latimes--2020-12-16--SoCal cities consider renewed 'hero pay' for grocery store workers amid COVID-19 surge

Some Los Angeles County grocery workers may soon be entitled to renewed “ hero pay ” in recognition of the hazards they are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Long Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to draft an urgent ordinance mandating an extra $ 4 an hour for grocery store workers for at least the next 120 days .
Councilwoman Mary Zendejas , who introduced the proposal , cited the need for immediate action amid soaring hospitalizations and infection rates .
“ We are at a critical moment in this crisis when things are far more serious than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Zendejas said during the council meeting .
“ We know that some of the people most impacted by this pandemic are front-line workers , and among those most vulnerable right now are the grocery store workers.
” In March , several grocery store corporations offered $ 2 to $ 4 hourly raises to employees in response to the burgeoning pandemic .
Many of those pay bumps , but workers said the risk is far greater now than it was then .
“ We get several people throughout the day who don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vons employee Teri Mondor said Wednesday .
“ It ’ s frustrating .
It ’ s scary.
” Mondor has been a grocery store worker for 38 years , she said , and in the last few months , she has known several employees who have contracted the novel coronavirus .
Lately , she has been declining offers for extra hours out of fear of getting sick .
“ I come here every day , and I ’ m risking my life and the lives of my loved ones , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the City Council ’ s proposal .
The California Grocers Assn.
, which counts large chains such as Kroger and Albertsons among its members , said it was concerned by the council ’ s decision and called it “ limited in scope.
” “ By singling out the grocery community , and by the same turn , failing to consult with store operators , we are concerned the city will make policy decisions based on flawed information and reasoning , ” the group said in a statement .
Cases of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Tuesday , Long Beach reported per 100,000 people , up from 3,592 cases just two weeks before .
Fewer than 1 % of all ICU beds in Southern California are available , according to state data .
Meanwhile , profits have soared for many grocery chains in 2020 , said Derek Smith , political director of the Long Beach division of the United Food and Commercial Workers labor union .
One found that top retail companies averaged a 39 % profit increase this year compared with last year .
Kroger , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw its profits soar by 90 % this year , while Albertsons , which owns Vons , climbed 153 % , according to the study .
“ It seems intuitive that the grocery industry as a whole would benefit from this , ” Smith said , “ especially when people aren ’ t going to go out to eat.
” Representatives for Kroger and Albertsons did not respond to requests for comment .
Earlier this month , the California Grocers Assn .
also opposed store capacity reduction measures introduced by the state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow them to operate at 35 % capacity instead of the proposed 20 % .
Grocery store workers said their exposure to the virus is likely to increase in the coming weeks as more people shop for the holidays .
“ Our members are scared , ” said UFCW Long Beach spokeswoman Priscilla McDermot , noting that cases of the coronavirus are increasing among the union ’ s members , who include about 18,000 grocery store workers across the region .
One Long Beach grocery story worker , Elizabeth Leon , broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting as she described her level of fear and stress .
“ I go to work every day with a question in mind , ” she said , her voice breaking .
“ Is today the day I get infected with COVID ?
Is today the day I give it to my kids ?
” During the meeting , Zendejas said that she hoped the proposed 120-day hazard pay will be long enough to get workers through this dangerous period of the pandemic , and that she is open to extending the ordinance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move to a final vote at the next council meeting in January .
Mayor Robert Garcia said he looks forward to signing it into law as soon as it hits his desk .
The city of Los Angeles is exploring similar measures .
Council members Nury Martinez , Mitch O ’ Farrell , Paul Koretz and Curren Price introduced a motion Tuesday that would mandate a $ 5 hourly wage increase for workers at grocery store chains that employee 300 or more workers nationwide .
That motion will be reviewed by the economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the council for a vote as soon as Jan. 12 , said Rick Coca , a spokesman for Martinez .
And although added pay would be helpful , grocery workers said the acknowledgement would be meaningful too .
“ The government has instituted another stay-at-home order , but my fellow grocery store workers do not get to stay home , ” Donna Villagomez said during the meeting .
“ We are all scared of contracting the COVID-19 virus , but we serve .
We serve because it is our honor to serve @ @

Some Los Angeles County grocery workers may soon be entitled to renewed “hero pay” in recognition of the hazards they are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Long Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to draft an urgent ordinance mandating an extra $4 an hour for grocery store workers for at least the next 120 days.
Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, who introduced the proposal, cited the need for immediate action amid soaring hospitalizations and infection rates.
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“We are at a critical moment in this crisis when things are far more serious than at any other point this year,” Zendejas said during the council meeting. “We know that some of the people most impacted by this pandemic are frontline workers, and among those most vulnerable right now are the grocery store workers.”
In March, several grocery store corporations offered $2 to $4 hourly raises to employees in response to the burgeoning pandemic. Many of those pay bumps lapsed in May , but workers said the risk is far greater now than it was then.
“We get several people throughout the day who don’t come in wearing masks,” Ralphs employee Teri Mondor said Wednesday. “It’s frustrating. It’s scary.”
Mondor has been a grocery store worker for 38 years, she said, and in the last few months, she has known several employees who have contracted the novel coronavirus. Lately, she has been declining offers for extra hours out of fear of getting sick.
“I come here every day, and I’m risking my life and the lives of my loved ones,” she said.
But not everyone was on board with the City Council’s proposal.
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The California Grocers Assn., which counts large chains such as Kroger and Albertsons among its members, said it was concerned by the council’s decision and called it “limited in scope.”
“By singling out the grocery community, and by the same turn, failing to consult with store operators, we are concerned the city will make policy decisions based on flawed information and reasoning,” the group said in a statement.
Cases of the coronavirus have been skyrocketing throughout the region. On Tuesday, Long Beach reported 4,702 cases per 100,000 people, up from 3,592 cases just two weeks before. Fewer than 1% of all ICU beds in Southern California are available, according to state data.
Meanwhile, profits have soared for many grocery chains in 2020, said Derek Smith, political director of the Long Beach division of the United Food and Commercial Workers labor union.
One Brookings Institution study found that top retail companies averaged a 39% profit increase this year compared with last year.
Kroger, which owns Ralphs and Food 4 Less, saw its profits soar by 90% this year, while Albertsons, which owns Vons, climbed 153%, according to the study.
“It seems intuitive that the grocery industry as a whole would benefit from this,” Smith said, “especially when people aren’t going to go out to eat.”
Representatives for Kroger and Albertsons did not respond to requests for comment.
Earlier this month, the California Grocers Assn. also opposed store capacity reduction measures introduced by the state, compelling officials to issue an 11th-hour addendum to allow them to operate at 35% capacity instead of the proposed 20%.
Grocery store workers said their exposure to the virus is likely to increase in the coming weeks as more people shop for the holidays.
“Our members are scared,” said UFCW Long Beach spokeswoman Priscilla McDermot, noting that cases of the coronavirus are increasing among the union’s members, who include about 18,000 grocery store workers across the region.
One Long Beach grocery store worker, Elizabeth Leon, broke down in tears during the City Council meeting as she described her level of fear and stress.
“I go to work every day with a question in mind,” she said, her voice breaking. “Is today the day I get infected with COVID? Is today the day I give it to my kids?”
During the meeting, Zendejas said that she hoped the proposed 120-day hazard pay will be long enough to get workers through this dangerous period of the pandemic, and that she is open to extending the ordinance if necessary.
The proposal will move to a final vote at the next council meeting in January. Mayor Robert Garcia said he looks forward to signing it into law as soon as it hits his desk.
When large corporations don’t step up to provide hazard pay for grocery workers, we will step in and protect these heroes. Thank you to the Long Beach City Council for adopting the emergency $4 hazard pay for grocery workers. I’m going to sign the law as soon as it hits my desk. — Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) December 16, 2020
The city of Los Angeles is exploring similar measures.
Council members Nury Martinez, Mitch O’Farrell, Paul Koretz and Curren Price introduced a motion Tuesday that would mandate a $5 hourly wage increase for workers at grocery store chains that employ 300 or more workers nationwide.
That motion will be reviewed by the economic development committee and is expected to move to the council for a vote as soon as Jan. 12, said Rick Coca, a spokesman for Martinez.
And although added pay would be helpful, grocery workers said the acknowledgement would be meaningful too.
“The government has instituted another stay-at-home order, but my fellow grocery store workers do not get to stay home,” Donna Villagomez said during the meeting. “We are all scared of contracting the COVID-19 virus, but we serve. We serve because it is our honor to serve.”


latimes--2020-12-16--L.A. teachers surveyed express dismal views of distance learning

Nine months after shutting down public schools , a survey of Los Angeles public school teachers showed their overwhelmingly dim view of distance learning : low student engagement that is only getting worse , deteriorating grades and a lack of resources to help their students ’ crisis circumstances .
Ninety-four percent of those surveyed said low student engagement was a barrier to remote learning .
The vast majority of teachers say their students lack quiet spaces , adequate technology and high-speed internet and do not have schoolwork help from an adult .
The survey of 502 full-time teachers in L.A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district was commissioned by Educators for Excellence-Los Angeles , a teacher-led organization , and USC ’ s Rossier School of Education .
It was conducted by phone and online by the Gotham Research Group , a research and consulting firm .
Teachers said vulnerable schoolchildren — students from low-income families , those who are homeless or learning English , and students with disabilities — are experiencing the highest levels of learning loss and poor grades .
“ The pandemic has created barriers for all students , but we know that some are disproportionately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive director of the teacher-led group .
“ It has wreaked havoc for all , but it is dramatically threatening the future of particular low-income students ” and other marginalized groups .
More than half of all teachers surveyed said the lack of access to high-speed internet presented a “ very serious ” challenge , increasing to two-thirds for those with students primarily from low-income households .
“ Internet access , in a context in which we have distance learning , is not just a need .
I think it should be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Patricia Burch , professor of education at USC .
Teachers also reported that their schools were failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable students .
Only 10 % reported that their schools regularly met the needs of homeless students , and only 34 % reported that their schools “ often ” support students from low-income households .
Of those who did receive guidance on teaching vulnerable students , 28 % rated the instruction as “ very useful.
” Teachers also cited a lack of guidance from school leaders on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor , which sparked protests in L.A. and across the country , 36 % of teachers said they received guidance or material on race relations from school or district leaders .
Burch said she found the lack of curricular support for these conversations troubling .
“ As we know , it ’ s something that students , our LAUSD students , bring into the classroom when they sit down at a computer.
” Most teachers are also asking for training in technology and emotional-social support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with teachers , they don ’ t want to spend more time on tech , but this is a huge barrier , so more time needs to be spent on closing the digital divide and digital gaps that exist for students , ” Estrada-Miller said .
The vast majority of teachers , 75 % , support a mask mandate for staff and students when schools finally reopen .
Nearly two-thirds favor smaller classes to accommodate social distancing , while only about a third rated a COVID-19 vaccine as a priority to feeling @ @ @ @ @ @

A recent survey of Los Angeles public school teachers showed their overwhelmingly dim view of distance learning nine months into the shutdown.
Nine months after shutting down public schools, a survey of Los Angeles public school teachers showed their overwhelmingly dim view of distance learning: low student engagement that is only getting worse, deteriorating grades and a lack of resources to help their students’ crisis circumstances.
Ninety-four percent of those surveyed said low student engagement was a barrier to remote learning. The vast majority of teachers say their students lack quiet spaces, adequate technology and high-speed internet and do not have schoolwork help from an adult.
The survey of 502 full-time teachers in L.A Unified and the charters schools within the district was commissioned by Educators for Excellence-Los Angeles, a teacher-led organization, and USC’s Rossier School of Education. It was conducted by phone and online by the Gotham Research Group, a research and consulting firm.
Teachers said vulnerable schoolchildren — students from low-income families, those who are homeless or learning English, and students with disabilities — are experiencing the highest levels of learning loss and poor grades.
“The pandemic has created barriers for all students, but we know that some are disproportionately impacted,” said Jeimee Estrada-Miller, executive director of the teacher-led group. “It has wreaked havoc for all, but it is dramatically threatening the future of particular low-income students” and other marginalized groups.
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More than half of all teachers surveyed said the lack of access to high-speed internet presented a “very serious” challenge, increasing to two-thirds for those with students primarily from low-income households.
“Internet access, in a context in which we have distance learning, is not just a need. I think it should be a right of every public education student,” said Patricia Burch, professor of education at USC.
Teachers also reported that their schools were failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable students. Only 10% reported that their schools regularly met the needs of homeless students, and only 34% reported that their schools “often” support students from low-income households. Of those who did receive guidance on teaching vulnerable students, 28% rated the instruction as “very useful.”
Teachers also cited a lack of guidance from school leaders on discussing race with students. After the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, which sparked protests in L.A. and across the country, 36% of teachers said they received guidance or material on race relations from school or district leaders.
Burch said she found the lack of curricular support for these conversations troubling. “As we know, it’s something that students, our LAUSD students, bring into the classroom when they sit down at a computer.”
Most teachers are also asking for training in technology and emotional-social support for their students.
“We know from working with teachers, they don’t want to spend more time on tech, but this is a huge barrier, so more time needs to be spent on closing the digital divide and digital gaps that exist for students,” Estrada-Miller said.
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The vast majority of teachers, 75%, support a mask mandate for staff and students when schools finally reopen. Nearly two-thirds favor smaller classes to accommodate social distancing, while only about a third rated a COVID-19 vaccine as a priority to feeling safe to return to classrooms.


latimes--2020-12-16--Christmas singalong organized by Kirk Cameron draws hundreds of mostly maskless people — and critici

Christmas singalong organized by Kirk Cameron draws hundreds of mostly maskless people — and criticism

Summoned by the actor Kirk Cameron , hundreds of maskless people belted out Christmas carols in a Thousand Oaks parking lot Sunday night in a protest against coronavirus restrictions .
Cameron , known for his roles in the sitcom “ Growing Pains ” and Christian films such as “ Mercy Rule , ” organized and promoted the event on Instagram , drawing rebukes from many for potentially spreading the coronavirus .
“ It ’ s part town hall meeting , part worship service , ” Cameron said in a video promoting the event .
“ If you love God , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberty , you ’ re not going to want to miss this.
” Sunday ’ s event followed a Dec. 6 gathering that Cameron said he organized for more than 500 people as part of a nationwide movement called “ Sing It Louder USA ” that has protested restrictions such as social distancing and restaurant closures .
More than 100 gatherings have taken place in at least 30 states , according to .
“ Feel like you ’ re done with all the mandates telling you how many people you can have in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to eat or that you can not sing ?
” said Texas pastor Steve Riggle in a video posted to the group ’ s website .
“ Here we are at the Christmas season , and there ’ s a way to stand up against that.
” Videos posted to Cameron ’ s Instagram account shows a crowd of all ages — most without masks — singing outside the Oaks mall .
Musicians played an acoustic version of “ Angels We Have Heard on High ” and jangled bells for “ Jingle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s request , the crowd broke into an a cappella rendition of “ God Bless America.
” The event came as Southern California plummets to almost and coronavirus case counts crush daily .
Under , gatherings with people of different households are prohibited , except for religious events or protests .
“ So does love thy neighbors mean you love them so much you ’ re gon na give them covid ?
” one commenter asked on Cameron ’ s Instagram post , garnering more than 650 likes .
Others lauded the actor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” One of the first known super-spreader events in the pandemic came when of 121 members met for an indoor rehearsal , leading to at least 45 COVID-19 diagnoses and two deaths .

Summoned by the actor Kirk Cameron, hundreds of maskless people belted out Christmas carols in a Thousand Oaks parking lot Sunday night in a protest against coronavirus restrictions.
Cameron, known for his roles in the sitcom “Growing Pains” and Christian films such as “Mercy Rule,” organized and promoted the event on Instagram, drawing rebukes from many for potentially spreading the coronavirus.
“It’s part town hall meeting, part worship service,” Cameron said in a video promoting the event. “If you love God, if you love Christmas and you love liberty, you’re not going to want to miss this.”
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Sunday’s event followed a Dec. 6 gathering that Cameron said he organized for more than 500 people as part of a nationwide movement called “Sing It Louder USA” that has protested restrictions such as social distancing and restaurant closures.
More than 100 gatherings have taken place in at least 30 states, according to the movement’s website .
“Feel like you’re done with all the mandates telling you how many people you can have in your home or how you’re supposed to eat or that you cannot sing?” said Texas pastor Steve Riggle in a video posted to the group’s website. “Here we are at the Christmas season, and there’s a way to stand up against that.”
Videos posted to Cameron’s Instagram account shows a crowd of all ages — most without masks — singing outside the Oaks mall. Musicians played an acoustic version of “Angels We Have Heard on High” and jangled bells for “Jingle Bells.”
At an audience member’s request, the crowd broke into an a cappella rendition of “God Bless America.”
The event came as Southern California plummets to almost 0% ICU capacity and coronavirus case counts crush daily records . Under recent restrictions , gatherings with people of different households are prohibited, except for religious events or protests.
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“So does love thy neighbors mean you love them so much you’re gonna give them covid?” one commenter asked on Cameron’s Instagram post, garnering more than 650 likes.
Others lauded the actor: “Keep up the great work!”


latimes--2020-12-16--California population growth hits record lows, stifled by COVID-19, continued exodus

COVID-19 has further restrained record-low population growth in California as more people moved away and pandemic restrictions slowed migration into the state , according to data released Wednesday .
The California Department of Finance , which monitors the state ’ s population data , found that between July 1 , 2019 , and July 1 , 2020 , California saw a net gain of only 21,200 new residents — a 0.05 % growth rate not seen since 1900 .
As of July , the state ’ s total population was 39.78 million .
Over that period , Los Angeles County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than any other county in the state .
The data underscores concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic is fueling greater migration out of California , both from people priced out of coastal areas and those who suddenly had the ability to work remotely .
The “ California exodus ” storyline was bolstered in recent weeks when two tech titans , Elon Musk and Larry Ellison , publicly announced they were moving to Texas and Hawaii , respectively .
But for the average person , California ’ s high housing costs pose a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staggering job losses tied to the pandemic .
California has been seeing slowing growth for several years , driven by a variety of factors including declining migration numbers , lower birth rates and people moving out of the state for economic and , in some cases , cultural reasons .
COVID-19 has affected the trend in several ways .
About 280,000 Californias died during the 12-month period , representing a higher-than-average spike , year over year .
Part of that is due to the state ’ s aging population , the report said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to COVID-19 , which had killed more than 8,000 Californians by July .
The coronavirus also made an impact from an immigration perspective , said H.D .
Palmer , deputy director for external affairs at the Department of Finance .
As the pandemic raged , work patterns dramatically shifted and many international borders were closed .
“ A lot of people who might otherwise have come to California didn ’ t , because they didn ’ t go anywhere , ” Palmer said .
“ They stayed home .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other year.
” Birth rates also continued to decline , with 14,000 fewer babies born than in the same period last year , according to the report .
“ That ’ s a significant decline from 2019 , ” said Department of Finance Director Walter Schwarm , “ and if we go back five or 10 years , in terms of growth , that ’ s 70,000 Californians that aren ’ t here.
” Many millennials are delaying childbirth , Schwarm said , while Gen Xers have mostly stopped giving birth and Gen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Only five urban coastal counties — Alameda , Contra Costa , San Diego , San Francisco and Santa Clara — gained population , though at a slower pace than the previous year , the report said .
By contrast , several inland counties — including El Dorado , Glenn , Yuba and Merced — saw population growth during this period , a trend Palmer attributed to housing availability and affordability , as well as lifestyle changes that could drive people to seek out different areas .
Wildfires also played a role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Butte County , which was ravaged by the 2018 Camp fire , lost population over the 12-month period , although the magnitude was slower than the previous year .
In September , the county suffered again in the North Complex fire .
Any population losses from that event will be reflected in next year ’ s report .
There have been large out-migrations from Southern California in the past , Palmer said , including a period in the early 1990s tied to the collapse of the defense and aerospace industries at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a downward trend that began around 2016 .
Although growth rates are slowing , Palmer and Schwarm both said that California remains a desirable place to live , as evidenced by the record high home prices reached this year .
Hundreds of thousands of people — disproportionately ones with higher incomes — are willing to continue to put down roots in the state , they said .

Alexis Small kisses her newborn, Aubrielle Kitchen, during a Zoom family call Nov. 26 in Los Angeles. Birth rates in California are declining, with 14,000 fewer babies born in the year that ended July 31, 2020, than in the previous 12-month period.
After more than three decades, Scott Fuller was fed up with living in California.
The taxes are just too darn high, he said. The housing prices too. And so in June, the San Francisco Bay Area real estate broker, his wife and two kids packed their bags and moved to Arizona.
“I never wanted to leave California,” said Fuller, 48, who has lived in the Golden State since 1983. “It’s the most beautiful state with the best climate. I think the tipping point was continued tax increases and even more proposed tax increases.... I have absolutely no regrets.”
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Like Fuller, a lot of Californians are running for the exit, a trend exacerbated this year by COVID-19 as more people moved away and pandemic restrictions slowed migration into the state, according to data released Wednesday.
California’s population is now growing at its slowest rate in more than a century.
The California Department of Finance, which monitors the state’s population data, found that from July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2020, California saw a net gain of only 21,200 new residents — a 0.05% growth rate not seen since 1900. As of July, the state’s population was 39.78 million.
Over that period, Los Angeles County reported a net loss of 40,036 people, more than any other county in the state.
“This is a real sea change in California, which used to be this state of pretty robust population growth,” said Hans Johnson, a demographer at the Public Policy Institute of California. “It hasn’t been for some time now. But it’s now gotten to the point where the state is essentially not growing population-wise at all.”
The data underscore concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic is fueling greater migration out of California, both from people priced out of coastal areas and those who suddenly had the ability to work remotely.
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The “California exodus” storyline was bolstered in recent weeks when two tech titans, Elon Musk and Larry Ellison, announced they were moving to Texas and Hawaii, respectively.
But for the average person, California’s high housing costs pose the greatest challenge, particularly when combined with staggering job losses tied to the pandemic.
The state has been seeing slowing growth for several years, driven by a factors that include lower birth rates and people moving away for economic and political reasons.
COVID-19 has affected the trend in several ways.
About 280,000 Californians died during the 12-month period, representing a higher-than-average surge, year over year. That is due partly to the state’s aging population, the report said, and partly to COVID-19, which had killed more than 6,000 Californians by July.
The pandemic also affected immigration, said H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the Department of Finance. As the virus raged, work patterns dramatically shifted and many international borders were closed.
“A lot of people who might otherwise have come to California didn’t, because they didn’t go anywhere,” Palmer said. “They stayed home. That’s something that’s different than any other year.”
Birth rates also continued to decline, with 14,000 fewer babies born than in the same period last year, according to the report.
“That’s a significant decline from 2019,” said Walter Schwarm, the state finance department’s chief demographer. “And if we go back five or 10 years, in terms of growth, that’s 70,000 Californians that aren’t here.”
Many millennials are delaying childbirth, Schwarm said, while Gen Xers have mostly stopped giving birth and Gen Z is “not quite there yet.”
Of the 10 most populous counties in California, seven saw a drop in residents: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa. Riverside, Sacramento and Fresno counties saw population gains.
Most of California’s coastal counties lost population.
By contrast, several inland counties — including El Dorado, Glenn, Yuba and Merced — saw population growth during this period, a trend Palmer attributed to housing availability and affordability, as well as lifestyle changes that could drive people to seek out different areas.
Although rural areas have been losing residents for years, primarily because of a lack of jobs, the recent loss of residents in urban areas is especially noteworthy, Johnson said.
“Its no longer just the small rural counties that are losing population,” he said, adding that housing costs are one of the primary factors.
If the trends continue statewide and California’s population decreases, one of the most immediate effects could be the loss of a seat in Congress, Johnson said.
Wildfires also played a role in population changes, the report said.
Butte County, which was ravaged by the 2018 Camp fire, lost population over the 12-month period, although the magnitude was slower than the previous year, according to the report. In September, the county suffered again in the North Complex fire. Any population losses from that will be reflected in next year’s report.
There have been large out-migrations from Southern California in the past, Palmer said, including a period in the early 1990s tied to the collapse of the defense and aerospace industries. The current shift is reflective of a downward trend that began around 2016.
Although growth rates are slowing, Palmer and Schwarm both said that California remains a desirable place to live, as evidenced by the record high home prices reached this year.
And yet, so many Californians are leaving that Fuller caters specifically to them. Three years ago, the longtime real estate broker created two websites: LeavingTheBayArea.com and LeavingSoCal.com. He has kept busy.
His clients are retirees and working families who can’t afford to remain in the Bay Area. They are people fleeing wildfire risk. And increasingly, they are affluent people moving to states with low or no income tax.
Some of the most popular locations, he said, are Austin, Texas; Dallas; Boise, Idaho; and Phoenix. In a typical month, he and his team of real estate agents help to relocate 15 to 18 families out of California, and “we’re certainly seeing an increase in people exploring their options.”
Even though his team is still based in the Bay Area, he now works remotely from Arizona. The pandemic forced more companies to let their employees work from home, and that has been “one of the biggest dynamics changes” for people who were already considering leaving California, he said.
If people can keep the same salary and work in a cheaper location, Fuller said, they’re jumping at the opportunity. The trend started before COVID, he said, but the pandemic sped up the process. People considering moving in three to five years are now moving in one to two.
“It’s really sped up the out-migration quite a bit,” Fuller said. “People have options now, and you pair that with people’s frustration on several different levels — I don’t see it changing.”


latimes--2020-12-16--Brush fire threatens Getty Center, echoing recent scare

A wind-nudged fire began burning just after noon Wednesday near the Getty Center off the 405 Freeway in Brentwood , but it is now under control , authorities said .
Nearly 150 firefighters descended on the fire near the museum from the ground and air , and it is now contained at three acres , said Capt .
Erik Scott , a spokesman with the Los Angeles Fire Department .
The Getty Center freeway exit and the northbound lane of Sepulveda Boulevard remained closed at 1 p.m. , the department said in a tweet .
No injuries or structure damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very hard and very fast , ” Scott said .
“ Fortunately , we halted the forward progress.
” Responding to reports received at 12:10 p.m. , firefighters found two small grass fires near Getty Center Drive .
A vertical column of smoke then pushed ash and embers further west , jumping a portion of Sepulveda Boulevard on the west side of the freeway and igniting several acres of fire , Scott said .
Crews will remain on scene “ for a while ” and are still working to surround the blaze , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fire mowed down nearly 750 acres in the same area , destroying several homes and sending thousands living in the pricey area fleeing .
Flames neared the museum , but the art remained safe .

A wind-nudged fire began burning just after noon Wednesday near the Getty Center off the 405 Freeway in Brentwood, but it is now under control, authorities said.
Nearly 150 firefighters descended on the fire near the museum from the ground and air, and it is now contained at three acres, said Capt. Erik Scott, a spokesman with the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The Getty Center freeway exit and the northbound lane of Sepulveda Boulevard remained closed at 1 p.m., the department said in a tweet. No injuries or structure damage were reported.
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“We did this very hard and very fast,” Scott said. “Fortunately, we halted the forward progress.”
Responding to reports received at 12:10 p.m., firefighters found two small grass fires near Getty Center Drive. A vertical column of smoke then pushed ash and embers further west, jumping a portion of Sepulveda Boulevard on the west side of the freeway and igniting several acres of fire, Scott said.
Crews will remain on scene “for a while” and are still working to surround the blaze, Scott said.
In October 2019, a fire mowed down nearly 750 acres in the same area, destroying several homes and sending thousands living in the pricey area fleeing. Flames neared the museum, but the art remained safe.


latimes--2020-12-16--Orange County deploys field hospitals as COVID-19 cases soar

With the number of local COVID-19 patients soaring to record levels , Orange County officials announced Tuesday they will deploy mobile field hospitals to relieve some of the stress on the region ’ s healthcare system .
Three hospitals — Fountain Valley Regional , St. Jude Medical Center and UC Irvine — have already requested the mobile units , which will add between 25 and 50 beds to their existing capacities , officials said .
The rollout comes as Orange County , like much of the state and nation , has been besieged by record numbers of COVID-19 infections that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals with unprecedented numbers of coronavirus-positive patients .
“ Every day we break the record of the number of people who have been infected , ” Dr. Clayton Chau , Orange County ’ s health officer and Health Care Agency director , told the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday .
“ So I ’ m pleading with the community : Please , please do not gather , and make sure you follow the public health guidance , because our hospitals are now bombarded.
” Orange County is far from alone in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrestling with its most significant wave of the pandemic to date — prompting the state to open temporary field hospitals in Costa Mesa , Porterville , Sacramento and Imperial , with other facilities on standby in Riverside , Richmond , Fresno , San Diego and San Francisco .
According to the latest state data , there were 1,486 coronavirus-positive patients hospitalized in Orange County on Tuesday — an all-time high that ’ s more than doubled from just two weeks ago .
The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care had risen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , there were 85 .
“ I think what we ’ re seeing is not a surge — more like a tsunami , I ’ m sorry to say , ” said County Supervisor Doug Chaffee .
Healthcare officials have some options to preserve ICU capacity , such as canceling scheduled surgeries , keeping critically ill patients in emergency rooms , sending ICU patients into step-down units earlier , training nurses from other units to help with intensive care , and increasing the number of patients each ICU nurse cares for .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Band-Aid , and officials emphasize that they are neither sustainable for the long term nor sufficient if the patient load continues rising at the rate seen over the last few weeks .
“ I am afraid , ” Chau said .
“ I have never been so afraid of Christmas and New Year ’ s in my life like I have now , because ...
I can ’ t imagine what it would be like after the holiday if people are not listening , if people are not complying , if people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most precious , and increasingly stretched , resource is the pool of trained professionals whose job it is to treat patients .
The months-long pandemic has taken a severe toll on California ’ s healthcare workforce .
Many have become burned out caring for those with COVID-19 , or contracted the disease themselves .
With the entire nation in the throes of the most severe coronavirus surge to date , many states are looking for additional ways to bolster their staffs .
“ There ’ s tremendous demand , ” state Sen. Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told The Times this week .
“ This is not a California-only problem .
We are competing with every other state .
Our country is one entire hot spot .
There is no place to draw staff from.
” That ’ s the case in Orange County , where Chau emphasized that “ the crisis here is not that we don ’ t have enough beds , ” but rather “ we don ’ t have enough staff ... because all our nurses , all our respiratory therapists — they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days ahead , California — and the rest of the world — has received a glimmer of hope with the recent arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine .
A handful of healthcare workers at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange were among the first in the county to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Wednesday .
The initial inoculations were streamed live , and each was greeted with a round of applause .
“ On March 25 , our county announced our first COVID death , ” Supervisor Don Wagner said just before the first recipients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , less than nine months after that tragic day , we administer a vaccine.
” The vaccine ’ s arrival , he said , means “ we ’ re poised to take the next step in response to this pandemic.
” “ I join with everyone here in eager anticipation of what the months to come will mean in terms of a return to health and wellness for all of our citizens , ” he said .
For now , though , the stakes remain higher than they have ever been — both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More Californians died from COVID-19 on Tuesday — 295 — than on any one day of the entire pandemic .
Over the last week , an average of about 175 people have died statewide from the disease every day .
Nationwide , the surge has become so severe in recent days that roughly two Americans have been dying from the disease every minute — a rate Chau called both astounding and embarrassing “ from a world perspective , because we ’ re supposed to be the best of the best in what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message going forward , he said , is simple : “ Don ’ t gather .
Wear your mask when you ’ re out .
Stay six feet apart ” from those you don ’ t live with .
“ The vaccine is coming .
It will be a sad day if you don ’ t have a chance to get the vaccine because you accidentally died from behavior that could have saved you from COVID , ” he said .

Triage tents are set up outside Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana on Friday.
With the number of local COVID-19 patients soaring to record levels, Orange County officials announced Tuesday they will deploy mobile field hospitals to relieve some of the stress on the region’s healthcare system.
Three hospitals — Fountain Valley Regional, St. Jude Medical Center and UC Irvine — have already requested the mobile units, which will add between 25 and 50 beds to their existing capacities, officials said.
The rollout comes as Orange County, like much of the state and nation, has been besieged by record numbers of COVID-19 infections that, in turn, have flooded its hospitals with unprecedented numbers of coronavirus-positive patients.
“Every day we break the record of the number of people who have been infected,” Dr. Clayton Chau, Orange County’s health officer and Health Care Agency director, told the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. “So I’m pleading with the community: Please, please do not gather, and make sure you follow the public health guidance, because our hospitals are now bombarded.”
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Orange County is far from alone in that regard. California as a whole is wrestling with its most significant wave of the pandemic to date — prompting the state to open temporary field hospitals in Costa Mesa, Porterville, Sacramento and Imperial, with other facilities on standby in Riverside, Richmond, Fresno, San Diego and San Francisco.
According to the latest state data, there were 1,486 coronavirus-positive patients hospitalized in Orange County on Tuesday — an all-time high that’s more than doubled from just two weeks ago.
The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care had risen to 319 countywide on Tuesday. A month ago, there were 85.
“I think what we’re seeing is not a surge — more like a tsunami, I’m sorry to say,” said County Supervisor Doug Chaffee.
Healthcare officials have some options to preserve ICU capacity, such as canceling scheduled surgeries, keeping critically ill patients in emergency rooms, sending ICU patients into step-down units earlier, training nurses from other units to help with intensive care, and increasing the number of patients each ICU nurse cares for.
However, those steps are only a Band-Aid, and officials emphasize that they are neither sustainable for the long term nor sufficient if the patient load continues rising at the rate seen over the last few weeks.
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“I am afraid,” Chau said. “I have never been so afraid of Christmas and New Year’s in my life like I have now, because ... I can’t imagine what it would be like after the holiday if people are not listening, if people are not complying, if people are in defiance and get together.”
Tracking coronavirus in Orange County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
The most precious, and increasingly stretched, resource is the pool of trained professionals whose job it is to treat patients.
The months-long pandemic has taken a severe toll on California’s healthcare workforce. Many have become burned out caring for those with COVID-19, or contracted the disease themselves.
With the entire nation in the throes of the most severe coronavirus surge to date, many states are looking for additional ways to bolster their staffs.
“There’s tremendous demand,” state Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a physician, told The Times this week. “This is not a California-only problem. We are competing with every other state. Our country is one entire hot spot. There is no place to draw staff from.”
That’s the case in Orange County, where Chau emphasized that “the crisis here is not that we don’t have enough beds,” but rather “we don’t have enough staff ... because all our nurses, all our respiratory therapists — they’re tired.”
California With ICUs hitting capacity, hospitals turn to desperate measures Hospitalizations are continuing to rise at unprecedented levels, and officials have limited options for boosting capacity. Among the tools: Canceling scheduled surgeries; keeping critically ill patients in emergency rooms; training nurses from elsewhere in hospitals to help with intensive care; and increasing the numbers of patients an ICU nurse can treat.
Though there are undoubtedly dark days ahead, California — and the rest of the world — has received a glimmer of hope with the recent arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A handful of healthcare workers at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange were among the first in the county to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Wednesday. The initial inoculations were streamed live, and each was greeted with a round of applause.
“On March 25, our county announced our first COVID death,” Supervisor Don Wagner said just before the first recipients rolled up their sleeves. “Today, less than nine months after that tragic day, we administer a vaccine.”
The vaccine’s arrival, he said, means “we’re poised to take the next step in response to this pandemic.”
“I join with everyone here in eager anticipation of what the months to come will mean in terms of a return to health and wellness for all of our citizens,” he said.
California California expects 1 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses this month The vaccines will do little to stem the new infections flooding California. Initial supplies will be steered toward healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities.
For now, though, the stakes remain higher than they have ever been — both in Orange County and throughout the state.
More Californians died from COVID-19 on Tuesday — 295 — than on any one day of the entire pandemic. Over the last week, an average of about 175 people have died statewide from the disease every day.
Nationwide, the surge has become so severe in recent days that roughly two Americans have been dying from the disease every minute — a rate Chau called both astounding and embarrassing “from a world perspective, because we’re supposed to be the best of the best in what we have in medical care.”
The message going forward, he said, is simple: “Don’t gather. Wear your mask when you’re out. Stay six feet apart” from those you don’t live with.
“The vaccine is coming. It will be a sad day if you don’t have a chance to get the vaccine because you accidentally died from behavior that could have saved you from COVID,” he said.
Times staff writer Melody Gutierrez contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-16--L.A. County hospitals 'under siege' from COVID-19 as deaths, cases hit new daily highs

A ferocious COVID-19 surge is besieging Los Angeles County ’ s hospitals like never before , officials said Wednesday , as the region reported an all-time daily high of 138 deaths from the disease and a record number of new infections .
The unrelenting rise in the number of coronavirus-infected Angelenos falling ill enough to require professional care is straining the county ’ s medical system , raising renewed fears that the need for beds could outstrip those available in spite of the herculean efforts being put forth by healthcare workers to expand capacity to the greatest possible extent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s director of health services , put it bluntly Wednesday : “ Our hospitals are under siege , and our model shows no end in sight.
” More harrowing still , she said , is that “ the worst is still before us.
” As officials have long noted , hospitalizations are a lagging indicator of the coronavirus , typically reflecting exposures that took place two to three weeks prior .
Increases in coronavirus case counts , then , will typically lead to an uptick in the number of hospitalized patients a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have never been higher in L.A. County .
Officials reported 22,422 new cases Wednesday .
Though that figure was inflated by a backlog of about 7,000 test results that were reported late , “ these are nonetheless extraordinary numbers , and they represent transmission that continues to be out of control , ” said county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer .
The previous record for the highest number of cases in a single day in L.A. County was 13,507 , set Friday .
The old high-water mark for deaths was 93 , set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tally .
“ Every hour , on average , two of our neighbors , family members and friends are dying from COVID-19 , and the virus is rampant in all neighborhoods , ” Ferrer said during a briefing Wednesday .
“ We have the most difficult road yet in front of us , and I encourage everyone to stay home as much as possible , protect your families and friends and take every precaution that ’ s available to you .
“ Unless we remain more vigilant and more diligent through the holidays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to stop the surge and provide essential relief to our hospitals and our healthcare workers.
” The number of new cases is particularly distressing , as L.A. County ’ s hospitals are already contending with an unprecedented crush of patients .
The number of coronavirus-positive patients hospitalized countywide Tuesday , 4,864 , is a record high and an 89 % increase from two weeks ago .
Of particular concern are the county ’ s intensive care units , which are needed for the patients in worst condition — be they suffering from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maladies like a heart attack or stroke .
There , too , the county has seen a sharp increase .
Tuesday ’ s number of coronavirus-positive ICU patients , 991 , is a 65 % increase from two weeks ago .
Healthcare officials have some options to preserve ICU capacity , such as canceling scheduled surgeries , keeping critically ill patients in emergency rooms , sending ICU patients into step-down units earlier , training nurses from other units to help with intensive care , and increasing the number of patients each ICU nurse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that those steps are neither sustainable for the long term nor sufficient if the patient load continues rising at the rate it has .
The eventual consequence , Ghaly said , will be “ a hospital system and an emergency medical services system that can not provide the level of care that we all expect or would want for ourselves or our loved ones.
” “ Hospitals are working feverishly to staff up additional ICU beds , but there are simply not enough trained staff to care for the volume of patients that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
State officials have previously estimated that 12 % of newly diagnosed coronavirus cases are likely to require hospitalization , with 12 % of those that have been hospitalized eventually ending up in the ICU .
At this point , Ghaly said , “ all our hospital systems can do is brace for these days and weeks to come.
” The dire situation in California ’ s most-populous county is indicative of the deteriorating situation statewide .
ICUs have rapidly filled up throughout the state as infections have soared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region the state defines as Imperial , Inyo , Los Angeles , Mono , Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino , San Diego , San Luis Obispo , Santa Barbara and Ventura counties — only 0.5 % of available ICU beds remained unfilled Wednesday , state figures show .
The situation was bleaker still in the San Joaquin Valley , where ICU availability again tumbled to zero .
In the Bay Area , ICU availability slid Wednesday to 12.9 % — below the 15 % threshold the state has set for imposing sweeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at curtailing the coronavirus .
Many of the region ’ s counties took it upon themselves to proactively implement the new rules .
Those that didn ’ t , however , will see a regional stay-at-home order — which reduces capacity at retail stores ; closes businesses including hair salons , nail salons , card rooms , museums , zoos and aquariums ; and prohibits outdoor restaurant dining — go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Thursday .
Such orders are already in place across Southern California , the San Joaquin Valley and Greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escaped the additional restrictions so far .
California is also seeing higher numbers of COVID-19 deaths than ever before .
More Californians died from COVID-19 on Tuesday — 295 — than on any one day of the entire pandemic .
Over the last week , an average of about 174 people have died statewide from the disease every day .
The increase in deaths has been so severe that state officials have had to order 5,000 body bags and 60 refrigerated storage units , each 53 feet long , for storing corpses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom also said he has activated the state ’ s mutual aid and mass fatality program for coroners .
Cumulatively , California has now reported more than 21,600 COVID-19 deaths and 1.66 million coronavirus cases .
The state has averaged more than 32,000 new coronavirus cases a day over the last week — eight times more than the daily average in late October .
COVID-19 hospitalizations have never been higher : As of Tuesday , there were 14,939 patients statewide who have tested positive for the coronavirus , including 3,188 in intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been broken for 18 consecutive days , and the number has more than doubled since Thanksgiving .
Though the state has recently begun receiving shipments of COVID-19 vaccine , officials emphasize that those shots will do little , if anything , to slow down the current surge .
“ Let ’ s deal with some sober realities , ” Newsom said .
“ This is a deadly disease .
And we need to be mindful of where we are in this current journey together to the vaccine : We are not at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soaring numbers in recent weeks point to a sobering reality : That despite all the warnings , not enough people took seriously the call to avoid holding parties and events for the recent Thanksgiving holiday .
“ We are seeing the impact of what happened over Thanksgiving , ” Ghaly said .
“ It does not seem that enough people heard and followed the message to stay home and avoid gathering with others.
” That ’ s especially concerning given that the wider winter holiday season is in full swing .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Orange County ’ s health officer and Health Care Agency director , said Tuesday .
“ I have never been so afraid of Christmas and New Year ’ s in my life like I have now , because ...
I can ’ t imagine what it would be like after the holiday if people are not listening , if people are not complying , if people are in defiance and get together.
” The figures announced Wednesday should be persuasive enough to “ cancel holiday plans that involve travel or gathering with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your household , ” Ferrer said .
“ The catastrophic impact of this continued high rate of transmission is really devastating for our hospitals and for people ’ s lives , ” she said .
The sad but simple reality , officials and experts say , is that the coronavirus is now so widespread in California that activities believed to be relatively safe just months ago now present greater risk than they ever have .
This , Ghaly said , means that “ having just a very small birthday party for your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Having a very small holiday gathering is not safe .
Getting together with a couple of friends at dinner is not safe .
Participating in a sports tournament , whether it ’ s formal or informal , is not safe.
” “ If you don ’ t do everything possible to minimize spread , then you are contributing to the spread and prolonging the amount of time in which our hospitals have more patients ... than they can safely handle , ” she said .

A COVID-19 patient is intubated by a medical team in the intensive care unit at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
A ferocious COVID-19 surge is besieging Los Angeles County’s hospitals like never before, officials said Wednesday, as the region reported an all-time daily high of 134 deaths from the disease and a record number of new infections.
Single-day records were shattered across California Wednesday. A Times county-by-county tally found 51,724 new coronavirus cases reported, shattering the state’s single-day record broken on Monday, when 42,088 cases were reported.
The Times tally also found 393 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday across the state, breaking the record set Tuesday, when 295 deaths were recorded. Cumulatively, California has now reported 1.7 million coronavirus cases and 21,887 COVID-19 deaths.
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California is now tallying an average of 203 COVID-19 deaths a day over a weekly period, and 35,200 cases a day — both records, and both quadruple the numbers from mid-November.
A great deal of the state’s surge has been fueled by L.A. County, where the unrelenting rise in the number of coronavirus-infected Angelenos falling ill enough to require professional care is straining the county’s medical system, raising renewed fears that the need for beds could outstrip those available despite healthcare workers’ herculean efforts to expand capacity.
Dr. Christina Ghaly, the county’s director of health services, put it bluntly Wednesday: “Our hospitals are under siege, and our model shows no end in sight.”
More harrowing still, she said, is that “the worst is still before us.”
As officials have long noted, hospitalizations are a lagging indicator of the coronavirus’ spread, typically reflecting exposures that took place two to three weeks prior.
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Increases in coronavirus case counts, then, will typically lead to an uptick in the number of hospitalized patients a few weeks down the line.
And infections have never been higher in L.A. County. There were 22,469 new coronavirus cases reported Wednesday, according to an independent Times tally.
Though that figure was inflated by a backlog of about 7,000 test results that were reported late, “these are nonetheless extraordinary numbers, and they represent transmission that continues to be out of control,” said county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
The previous record for the highest number of cases in a single day in L.A. County was 13,507, set Friday. The old high-water mark for deaths was 93, set Tuesday, according to an independent Times tally.
“Every hour, on average, two of our neighbors, family members and friends are dying from COVID-19, and the virus is rampant in all neighborhoods,” Ferrer said during a briefing Wednesday. “We have the most difficult road yet in front of us, and I encourage everyone to stay home as much as possible, protect your families and friends, and take every precaution that’s available to you.”
“Unless we remain more vigilant and more diligent through the holidays and beyond, we will not be able to stop the surge and provide essential relief to our hospitals and our healthcare workers.”
The number of new cases is particularly distressing as L.A. County’s hospitals are already contending with an unprecedented crush of patients. The number of coronavirus-positive patients in hospitals countywide Tuesday, 4,864, is a record, and six times higher than the number on Nov. 1.
Of particular concern are the county’s intensive care units, which are needed for the patients in worst condition — be they suffering from COVID-19, a severe injury or other crises such as a heart attack or stroke.
There, too, the county has seen a sharp increase. Tuesday’s number of coronavirus-positive ICU patients, 991, is five times worse than in mid-October.
Healthcare officials have some options to preserve ICU capacity, such as canceling scheduled surgeries, keeping critically ill patients in emergency rooms, sending ICU patients into step-down units earlier, training nurses from other units to help with intensive care, and increasing the number of patients each ICU nurse cares for.
But officials emphasize that those steps are neither sustainable for the long term nor sufficient if the patient load continues to rise.
The eventual consequence, Ghaly said, will be “a hospital system and an emergency medical services system that cannot provide the level of care that we all expect or would want for ourselves or our loved ones.”
“Hospitals are working feverishly to staff up additional ICU beds, but there are simply not enough trained staff to care for the volume of patients that are projected to come and need care,” she said.
State officials have previously estimated that 12% of newly diagnosed coronavirus cases are likely to require hospitalization, with 12% of those that have been hospitalized eventually ending up in the ICU.
At this point, Ghaly said, “all our hospital systems can do is brace for these days and weeks to come.”
The dire situation in California’s most-populous county is indicative of the deteriorating situation statewide.
ICUs have rapidly filled up throughout the state as infections have soared.
In Southern California — a sprawling region the state defines as Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties — only 0.5% of available ICU beds remained unfilled Wednesday, state figures show.
The situation was bleaker still in the San Joaquin Valley, where ICU availability again tumbled to zero.
In the Bay Area, ICU availability slid Wednesday to 12.9% — below the 15% threshold the state has set for imposing sweeping new restrictions on businesses and activities aimed at curtailing the coronavirus.
Many of the region’s counties took it upon themselves to implement the new rules. Those that didn’t — San Mateo, Solano, Santa Cruz and Napa counties — will see a regional stay-at-home order, which reduces capacity at retail stores; closes businesses including hair salons, nail salons, card rooms, museums, zoos and aquariums; and prohibits most gatherings, hotel stays for tourism and outdoor restaurant dining — go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
Such orders are already in place across Southern California, the San Joaquin Valley and Greater Sacramento. Only rural Northern California has escaped the additional restrictions so far.
The new orders mean 98% of California’s residents, or 38 million people, are under regional stay-at-home instructions, affecting 47 of 58 counties.
The increase in deaths has been so severe that state officials have had to order 5,000 body bags and 60 refrigerated storage units, each 53 feet long, for storing corpses, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. Newsom also said he has activated the state’s mutual aid and mass fatality program for coroners.
COVID-19 hospitalizations have never been higher: As of Tuesday, there were 14,939 hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide, including 3,188 in intensive care. The record for COVID-19 hospitalizations has been broken for 18 consecutive days, and the number has more than doubled since Thanksgiving.
Though the state has recently begun receiving shipments of COVID-19 vaccine, officials emphasize that those shots will do little, if anything, to slow down the current surge.
“Let’s deal with some sober realities,” Newsom said. “This is a deadly disease. And we need to be mindful of where we are in this current journey together to the vaccine: We are not at the finish line yet.”
California Will COVID-19 vaccine scams target L.A. residents next? Los Angeles city officials worry that residents could be the next target of fraudsters peddling the promise of a dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Officials said the soaring numbers in recent weeks point to a sobering reality: That despite all the warnings, not enough people took seriously the call to avoid holding parties and events for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“We are seeing the impact of what happened over Thanksgiving,” Ghaly said. “It does not seem that enough people heard and followed the message to stay home and avoid gathering with others.”
That’s especially concerning given that the wider winter holiday season is in full swing.
“I am afraid,” Dr. Clayton Chau, Orange County’s health officer and Health Care Agency director, said Tuesday. “I have never been so afraid of Christmas and New Year’s in my life like I have now, because ... I can’t imagine what it would be like after the holiday if people are not listening, if people are not complying, if people are in defiance and get together.”
The figures announced Wednesday should be persuasive enough to “cancel holiday plans that involve travel or gathering with friends and family that are not part of your household,” Ferrer said.
“The catastrophic impact of this continued high rate of transmission is really devastating for our hospitals and for people’s lives,” she said.
The sad but simple reality, officials and experts say, is that the coronavirus is now so widespread in California that activities believed to be relatively safe just months ago now present greater risk than they ever have.
This, Ghaly said, means that “having just a very small birthday party for your child in a park is not safe. Having a very small holiday gathering is not safe. Getting together with a couple of friends at dinner is not safe. Participating in a sports tournament, whether it’s formal or informal, is not safe.”
“If you don’t do everything possible to minimize spread, then you are contributing to the spread and prolonging the amount of time in which our hospitals have more patients ... than they can safely handle,” she said.
Times staff writer Sean Greene contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-16--Will COVID-19 vaccine scams target L.A. residents next?

Amid the joyous arrival of the coronavirus vaccine — lauded as the beginning of the end of the deadly pandemic — lurks a sinister undercurrent .
Fraudsters peddling the promise of a dose have arrived in in the U.S. , Europe and elsewhere .
And Los Angeles city officials are concerned residents here could be the next target .
Frontline healthcare workers will receive the vaccine first .
Wider distribution might not arrive until spring or summer .
A several-month wait could fuel desperation among vulnerable populations , such as the elderly or people with preexisting health conditions , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the line , according to Los Angeles City Atty .
Mike Feuer .
“ That impatience could make them vulnerable to a scam , when someone says , ‘ I can get it to you right now , ’ ” Feuer said on Wednesday .
Scams could come in the form of phone calls , emails , text messages or even someone knocking on the door , he said .
In a video posted on YouTube on Tuesday , Feuer urged Angelenos to stay vigilant for promises that sound too good to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Trade Commission began issuing warnings to companies making unsubstantiated health claims about the coronavirus , including offering fake test kits .
Some con artists have posed as officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization to try to get people to cough up personal information .
An offer for an underground COVID-19 vaccine , at about $ 80 a pop , recently surfaced in New York , Feuer said .
While Los Angeles officials have not yet received complaints , Feuer said it ’ s likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said he hopes getting the word out now will stymie fraudsters ’ efforts .
“ Invariably scams that happen elsewhere happen in Los Angeles .
We ’ ve seen that again and again , ” he said .
“ If I have to wait until someone has received a fake vaccine , that means someone ’ s health has been jeopardized , and I ’ m not going to do that.
” Meanwhile , U.S. government officials are well aware that the pandemic has spawned its own niche of fraud that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently reported that it had received more than 131,000 complaints relating to the pandemic .
Among other things , complaints included nonexistent charities , fake mortgage and student loan relief schemes — and unsubstantiated health claims .
“ It is often the case that , following reports of a health scare , deceptive advertising or marketing touting ‘ miracle cures ’ quickly emerge , ” Andrew Smith , director of the FTC ’ s Bureau of Consumer Protection , testified at a U.S. Senate hearing .
Residents in Los Angeles who encounter fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office and the FTC , Feuer said .

As healthcare workers receive the COVID-19 vaccine this week, Los Angeles city officials are concerned that vaccine scams may target residents.
Amid the joyous arrival of the coronavirus vaccine — lauded as the beginning of the end of the deadly pandemic — lurks a sinister undercurrent.
Fraudsters peddling the promise of a dose have arrived in in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. And Los Angeles city officials are concerned residents here could be the next target.
Frontline healthcare workers will receive the vaccine first. Wider distribution might not arrive until spring or summer. A several-month wait could fuel desperation among vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or people with preexisting health conditions, who aren’t in the front of the line, according to Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer.
“That impatience could make them vulnerable to a scam, when someone says, ‘I can get it to you right now,’” Feuer said on Wednesday. Scams could come in the form of phone calls, emails, text messages or even someone knocking on the door, he said.
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In a video posted on YouTube on Tuesday, Feuer urged Angelenos to stay vigilant for promises that sound too good to be true.
As early as March, the Federal Trade Commission began issuing warnings to companies making unsubstantiated health claims about the coronavirus, including offering fake test kits. Some con artists have posed as officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization to try to get people to cough up personal information. An offer for an underground COVID-19 vaccine, at about $80 a pop, recently surfaced in New York, Feuer said.
While Los Angeles officials have not yet received complaints, Feuer said it’s likely only a matter of time. Still, he said he hopes getting the word out now will stymie fraudsters’ efforts.
“Invariably scams that happen elsewhere happen in Los Angeles. We’ve seen that again and again,” he said. “If I have to wait until someone has received a fake vaccine, that means someone’s health has been jeopardized, and I’m not going to do that.”
Meanwhile, U.S. government officials are well aware that the pandemic has spawned its own niche of fraud that extends beyond counterfeit vaccines.
The FTC recently reported that it had received more than 131,000 complaints relating to the pandemic. Among other things, complaints included nonexistent charities, fake mortgage and student loan relief schemes — and unsubstantiated health claims.
“It is often the case that, following reports of a health scare, deceptive advertising or marketing touting ‘miracle cures’ quickly emerge,” Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, testified at a U.S. Senate hearing.
Residents in Los Angeles who encounter fraud should report it to the city attorney’s office and the FTC, Feuer said.
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Times staff writer David Lazarus contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-16--Serial sexual predator suspect arrested in connection with Westwood and UCLA attacks

A serial sexual predator suspect believed to be responsible for nearly two dozen attacks on women around Westwood Plaza and UCLA was arrested after undercover LAPD detectives , who were keeping him under surveillance , said they saw him grope a woman on the street Tuesday .
Derrick Kim , 32 , had become the focus of the joint investigation by the LAPD Robbery Homicide Division ’ s sex crimes unit and UCLA police .
As part of that probe , LAPD undercover narcotics detectives began tracking his movements .
When Kim approached a 50-year-old woman who was living on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , police said , detectives immediately took him into custody without incident .
Kim was booked on suspicion of sexual battery and held in lieu of $ 575,000 bail .
Investigators said Kim , a Los Angeles resident , is suspected of being a sexual predator who has committed similar assaults dating to at least Oct. 23 .
There have been 23 sexual batteries in the West L.A. area by a suspect with a hooded sweatshirt and a surgical mask , police said .
Investigators said in almost all of the reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from behind , fondled their breasts or buttocks and quickly fled before anyone could apprehend them .
UCLA police had warned students and staff about the attacker .
Detectives believe there are likely other victims out there and are appealing for them to come forward and report the crimes .

A serial sexual predator suspect believed to be responsible for nearly two dozen attacks on women around Westwood Plaza and UCLA was arrested after undercover LAPD detectives, who were keeping him under surveillance, said they saw him grope a woman on the street Tuesday.
Derrick Kim, 32, had become the focus of the joint investigation by the LAPD Robbery Homicide Division’s sex crimes unit and UCLA police. As part of that probe, LAPD undercover narcotics detectives began tracking his movements. When Kim approached a 50-year-old woman who was living on the streets and allegedly groped her breasts Tuesday, police said, detectives immediately took him into custody without incident. Kim was booked on suspicion of sexual battery and held in lieu of $575,000 bail.
Investigators said Kim, a Los Angeles resident, is suspected of being a sexual predator who has committed similar assaults dating to at least Oct. 23. There have been 23 sexual batteries in the West L.A. area by a suspect with a hooded sweatshirt and a surgical mask, police said. Investigators said in almost all of the reported crimes, the suspect approached lone females from behind, fondled their breasts or buttocks and quickly fled before anyone could apprehend them.
UCLA police had warned students and staff about the attacker. Detectives believe there are likely other victims out there and are appealing for them to come forward and report the crimes.


latimes--2020-12-16--Santa is getting socially creative in this distant Christmas season

What will kids find in their stockings this COVID Christmas ?
Behind plexiglass shields and colorful masks , Mr. Claus @ @ @ @ @ hearing whether kiddos have truly been naughty or nice .
Shopping malls have had to @ @ @ @ @ year , with everything from Santa behind a giant see-through face mask , to the @ @ @ @ @ a window-lined horse carriage .
Westfield Century City outdoor mall has two levels where kids @ @ @ @ @ at St. Nick , while the Los Angeles Christmas Market on Third Street in Los @ @ @ @ @ children can climb in and sit with Santa , separated by thick plastic .
Yes @ @ @ @ @ mail letters to the North Pole with the help of some socially distancing elves .

What will kids find in their stockings this COVID Christmas?
Behind plexiglass shields and colorful masks, Mr. Claus may have a harder time hearing whether kiddos have truly been naughty or nice.
Shopping malls have had to get creative this socially distant year, with everything from Santa behind a giant see-through face mask, to the big guy fully enclosed in a window-lined horse carriage.
Westfield Century City outdoor mall has two levels where kids can look down and wave at St. Nick, while the Los Angeles Christmas Market on Third Street in Los Angeles has a sleigh where children can climb in and sit with Santa, separated by thick plastic.
Yes, you can even still mail letters to the North Pole with the help of some socially distancing elves.
CENTURY CITY
Larry Buckelew, dressed as Santa Claus, greets visitors to the Westfield Century City shopping mall, in a protective setting against the coronavirus. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
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Aerin Kim, 4, acting a little shy, hides behind her mom, Gina, after spotting Santa Claus (Larry Buckelew) at the Westfield Century City mall. Santa was on his way to a lunch break. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Larry Buckelew, dressed up as Santa Claus, greets visitors to the Westfield Century City shopping mall. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
THOUSAND OAKS
Santa Claus (Joseph Polselli) puts on a protective shield before meeting and being photographed at a distance with children at the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Noah Rouse, 11, and his sister Alena, 4, of Moorpark have their temperatures taken by Whispering-Willow Dela Cruz before meeting Santa at the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Evan Lane, 10, background, with sister Sydney, 7, look back to make sure their dad, Brett, with mom, Heather, is covering his ears so that he can’t hear Evan ask Santa (Joseph Polselli) for a specific present for his dad. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
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Los Angeles
Delilah Liljedahl-Loya, 3, greets Santa Claus, seated in his sleigh behind plexiglass at the Los Angeles Christmas Market on Third Street in Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Daxton Tait, 4, of Northridge mails a letter to Santa Claus while visiting the Los Angeles Christmas Market on Third Street in Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Daxton Tait, 4, of Northridge greets Jingles the Elf (Robert Bordelon) at the Los Angeles Christmas Market on Third Street in Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
MOORPARK
Zoe Vazquez, 2, left, stands next to her twin sister, Stella, of Los Angeles during a visit to Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark. They were waiting in line to take a socially distanced photograph with Santa. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
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From left, Brettany Grant, her daughter Genevieve, son Hunter and husband Kevin dress for the occasion while preparing for a socially distanced photograph with Santa Claus at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Zoie Dabit, 4, of Northridge waves to Santa Claus (Mark Moise) while socially distancing at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Redondo Beach
Santa Claus (Ed Nabors) greets a security guard at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach after returning from a lunch break. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Aalie Godoy holds up her daughter, Alani Alvarez, 1, while being photographed in front of Santa Claus (Ed Nabors) at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Jayleen Evangelista, 6, of Los Angeles tells Santa Claus (Ed Nabors) what she wants for Christmas during a visit to the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. She asked Santa for L.O.L. dolls, a tablet, slime and a toy for her dog. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
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Hollywood


latimes--2020-12-16--Facing 'a grim set of weeks,' California opens COVID field hospitals across the state

California is opening temporary field hospitals to help with overflow patients as COVID-19 surges fill intensive care units across the state .
The field hospitals will care for non-ICU patients in places such as Costa Mesa , Porterville , Sacramento and Imperial ; other facilities are on standby status in Riverside , Richmond , Fresno , San Diego and San Francisco .
On Tuesday , the California Department of Public Health said available ICU capacity in Southern California was just 1.7 % , down from 2.7 % a day earlier .
The situation was particularly grim in Riverside County , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of Tuesday .
Available ICU capacity in the San Joaquin Valley was also effectively maxed out and has been fluctuating between zero and 1.6 % since Saturday .
Medical authorities across the state expect the situation to worsen before it gets better , as more people infected during the Thanksgiving holiday fall ill .
The hope is that the state stay-at-home order will eventually turn the tide , but it ’ s expected it will take until Christmas or New Year ’ s before the inexorable rise in daily coronavirus cases flattens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vohra , Fresno County ’ s interim public health officer , said Tuesday that he expected “ a grim set of weeks before and after the new year , just given the trends that we ’ re seeing… .
Unfortunately , we ’ ve just got a lot of infections and a lot of ongoing transmissions [ and ] we ’ re still very , very hard pressed to try to meet that challenge.
” Fresno County has nearly 1 million people , but there were only 16 available ICU beds Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger hospitals have zero available ICU beds , and one has been forced to keep five ICU patients in the emergency department .
Vohra said the staffing shortages in Fresno County already feel similar to what New York City faced in the spring .
He said it ’ s entirely plausible that Fresno County will need to utilize more alternative care sites and tents if “ we ’ re running out of spaces in the hospital to put people and we just need to make space.
” Besides an alternative care site in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50-bed care site is being opened this week next to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno .
That site can take patients from in-patient wards , freeing up space in the step-down units where critically ill patients recover , which in turn frees up space in the ICU .
One of the alternative sites is the Fairview Developmental Center in Orange County .
That facility , which has a total capacity of 180 beds , has 10 beds considered active , with eight patients being treated there .
Last week , a site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former home of the NBA ’ s Sacramento Kings .
That care site , which has 20 beds available and a capacity of up to 244 beds , is currently treating seven patients .
An additional 23 patients have filled available beds at Imperial Valley College , which has space for an additional 100 beds .
The state also has a site for patients from the California Department of State Hospitals , which has 43 of 46 available beds filled to treat patients .
Dr. Mark Ghaly , the California health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago that California was averaging around 15,000 cases a day , a number that has since more than doubled .
“ That should tell you that in the next couple of weeks what our hospitals will be facing , the amount of people knocking on the front door with COVID to the emergency room departments that need an in-patient hospital bed , that might need that ICU bed , are going to increase , ” Ghaly said .

California is opening temporary field hospitals to help with overflow patients as COVID-19 surges fill intensive care units across the state.
The field hospitals will care for non-ICU patients in places such as Costa Mesa, Porterville, Sacramento and Imperial; other facilities are on standby status in Riverside, Richmond, Fresno, San Diego and San Francisco.
On Tuesday, the California Department of Public Health said available ICU capacity in Southern California was just 1.7%, down from 2.7% a day earlier. The situation was particularly grim in Riverside County, which was at zero available ICU capacity as of Tuesday. Available ICU capacity in the San Joaquin Valley was also effectively maxed out and has been fluctuating between zero and 1.6% since Saturday.
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Medical authorities across the state expect the situation to worsen before it gets better, as more people infected during the Thanksgiving holiday fall ill. The hope is that the state stay-at-home order will eventually turn the tide, but it’s expected it will take until Christmas or New Year’s before the inexorable rise in daily coronavirus cases flattens or begins to decrease.
Dr. Rais Vohra, Fresno County’s interim public health officer, said Tuesday that he expected “a grim set of weeks before and after the new year, just given the trends that we’re seeing…. Unfortunately, we’ve just got a lot of infections and a lot of ongoing transmissions [and] we’re still very, very hard pressed to try to meet that challenge.”
Fresno County has nearly 1 million people, but there were only 16 available ICU beds Monday. A couple of that region’s larger hospitals have zero available ICU beds, and one has been forced to keep five ICU patients in the emergency department.
Vohra said the staffing shortages in Fresno County already feel similar to what New York City faced in the spring. He said it’s entirely plausible that Fresno County will need to utilize more alternative care sites and tents if “we’re running out of spaces in the hospital to put people and we just need to make space.”
Besides an alternative care site in Porterville that opened Monday, another staffed 50-bed care site is being opened this week next to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. That site can take patients from in-patient wards, freeing up space in the step-down units where critically ill patients recover, which in turn frees up space in the ICU.
One of the alternative sites is the Fairview Developmental Center in Orange County. That facility, which has a total capacity of 180 beds, has 10 beds considered active, with eight patients being treated there.
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Last week, a site was opened at Sleep Train Arena, the former home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. That care site, which has 20 beds available and a capacity of up to 244 beds, is currently treating seven patients. An additional 23 patients have filled available beds at Imperial Valley College, which has space for an additional 100 beds. The state also has a site for patients from the California Department of State Hospitals, which has 43 of 46 available beds filled to treat patients.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, the California health and human services secretary, said two weeks ago that California was averaging around 15,000 cases a day, a number that has since more than doubled.
“That should tell you that in the next couple of weeks what our hospitals will be facing, the amount of people knocking on the front door with COVID to the emergency room departments that need an in-patient hospital bed, that might need that ICU bed, are going to increase,” Ghaly said.