latimes--2020-04-01--California coronavirus deaths surge past 200 as L.A., O.C. see massive rise in daily infections

Coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County rose dramatically Wednesday as officials reported more than 500 new cases , bringing the total number of people infected by the virus in the region to 3,518 .
In their daily briefing , county officials also reported 11 new deaths , bringing the toll to 65 .
Nine of the 11 people who most recently died were over the age of 65 , and seven had underlying health conditions .
One person was between 18 and 40 years old , and another was between 41 and 65 years old , said Barbara Ferrer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public Health .
Coronavirus has also spread to the most vulnerable populations in the county , with five homeless people testing positive for COVID-19 , Ferrer said .
“ Every day reporting these numbers is devastating , ” she said .
“ I know it ’ s more devastating for the family and friends who have experienced this tremendous loss.
” Coronavirus cases statewide barrelled past 9,500 — with nearly 1,000 new cases in 24 hours — and the death toll passed 200 .
Officials across California continue grappling with a shortage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for what is expected to be a deluge of patients in the coming weeks .
After some local health officials recommended wearing face coverings when going out in public , Ferrer cautioned against using N95 and surgical masks , which are already in short supply for healthcare providers .
She said people could use a bandanna or piece of fabric to cover their nose and mouth while out in public doing essential errands , but she warned : “ Wearing a mask is not a shield.
” It does not replace frequent hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to urged residents to stay at home whenever possible and respect social distancing mandates when they must be in public .
These efforts more than anything will help ensure there isn ’ t excessive strain on the county ’ s healthcare system , officials said .
“ These are times we ’ re living in that we never anticipated , and we ’ ve really never experienced , ” Ferrer said .
“ I want to thank everyone for doing their part.
” Orange County saw its biggest single-day increase in coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced 107 new cases and three additional deaths .
In all , 606 COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths have been confirmed countywide .
Cases of the virus in nearby Riverside County jumped to 371 , prompting county health officials to recommend that residents cover their noses and mouths when out in public .
Thirteen people have died countywide after being infected by the virus , according to health officials .
“ When the situation changes , the rule book changes , ” Dr. Cameron Kaiser , Riverside County ’ s public health officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re seeing our numbers increasing even sooner than we predicted , and that means our strategy must change too .
Covering your face doesn ’ t change the orders everyone must abide by to stay home as much as possible and , but it ’ s an extra layer of protection that I think we need to add.
” In Northern California , the number of confirmed cases of the virus also continued to surge .
Sacramento County had 314 confirmed cases and nine deaths as of Wednesday , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Placer , Yolo and El Dorado , there have been more than 100 confirmed cases .
Two people have died in Placer County , and one person has died in Yolo County .
Amid the pandemic , state officials are working on adding more hospital and intensive care unit beds to handle an expected surge in coronavirus patients in the coming weeks .
There is concern that without action , the state could be short tens of thousands of hospital beds needed on the epidemic ’ s worst day .
Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in intensive care and 1,855 have been hospitalized across the state as of Tuesday .
A Los Angeles Times found that California has 7,200 ICU beds across more than 365 hospitals .
In total , the state has more than 70,000 beds , with roughly one ICU bed for every 5,500 people in California .
The governor has said the state expects to need 50,000 new hospital beds to meet a surge in patients around mid-May .
In Los Angeles County , 733 people who have tested positive for the virus have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness .
While there are still hospital beds available for sick patients , county health officials are anticipating additional coronavirus cases over the next three weeks that could strain the system .
“ I want to reassure the public that the L.A. County hospital system , both public and private , is doing everything it can to be able to scale up and meet the projected demand , but I would reiterate the crucial importance of respecting those social and physical distancing guidelines so that we can flatten the curve and make sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital system in the days and weeks to come , ” said Dr. Christina Ghaly , director of the Los Angeles Department of Health Services .
Amid a rising number of infections , community clinics and health centers on the frontlines continue to face a shortage of test kits and medical equipment they need to protect staff against the virus .
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus , community clinics and health centers in Los Angeles County have helped mitigate the spread of the virus and prevented sick patients from overwhelming hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Child and Family Center , a nonprofit that operates 18 health centers and school-based clinics in Los Angeles and Compton , the situation has become so dire that patients have offered to sew surgical masks for the staff .
In a news teleconference Tuesday , St. John ’ s Chief Executive Jim Mangia said it wouldn ’ t be enough and called on the federal government to mandate the production of protective gear and masks for healthcare workers .
Community clinics that typically handle primary care , including checkups and prescribing patients insulin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood pressure , have been canceling their regular appointments and seeing more patients with symptoms that match those of COVID-19 .
Mangia said last week that the nonprofit saw 879 patients who were required to be placed in triage tents to isolate them from other patients .
He said 39 tests were performed and seven were positive for COVID-19 .
He said at least three patients have been hospitalized .
“ By the end of this week , we will have run out of protective gear , ” Mangia said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we need in order to contain the spread and isolate our patients .
Some experts say this is the beginning of what could become a worsening crisis .
Counties across the state have strengthened their stay-at-home and social distancing policies amid concern about the virus ’ rapid spread .
State officials announced Wednesday that California ’ s public K-12 campuses are expected to remain closed for the remainder of the academic year in response to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic .
Families and educators , who have taken on the massive challenge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should operate “ with the expectation now that schools will not reopen , but classes are in ” for the rest of the school year , Newsom said .
“ To all of the moms , all the teachers , all the caregivers , I know how stressful this is , trust me , ” Newsom said .
“ I know what we ’ re asking of you over the course of the next few months.
” California faces a peak of 5,000 coronavirus deaths a week if the state ’ s stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Farnitano , a health officer for Contra Costa County , told his Board of Supervisors this week .
“ We are still hopeful we can avoid [ this scenario ] if we don ’ t relax our efforts to flatten the curve , ” he said .
Times staff writers Luke Money , Sonali Kohli , Howard Blume and Kailyn Brown contributed to this report .

Hannah Fry, Ruben Vives, Taryn Luna, Rong-Gong Lin II

Isabella Leader, 15, counts how many flags have been left for World War II veteran Lt. Col. Sam Sachs who was celebrating his 105th birthday at the Mom & Dad’s House, an assisted living facility, in Lakewood. Lt. Col. Sachs appealed to the public for birthday cards after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of a big celebration and wound up receiving thousands, including a letter and photo from President Trump. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Denise Young looks on as her daughter, Allison, 9, a fourth-grader at EARThS (Environmental Academy of Research Technology and Earth Sciences) Magnet School in Newbury Park, receives a Chromebook. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Medical assistant Zoila Villalta works with Rosie Boston, 32, of Glendale, who is donating blood for her first time at L.A. Care Health Plan downtown. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Hayley, CEO and founder of Love My Neighbor Foundation, right, dances with Crystal Armster, 51, while she and her colleagues continue to feed the homeless on skid row amid the pandemic. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Juan Diaz Jr., a lifelong Dodgers fan, prays that the season will start by May in front of Dodger Stadium on what would have been opening day. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
The JW Marriott at L.A. Live is sharing a message of hope with red lights in 34 windows, creating a 19-story display on the hotel’s north side. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Venice residents Emily Berry and Gavin Kelley take a break at Venice Beach. Berry, a cocktail waitress at Enterprise Fish Co., lost her job due to the coronavirus outbreak. Kelley, a manager at a performing arts school with a focus on music, said that he still has a job and that classes at the school will resume online this coming Monday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Protesters drive by the Getty House, the home of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, in Hancock Park. Tenant advocates are demanding a total moratorium on evictions during the coronavirus crisis. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A lending library had some additional useful items, including a roll of toilet paper and cans of beans and corn, in a Hermosa Beach neighborhood. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Shauna Jin, of Los Angeles, with her dog, Bodhi, practices social distancing with John Kiss, of Los Angeles, at the entrance of Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Kristen Edgerle, of Victorville, collects information from a blood donor before drawing blood at The Richard Nixon Presidential Library blood drive during the coronavirus pandemic in Yorba Linda. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Healthcare workers gather outside UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center to call for further action from the federal government in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Raquel Lezama and daughter Monica Ramos collect meals for their family at Manual Arts High School. Lezama was laid off from her $17.76-an-hour job at a Beverly Hills hotel. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A runner jogs past the Pottery Barn in Pasadena. Some businesses in the area have boarded up their stores. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Grace Carter, 15, of Riverside, practices a dance routine at home after dance classes and school were canceled. She has to use the Zoom app on her iPhone to practice with her dance group. “It’s hard,” she said. “My bedroom is a smaller space. I miss all my friends at the studio.” (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Juliann Hartman, center, and her husband, Butch, wave signs they created to cheer up people on Calabasas Road in Calabasas during the pandemic. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Cassidy Roosen, with Beach Cities Health District, holds up a sign that says, “We’re All in This Together,” while waiting to direct cars at a drive-through, appointment-only coronavirus testing location at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
A person who wishes to remain anonymous strikes from her car to support McDonald’s employees who are demanding the company cover healthcare costs of any worker or immediate family member who gets sick from COVID-19 in Los Angeles. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
A woman shows a notice from her doctor that allows her to obtain a test for coronavirus at a new drive-up testing site in a parking lot at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Nurses pose for a fun photo during a break in drive-through public testing for the coronavirus at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Hippie Kitchen in Los Angeles hands out food, water and toiletries to homeless people and residents of skid row. Additionally, masks were offered to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
A specimen is turned in at the new mobile testing site for people with symptoms of the coronavirus at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Patients are removed from Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after 39 tested positive for the coronavirus and nursing staff was not showing up to work. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Women wear masks as they stroll along Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Wearing masks while outdoors is mandatory in the city of Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
The Wilshire Grand Center display blue lights and a heart to show support for healthcare workers and first responders. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
People are silhouetted in a window of an apartment building in Hollywood, where a stay-at-home order remains in effect to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
As a late season storm continues to make its way across the Southland, a young basketball player dribbles along an alley through an Elysian Park neighborhood in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
After being indoors for several days because of rainy weather and coronavirus stay-at-home orders, Olivia Jacobs, 4, and her mom, Cia Jacobs, enjoy a warm and sunny afternoon making chalk drawings on the sidewalk in front of their home in West Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Alex Herron and nurse Mercy Pineda at a blood drive sponsored by USC athletics and the American Red Cross at USC’s Galen Center. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
A jogger runs on a closed trail past dozens of pieces of caution tape, torn off by hikers and mountain bikers at El Escorpion Canyon Park in West Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Stuart Reyes and his sister, Stephanie, sell masks for $5 each on the 3000 block of West Century Boulevard in Inglewood. Stuart Reyes said he is selling masks to support his mother. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Billy Budd, 55, of Hollywood, walks along Hollywood Boulevard with a protective face covering. Budd is a scenic artist for movies and television who is currently out of work due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
UC Irvine Medical Center health care workers return their gratitude as about 25 Orange County first responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade of gratitude as they battle COVID-19 at the hospital. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Life around Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Soto Street has slowed down as California officials extended stay-at-home orders into May and residents entered Easter weekend with unprecedented limits on their movements. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
A face mask seller in colorful dress appears to be part of a mural behind a bus stop on Soto Street in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Daniel Rogerson wears a vintage military gas mask while riding a bike along the beach path in Santa Monica, which is closed to enforce social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Businesses are shuttered and pedestrians are few and far between on Hollywood Boulevard. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Jonte Florence, a freestyle dancer, does a handstand on a mostly empty Hollywood Walk of Fame. Florence said he normally performs for hundreds of tourists along the busy street. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Cedar Mountain Post Acute Rehabilitation staff member Navi Cavaltera waters a flower pot put up by the community to show their support for the nursing staff of the facility in Yucaipa. Eighteen of 20 coronavirus-related deaths in Yucaipa were residents of the skilled nursing facility. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
A group of protesters cheer on cars during a vehicle caravan protest to call on state and local officials to reopen the economy in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Counter-protesters attend a protest to call on state and local officials to reopen the economy in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Medical staff, wearing protective gear, work inside a COVID-19 isolation area inside the emergency department at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, where patients with the virus are being treated. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Protesters stand along Mission Blvd. in Pacific Beach during A Day of Liberty rally on April 26. The protesters were against the government shutdown due to the coronavirus. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Tom Sean Foley pauses on a walk with his kids, Cathelen Claire, “C.C.,” 3, and Timothy Joseph, 4, to take a photo in front of the “Love Wall,” mural by artist Curtis Kulig, outside of Smashbox Studios in Culver City. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Norm and Tracy Kahn enjoy eating dinner outside on a small cafe table sitting in blue chairs on their side yard during the coronavirus pandemic on April 27 in Riverside. “During this pandemic, eating outside offers us an opportunity to change surrounding and appreciate the calmness of being outdoors among trees, scents from nature and the sounds of birds,” she said. Also adding, “Mixing up where we eat puts variety into our days and takes away the sameness of feeling trapped at home.” (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Carson residents Kaeli Burks, 3, left, and her cousin Bailey Watson, 5, look out the window of their car after their mothers helped them with self-testing at a new drive-up testing site for COVID-19 in Carson. Free COVID-19 testing is available to all city residents thanks to a partnership between the city and US Health Fairs. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Healthcare workers celebrate as Claudia Martinez is discharged from the ICU after she recovered from COVID-19 at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Shuttered storefront businesses in the garment district of Los Angeles. California’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed since the statewide coronavirus shutdown took effect. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Senior Mason Wise, left, helps his sister, Mackenzie, a sophomore, clean out her PE locker at El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills. School officials were allowing no more than five students at a time on campus to take home their belongings. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Aerial view of over 100 vehicles lined up at the West Valley COVID-19 testing center at Warner Center in Woodland Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Tenants and their supporters from across Los Angeles gather at city hall to call on L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, the L.A. City Council and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to cancel rent and mortgage payments during the COVID-19 crisis. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Gregory Kuhl, 69, heads home after a shopping trip in Hollywood on April 28. Big cracks in the street, cars parked in driveways blocking sidewalks and uneven pavement levels make navigating his route difficult. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Mostly masked commuters keep their distance from one another on a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles on April 29. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Grocery store workers, joined by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 770 representatives and community members, hold a rally in support of strict social distancing on May 1 at a Ralphs store in Hollywood where 19 employees have tested positive for COVID-19. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Tango instructor Yelizaveta Nersesova leads a Zoom tango event from her Los Angeles home April 27 that brought together hundreds of dancers from around the world. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Beaches including Harbor Cove Beach were open but beachgoers were not supposed to be sitting on the sand. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
The majority of golfers are wearing masks while hitting balls on the driving range at Van Buren Executive Golf Course in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Cody Purcell of Redondo Beach rides a wave, glowing from the bioluminescence, in Hermosa Beach, CA, after midnight Friday morning, May 8. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
Dominique Barrett, center, known as “King Vader” to his 2.4 million TikTok followers, prepares to shoot a video on April 30 in Glendora. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Socially distanced bikers and walkers, against a backdrop of the Queen Mary, make their way along pedestrian and beach bike path on the first day that Long Beach reopened the path on Monday May 11, 2020. The city of Long Beach eased a few of its public health restrictions, allowing under certain guidelines the reopening of pedestrian and beach bike paths, tennis centers and courts. Beach bathrooms are also reopening, but the parking lots and beaches still remain closed. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday advised the Department of Water and Power to shut off utilities to nonessential businesses violating the city’s order to close, he said at an evening news conference.
The mayor’s order follows a crackdown from city prosecutors targeting businesses that have been deemed nonessential and yet have remained open for business and given more opportunities for the coronavirus to spread in Southern California.
“Slowing the spread of this virus and flattening the curve on new infections demands that we all do our part, and that’s the bottom line,” Garcetti said. “Yet still some nonessential businesses continue to operate, putting everybody at risk.”
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Failure to comply with the city’s order — and ignoring warnings to do so — will result in a misdemeanor charge against the business and its utilities being shut off, the mayor warned.
“No one wants to take this step, and we won’t have to as long as you follow the rules and protect yourself and protect all of us,” he said.
The number of coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County rose dramatically Wednesday as officials reported more than 500 new cases, bringing the total number of people infected by the virus in the region to 3,518.
In their daily briefing, county officials also reported 11 new deaths, bringing the toll to 65. Nine of the 11 people who most recently died were over the age of 65, and seven had underlying health conditions. One person was between 18 and 40 years old, and another was between 41 and 65, said Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
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The coronavirus has also spread to the most vulnerable populations in the county, with five homeless people testing positive for COVID-19, Ferrer said.
“Every day reporting these numbers is devastating,” she said. “I know it’s more devastating for the family and friends who have experienced this tremendous loss.”
Coronavirus cases statewide barreled past 9,500 — with nearly 1,000 new cases in 24 hours — and the death toll passed 200. Officials across California continue grappling with a shortage of supplies while rushing to prepare hospitals for what is expected to be a deluge of patients in the coming weeks.
After some local health officials recommended wearing face coverings when going out in public, Ferrer cautioned against using N95 and surgical masks, which are already in short supply for healthcare providers.
She said people could use a bandanna or piece of fabric to cover their nose and mouth while out in public doing essential errands, but she warned: “Wearing a mask is not a shield.” It does not replace frequent hand washing and social distancing efforts.
Officials continued to urge residents to stay at home whenever possible and respect social distancing mandates when they must be in public. These efforts more than anything will help ensure there isn’t excessive strain on the county’s healthcare system, officials said.
Dr. Richard Benjamin, a semi-retired Bay Area health officer, said staying indoors and wearing masks when on essential travel should be mandated as a “social contract” to protect the vulnerable and uninfected.
“I am increasingly convinced that the key to controlling community spread is through source control and containment,” Benjamin said. “While this is a relatively draconian measure, I think that we need to consider this as local, state and national health policy ... that all people be required to mask ... even if only using available bandannas.”
Orange County saw its biggest single-day increase in coronavirus infections to date Wednesday, as officials announced 107 new cases and three additional deaths. In all, 606 COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths have been confirmed countywide.
Amid the news, state officials announced that they will use the Fairview Developmental Center — a state-owned property in Costa Mesa — as an alternative care site to relieve stress on other regional hospitals.
Repurposing the center, which long housed adults with developmental and behavioral disabilities, is part of an overall effort to boost the number of hospital beds available statewide.
State medical personnel will staff the site, and admissions “will be determined by local medical providers with an emphasis on moving patients who require monitoring and low to medium levels of care,” according to statement from the California Office of Emergency Services.
Opening Fairview, officials said, will free up space at traditional hospitals for patients in more serious condition.
“As our nation and country face this public health crisis together, Costa Mesa leaders have undertaken a coordinated and collaborative effort with all levels of government and we remain in constant communication,” Costa Mesa City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison said in a statement. “With the rise in COVID-19 cases in Orange County to 606 and 10 deaths, it is imperative that we have the resources needed to treat all those who need care.”
The facility will provide up to 1,100 new hospital beds that should be available this month, according to Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach).
“Around the world and in other states, we have seen the horrific images and heard the heartbreaking stories of COVID-19 patients dying in hospital corridors because there are not enough beds,” she said in a statement. “We are aggressively preparing for California’s surge to try to avoid that nightmare.”
Cases of the virus in nearby Riverside County, meanwhile, jumped to 371, prompting county health officials to recommend that residents cover their noses and mouths when out in public. Thirteen people have died countywide after being infected by the virus, according to health officials.
“When the situation changes, the rule book changes,” Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County’s public health officer, said in a statement. “We’re seeing our numbers increasing even sooner than we predicted, and that means our strategy must change too. Covering your face doesn’t change the orders everyone must abide by to stay home as much as possible and maintain social distancing, but it’s an extra layer of protection that I think we need to add.”
In Northern California, the number of confirmed cases of the virus also continued to surge.
Sacramento County had 314 confirmed cases and nine deaths as of Wednesday, according to health officials. In the surrounding counties of Placer, Yolo and El Dorado, there have been more than 100 confirmed cases. Two people have died in Placer County, and one person has died in Yolo County.
Amid the pandemic, state officials are working on adding more hospital and intensive care unit beds to handle an expected surge in coronavirus patients in the coming weeks. There is concern that without action, the state could be short tens of thousands of hospital beds needed on the epidemic’s worst day.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said 774 patients with COVID-19 are in intensive care and 1,855 have been hospitalized across the state as of Tuesday.
A Los Angeles Times data analysis found that California has 7,200 ICU beds across more than 365 hospitals. In total, the state has more than 70,000 beds, with roughly one ICU bed for every 5,500 people in California. The governor has said the state expects to need 50,000 new hospital beds to meet a surge in patients around mid-May.
In Los Angeles County, 733 people who have tested positive for the virus have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. While there are still hospital beds available for sick patients, county health officials are anticipating additional coronavirus cases over the next three weeks that could strain the system.
“I want to reassure the public that the L.A. County hospital system, both public and private, is doing everything it can to be able to scale up and meet the projected demand, but I would reiterate the crucial importance of respecting those social and physical distancing guidelines so that we can flatten the curve and make sure there’s not excessive strain on the hospital system in the days and weeks to come,” said Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of the Los Angeles Department of Health Services.
Amid a rising number of infections, community clinics and health centers on the front lines continue to face a shortage of test kits and medical equipment they need to protect staff against the virus. Since the outbreak, community clinics and health centers in Los Angeles County have helped mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and prevented sick patients from overwhelming hospitals.
At St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, a nonprofit that operates 18 health centers and school-based clinics in Los Angeles and Compton, the situation has become so dire that patients have offered to sew surgical masks for the staff.
In a news teleconference Tuesday, St. John’s Chief Executive Jim Mangia said it wouldn’t be enough and called on the federal government to mandate the production of protective gear and masks for healthcare workers.
Community clinics that typically handle primary care, including checkups and prescribing patients insulin for diabetes or medicine for their high blood pressure, have been canceling their regular appointments and seeing more patients with symptoms that match those of COVID-19.
Mangia said last week that the nonprofit saw 879 patients who were required to be placed in triage tents to isolate them from other patients. He said 39 tests were performed and seven were positive for COVID-19. He said at least three patients have been hospitalized.
“By the end of this week, we will have run out of protective gear,” Mangia said. “We still don’t have the tests that we need in order to contain the spread and isolate our patients.
“We’re essentially doing makeshift front-line work,” he added.
But where they can, people are getting creative to help those facing the virus every day.
The Los Angeles Public Library on Wednesday announced that its librarians working in its Octavia Lab have begun using 3-D printers to manufacture portions of the face shields workers in L.A. County and UCLA hospitals need on the job.
A collaborating group, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, is producing the remaining parts.
“In order to maintain a sterile and clean environment, a limited number of trained staff will be in the Octavia Lab assembling the shields,” library officials said in a statement. “Due to the high heat used during printing, the face shields will be sterile upon printing and then bagged for distribution.”
Some experts say the struggle for resources is the beginning of what could become a worsening crisis. Counties across the state have strengthened their stay-at-home and social distancing policies amid concern about the virus’ rapid spread.
State officials announced Wednesday that California’s public K-12 campuses are expected to remain closed for the remainder of the academic year in response to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic.
Families and educators, who have taken on the massive challenge of distance learning for about 6.1 million students, should operate “with the expectation now that schools will not reopen, but classes are in” for the rest of the school year, Newsom said.
“To all of the moms, all the teachers, all the caregivers, I know how stressful this is, trust me,” Newsom said. “I know what we’re asking of you over the course of the next few months.”
California faces a peak of 5,000 coronavirus deaths a week if the state’s stay-at-home policies are relaxed too early, Dr. Chris Farnitano, a health officer for Contra Costa County, told his Board of Supervisors this week.
“We are still hopeful we can avoid [this scenario] if we don’t relax our efforts to flatten the curve,” he said.
With California DMV field offices remaining closed to the public, the agency said Wednesday that residents 70 and older who have expiring driver licenses will receive a 120-day extension in the mail in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of Motor Vehicles also said motorists with clean driving records whose last visit to a field office was 15 years ago will not be required to renew in person for the next 60 days and will be able to renew online or by mail.
“Today’s actions ensure hundreds of thousands of Californians can keep their driver license current while following the state’s stay-at-home request,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said. “The health and safety of our employees and customers is the DMV’s top priority.”
Starting Thursday, the DMV’s virtual field office at virtual.dmv.ca.gov will be available to process complex vehicle registrations and title transfers that would otherwise have to be accomplished in an office, the agency added.
Times staff writers Luke Money, Sonali Kohli, Howard Blume, Patrick McGreevy and Kailyn Brown contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-04-01--Ventura County makes dire prediction as coronavirus cases, deaths increase

Amid an increase in testing and the dire prediction of a massive death toll in Ventura County if measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus aren ’ t heeded , officials announced an increase in both the number of cases and victims .
Nearly 3,000 people have been tested for the coronavirus in the county , and 149 are confirmed to have contracted the illness .
Twenty-three new cases were reported late Tuesday .
Among those who have tested positive , 27 have recovered while 117 remain under active quarantine .
The virus has also claimed another life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total in the county to five .
All of the victims were in their 70s or 80s and had preexisting health problems , county spokeswoman Ashley Bautista said .
The first death was reported March 22 .
At a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday , officials spoke at length about ways to curb the impact of the virus .
County parks were closed , and fees for patients who visit a doctor for COVID-19-related symptoms have been waived .
The county also secured four motels to house vulnerable members of the homeless population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the county ’ s public health officer , was grim : Ventura County could see as many as 1,000 people die from COVID-19 if efforts to flatten the curve are relaxed too early .
“ The actions we ’ re taking we hope will curtail that and diminish that significantly , ” said Levin , who cautioned that what health officials are up against with the novel coronavirus will not be like what they saw with influenza , which killed 49 people in the county two years ago .
Ventura County received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but hospitals still have a shortage of protective gear , Levin said , noting that healthcare facilities need to create spaces to hold people after they recover from the virus to avoid spreading it further .
Amid concerns that residents were not taking social distancing efforts seriously , the city of Ventura closed all beaches , parks and the iconic pier Tuesday .
“ There ’ s still a lot of clustering in the parks , ” County Executive Officer Michael Powers said .
“ We have to do everything we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are critical.
” And while it ’ s hard to document whether the safer-at-home measures are making a difference , a recent evaluation by a Norwegian company that tracks cellphone usage gave Ventura County an A grade for its social distancing and quarantine efforts .
Kelly Long , chair of the Board of Supervisors , contrasted the spreading virus to a wildfire .
Although you can see where a blaze is headed , the virus feels unpredictable , she said .
Levin used that comparison in his message to the county : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and efforts to stop its spread can ’ t be reduced until then .
“ That is going to be a trial for the residents of our county because we ’ re going to get on the other side of this curve , and we ’ re not immediately going to stop the steps we ’ ve taken , ” he said .
“ We need to make sure that this is smothered .
”

A woman has the sidewalk all to herself while walking through downtown Ventura on Monday. Foot traffic is very light amid coronavirus restrictions.
Amid an increase in testing and the dire prediction of a massive death toll in Ventura County if measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus aren’t heeded, officials announced an increase in both the number of cases and victims.
Nearly 3,000 people have been tested for the coronavirus in the county, and 149 are confirmed to have contracted the illness. Twenty-three new cases were reported late Tuesday.
Among those who have tested positive, 27 have recovered while 117 remain under active quarantine.
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The virus has also claimed another life, health officials said, bringing the death total in the county to five. All of the victims were in their 70s or 80s and had preexisting health problems, county spokeswoman Ashley Bautista said. The first death was reported March 22.
At a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, officials spoke at length about ways to curb the impact of the virus. County parks were closed, and fees for patients who visit a doctor for COVID-19-related symptoms have been waived. The county also secured four motels to house vulnerable members of the homeless population.
The message from Dr. Robert Levin, the county’s public health officer, was grim: Ventura County could see as many as 1,000 people die from COVID-19 if efforts to flatten the curve are relaxed too early.
“The actions we’re taking we hope will curtail that and diminish that significantly,” said Levin, who cautioned that what health officials are up against with the novel coronavirus will not be like what they saw with influenza, which killed 49 people in the county two years ago.
Ventura County received three semitrucks full of personal protection equipment, but hospitals still have a shortage of protective gear, Levin said, noting that healthcare facilities need to create spaces to hold people after they recover from the virus to avoid spreading it further.
Amid concerns that residents were not taking social distancing efforts seriously, the city of Ventura closed all beaches, parks and the iconic pier Tuesday.
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“There’s still a lot of clustering in the parks,” County Executive Officer Michael Powers said. “We have to do everything we can. These next four to five weeks are critical.”
And while it’s hard to document whether the safer-at-home measures are making a difference, a recent evaluation by a Norwegian company that tracks cellphone usage gave Ventura County an A grade for its social distancing and quarantine efforts.
Kelly Long, chair of the Board of Supervisors, contrasted the spreading virus to a wildfire. Although you can see where a blaze is headed, the virus feels unpredictable, she said.
Levin used that comparison in his message to the county: The virus must be completely wiped out, and efforts to stop its spread can’t be reduced until then.
“That is going to be a trial for the residents of our county because we’re going to get on the other side of this curve, and we’re not immediately going to stop the steps we’ve taken,” he said. “We need to make sure that this is smothered.”


latimes--2020-04-01--Seeking an eviction moratorium in coronavirus pandemic, protesters target Garcetti's house

Housing activists held a drive-by protest at Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ’ s residence Wednesday morning , honking their horns and shouting from their windows to urge him to pass a blanket moratorium on residential evictions during the coronavirus pandemic .
A parade of about 20 vehicles circled Getty House in Windsor Square for more than a half hour , snaking around the block until Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived and blocked a nearby intersection with two large vehicles .
After police blocked the intersection , a crowd of more than 40 housing activists then took to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s not a real moratorium , ” protesters yelled .
“ No wages , no rent , ” others shouted , while some held signs that read , “ Freeze all rents.
” Albert Corado , 31 , who came from Atwater Village to join the protest , said he was frustrated by the city ’ s new eviction policy , arguing that what the mayor and L.A. City Council have done doesn ’ t go far enough .
“ What the city has done is really ineffectual , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Garcetti was home during the 7 a.m. protest .
His spokesman , Alex Comisar , said that the mayor and L.A. City Council have “ taken quick , aggressive action ” to freeze rents and prevent evictions during the crisis .
“ The mayor stands with all Angelenos and he will continue taking every possible step to support them through this emergency , ” Comisar said .
The City Council last week approved a temporary ban on evictions for renters who are unable to pay rent because of the coronavirus .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renters up to a year to pay back rent after the city ’ s emergency order for the pandemic expires .
Council members , however , rejected a blanket ban on all evictions .
Instead , to qualify , renters who are unable to pay rent must demonstrate how they have been harmed by the coronavirus , which critics say is too onerous a task given that many may be unable to get tested for the coronavirus or see a doctor .
Renters may also have a hard time proving that their work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the economic upheaval caused by the pandemic .
Garcetti went further this week , announcing that landlords would not be allowed to increase the rent for tenants who live in apartments that fall under the city ’ s rent stabilization program .
The announcement covers about 624,000 apartments and it ’ s unclear how many of those units would have been subject to annual rent increases during the pandemic .
Organizers said that Wednesday ’ s protest was expected to attract members of L.A .
Tenants Union , Chinatown Community for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups .
The protesters said they want a moratorium on all evictions during the crisis , complete rent forgiveness and/or rent suspension , and the immediate use of hotel and motel rooms to provide permanent housing to unhoused residents .
Separately , tenant activist groups held “ rent strike ” protests in several cities Wednesday , vowing to skip payments because of the economic downturn from the coronavirus pandemic .

Housing activists held a drive-by protest at Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s residence Wednesday morning, honking their horns and shouting from their windows to urge him to pass a blanket moratorium on residential evictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
A parade of about 20 vehicles circled Getty House in Windsor Square for more than a half hour, snaking around the block until Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived and parked two large vehicles in a nearby intersection.
LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein said traffic could still flow in the area. “According to a supervisor on the scene, the patrol vehicles partially blocked the intersection to control the flow of traffic, ensuring safe travels on the street,” Rubenstein said. “Cars were not blocked.”
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After police parked in the intersection, a crowd of more than 40 housing activists then took to the sidewalks in front of Getty House. “It’s not a real moratorium,” protesters yelled. “No wages, no rent,” others shouted, while some held signs that read, “Freeze all rents.”
Albert Corado, 31, who came from Atwater Village to join the protest, said he was frustrated by the city’s new eviction policy, arguing that what the mayor and L.A. City Council have done doesn’t go far enough.
“What the city has done is really ineffectual,” Corado said.
It’s unclear if Garcetti was home during the 7 a.m. protest. His spokesman, Alex Comisar, said that the mayor and L.A. City Council have “taken quick, aggressive action” to freeze rents and prevent evictions during the crisis.
“The mayor stands with all Angelenos and he will continue taking every possible step to support them through this emergency,” Comisar said.
The City Council last week approved a temporary ban on evictions for renters who are unable to pay rent because of the coronavirus. The council also waived late fees and gave renters up to a year to pay back rent after the city’s emergency order for the pandemic expires.
Council members, however, rejected a blanket ban on all evictions. Instead, to qualify, renters who are unable to pay rent must demonstrate how they have been harmed by the coronavirus, which critics say is too onerous a task given that many may be unable to get tested for the coronavirus or see a doctor.
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Renters may also have a hard time proving that their work hours were cut, for example, because of the economic upheaval caused by the pandemic.
Garcetti went further this week, announcing that landlords would not be allowed to increase the rent for tenants who live in apartments that fall under the city’s rent stabilization program. The announcement covers about 624,000 apartments and it’s unclear how many of those units would have been subject to annual rent increases during the pandemic.
Organizers said that Wednesday’s protest was expected to attract members of L.A. Tenants Union, Chinatown Community for Equitable Development, NOlympics LA and other groups. The protesters said they want a moratorium on all evictions during the crisis, complete rent forgiveness and/or rent suspension, and the immediate use of hotel and motel rooms to provide permanent housing to unhoused residents.
Protesters held a similar rally outside Garcetti’s residence Sunday.
Separately, tenant activist groups held “rent strike” protests in several cities Wednesday, vowing to skip payments because of the economic downturn from the coronavirus pandemic.
Times staff writer Liam Dillon contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-04-01--UC to ease admission requirements: No SAT, no letter grades due to coronavirus

The University of California announced Wednesday that it will greatly ease some admission requirements for fall 2020 and beyond by eliminating SAT test scores and letter grades for required courses , saying that “ grave disruption ” to schools during the coronavirus crisis calls for maximum flexibility in evaluating students .
The move , authorized by UC Board of Regents leaders , will relax the admissions process for more than 200,000 prospective freshmen and transfer students who annually apply to the UC system ’ s nine undergraduate campuses but are now studying under dramatically different — and , for many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23-campus California State University system also announced temporary changes to admission requirements for applicants , who numbered about 363,000 last fall .
Those students may not meet UC and Cal State admission requirements this year because their high schools or community colleges have shifted to online instruction with varying degrees of success , pass/fail grading systems or reduced course offerings .
In addition , standardized test scores may be difficult to obtain because testing dates are being canceled or postponed for many required tests , including the SAT and ACT , high school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , evaluations of English-language proficiency .
“ The COVID-19 outbreak is a disaster of historic proportions disrupting every aspect of our lives , including education for high school students , among others , ” UC President Janet Napolitano said in a statement .
“ The University ’ s flexibility at this crucial time will ensure prospective students aiming for UC get a full and fair shot — no matter their current challenges.
” The UC Academic Senate agreed to temporarily suspend several admission regulations at the request of Han Mi Yoon-Wu , director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the President .
“ With such grave disruption in the education system , administrators are seeking flexibility where possible under these untenable conditions , ” Yoon-Wu wrote in a March 20 letter to Eddie Comeaux , who heads the Academic Senate committee that oversees all undergraduate admission policies and practices .
“ We owe it to our students to ensure that we ’ re supporting them in a process that is fair , ” Comeaux said .
“ We want to ensure temporary flexibility , understanding that all requirements may not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues , or because a school decided to cancel certain courses or change the grading format.
” • Both UC and Cal State will suspend the letter grade requirement for the 15 prescribed college-preparatory courses completed in winter/spring/summer 2020 for all students , including the most recently admitted freshmen .
Cal State may make admissions exceptions on a case-by-case basis for students who fail to complete all of the required courses because of the pandemic .
• UC will suspend the standardized test requirement for students applying for fall 2021 freshman admission .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for fall 2021 , as campuses normally use high school GPA and SAT or ACT test scores to calculate eligibility for admission , but applicants for fall 2021 may have problems providing those metrics .
• Neither system will rescind admission offers that result from students or schools missing official final transcript deadlines .
UC will honor admission through the first day of class until official documents are received by campuses .
Cal State will accept official transcripts through the fall 2020 term .
• For transfer students , UC will temporarily suspend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ units with pass/no pass grading applied toward the minimum 60 semester/90 quarter units required for junior standing .
Cal State also will accept “ credit ” or “ pass ” for required courses taken in winter/spring/summer 2020 and reduce the number of transfer units needed to enroll .
Yoon-Wu noted that efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic had caused an “ unprecedented and growing number of school closures ” that have forced institutions to confront myriad challenges as they have switched abruptly to remote instruction .
The uncertainty is global , she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be unable to earn the credentials typically required for UC admission , as prescribed testing has been or is likely to be disrupted in such countries as the United Kingdom , Pakistan , France , Germany and Italy .
“ This period of uncertainty predicated by the COVID-19 situation greatly impacts our previously assured pipeline of students to UC , which includes California resident freshmen , California Community college transfers , domestic and international nonresidents , ” she wrote .
“ The academic verification process ... and enrollments will be notably compromised.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pérez and Maria Anguiano , the Academic and Student Affairs Committee chair , approved the temporary waiver of admissions requirements .
“ We want to help alleviate the tremendous disruption and anxiety that is already overwhelming prospective students due to COVID-19 , ” Pérez said in a statement .
“ By removing artificial barriers and decreasing stressors — including suspending the use of the SAT — for this unprecedented moment in time , we hope there will be less worry for our future students.
” Napolitano , in her request for board approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test scores , which can support their statewide UC eligibility , application for certain scholarships and help fulfill some university graduation requirements .
She said campuses would adjust their admissions review processes “ to ensure that no student is harmed in admissions selection should they not submit a test score.
” The suspension of standardized testing requirements for applicants was “ intended as an accommodation and not a permanent policy shift , and does not foreclose future Board policy actions with respect to the use of standardized tests in University admissions for fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
UC officials are currently debating whether to eliminate the SAT and ACT testing requirement , and regents are expected to take action possibly in May .
Comeaux said the Academic Senate would encourage students to submit standardized test scores and other required documents but would ask campuses to be understanding if pandemic conditions prevent them from doing so .
He added that campuses will accept the results of high school Advanced Placement exams even though they are being significantly revised to recognize the move to online learning and social distancing practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same .
The College Board , which owns the exams , has announced they will be given at home as an open-book test this year and last only 45 minutes , which is significantly shorter than the usual two-to-three-hour duration .
The test will include only material most teachers will have covered by early March .
Students typically earn college credit for the courses if they earn a score of 3 or above .
The College Board also said Wednesday that it will provide additional SAT testing dates and increased capacity “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows ” and , if schools remain closed , would pursue “ innovative means ” to ensure all students can take the exam this fall .
The UC announcement came as a relief to many students , families , high school counselors and equity advocates .
Audrey Dow , senior vice president for the Campaign for College Opportunity , said the coronavirus crisis has exacerbated inequities in education as students struggle with access to computers , the internet , counseling and guidance .
UC leaders “ are showing us they can pivot quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most vulnerable students , ” she said .
UC campus admission directors say they plan to fully embrace the call for flexibility in how they handle applicants affected by the pandemic .
Lisa Przekop , UC Santa Barbara admissions director , said admitted students are usually required to accept an admission offer by May 1 , for instance , and provide official transcripts documenting their self-reported grades by July .
Those deadlines are important , she said , so campuses can begin planning housing assignments , orientations and other events .
Napolitano said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students and schools will not face consequences if they are not met , and students will not be required to submit a nonrefundable deposit by May 1 if they are unable to do so .
At Cal State , campuses are making individual decisions on whether to extend those deadlines .
Przekop said UC Santa Barbara would use “ maximum flexibility ” in considering why some students may not make those deadlines or meet other requirements .
“ We ’ re going to need to give students the benefit of the doubt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want them to panic .
We ’ re on their side .
”

The University of California will temporarily suspend some admission requirements for SAT testing and letter grades for required courses to support students affected by the coronavirus pandemic. California State University also announced some easing of requirements.
The University of California announced Wednesday that it will greatly ease some admission requirements for fall 2020 and beyond by eliminating SAT scores and letter grades for required courses, saying that “grave disruption” to schools during the coronavirus crisis calls for maximum flexibility in evaluating students.
The move, authorized by UC Board of Regents leaders, will relax the admissions process for the more than 200,000 prospective freshmen and transfer students who apply each year to the UC system’s nine undergraduate campuses but are now studying under dramatically different — and, for many, highly stressful — circumstances.
The 23-campus California State University also announced temporary changes to admission requirements for applicants, who numbered about 363,000 last fall.
Those students may not meet UC and Cal State admission requirements this year because their high schools or community colleges have shifted to online instruction with varying degrees of success, pass/fail grading systems or reduced course offerings.
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In addition, standardized test scores may be difficult to obtain because testing dates are being canceled or postponed for many required tests, including the SAT and ACT, high school exit exams and, for international students, evaluations of English-language proficiency.
“The COVID-19 outbreak is a disaster of historic proportions disrupting every aspect of our lives, including education for high school students, among others,” UC President Janet Napolitano said in a statement. “The University’s flexibility at this crucial time will ensure prospective students aiming for UC get a full and fair shot — no matter their current challenges.”
The UC Academic Senate agreed to temporarily suspend several admission regulations at the request of Han Mi Yoon-Wu, director of undergraduate admissions at the UC Office of the President. “With such grave disruption in the education system, administrators are seeking flexibility where possible under these untenable conditions,” Yoon-Wu wrote in a March 20 letter to Eddie Comeaux, who heads the Academic Senate committee that oversees all undergraduate admission policies and practices.
“We owe it to our students to ensure that we’re supporting them in a process that is fair,” Comeaux said. “We want to ensure temporary flexibility, understanding that all requirements may not be met because of serious family or personal issues, or because a school decided to cancel certain courses or change the grading format.”
The Cal State Academic Senate supports the admissions changes but is cautioning against a blanket reduction of entrance standards in the future. Catherine Nelson, systemwide chair of the Cal State Academic Senate, said faculty are concerned about how the changes might impact students’ preparation for university-level coursework and whether adequate support resources would be in place this fall.
“This is a very unique and challenging time for students, and we want to make sure that if they had planned to be CSU-bound we do everything we can to help them reach that goal,” she said.
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The modifications to admission requirements include:
Both the UC and Cal State systems will suspend the letter grade requirement for the 15 prescribed college-preparatory courses completed in winter/spring/summer 2020 for all students, including the most recently admitted freshmen. Cal State may make admissions exceptions on a case-by-case basis for students who fail to complete all of the required courses because of the pandemic.
UC will suspend the standardized test requirement for students applying for fall 2021 freshman admission. Cal State is still evaluating its process for fall 2021, as campuses normally use high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores to calculate eligibility for admission, but applicants may have problems providing those metrics.
Neither system will rescind admission offers that result from students or schools missing official final transcript deadlines. UC will honor admission through the first day of class until official documents are received by campuses. Cal State will accept official transcripts through the fall 2020 term.
For transfer students, UC will temporarily suspend the cap on the number of transferable units with pass/no pass grading applied toward the minimum 60 semester/90 quarter units required for junior standing. Cal State also will accept “credit” or “pass” for required courses taken in winter/spring/summer 2020 and reduce the number of transfer units needed to enroll.
Yoon-Wu noted that efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak had caused an “unprecedented and growing number of school closures” that have forced institutions to confront myriad challenges as they have switched abruptly to remote instruction.
The uncertainty is global, she said, noting that students studying overseas might be unable to earn the credentials typically required for UC admission, as prescribed testing has been or is likely to be disrupted in such countries as the United Kingdom, Pakistan, France, Germany and Italy.
“This period of uncertainty predicated by the COVID-19 situation greatly impacts our previously assured pipeline of students to UC, which includes California resident freshmen, California Community college transfers, domestic and international nonresidents,” she wrote. “The academic verification process ... and enrollments will be notably compromised.”
UC Board of Regents Chair John A. Pérez and Maria Anguiano, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee chair, approved the temporary waiver of admissions requirements.
“We want to help alleviate the tremendous disruption and anxiety that is already overwhelming prospective students due to COVID-19,” Pérez said in a statement. “By removing artificial barriers and decreasing stressors — including suspending the use of the SAT — for this unprecedented moment in time, we hope there will be less worry for our future students.”
Napolitano said students can still submit standardized test scores, which can support their statewide UC eligibility and application for scholarships and help fulfill some graduation requirements.
She said campuses would adjust their admissions review processes “to ensure that no student is harmed in admissions selection should they not submit a test score.”
The suspension of standardized testing requirements for applicants was “intended as an accommodation and not a permanent policy shift, and does not foreclose future Board policy actions” regarding the tests, she said. UC officials are currently debating whether to eliminate the SAT and ACT testing requirement, and regents are expected to take action, possibly in May.
Both UC and Cal State will accept the results of high school Advanced Placement exams even though they are being significantly revised to recognize the move to online learning and social distancing practices. The College Board, which owns the exams, has announced they will be given at home as open-book tests this year and last only 45 minutes, which is significantly shorter than the usual two-to-three-hour duration. Students typically earn college credit for the courses if they earn a score of 3 or above out of 5.
The College Board also said Wednesday that it will provide additional SAT testing dates and increased capacity “as soon as the public health situation allows” and, if schools remain closed, would pursue “innovative means” to ensure all students can take the exam this fall.
The UC announcement came as a relief to many students, families, high school counselors and equity advocates. Audrey Dow, senior vice president for the Campaign for College Opportunity, said the coronavirus crisis has exacerbated inequities in education as students struggle with access to computers, the internet, counseling and guidance.
“UC leaders are showing us they can pivot quickly to ensure equity in admissions for our most vulnerable students,” she said.
UC campus admission directors say they plan to fully embrace the call for flexibility.
Lisa Przekop, UC Santa Barbara admissions director, said admitted students are usually required to accept an admission offer by May 1, for instance, and provide official transcripts documenting their self-reported grades by July. Those deadlines are important, she said, so campuses can begin planning housing assignments, orientations and other events.
Napolitano said that those deadlines would remain in place but that students and schools will not face consequences if they are not met, and students will not be required to submit a nonrefundable deposit by May 1 if they are unable to do so. At Cal State, campuses are making individual decisions on whether to extend those deadlines.
Przekop said UC Santa Barbara would use “maximum flexibility” in considering why some students may not make those deadlines or meet other requirements.
“We’re going to need to give students the benefit of the doubt,” she said. “I don’t want them to panic. We’re on their side.”


latimes--2020-04-01--Should you wear a mask at the grocery store? Coronavirus advice keeps changing

Is it time to wear face coverings when going to the grocery store , pharmacy or medical appointments ?
That is the latest advice from Riverside County health officials as they try to slow the spread of the coronavirus , which has sickened more than 8,500 people in the state and killed nearly 200 .
A day later , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said face masks are not a replacement for , but can be used to augment , the state ’ s physical distancing orders .
Federal officials maintain that healthy people do not need to wear masks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a growing belief that more people should be covering their faces more often .
Here is what we know : Why is Riverside County recommending this ?
Officials released the new mask guidance Tuesday , covering such essential and medical visits .
“ The face coverings do not have to be hospital grade but need to cover the nose and mouth .
For example , bandannas , fabric masks and neck gaiters are acceptable .
Fabric covers and bandannas can be washed and used again , ” the county said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is based on new knowledge about the coronavirus .
“ When the situation changes , the rulebook changes , ” Dr. Cameron Kaiser , Riverside County ’ s public health officer , said in a statement .
“ We ’ re seeing our numbers increasing even sooner than we predicted and that means our strategy must change too .
Covering your face doesn ’ t change the orders everyone must abide by to stay home as much as possible and maintain social distancing , but it ’ s an extra layer of protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Lana Culp , a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Health in neighboring San Bernardino County , said there are several things to consider before making a mandate about masks , including a demand for supplies that already are short for healthcare providers .
Culp said the county is discussing the idea but worries it might send the wrong message : that it ’ s fine to ignore stay-at-home orders as long as your face is covered .
The recommendations haven ’ t extended beyond Riverside County yet .
Health officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said no such directives were being made there .
Pasadena spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said the city hasn ’ t issued similar guidance because it needs to reserve essential personal protective equipment for hospital workers .
“ If the supplies become more readily available , or if there is more of a state [ or ] L.A. County directive , we will definitely evaluate at a local level , ” she said .
Barbara Ferrer , director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health , cautioned the public against using N95 or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthcare providers .
However , she said people can use a bandanna or piece of fabric to cover their nose and mouth when going to the grocery store or otherwise out in public .
“ Wearing a mask is not a shield , ” she said , adding that it does not replace frequent handwashing and physical distancing efforts .
Officials urged residents to stay at home whenever possible and respect social distancing mandates when they must be in public .
These efforts more than anything , they said , will help ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county ’ s healthcare system .
Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said the county is following recommended guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health , which currently state it ’ s unnecessary to wear a face mask unless you are sick or caring for someone who is .
“ We are constantly reviewing and will update guidelines with direction from the CDC and CDPH , ” the spokesperson said .
What is the federal position ?
The CDC ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who do not work in the healthcare sector and are not taking care of an infected person at home do not need to wear masks .
“ Face masks may be in short supply , and they should be saved for caregivers , ” the government agency says .
Many hospitals are facing a shortage of tight-fitting masks that filter out about 95 % of small airborne particles .
This has forced healthcare professionals to either reuse masks or switch to standard surgical masks , which do not block airborne particles as effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC has been weighing whether to modify its recommendations and endorse the use of homemade masks , according to several new outlets .
“ I can tell you that the data and this issue of whether it ’ s going to contribute [ to prevention ] is being aggressively reviewed as we speak , ” Dr. Robert Redfield , the CDC director , told NPR .
California announced this week it is going to start distributing millions of N95 face masks to healthcare providers struggling under the strain of the coronavirus .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
State health officials stressed that they are not advising healthy people to wear masks , which are in short supply .
“ However , masks are recommended to limit the spread of disease for people who are exhibiting respiratory symptoms , ” the state said .
What do other experts say ?
Some say there are times when wearing a surgical mask , homemade face covering or simply putting a bandanna over your face might be a good idea .
, director of the Center for Global Health at Oregon State University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are required to wear surgical masks in places such as schools and restaurants and while riding public transportation .
Although surgical and homemade masks don ’ t filter out particles as effectively as N95 masks , Chi said they can still be useful .
He recommends wearing a mask only if you have to be in close contact with people , such as riding a crowded bus .
“ If you are going out for a hike or walk and there are very few people around , you do not need a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yang , an infectious diseases expert at UCLA , said there ’ s no need for a healthy person to don a mask for something like a trip to the grocery store .
“ I agree with what the CDC says about there not being a role for masks for protecting yourself if you ’ re just out in the regular public , ” Yang said .
“ It ’ s more about protecting the people around you in case you are infected.
” Yang said a face mask captures the infectious materials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thus preventing people nearby “ from being contaminated ” and keeping the virus off high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs and handrails .
Should you use homemade masks ?
Homemade masks will not block virus particles if you spend a lot of time in close proximity to someone who is sick , but they will protect you from droplets containing the virus .
That should be adequate for people who do not need to have close contact with those who are infected , Chi said .
Polypropylene fabric is best to use if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s the material that is used in surgical masks , he said .

Kailyn Brown, Deborah Netburn, Luke Money

It’s time to wear face coverings when going to the grocery store, pharmacy or medical appointments.
That is the latest advice from L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Riverside County health officials as they try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
But it’s far from universal guidance. Federal officials maintain that healthy people do not need to wear masks in most circumstances, reflecting concerns that public demand for masks could deprive medical professionals of protection as they treat coronavirus patients.
Still, it seems to be a growing belief that more people should be covering their faces more often.
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At an afternoon news briefing Wednesday, Garcetti said he had been awaiting advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on mask-wearing, but with the COVID-19 rate surging had decided to wait no longer.
The mayor said everyone performing essential tasks such as food shopping should wear homemade, non-medical face coverings, or even bandannas, as people in other COVID-19-struck countries have done.
“To be clear, you should still stay at home. This isn’t an excuse to suddenly all go out,” Garcetti said.
He added that people shouldn’t use medical-grade masks, which are in short supply and are needed by healthcare workers and first responders.
The mayor said even a “tucked-in bandanna” could slow the spread of the virus, and that masks remind people to keep their distance.
For his part, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that face masks can augment, not replace the state’s physical distancing orders.
Riverside released the new mask guidance Tuesday, covering such essential tasks as grocery shopping and medical visits.
“The face coverings do not have to be hospital grade but need to cover the nose and mouth. For example, bandannas, fabric masks and neck gaiters are acceptable. Fabric covers and bandannas can be washed and used again,” the county said.
Officials said the recommendation is based on new knowledge about the coronavirus.
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“When the situation changes, the rulebook changes,” Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County’s public health officer said in a statement. “We’re seeing our numbers increasing even sooner than we predicted and that means our strategy must change too.”
Lana Culp, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Health in neighboring San Bernardino County, said there are several things to consider before making a mandate about masks, including a demand for supplies that already are short for healthcare providers.
Culp said the county is discussing the idea but worries it might send the wrong message: that it’s fine to ignore stay-at-home orders as long as your face is covered.
The recommendations haven’t spread across the state yet. Health officials in Fresno, Contra Costa and Kern counties said no such directives were being made there.
Pasadena spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said the city hasn’t issued similar guidance because it needs to reserve essential personal protective equipment for hospital workers.
“If the supplies become more readily available, or if there is more of a state [or] L.A. County directive, we will definitely evaluate at a local level,” she said.
Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, cautioned the public against using N95 or surgical masks already in short supply for healthcare providers. But she said people can use a bandanna or piece of fabric to cover their nose and mouth when going to the grocery store or otherwise out in public.
“Wearing a mask is not a shield,” she said, adding that it does not replace frequent hand washing and physical distancing efforts.
Officials urged residents to stay at home whenever possible and respect social distancing mandates when they must be in public. These efforts more than anything, they said, will help ensure there isn’t excessive strain on the county’s healthcare system.
The CDC has said that healthy people who do not work in the healthcare sector and are not taking care of an infected person at home do not need to wear masks .
“Face masks may be in short supply, and they should be saved for caregivers,” the government agency said.
Many hospitals are facing a shortage of tight-fitting masks that filter out about 95% of small airborne particles. This has forced healthcare professionals to either reuse masks or switch to standard surgical masks, which do not block airborne particles as effectively.
But in recent days, the CDC has been weighing whether to modify its recommendations and endorse the use of homemade masks.
“I can tell you that the data and this issue of whether it’s going to contribute [to prevention] is being aggressively reviewed as we speak,” Dr. Robert Redfield, the CDC director, told NPR.
Some experts say there are times when wearing a surgical mask, homemade face covering or bandanna might be a good idea.
Chunhuei Chi , director of the Center for Global Health at Oregon State University, noted that in Taiwan, people are required to wear surgical masks in places such as schools and restaurants and while riding public transportation.
Although surgical and homemade masks don’t filter out particles as effectively as N95 masks, Chi said they can still be useful.
He recommends wearing a mask only if you have to be in close contact with people, such as riding a crowded bus.
“If you are going out for a hike or walk and there are very few people around, you do not need a mask,” he said.
Dr. Otto Yang, an infectious diseases expert at UCLA, said there’s no need for a healthy person to don a mask for something like a trip to the grocery store.
“I agree with what the CDC says about there not being a role for masks for protecting yourself if you’re just out in the regular public,” Yang said. “It’s more about protecting the people around you in case you are infected.”
Yang said a face mask captures the infectious materials released when a person coughs or sneezes, thus preventing people nearby “from being contaminated” and keeping the virus off high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs and handrails.
Homemade masks will not block virus particles if you spend a lot of time in close proximity to someone who is sick, but they will protect you from droplets containing the virus. That should be adequate for people who do not need to have close contact with those who are infected, Chi said.
Polypropylene fabric is best to use if you can get your hands on it. It’s the material that is used in surgical masks, he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-04-01--The hammer comes down on construction to slow coronavirus spread among workers

Amid concerns that construction workers are being exposed to coronavirus , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced new guidelines that will require all construction sites to create a “ COVID-19 exposure control plan.
” Protocols should include symptom checks , physical distancing , hygiene and decontamination , Garcetti said .
“ As most of our city has stayed home or changed the way of doing business , much of our construction program has continued , ” he said , adding that it is important to continue critical infrastructure but “ never at the risk of anyone ’ s life.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforce safety procedures , he added .
“ We will not be shy about shutting down construction sites that do not comply , ” Garcetti said .
“ So comply.
” Over the weekend , an unidentified construction worker at SoFi Stadium , the future home of the NFL ’ s Rams and Chargers , tested positive for COVID-19 , and another on Monday was said to be “ presumed positive.
” SoFi and other construction projects are considered critical infrastructure and are , therefore , exempt from the state ’ s safer-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns have grown .
Bay Area counties this week announced the end to many types of construction work in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Garcetti acknowledged that staying at home and social distancing have been “ tough ” for Angelenos and that “ life feels fundamentally changed.
” “ The deeper we abide by these rules , the quicker this can be over , ” he said .
“ These are not ordinary times .
Everyone has to keep making these temporary sacrifices for the common good.
” Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 .
Practice social distancing by maintaining a minimum 6-foot distance from others .
2 .
Preclude gatherings of any size , and anytime two or more people must meet , ensure a minimum 6-foot separation .
3 .
Provide personal protective equipment such as gloves , goggles , face shields and face masks as appropriate for the activity being performed .
4 .
The owner/contractor shall designate a site-specific COVID-19 supervisor to enforce this guidance .
A designated COVID-19 supervisor shall be present on the construction site at all times during construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an on-site worker who is designated to carry this role .
5 .
Identify “ choke points ” and “ high-risk areas ” where workers are forced to stand together , such as hallways , hoists and elevators , break areas , and buses , and control them so social distancing is maintained .
6 .
Minimize interactions when picking up or delivering equipment or materials , ensure minimum 6-foot separation .
7 .
Stagger the trades as necessary to reduce density and maintain minimum 6-foot separation social distancing .
8 .
Discourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , desks , offices , work tools and equipment .
If necessary , clean and disinfect them before and after use .
9 .
Post , in areas visible to all workers , required hygienic practices including not touching face with unwashed hands or with gloves ; washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds ; use of hand sanitizer with at least 60 % alcohol , cleaning AND disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstatons , keyboards , telephones , handrails , machines , shared tools , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing as well as other hygienic recommendations by the CDC .
10 .
Place wash stations or hand sanitizers in multiple locations to encourage hand hygiene .
11 .
Require anyone on the project to stay home if they are sick , except to get medical care .
12 .
Have employees inform their supervisor if they have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 .
13 .
Maintain a daily attendance log of all workers and visitors .

Construction workers on Friday were busy building an apartment complex in the Palms neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Amid concerns that construction workers are being exposed to coronavirus, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced new guidelines that will require all construction sites to create a “COVID-19 exposure control plan.”
Protocols should include symptom checks, physical distancing, hygiene and decontamination, Garcetti said.
“As most of our city has stayed home or changed the way of doing business, much of our construction program has continued,” he said, adding that it is important to continue critical infrastructure but “never at the risk of anyone’s life.”
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City inspectors will visit work sites to enforce safety procedures, he added.
“We will not be shy about shutting down construction sites that do not comply,” Garcetti said. “So comply.”
Over the weekend, an unidentified construction worker at SoFi Stadium, the future home of the NFL’s Rams and Chargers, tested positive for COVID-19, and another on Monday was said to be “presumed positive.”
SoFi and other construction projects are considered critical infrastructure and are, therefore, exempt from the state’s safer-at-home orders. But as work continues, concerns have grown.
Bay Area counties this week announced the end to many types of construction work in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
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Garcetti acknowledged that staying at home and social distancing have been “tough” for Angelenos and that “life feels fundamentally changed.”
“The deeper we abide by these rules, the quicker this can be over,” he said. “These are not ordinary times. Everyone has to keep making these temporary sacrifices for the common good.”
Here are the new construction site guidelines:
1. Practice social distancing by maintaining a minimum 6-foot distance from others.
2. Preclude gatherings of any size, and anytime two or more people must meet, ensure a minimum 6-foot separation.
3. Provide personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles, face shields and face masks as appropriate for the activity being performed.
4. The owner/contractor shall designate a site-specific COVID-19 supervisor to enforce this guidance. A designated COVID-19 supervisor shall be present on the construction site at all times during construction activities. The COVID19 supervisor can be an on-site worker who is designated to carry this role.
5. Identify “choke points” and “high-risk areas” where workers are forced to stand together, such as hallways, hoists and elevators, break areas, and buses, and control them so social distancing is maintained.
6. Minimize interactions when picking up or delivering equipment or materials, ensure minimum 6-foot separation.
7. Stagger the trades as necessary to reduce density and maintain minimum 6-foot separation social distancing.
8. Discourage workers from using other workers’ phones, desks, offices, work tools and equipment. If necessary, clean and disinfect them before and after use.
9. Post, in areas visible to all workers, required hygienic practices including not touching face with unwashed hands or with gloves; washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use of hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, cleaning AND disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstatons, keyboards, telephones, handrails, machines, shared tools, elevator control buttons and doorknobs; covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing as well as other hygienic recommendations by the CDC.
10. Place wash stations or hand sanitizers in multiple locations to encourage hand hygiene.
11. Require anyone on the project to stay home if they are sick, except to get medical care.
12. Have employees inform their supervisor if they have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.
13. Maintain a daily attendance log of all workers and visitors.


latimes--2020-04-01--At L.A. clinics for the poor, doctors and nurses lack safety supplies as coronavirus spreads

Community clinics and health centers continue to face a shortage of test kits and medical equipment they need to protect staff against the novel coronavirus .
At St. John ’ s Well Child and Family Center , a nonprofit that operates 18 health centers and school-based clinics in Los Angeles and Compton , the situation has become so dire that patients have offered to sew surgical masks for the staff .
In a news teleconference Tuesday , St. John ’ s Chief Executive Jim Mangia said it wouldn ’ t be enough and called on the federal government to mandate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for healthcare workers .
“ The president invoked the Defense Production Act , he ’ s used it to force [ General Motors ] to create ventilators , ” he said .
“ But he ’ s not using it for the production of protective gear and masks for front-line healthcare workers.
” His plea came a day after Los Angeles County health officials reported that a healthcare worker had died from COVID-19 and on the same day that an elected official in the San Francisco Bay Area said a hospital leased by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus patients was facing a shortage of personal protective equipment , including masks , gowns and gloves .
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 , community clinics and health centers in Los Angeles County have helped mitigate the spread of the virus and prevented sick patients from overwhelming hospitals .
Community clinics that typically handle primary care including checkups and prescribe patients insulin for diabetes or medicine for their high blood pressure have been canceling their regular appointments and seeing more patients with symptoms that match those of the coronavirus .
Mangia said last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients who were required to be placed in triage tents to isolate them from other patients .
He said 39 tests were performed and seven returned positive for COVID-19 .
He said at least three patients have been hospitalized .
Every year , about 420,000 patients visit one of the 18 community health clinics in Los Angeles and Compton that are run by St. John ’ s Child Well and Family Center .
He said about 8,000 of those patients are homeless and 32,000 lack legal status in the United States .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the virus continues to spread , the centers are barely getting by .
He said the situation will worsen if they don ’ t get more help .
“ By the end of this week , we will have run out of protective gear , ” Mangia said .
“ We still don ’ t have the tests that we need in order to contain the spread and isolate our patients .
In Los Angeles County , more than 350 community clinics and health centers provide primary care and preventive services to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whom live in poverty or are uninsured , said Louise McCarthy , president of Community Clinic Assn .
of Los Angeles County , a coalition of private and non-private health facilities .
The clinics and centers are also facing massive financial losses as they have had to scale back nonemergency services and switch to telemedicince , which they say they aren ’ t able to be reimbursed for yet .
In southeast Los Angeles County , a region dotted with small , working-class cities , more than a dozen elected officials came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help with the region ’ s medical and financial needs .
The coalition of council members and mayors signed a letter asking county and state officials to provide the region with three drive-up testing sites , respirators and other medical equipment in Downey , South Gate and Lynwood .
“ Our region of the county is extremely dense , with approximately 8,485 people per square mile , an average well above the rest of the county and the state , ” the letter read in part .
“ With these density levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New York City , we know that the COVID-19 pandemic will have major impacts to our communities.
” The letter continues : “ Our cities rely heavily on clinics .
Hospitals have limited access and are already overwhelmed serving our 19 cities that combine for over a million people.
” The officials also requested economic relief for many of the region ’ s small businesses and to provide compensation to hotels that are used for COVID-19 quarantines .

Community clinics and health centers continue to face a shortage of test kits and medical equipment they need to protect staff against the novel coronavirus.
At St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, a nonprofit that operates 18 health centers and school-based clinics in Los Angeles and Compton, the situation has become so dire that patients have offered to sew surgical masks for the staff.
In a news teleconference Tuesday, St. John’s Chief Executive Jim Mangia said it wouldn’t be enough and called on the federal government to mandate the production of protective gear and masks for healthcare workers.
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“The president invoked the Defense Production Act, he’s used it to force [General Motors] to create ventilators,” he said. “But he’s not using it for the production of protective gear and masks for front-line healthcare workers.”
His plea came a day after Los Angeles County health officials reported that a healthcare worker had died from COVID-19 and on the same day that an elected official in the San Francisco Bay Area said a hospital leased by the state of California to care for coronavirus patients was facing a shortage of personal protective equipment, including masks, gowns and gloves.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, community clinics and health centers in Los Angeles County have helped mitigate the spread of the virus and prevented sick patients from overwhelming hospitals.
Community clinics that typically handle primary care including checkups and prescribe patients insulin for diabetes or medicine for their high blood pressure have been canceling their regular appointments and seeing more patients with symptoms that match those of the coronavirus.
Mangia said last week that the nonprofit saw about 879 patients who were required to be placed in triage tents to isolate them from other patients. He said 39 tests were performed and seven returned positive for COVID-19. He said at least three patients have been hospitalized.
Every year, about 420,000 patients visit one of the 18 community health clinics in Los Angeles and Compton that are run by St. John’s Child Well and Family Center. He said about 8,000 of those patients are homeless and 32,000 lack legal status in the United States.
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He said with the number of patients growing as the virus continues to spread, the centers are barely getting by. He said the situation will worsen if they don’t get more help.
“By the end of this week, we will have run out of protective gear,” Mangia said. “We still don’t have the tests that we need in order to contain the spread and isolate our patients.
“We’re essentially doing makeshift front-line work,” he added.
In Los Angeles County, more than 350 community clinics and health centers provide primary care and preventive services to 1.7 million patients a year, many of whom live in poverty or are uninsured, said Louise McCarthy, president of Community Clinic Assn. of Los Angeles County, a coalition of private and non-private health facilities.
The clinics and centers are also facing massive financial losses as they have had to scale back nonemergency services and switch to telemedicince, which they say they aren’t able to be reimbursed for yet.
In southeast Los Angeles County, a region dotted with small, working-class cities, more than a dozen elected officials came together in order to amplify their plea to help with the region’s medical and financial needs.
The coalition of council members and mayors signed a letter asking county and state officials to provide the region with three drive-up testing sites, respirators and other medical equipment in Downey, South Gate and Lynwood.
“Our region of the county is extremely dense, with approximately 8,485 people per square mile, an average well above the rest of the county and the state,” the letter read in part. “With these density levels, which in some cities exceed that of New York City, we know that the COVID-19 pandemic will have major impacts to our communities.”
The letter continues: “Our cities rely heavily on clinics. Hospitals have limited access and are already overwhelmed serving our 19 cities that combine for over a million people.”
The officials also requested economic relief for many of the region’s small businesses and to provide compensation to hotels that are used for COVID-19 quarantines.