the spectacle up close .
On Friday , Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia expressed frustration at his fellow residents for not following guidance from city and state officials .
“ Seriously people , you need to practice social distancing .
I am seeing tons of people out there acting like there ’ s no crisis , ” he wrote on his personal Twitter page .
It could be that the stay-at-home order led people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time outdoors in one of the few remaining places available .
At least for Jaushay Rockett , 36 , that was the case .
“ This may have sparked something , ” he said .
“ This may have sparked people to be creative and go outside .
It could be a good thing , or it could be a bad thing.
” Rockett was playing basketball outside because “ everything ’ s been closed , ” including his usual indoor gyms and courts in Signal Hill and Compton , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay indoors would be more strict , but he saw plenty of people outdoors , seemingly living their lives as usual .
“ I ’ m thinking it was gon na be like martial law , ” he said .
“ Everybody is out … until they make it mandatory .
They ’ re going to have to really lock down the city ” for people to stay indoors .
Rockett is taking precautions to stay safe .
He said he made sure to keep his distance from people , other than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball .
After each game , he wipes his hands and the ball with Lysol and goes straight to the shower .
Clifford Aquino and Ryan Castro , both 28 , were also displaced from their typical gyms in Cerritos .
They decided that Long Beach , where there are plenty of outdoor gyms and paths to run , would be a good replacement to get their workout in .
“ This is only Day 2 , ” Castro said .
“ It sucks.
” “ It does suck , ” Aquino said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different ways to stay active.
” Aquino said he felt safe using the workout machines because he could keep his distance from people .
If one area was too busy , he found another , he said , or chose another activity to do .
He wipes each bar with Lysol wipes before using them .
Castro said he had been a consistent runner but stopped a while back .
Now , because he has so few options , he ’ s getting back into it .
Both have gone hiking and tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maybe Californians just can ’ t help seeking out a little sunshine , Castro said .
“ A little bit of sun while we have it , it ’ s like their last chance before the rain comes down , ” he said .
“ Huntington Beach was worse than this.
” Rhonda Summerlin , 70 , said she feared that the coronavirus situation would get worse , making a mandatory lockdown possible .
As much as she would like to stay home to protect herself , she had to go out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they don ’ t offer delivery .
“ I need a pharmacy that delivers , ” she said .
“ I can ’ t be coming out in this.
” The Carson resident relies on a wheelchair to get around .
She has numerous ailments , including severe arthritis and a weak immune system , and it is difficult for her to move her hands and legs .
Sunday morning , she picked up her prescription and two boxes of Raisin Bran cereal .
Summerlin said she ’ s also worried about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible surge of coronavirus patients .
She is sick often , needs blood transfusions and has made a handful of hospital stays in a span of months .
She worries whether she ’ ll get the care she needs if she gets sick again .
“ I worry that the hospitals , there ’ s not gon na be enough room , ” she said .
Others don ’ t feel the same urgency .
Alexandra Doody , 27 , visited Pedal Movement in Long Beach to get her bicycle tires inflated Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stayed indoors and watched Netflix , completed puzzles or done other activities with her friends indoors , but she still goes on her bike rides .
Now more than ever , she said .
“ Definitely more , ” she said , “ Because when you have nothing to do in your whole day , you have to figure out what to do with a few hours.
” She takes an eight-mile ride along the beach , coming back home via the streets in an attempt to avoid the crowds .
But still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoors only a couple hours each day .
“ The only place I feel most uncomfortable is the grocery store , really , ” Doody said .
“ You don ’ t know who ’ s wiping down what.
” Farther south , outside the Long Beach Sagely Monastery at Ocean Boulevard and Redondo Avenue , worshipers gathered by a white statue of the Virgin Mary .
The building was once a Catholic convent .
For years , people from all over the region have traveled to pray to the Virgin Mary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armstrong , 72 , who wore a surgical mask .
“ I don ’ t get close to the crowd anymore because of what ’ s been going on , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t touch the statue or stand near it.
” Armstrong was aware of the state and local orders to remain indoors and only go out for groceries and other essential needs , but he wanted to visit the statue as he always had with his late mother .
But he didn ’ t understand some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing gloves and a mask , then they remove the mask to kiss the statue .
That doesn ’ t doesn ’ t make sense to me .
People have sneezed on that that.
” He says some people touch and kiss the statue because they believe that it protects them .
“ It ’ s great to have a strong faith like that , ” Armstrong said .
“ But I still believe God has given people common sense.
” Nearby , a woman dropped off a bouquet of flowers .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Six other people stood more than six feet apart , praying .
Not far away , along the bluffs , people lay on blankets getting a tan .
They exercised .
Traffic was starting to build .
At the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier , fishermen sat with their fishing poles leaning on the railing .
One man , who declined to give his name , was fishing with his son and said he was surprised to see so many people outdoors .
“ It ’ s OK to be by themselves , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you start seeing groups of people , then it becomes a problem.
” As he fished , a small child ran over and picked up his net .
The man became nervous and in broken Spanish told the mother of the child that he wanted some distance .
“ See , he touched that and his family may have [ the coronavirus ] , and now I can ’ t touch it , ” he said , grabbing a pair of gloves .
Although traffic was free-flowing in much of Southern California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Pacific Coast Highway in the Santa Monica area .
The sense of fear seemed distant as the shadows lengthened over Santa Monica State Beach on Saturday afternoon .
Alan Cohn , 90 , and his partner , Elaine Cohen , 80 , looked out over a scene of people tanning and working out .
One man did yoga .
A group of four played volleyball .
“ Would you believe we ’ re in the middle of a pandemic right now ?
” Cohen asked .
The couple bemoaned the loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesdays .
Or feeding homeless residents Wednesdays .
And no dancing at the Marina City Club on Fridays .
But they were cheered by the people offering to run errands for one another and the vegan restaurant owner who was waiving his delivery fees .
They didn ’ t see themselves getting sick , either .
“ Naw , ” Cohn said .
“ I was in the Marines , fighting in North Korea.
” Minutes later , a man sat down next to the couple , asking , “ You mind if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoes ?
” Crowds were also reported at outdoor spaces farther north , in the San Francisco Bay Area .
At Bedwell Bayfront Park in Menlo Park , the parking lot was jammed Sunday .
Hundreds of people were walking , riding bikes and jogging at the city park built on top of an old landfill .
Although most park users provided wide berth to passersby , the sheer number of people in the park was atypical .
A similar situation was seen at Palo Alto ’ s Baylands park , set within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parking was difficult to find as scores of people navigated the few paths available for walking .
San Diego ’ s beaches also saw an influx of people Saturday .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Saturday urged residents to take the stay-at-home order seriously .
“ Be a good neighbor .
Be a good citizen .
Those young people that are still out there on the beaches thinking this is a party time — grow up , ” Newsom said during a news conference on Facebook and Twitter on Saturday afternoon .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , time to recognize it ’ s not just about the old folks .
It ’ s about your impact on their lives .
Don ’ t be selfish , recognize you have a responsibility to meet this moment.
” The governor ’ s stay-at-home order will remain in effect until “ further notice ” and could be changed as conditions warrant , according to a statement released by the governor ’ s office .
Issued under broad powers granted to the governor under the state ’ s Emergency Services Act , Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
Anyone who violates the order could be charged with a misdemeanor , but Newsom said he did not believe that would be necessary because social pressures to adhere to the directive had been largely successful .
Times staff writers Susanne Rust and Hailey Branson-Potts contributed to this report .

Nicole Santa Cruz, Phil Willon, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Ruben Vives

A 35-year-old Mission Hills resident wears a mask as he rides his bike on Mission Beach Boardwalk in San Diego.
California’s sweeping stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus resulted in a weekend like no other, with people staying indoors and, when outside, keeping at least six feet apart.
But there were exceptions — including at the state’s beloved beaches.
For the record: An earlier version of this story said Santa Monica was closing beaches. The city closed its beach parking lots to prevent crowds at beaches.
Santa Monica closed its beach parking lots because of the crowds.
“Today is not the day to go to the beach,” City Manager Rick Cole said in a statement. “We know that it’s difficult to stay at home when the weather is so nice and being close to the beach is one of the primary reasons why we love to call Santa Monica home. Yet this is a time when we must take the guidelines from our health officials to heart.”
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The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority also said Sunday that it was closing all of its parks and trails, which include the parkland owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Parking lots and access roads also will be closed.
The Cleveland National Forest said that it was shutting down the Three Sisters Falls and Cedar Creek Falls trails in San Diego County after this weekend marked the highest usage numbers ever recorded at both. “Illegal parking was rampant and several people had to be airlifted out,” the national forest said on Twitter.
This weekend, we saw the highest usage numbers EVER at both Three Sisters and Cedar Creek Falls. Illegal parking was rampant and several people had to be airlifted out. For the sake of hiker and first responder safety, these trails will be closed until further notice pic.twitter.com/EySGSTSTwF — Cleveland NF (@ClevelandNF) March 22, 2020
Complaints of noncompliance have popped up on social media and apps such as the neighborhood forum Nextdoor.com. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday tweeted out a photo of people who had congregated along the coastline and implored residents to stay home.
“We understand the communities’ frustrations with the LARGE amount of people traveling to the Coast today and NOT practicing social distancing. We are working with the Public Health Officers to address the issue. Please stay at home!” the Sheriff’s Office said.
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We understand the communities frustrations with the LARGE amount of people traveling to the Coast today and NOT practicing social distancing. We are working with the Public Health Officers to address the issue. Please stay at home!
#stayhomeandsavealife pic.twitter.com/2Vci7PFXEe — Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) March 21, 2020
Malibu city officials also have received reports of people flocking to beaches and hiking trails, the city said in an update posted to its website.
The city pointed out that it did not own or operate county beaches, state parks or National Park Service areas such as Solstice Canyon but said it was working with state and county officials “and urging them to address the issue of people not abiding by social distancing guidelines while using outdoor spaces and stay at home orders.”
And the city of Calabasas announced Sunday that it was closing city parks, playgrounds and all gathering spaces as a result of the stay-at-home order.
At Torrance Beach on Sunday, people were well spread out on the sand, but a narrow walking path alongside the beach was jammed by 10 a.m.
At Long Beach’s Junipero Beach, besides the occasional person in mask or gloves, all seemed like a typical spring day.
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The sun shone on beachgoers, young and old. Groups of basketball players used all three hoops. There were bikers, joggers and roller skaters, men doing pull-ups on the outdoor exercise machines and women exercising on the grass. And many were ignoring calls for social distancing, which recommend that people stay at least six feet apart.
Along the shore, a family of three, wearing masks, took a walk. A lone fishermen waded knee deep in the water, with his family nearby. When he felt a tug, he called two children nearby to help pull the line. Strangers, including the family, gathered to see the spectacle up close.
On Friday, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia expressed frustration at his fellow residents for not following guidance from city and state officials.
“Seriously people, you need to practice social distancing. I am seeing tons of people out there acting like there’s no crisis,” he wrote on his personal Twitter page.
Seriously people, you need to practice social distancing. I am seeing tons of people out there acting like there’s no crisis. You could be carrying the virus, have no symptoms, and be responsible for the illness or worse of others. — Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) March 22, 2020
It could be that the stay-at-home order led people to visit the beach — to spend time outdoors in one of the few remaining places available.
At least for Jaushay Rockett, 36, that was the case.
“This may have sparked something,” he said. “This may have sparked people to be creative and go outside. It could be a good thing, or it could be a bad thing.”
Rockett was playing basketball outside because “everything’s been closed,” including his usual indoor gyms and courts in Signal Hill and Compton, he said. Initially, he believed the order to stay indoors would be more strict, but he saw plenty of people outdoors, seemingly living their lives as usual.
“I’m thinking it was gonna be like martial law,” he said. “Everybody is out … until they make it mandatory. They’re going to have to really lock down the city” for people to stay indoors.
Rockett is taking precautions to stay safe. He said he made sure to keep his distance from people, other than the family friends with whom he was playing ball. After each game, he wipes his hands and the ball with Lysol and goes straight to the shower.
Clifford Aquino and Ryan Castro, both 28, were also displaced from their typical gyms in Cerritos. They decided that Long Beach, where there are plenty of outdoor gyms and paths to run, would be a good replacement to get their workout in.
“This is only Day 2,” Castro said. “It sucks.”
“It does suck,” Aquino said, “but you have to find different ways to stay active.”
Aquino said he felt safe using the workout machines because he could keep his distance from people. If one area was too busy, he found another, he said, or chose another activity to do. He wipes each bar with Lysol wipes before using them.
Castro said he had been a consistent runner but stopped a while back. Now, because he has so few options, he’s getting back into it.
Both have gone hiking and tried different, also busy, beaches.
Maybe Californians just can’t help seeking out a little sunshine, Castro said.
“A little bit of sun while we have it, it’s like their last chance before the rain comes down,” he said. “Huntington Beach was worse than this.”
Rhonda Summerlin, 70, said she feared that the coronavirus situation would get worse, making a mandatory lockdown possible.
As much as she would like to stay home to protect herself, she had to go out to pick up a prescription from her pharmacy because they don’t offer delivery. “I need a pharmacy that delivers,” she said. “I can’t be coming out in this.”
The Carson resident relies on a wheelchair to get around. She has numerous ailments, including severe arthritis and a weak immune system, and it is difficult for her to move her hands and legs. Sunday morning, she picked up her prescription and two boxes of Raisin Bran cereal.
Summerlin said she’s also worried about how hospitals could be affected by a possible surge of coronavirus patients. She is sick often, needs blood transfusions and has made a handful of hospital stays in a span of months. She worries whether she’ll get the care she needs if she gets sick again.
“I worry that the hospitals, there’s not gonna be enough room,” she said.
Others don’t feel the same urgency.
Alexandra Doody, 27, visited Pedal Movement in Long Beach to get her bicycle tires inflated Sunday morning. Doody said she has mostly stayed indoors and watched Netflix, completed puzzles or done other activities with her friends indoors, but she still goes on her bike rides. Now more than ever, she said.
“Definitely more,” she said, “Because when you have nothing to do in your whole day, you have to figure out what to do with a few hours.”
She takes an eight-mile ride along the beach, coming back home via the streets in an attempt to avoid the crowds. But still, she feels safe because she is outdoors only a couple hours each day.
“The only place I feel most uncomfortable is the grocery store, really,” Doody said. “You don’t know who’s wiping down what.”
Farther south, outside the Long Beach Sagely Monastery at Ocean Boulevard and Redondo Avenue, worshipers gathered by a white statue of the Virgin Mary. The building was once a Catholic convent. For years, people from all over the region have traveled to pray to the Virgin Mary.
Sitting on a folding chair was Donald Armstrong, 72, who wore a surgical mask.
“I don’t get close to the crowd anymore because of what’s been going on,” he said. “I don’t touch the statue or stand near it.”
Armstrong was aware of the state and local orders to remain indoors and only go out for groceries and other essential needs, but he wanted to visit the statue as he always had with his late mother.
But he didn’t understand some fellow worshipers: “I see people wearing gloves and a mask, then they remove the mask to kiss the statue. That doesn’t doesn’t make sense to me. People have sneezed on that that.”
He says some people touch and kiss the statue because they believe that it protects them.
“It’s great to have a strong faith like that,” Armstrong said. “But I still believe God has given people common sense.”
Nearby, a woman dropped off a bouquet of flowers. She took hand sanitizer out of her purse. Six other people stood more than six feet apart, praying.
Not far away, along the bluffs, people lay on blankets getting a tan. They exercised. Traffic was starting to build.
At the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, fishermen sat with their fishing poles leaning on the railing. One man, who declined to give his name, was fishing with his son and said he was surprised to see so many people outdoors.
“It’s OK to be by themselves,” the man said, “but when you start seeing groups of people, then it becomes a problem.”
As he fished, a small child ran over and picked up his net. The man became nervous and in broken Spanish told the mother of the child that he wanted some distance.
“See, he touched that and his family may have [the coronavirus], and now I can’t touch it,” he said, grabbing a pair of gloves.
Although traffic was free-flowing in much of Southern California, there were still some backups Saturday on Pacific Coast Highway in the Santa Monica area.
The sense of fear seemed distant as the shadows lengthened over Santa Monica State Beach on Saturday afternoon. Alan Cohn, 90, and his partner, Elaine Cohen, 80, looked out over a scene of people tanning and working out. One man did yoga. A group of four played volleyball.
“Would you believe we’re in the middle of a pandemic right now?” Cohen asked.
The couple bemoaned the loss of their routine. No more improv comedy Tuesdays. Or feeding homeless residents Wednesdays. And no dancing at the Marina City Club on Fridays.
But they were cheered by the people offering to run errands for one another and the vegan restaurant owner who was waiving his delivery fees. They didn’t see themselves getting sick, either.
“Naw,” Cohn said. “I was in the Marines, fighting in North Korea.”
Minutes later, a man sat down next to the couple, asking, “You mind if I sit here and take off my shoes?”
Cohen scooted over. “Just don’t breathe on me.”
Crowds were also reported at outdoor spaces farther north, in the San Francisco Bay Area.
At Bedwell Bayfront Park in Menlo Park, the parking lot was jammed Sunday. Hundreds of people were walking, riding bikes and jogging at the city park built on top of an old landfill. Although most park users provided wide berth to passersby, the sheer number of people in the park was atypical.
A similar situation was seen at Palo Alto’s Baylands park, set within the marsh along San Francisco Bay. Parking was difficult to find as scores of people navigated the few paths available for walking.
San Diego’s beaches also saw an influx of people Saturday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday urged residents to take the stay-at-home order seriously.
“Be a good neighbor. Be a good citizen. Those young people that are still out there on the beaches thinking this is a party time — grow up,” Newsom said during a news conference on Facebook and Twitter on Saturday afternoon. “It’s time to wake up, time to recognize it’s not just about the old folks. It’s about your impact on their lives. Don’t be selfish, recognize you have a responsibility to meet this moment.”
The governor’s stay-at-home order will remain in effect until “further notice” and could be changed as conditions warrant, according to a statement released by the governor’s office. Issued under broad powers granted to the governor under the state’s Emergency Services Act, Newsom’s executive order is enforceable by law.
Anyone who violates the order could be charged with a misdemeanor, but Newsom said he did not believe that would be necessary because social pressures to adhere to the directive had been largely successful.
Times staff writers Susanne Rust and Hailey Branson-Potts contributed to this report.