latimes--2020-04-28--L.A. County working to ease stay-at-home order by May

Los Angeles County officials passed a motion Tuesday to develop a plan to ease the safer-at-home order , strict social distancing rules that have slowed the spread of the coronavirus , that is set to expire May 15 .
Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said Tuesday there were no plans to extend the current order , but as the deadline approaches , officials will reevaluate what is best for the county .
More than 20,000 in the county of 10 million have tested positive for the virus , and nearly 950 have died .
County officials have warned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked to slow the spread of the virus , the number of those who have been infected is than the official count .
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a motion Tuesday to establish an action plan to work with local businesses , labor partners and community leaders to lift restrictions .
Supervisor Janice Hahn , echoing an earlier statement by Gov .
Gavin Newsom , said gradually lifting restrictions would not be like flipping a switch : “ It ’ s more like a dimmer.
” “ I would caution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end in sight , or we ’ re nearing the end of this unprecedented tragedy , ” Hahn said .
“ This is not going to just go away .
Coronavirus is going to be around forever , and without a to prevent us from getting the virus or a therapeutic drug to treat you , we need to really be cautious in how we reopen our society.
” The framework , co-authored by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda Solis , lays out a set of priorities : • Reopening of the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reinvention among businesses concerning how they function , including using continued telecommuting services • Resurgence of the economy through a doubling of L.A. County Works initiative “ This is a dark time for everyone , ” Hahn said .
“ I don ’ t think we should be persuaded by petitions or people pressuring us to reopen too soon.
” Newsom on Tuesday announced a plan under which California businesses seen as presenting less risk of spreading the coronavirus could open in the near future .
But Newsom ’ s announcement of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guaranteed timetable .
He said while current public health indicators such as hospitalizations and testing capacity look promising , additional progress needs to be made .
The plan he presented on Tuesday envisions four distinct phases for ending the shutdown .
The governor said the state is currently in the first phase , marked by efforts to provide an economic safety net for low-wage workers who might otherwise work when sick and encouraging the use of face coverings by residents when in places where they can not practice safe physical distancing .

Dr. Lisa Dabby, 41, left, an emergency room physician with UCLA Medical Center Santa Monica, talks with nursing staff at the entrance to the temporary initial screening area outside the hospital.
Los Angeles County officials passed a motion Tuesday to develop a plan to ease the Safer at Home order, strict social distancing rules that have slowed the spread of the coronavirus, which is set to expire May 15.
Public Health Department director Barbara Ferrer said Tuesday there were no plans to extend the current order but that, as the deadline approaches, officials would reevaluate what was best for the county.
More than 20,000 in the county of 10 million have tested positive for the virus, and nearly 950 have died. County officials have warned the public that, although social distancing practices have worked to slow the spread of the virus, the number of those who have been infected is likely far higher than the official count.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a motion Tuesday to establish an action plan to work with local businesses, labor partners and community leaders to lift restrictions.
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Supervisor Janice Hahn, echoing an earlier statement by Gov. Gavin Newsom, said gradually lifting restrictions would not be like flipping a switch: “It’s more like a dimmer.”
“I would caution everyone from thinking that we have an end in sight, or we’re nearing the end of this unprecedented tragedy,” Hahn said. “This is not going to just go away. Coronavirus is going to be around forever, and without a vaccine to prevent us from getting the virus or a therapeutic drug to treat you, we need to really be cautious in how we reopen our society.”
The framework, co-authored by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda Solis, lays out a set of priorities:
Reopening of the economy through an economic resilience task force Recovery through a permanent 501(c)3 fund Reinvention among businesses concerning how they function, including using continued telecommuting services Resurgence of the economy through a doubling of L.A. County Works initiative Resiliency concerning educational efforts for youth
“This is a dark time for everyone,” Hahn said. “I don’t think we should be persuaded by petitions or people pressuring us to reopen too soon.”
Newsom on Tuesday announced a plan under which California businesses seen as presenting less risk of spreading the coronavirus could open in the near future.
But Newsom’s announcement of a four-phase plan did not come with a guaranteed timetable. He said while current public health indicators such as hospitalizations and testing capacity look promising, additional progress needs to be made.
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The plan he presented on Tuesday envisions four distinct phases for ending the shutdown. The governor said the state is currently in the first phase, marked by efforts to provide an economic safety net for low-wage workers who might otherwise work when sick and encouraging the use of face coverings by residents when in places where they cannot practice safe physical distancing.


latimes--2020-04-28--Here's the latest list of Orange County communities with coronavirus cases

Orange County reported 34 new coronavirus infections Tuesday , bringing the region ’ s cumulative total to 2,151 since the @ @ @ @ @ that case count are 42 deaths , three of which were confirmed as part of @ @ @ @ @ s latest update .
To date , 27,737 have been tested for COVID-19 countywide , @ @ @ @ @ were reported Tuesday alone .
Overall , coronavirus infections have been confirmed in roughly 7.7 @ @ @ @ @ been tested , and the county ’ s observed mortality rate associated with COVID-19 is @ @ @ @ @ Note : The “ other ” category includes unincorporated areas .
Daily updates are preliminary @ @ @ @ @ the county receives new information .

Surfer mannequins dressed in protective gear advertise coronavirus cleaning and disinfecting services atop a van parked by Surfside Carpet & Upholstery in Huntington Beach on Monday.
Orange County reported 34 new coronavirus infections Tuesday, bringing the region’s cumulative total to 2,151 since the outbreak began.
Included in that case count are 42 deaths, three of which were confirmed as part of the Health Care Agency’s latest update.
To date, 27,737 have been tested for COVID-19 countywide, including another 1,390 tests that were reported Tuesday alone.
Overall, coronavirus infections have been confirmed in roughly 7.7% of people who have been tested, and the county’s observed mortality rate associated with COVID-19 is just under 2%.
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California Do you know someone who has lost the battle with COVID-19? In our effort to cover this pandemic as thoroughly as possible, we’d like to hear from the loved ones of people who have died from the coronavirus.
Age breakdown of cases:
0-17 — 37
18-24 — 189
25-34 — 353
35-44 — 326
45-54 — 415
55-64 — 377
65-74 — 229
75-84 — 139
85+ — 86
Age breakdown of deaths:
25-34 — 2
35-44 — 3
45-54 — 5
55-64 — 7
65-74 — 5
75-84 — 13
85+ — 7
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.
Cases by community:
Aliso Viejo — 18
Anaheim — 291
Brea — 19
Buena Park — 73
Costa Mesa — 37
Coto de Caza — 5
Cypress — 41
Dana Point —23
Fountain Valley — 29
Fullerton — 69
Garden Grove — 90
Huntington Beach — 198
Irvine — 127
La Habra — 45
La Palma — 14
Ladera Ranch — 12
Laguna Beach — 36
Laguna Hills — 18
Laguna Niguel — 33
Laguna Woods — 8
Lake Forest — 27
Los Alamitos — 20
Midway City — 6
Mission Viejo — 42
Newport Beach — 96
Orange — 78
Placentia — 50
Rancho Mission Viejo — 6
Rancho Santa Margarita — 14
San Clemente — 45
San Juan Capistrano — 22
Santa Ana — 313
Seal Beach — 11
Stanton — 20
Trabuco Canyon — 10
Tustin — 36
Villa Park — 6
Westminster — 36
Yorba Linda — 48
Other — 2
Unknown — 77
Note: The “other” category includes unincorporated areas. Daily updates are preliminary and subject to change as the county receives new information.


latimes--2020-04-28--Coronavirus hospitalizations hit new high in Orange County as death toll reaches 42

Orange County announced three additional coronavirus-linked deaths Tuesday as the number of people hospitalized while battling COVID-19 hit a new high .
The latest fatalities pushed the county ’ s total death toll to 42 .
However , its mortality rate associated with COVID-19 remains just under 2 % — significantly lower than the state ’ s , which is about 4 % , and neighboring Los Angeles County ’ s , which is roughly 4.7 % .
Of the confirmed victims in Orange County , 25 were at least 65 years old .
Only five were 44 or younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of Tuesday — a new single-day high for the county — and 74 of those patients were in intensive care .
Over the previous week , the number of people hospitalized has ranged between 148 and 162 .
The Orange County Health Care Agency also announced 34 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday , bringing the region ’ s cumulative count to 2,151 .
Tuesday ’ s report followed a weekend of contrasts in Orange County that saw significant crowds flocking to the region ’ s still-open beaches and local health officials confirm the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed COVID-19 cases .
Saturday alone saw 122 new cases reported , which was a daily record in the county .
An additional 102 and 51 cases were confirmed Sunday and Monday , respectively .
However , those higher case counts are probably a byproduct of a significant uptick in how many people the county is testing .
Since Friday , the county has conducted 6,921 tests — including 2,267 on Sunday alone , which was easily a new high-water mark .
Overall , 27,737 people have been tested for COVID-19 countywide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramp up its testing even more dramatically , a present issue is a lack of all the materials needed to administer them — namely swabs , extraction kits and personal protective equipment , according to Lilly Simmering , the county ’ s deputy Health Care Agency director and interim public health director .
“ It ’ s like baking a cake , ” she told the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday .
“ If you don ’ t have flour , but you have eggs and you have sugar and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t build it .
You can ’ t bake it.
” Overall , though , she said the county is trending in a good direction as its fatality rate remains low and sufficient capacity currently exists in the regional hospital system .
“ This doesn ’ t mean that we should stop doing the things we ’ ve learned to do : social distancing , wear face coverings and be very cognizant of our at-risk population , ” she said .
Officials in Orange County , like other regions of the state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California ’ s stay-at-home regulations can be relaxed and businesses can begin to reopen .
To that end , the board unanimously approved a set of business guidelines Tuesday seeking to “ strike a balance between the need for continued protection from the disease and the need for the economy to function again , ” Supervisor Don Wagner said .
“ These guidelines are intended to state clearly the minimum that business owners and operators must do , in addition to following all applicable jurisdiction ’ s orders , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ disposable gloves or wash their hands or use hand sanitizer every 30 minutes , per the guidelines .
“ Face coverings should be provided to all employees , ” the guidelines state .
“ All employees , before starting a shift , should have their temperatures taken and not be permitted to work upon a temperature reading above 100.4 degrees.
” Patrons “ should also wear appropriate face coverings , ” the guidelines add .
Businesses also should “ make every effort to limit touch points , ” according to the guidelines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequency of sanitizing workstations and equipment.
” The guidelines also include wording related to physical distancing in the workplace — “ a minimum of six feet should be maintained between customer-facing employees and the general public and , to the extent practical , between employee workstations .
Where six feet ... between workstations is impractical , face coverings should be worn.
” When practical , businesses also should allow telecommuting , according to the guidelines .
Regardless of what guidelines the county adopts , though , the ultimate say on when and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is up to the state .
There could be progress on that front , though .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that businesses seen as presenting less risk of spreading the coronavirus could open within the next few weeks .
However , he said that call will be based on data and shaped by public health considerations .
“ Politics will not drive our decision-making .
Protests won ’ t drive our decision-making .
Political pressure will not drive our decision-making , ” he said .

Orange County Fire Authority firefighters and others thank healthcare workers for their efforts to combat COVID-19 at Mission Hospital.
Orange County announced three additional coronavirus-linked deaths Tuesday as the number of people hospitalized while battling COVID-19 hit a new high.
The latest fatalities pushed the county’s total death toll to 42. However, its mortality rate associated with COVID-19 remains just under 2% — significantly lower than the state’s, which is about 4%, and neighboring Los Angeles County’s, which is roughly 4.7%.
Of the confirmed victims in Orange County, 25 were at least 65 years old. Only five were 44 or younger.
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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.
Countywide, 178 people were hospitalized as of Tuesday — a new single-day high for the county — and 74 of those patients were in intensive care.
Over the previous week, the number of people hospitalized has ranged between 148 and 162.
The Orange County Health Care Agency also announced 34 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the region’s cumulative count to 2,151.
Tuesday’s report followed a weekend of contrasts in Orange County that saw significant crowds flocking to the region’s still-open beaches and local health officials confirm the county’s biggest two-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Saturday alone saw 122 new cases reported, which was a daily record in the county. An additional 102 and 51 cases were confirmed Sunday and Monday, respectively.
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However, those higher case counts are probably a byproduct of a significant uptick in how many people the county is testing.
Since Friday, the county has conducted 6,921 tests — including 2,267 on Sunday alone, which was easily a new high-water mark.
Overall, 27,737 people have been tested for COVID-19 countywide.
While the county has the capacity to ramp up its testing even more dramatically, a present issue is a lack of all the materials needed to administer them — namely swabs, extraction kits and personal protective equipment, according to Lilly Simmering, the county’s deputy Health Care Agency director and interim public health director.
“It’s like baking a cake,” she told the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. “If you don’t have flour, but you have eggs and you have sugar and you have baking soda, you can’t build it. You can’t bake it.”
Overall, though, she said the county is trending in a good direction as its fatality rate remains low and sufficient capacity currently exists in the regional hospital system.
“This doesn’t mean that we should stop doing the things we’ve learned to do: social distancing, wear face coverings and be very cognizant of our at-risk population,” she said.
Officials in Orange County, like other regions of the state, have begun looking toward a future when California’s stay-at-home regulations can be relaxed and businesses can begin to reopen.
To that end, the board unanimously approved a set of business guidelines Tuesday seeking to “strike a balance between the need for continued protection from the disease and the need for the economy to function again,” Supervisor Don Wagner said.
“These guidelines are intended to state clearly the minimum that business owners and operators must do, in addition to following all applicable jurisdiction’s orders,” he said.
Employers should require customer-facing workers to wear disposable gloves or wash their hands or use hand sanitizer every 30 minutes, per the guidelines.
“Face coverings should be provided to all employees,” the guidelines state. “All employees, before starting a shift, should have their temperatures taken and not be permitted to work upon a temperature reading above 100.4 degrees.”
Patrons “should also wear appropriate face coverings,” the guidelines add.
Businesses also should “make every effort to limit touch points,” according to the guidelines, and “significantly increase [the] frequency of sanitizing workstations and equipment.”
The guidelines also include wording related to physical distancing in the workplace — “a minimum of six feet should be maintained between customer-facing employees and the general public and, to the extent practical, between employee workstations. Where six feet ... between workstations is impractical, face coverings should be worn.”
When practical, businesses also should allow telecommuting, according to the guidelines.
Regardless of what guidelines the county adopts, though, the ultimate say on when and how businesses can get back up and running is up to the state.
There could be progress on that front, though. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that businesses seen as presenting less risk of spreading the coronavirus could open within the next few weeks.
However, he said that call will be based on data and shaped by public health considerations.
“Politics will not drive our decision-making. Protests won’t drive our decision-making. Political pressure will not drive our decision-making,” he said.


latimes--2020-04-28--Evangelical church sues Newsom over coronavirus restrictions

A small San Joaquin County evangelical church that was forced to stop meeting for Sunday services because of coronavirus restrictions is suing Gov .
Gavin Newsom , arguing the state ’ s public gathering ban violates First Amendment rights to religious freedom .
“ Our civil rights are not suspended by a virus , ” attorney Dean R. Broyles , who is representing the Cross Culture Christian Center in Lodi and its pastor , said in a statement .
“ For millions of Californians , their religious faith is truly ‘ essential ’ like the air we breathe , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eat .
That ’ s why religious liberty is one of our ‘ first freedoms ’ recognized by the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
” To help slow the spread of COVID-19 , Newsom ’ s statewide stay-at-home executive order has shut down businesses except those deemed essential , prohibited group gatherings and required most people to stay inside homes except for trips such as grocery shopping or medical appointments .
The Cross Culture Christian Center lawsuit , filed in Sacramento last week , asks U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the church ’ s First Amendment freedom of religion and freedom of assembly and allow it to hold in-house services so long as social distancing is followed , Broyles said .
The lawsuit says the church already was following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before the state and county issued stay-at-home orders in mid-March .
Pastor Jonathan Duncan — who leads Sunday service for roughly 27 attendees — had also recommended that his congregation follow their doctor ’ s orders , act in the best interest of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom , the suit names Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra ; Sonia Angell , state public health officer ; Maggie Park , county public health officer ; Marcia Cunningham , county director of emergency services ; the city of Lodi ; and Police Chief Tod Patterson .
The dispute between Cross Culture Christian Center and the city of Lodi began March 25 when police came to one of Duncan ’ s Wednesday services and told him about county and state orders against public meetings .
The Christian Center leases space in Bethel Open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services March 15 .
The church retained Broyles , of the Escondido-based National Center for Law & Policy , a conservative Christian nonprofit law group .
Broyles sent Lodi officials a six-page cease-and-desist letter , saying officers “ disrupted a peaceful and lawful worship service ” and asked them to respect the church ’ s First Amendment rights .
On April 3 , officers posted a notice from Park , San Joaquin County ’ s interim public health officer , on the church building .
The letter , addressed to Pastor Michael Allison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christian Church was continuing to use the Ham Lane facility and ordered it and its parking lot closed .
Violation of the emergency order , the letter stated , was a misdemeanor offense punishable by fine or imprisonment .
Duncan learned on Palm Sunday morning that the locks on the building had been changed by Bethel to prevent in-person services .
“ We love people and don ’ t want anyone to become infected , ” Duncan said in a statement .
“ Our church believes that especially during these fearful and confusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service .
People need God ’ s love and the church needs authentic Christian fellowship now , more than ever.
” Newsom ’ s office and San Joaquin County officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit Tuesday .
The California Department of Public Health said it can not comment on ongoing litigation .
Becerra ’ s office said it was “ best-positioned ” to respond to questions related to the state ’ s stay-at-home order .
The Lodi Police Department referred questions to the city attorney .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had revised its guidelines on outdoor public gatherings and activities , citing a legal case in which other state pastors had challenged Newsom ’ s order .
Under the county ’ s amended order , faith-based organizations can hold services online or in a drive-up setting so long as people in attendance refrain from contact with each other and maintain physical distance .
Vehicles must be six feet apart and people must remain in their cars at all times .
Up to five people can enter nearby buildings to host the presentation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ order allows Duncan ’ s church to resume services if it follows the new guidelines .
It ’ s now up to the Bethel property manager , Hood said .
Allison , the Bethel pastor , could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday .
Even if Allison allows Duncan to host services following the county ’ s amended order , Boyles said in an interview that “ a lot more ” needs to change before the lawsuit is dropped .
“ If religious freedom means anything , it must at least mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority to dictate to the church its manor or mode of worship , even in times of crisis — especially in times of crisis , ” Boyles said in a statement .
“ Governor Newsom ’ s misguided decision to unilaterally deem faith-based meetings as ‘ non-essential ’ and to restrict the faithful only to video sermons and electronic worship makes me think of authoritarian ‘ big brother.
’ ” A number of legal challenges by faith leaders have sprouted in response to stay-at-home orders .
In San Diego , a judge rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary restraining order so it could hold Easter services .
In Mississippi , the U.S. Department of Justice filed a legal document in support of a church whose members were fined for attending a parking lot service in their cars , while other citizens were allowed to attend nearby drive-in restaurants .
“ If you look at the number of [ law ] suits and the people impacted , these are relative few and far between , ” said Gene Policinski , president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort by people who have particular feelings of faith or their ability to protest or assembly.
” Policinski said the COVID-19 pandemic presented “ complicated circumstances ” and said courts examine criteria such as the duration of stay-at-home orders , public interest and whether rights of assembly are interfered with .
In the Lodi case , he explained that the church ’ s argument might have had more weight before the rise of internet tools such as Zoom , a video conference platform , were available .
“ We don ’ t surrender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we do have to accept reasonable accommodations for limited amounts of time for solid , provable public interest that isn ’ t targeted at one faith or belief , ” Policinski said .

A small San Joaquin County evangelical church that was forced to stop meeting for Sunday services because of coronavirus restrictions is suing Gov. Gavin Newsom, arguing the state’s public gathering ban violates First Amendment rights to religious freedom.
“Our civil rights are not suspended by a virus,” attorney Dean R. Broyles, who is representing the Cross Culture Christian Center in Lodi and its pastor, said in a statement. “For millions of Californians, their religious faith is truly ‘essential’ like the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. That’s why religious liberty is one of our ‘first freedoms’ recognized by the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.”
To help slow the spread of COVID-19, Newsom’s statewide stay-at-home executive order has shut down businesses except those deemed essential, prohibited group gatherings and required most people to stay inside homes except for trips such as grocery shopping or medical appointments.
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The Cross Culture Christian Center lawsuit, filed in Sacramento last week, asks U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to declare that the order infringes on the church’s First Amendment freedom of religion and freedom of assembly and allow it to hold in-house services so long as social distancing is followed, Broyles said.
The lawsuit says the church already was following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before the state and county issued stay-at-home orders in mid-March. Pastor Jonathan Duncan — who leads Sunday service for roughly 27 attendees — had also recommended that his congregation follow their doctor’s orders, act in the best interest of their community and wear face coverings.
Beside Newsom, the suit names Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra; Sonia Angell, state public health officer; Maggie Park, county public health officer; Marcia Cunningham, county director of emergency services; the city of Lodi; and Police Chief Tod Patterson.
The dispute between Cross Culture Christian Center and the city of Lodi began March 25 when police came to one of Duncan’s Wednesday services and told him about county and state orders against public meetings. The Christian Center leases space in Bethel Open Bible Church, which stopped offering in-person services March 15.
The church retained Broyles, of the Escondido-based National Center for Law & Policy, a conservative Christian nonprofit law group. Broyles sent Lodi officials a six-page cease-and-desist letter, saying officers “disrupted a peaceful and lawful worship service” and asked them to respect the church’s First Amendment rights.
On April 3, officers posted a notice from Park, San Joaquin County’s interim public health officer, on the church building. The letter, addressed to Pastor Michael Allison of Bethel, said the Cross Culture Christian Church was continuing to use the Ham Lane facility and ordered it and its parking lot closed. Violation of the emergency order, the letter stated, was a misdemeanor offense punishable by fine or imprisonment.
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Duncan learned on Palm Sunday morning that the locks on the building had been changed by Bethel to prevent in-person services.
“We love people and don’t want anyone to become infected,” Duncan said in a statement. “Our church believes that especially during these fearful and confusing times that church community is an essential service. People need God’s love and the church needs authentic Christian fellowship now, more than ever.”
Newsom’s office and San Joaquin County officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit Tuesday.
The California Department of Public Health said it cannot comment on ongoing litigation. Becerra’s office said it was “best-positioned” to respond to questions related to the state’s stay-at-home order. The Lodi Police Department referred questions to the city attorney.
As of Friday, San Joaquin County had revised its guidelines on outdoor public gatherings and activities, citing a legal case in which other state pastors had challenged Newsom’s order.
Under the county’s amended order, faith-based organizations can hold services online or in a drive-up setting so long as people in attendance refrain from contact with each other and maintain physical distance.
Vehicles must be six feet apart and people must remain in their cars at all times. Up to five people can enter nearby buildings to host the presentation.
Lodi spokesman Jeff Hood said the updated order allows Duncan’s church to resume services if it follows the new guidelines. It’s now up to the Bethel property manager, Hood said.
Allison, the Bethel pastor, could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday. Even if Allison allows Duncan to host services following the county’s amended order, Broyles said in an interview that “a lot more” needs to change before the lawsuit is dropped.
“If religious freedom means anything, it must at least mean that the state does not have the authority to dictate to the church its manor or mode of worship, even in times of crisis — especially in times of crisis,” Broyles said in a statement. “Governor Newsom’s misguided decision to unilaterally deem faith-based meetings as ‘non-essential’ and to restrict the faithful only to video sermons and electronic worship makes me think of authoritarian ‘big brother.’”
A number of legal challenges by faith leaders have sprouted in response to stay-at-home orders. In San Diego, a judge rejected a church’s request for a temporary restraining order so it could hold Easter services. In Mississippi, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a legal document in support of a church whose members were fined for attending a parking lot service in their cars, while other citizens were allowed to attend nearby drive-in restaurants.
“If you look at the number of [law] suits and the people impacted, these are relative few and far between,” said Gene Policinski, president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. “We’re seeing a sincere effort by people who have particular feelings of faith or their ability to protest or assembly.”
Policinski said the COVID-19 pandemic presented “complicated circumstances” and said courts examine criteria such as the duration of stay-at-home orders, public interest and whether rights of assembly are interfered with. In the Lodi case, he explained that the church’s argument might have had more weight before the rise of internet tools such as Zoom, a video conference platform, were available.
“We don’t surrender our First Amendment rights for any reason, but we do have to accept reasonable accommodations for limited amounts of time for solid, provable public interest that isn’t targeted at one faith or belief,” Policinski said.
Times staff writer Hailey Branson-Potts contributed to this story


latimes--2020-04-28--This is California's reopening plan for stores, offices, schools, sports, concerts, theaters

Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Tuesday released a four-stage plan for reopening parts of the California economy after weeks of stay-at-home home rules that have been credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus .
The phases are designed to slowly reopen the state while preventing new outbreaks that could lead to another shutdown .
There are no timetables attached ; rather , officials will use benchmarks around testing , hospitalizations and other factors .
Under the plan , some retail businesses , manufacturing , schools and open spaces could reopen first , with strict social distancing rules .
Down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious institutions could reopen .
Live sports , concerts and other crowded events would be the last to reopen under the plan .
Goal : Making work as safe as possible for those on the front lines This phase is now underway .
• Continue to build out testing and contact-tracing capabilities and hospital surge capacity .
• Continue to make workplaces as safe as possible for essential workers .
• Work on adaptations to the physical setting and workflow in hospitals and other settings .
• Prepare safety guidelines for an expanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Creating opportunities for lower-risk sectors to make adaptations and reopen .
In this phase , modified school programs and child care reopen as well as the following sectors and spaces : • Retail ( with curbside pickup , for example ) • Offices ( when teleworking is not possible ) An expanded workforce safety net could mean : • Wage replacement so workers can stay home when sick .
Adaptions for reopened schools and child-care facilities could mean : • Summer programs and an earlier start to the next academic year , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to get from Stage 1 to Stage 2 ?
• Enacting policies that allow people to stay home when they ’ re sick .
• Providing guidance on how to reduce coronavirus risk .
• Provide wage replacement so workers can stay home when sick .
• Allow employees to continue to work from home when possible .
• Use safety precautions , such as physical distancing and wearing masks .
• Support and care for people who are at high risk .
Key goals to hit before moving to Stage 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occur through a statewide modification to the stay-at-home order .
During Stage 2 , counties may choose to relax stricter local orders at their own pace .
Following Stage 2 , once a statewide COVID-19 surveillance system is made possible through testing , further regional variations could be supported .
The state will consult and collaborate closely with local governments .
Goal : Open higher-risk environments with adaptations and limits on the size of gatherings .
At this point , therapeutics will have been developed and other key goals met .
These events @ @ @ @ @ @

Aerial views of Dodger Stadium on March 25 amid the outbreak.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday released a four-stage plan for reopening parts of the California economy after weeks of stay-at-home home rules that have been credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
The phases are designed to slowly reopen the state while preventing new outbreaks that could lead to another shutdown. There are no timetables attached; rather, officials will use benchmarks around testing, hospitalizations and other factors.
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Under the plan, some retail businesses, manufacturing, schools and open spaces could reopen first, with strict social distancing rules. Down the line, certain entertainment venues and religious institutions could reopen. Live sports, concerts and other crowded events would be the last to reopen under the plan.
Here’s a breakdown of that four-stage plan:
STAGE 1: Safety and preparedness
Goal: Making work as safe as possible for those on the front lines
This phase is now underway.
Continue to build out testing and contact-tracing capabilities and hospital surge capacity.
Continue to make workplaces as safe as possible for essential workers.
Work on adaptations to the physical setting and workflow in hospitals and other settings.
Build a safety net for essential workforce.
Make PPE more widely available.
Incorporate individual behavior changes.
Prepare safety guidelines for an expanded force of front-line workers.
Stage 2: Lower-risk workplaces reopen
Goal: Creating opportunities for lower-risk sectors to make adaptations and reopen.
In this phase, modified school programs and child care reopen as well as the following sectors and spaces:
Retail (with curbside pickup, for example)
Manufacturing
Offices (when teleworking is not possible)
Additional public spaces
An expanded workforce safety net could mean:
Wage replacement so workers can stay home when sick.
Adaptions for reopened schools and child-care facilities could mean:
Summer programs and an earlier start to the next academic year, in July or August.
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What’s needed to get from Stage 1 to Stage 2?
Government actions:
Enacting policies that allow people to stay home when they’re sick.
Providing guidance on how to reduce coronavirus risk.
Business actions:
Provide wage replacement so workers can stay home when sick.
Implement adaptations to lower-risk workplaces.
Allow employees to continue to work from home when possible.
Individual actions:
Use safety precautions, such as physical distancing and wearing masks.
Avoid all nonessential travel.
Support and care for people who are at high risk.
Key goals to hit before moving to Stage 2:
Hospitalization and ICU trends are stable.
Hospital surge capacity can meet demand.
There’s sufficient PPE to meet demand.
Testing capacity is sufficient to meet demand.
There’s contact-tracing capacity statewide.
The transition to Stage 2 will occur through a statewide modification to the stay-at-home order.
Opportunity for regional variations
During Stage 2, counties may choose to relax stricter local orders at their own pace.
Following Stage 2, once a statewide COVID-19 surveillance system is made possible through testing, further regional variations could be supported.
The state will consult and collaborate closely with local governments.
Stage 3: Higher-risk workplaces reopen
Goal: Open higher-risk environments with adaptations and limits on the size of gatherings.
The following sectors reopen:
Personal care (hair and nail salons, gyms)
Entertainment venues (movie theaters, sports without live audiences)
In-person religious services (churches, weddings)
Stage 4: Stay-at-home order ends
Goal: Reopen the highest-risk workplaces.
At this point, therapeutics will have been developed and other key goals met. These events and sites will then reopen:


latimes--2020-04-28--Rafael Cardenas set out to capture L.A. in a photo a day. He ended up recording a pandemic

The plan was simple : take a photo a day , every day , for a year .
For Rafael Cardenas , a Los Angeles photographer known for capturing candid images of life in the city , the plan was a way of staying nimble with his camera — a daily looking exercise that also functions as a visual diary .
( He posts one image to his website , rafa.la , every evening . )
The project is also a way of marking an important personal milestone .
Ten years ago , armed with his first professional camera , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the streets of L.A. every day for a year .
Over the 365 days of 2010 , he went out every day and didn ’ t return home until he had at least one image he could post .
This was how he became a photographer .
In the process , he created a collective portrait of the city , its people , its shifting seasons , its changing light and moods .
“ It ’ s not always about the best picture , ” he says of the images he places online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vibe that is hitting me .
It ’ s like , ‘ This is what I ’ m feeling , so I ’ ll go with this.
’ ” Little did he know when he launched the new series in January that he would record the unspooling of a pandemic .
In February , Cardenas , who lives in Boyle Heights , was shooting portraits of everyday Angelenos .
By the end of March , he was documenting empty streets , taped-up picnic tables and furtive pedestrians , their faces obscured by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capture everyday life , ” he says , “ but this is not everyday life.
” Beyond marking an important professional anniversary , the project is a return to the photographer ’ s creative roots .
Cardenas may have began his career with a focus on street photography , chronicling the daily drama of living , but in recent years he ’ s turned his attention to more conceptual projects .
For an ongoing series titled “ Backyard Tableaux , ” which he showed at the Vincent Price Art Museum in 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in backyards , primarily on L.A. 's Eastside .
Another project , “ Landscapes & Land Dwellers , ” connected people with place in diptychs that juxtaposed photographs of people on the street with broad images of landscape .
That series was shown at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown L.A. , also in 2018 .
This spring , the Los Angeles County Museum of Art acquired four of his prints .
Street photography , however , is a form he ’ s always happy to return to : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , ” he says .
“ It ’ s just me and the camera and no preconceived ideas about what I ’ m going to capture.
” The project has also kept him going creatively .
Cardenas earns a living primarily as an event photographer .
That work has dried up as safer-at-home orders have lingered .
Instead , he has focused his energies on selling prints and working on his photo-a-day project .
In mid-April , the series caught the eye of curators at San Francisco ’ s Tenderloin Museum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evolving online exhibition for Instagram titled “ Shelter in Place.
” “ To be able to still be doing this is great , ” Cardenas says .
“ In a way , this has always been my life : stay home , do a few things , make a few pictures .
Then the next day , do it again — Groundhog Day.
” What follows are images from a few days in the life of L.A. as seen by Cardenas .
Cardenas often sets limitations for himself , maybe shooting only in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In February , he focused exclusively on color portraiture .
On this day , he captured a couple of kids hanging out at the Santa Monica Pier .
He says he was drawn by their magnetism .
“ For this series , ” he says , “ I was just asking for a quick pic and moving on.
” His February portraits represented the last time Cardenas was able to regularly photograph people up close and in color .
By March , he had switched to black and white .
The changeover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ darker : The state of Washington declared a state of emergency and coronavirus infections were beginning to mushroom around the Bay Area .
At this point , his imagery grew more solemn , capturing this string of lights marking a taco truck .
“ Not sure where I was mentally at this point , ” he says .
“ Maybe just foreboding.
” On March 11 , the day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and L.A. County announced its first known death in connection with the virus , Cardenas snapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his backyard .
“ I don ’ t typically do the skyline that you hang by your motivational quotes , ” he explains .
But that day he remembers “ looking at the city with a different weight.
” After shooting black and white for the entire month of March , Cardenas went back to color .
“ I was dying to get some color in my feed , ” he says .
“ I was making myself depressed .
I really wanted to post something that had nothing to do with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Pasadena : a woman in a purple car waiting for the Gold Line to pass .
“ I love this shot because of how happy it made me to have color that day.
” As the weeks have progressed , Cardenas has borne witness to a city that has gone inside itself .
Shuttered gates .
Closed doors .
Empty sidewalks .
At this fast food joint in Alhambra , he captured the pattern of caution tape strung over the dining area .
Besides leaving the house to photograph , he and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dog — sometimes traveling to parks in different neighborhoods so that they can see something new .
It was on one of those excursions that he spied the taped-up tables .
At the moment , when Cardenas photographs people , he does so at a distance — as if the pandemic were forcing a certain aesthetic .
The last few weeks have seen the increasing presence of masks , such as the ones worn by a pair of itinerant musicians sitting on a street corner in Boyle Heights .
“ The title [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a song that is easily on their repertoire from José Alfredo Jiménez , ” Cardenas says of the musicians .
“ At a distance ” is the phrase in English — photography for the age of social distancing .

The plan was simple: take a photo a day, every day, for a year.
For Rafael Cardenas, a Los Angeles photographer known for capturing candid images of life in the city, the plan was a way of staying nimble with his camera — a daily looking exercise that also functions as a visual diary. (He posts one image to his website, rafa.la, every evening.)
The project is also a way of marking an important personal milestone.
Ten years ago, armed with his first professional camera, Cardenas decided he would take pictures in the streets of L.A. every day for a year. Over the 365 days of 2010, he went out every day and didn’t return home until he had at least one image he could post. This was how he became a photographer. In the process, he created a collective portrait of the city, its people, its shifting seasons, its changing light and moods.
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“It’s not always about the best picture,” he says of the images he places online. “Sometimes it’s just the vibe that is hitting me. It’s like, ‘This is what I’m feeling, so I’ll go with this.’”
Little did he know when he launched the new series in January that he would record the unspooling of a pandemic.
In February, Cardenas, who lives in Boyle Heights, was shooting portraits of everyday Angelenos. By the end of March, he was documenting empty streets, taped-up picnic tables and furtive pedestrians, their faces obscured by masks.
“I set out to capture everyday life,” he says, “but this is not everyday life.”
Beyond marking an important professional anniversary, the project is a return to the photographer’s creative roots.
Cardenas may have began his career with a focus on street photography, chronicling the daily drama of living, but in recent years he’s turned his attention to more conceptual projects.
For an ongoing series titled “Backyard Tableaux,” which he showed at the Vincent Price Art Museum in 2018, he captured the intimate gatherings that take place in backyards, primarily on L.A.’s Eastside.
Advertisement
Another project, “Landscapes & Land Dwellers,” connected people with place in diptychs that juxtaposed photographs of people on the street with broad images of landscape. That series was shown at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown L.A., also in 2018.
This spring, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art acquired four of his prints.
Street photography, however, is a form he’s always happy to return to: “This is back to basics, 100%,” he says. “It’s just me and the camera and no preconceived ideas about what I’m going to capture.”
I set out to capture everyday life, but this is not everyday life. — Rafael Cardenas, photographer
The project has also kept him going creatively. Cardenas earns a living primarily as an event photographer. That work has dried up as safer-at-home orders have lingered.
Instead, he has focused his energies on selling prints and working on his photo-a-day project. In mid-April, the series caught the eye of curators at San Francisco’s Tenderloin Museum, which featured a few images in an evolving online exhibition for Instagram titled “Shelter in Place.”
Advertisement
“To be able to still be doing this is great,” Cardenas says. “In a way, this has always been my life: stay home, do a few things, make a few pictures. Then the next day, do it again — Groundhog Day.”
What follows are images from a few days in the life of L.A. as seen by Cardenas.
February 17, 2020
“February 17, 2020 — Faces, Yvonnie and Jairo, Santa Monica” by Rafael Cardenas (Rafael Cardenas)
Cardenas often sets limitations for himself, maybe shooting only in color or only in black and white. In February, he focused exclusively on color portraiture. On this day, he captured a couple of kids hanging out at the Santa Monica Pier. He says he was drawn by their magnetism. “For this series,” he says, “I was just asking for a quick pic and moving on.”
March 7, 2020
“March 7, 2020 — Tacos served here” by Rafael Cardenas (Rafael Cardenas)
His February portraits represented the last time Cardenas was able to regularly photograph people up close and in color. By March, he had switched to black and white. The changeover occurred as the news began to get darker: The state of Washington declared a state of emergency and coronavirus infections were beginning to mushroom around the Bay Area. At this point, his imagery grew more solemn, capturing this string of lights marking a taco truck. “Not sure where I was mentally at this point,” he says. “Maybe just foreboding.”
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March 11, 2020
“March 11, 2020 — Daily Perspective” by Rafael Cardenas. (Rafael Cardenas)
On March 11, the day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and L.A. County announced its first known death in connection with the virus, Cardenas snapped a photo of the downtown skyline from his backyard. “I don’t typically do the skyline that you hang by your motivational quotes,” he explains. But that day he remembers “looking at the city with a different weight.”
April 1, 2020
“April 01, 2020 — Purple Reign” by Rafael Cardenas (Rafael Cardenas)
After shooting black and white for the entire month of March, Cardenas went back to color. “I was dying to get some color in my feed,” he says. “I was making myself depressed. I really wanted to post something that had nothing to do with this pandemic.” He found his shot in South Pasadena: a woman in a purple car waiting for the Gold Line to pass. “I love this shot because of how happy it made me to have color that day.”
April 9, 2020
“April 9, 2020 — Mesa, mesa, mes’ aqui no se sienta” by Rafael Cardenas. (Rafael Cardenas)
As the weeks have progressed, Cardenas has borne witness to a city that has gone inside itself. Shuttered gates. Closed doors. Empty sidewalks. At this fast food joint in Alhambra, he captured the pattern of caution tape strung over the dining area. Besides leaving the house to photograph, he and his girlfriend go out to walk the dog — sometimes traveling to parks in different neighborhoods so that they can see something new. It was on one of those excursions that he spied the taped-up tables.
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April 19, 2020
“April 19, 2020 — La enorme distancia” by Rafael Cardenas. (Rafael Cardenas)
At the moment, when Cardenas photographs people, he does so at a distance — as if the pandemic were forcing a certain aesthetic. The last few weeks have seen the increasing presence of masks, such as the ones worn by a pair of itinerant musicians sitting on a street corner in Boyle Heights. “The title [‘La enorme distancia’] is from a song that is easily on their repertoire from José Alfredo Jiménez,” Cardenas says of the musicians. “At a distance” is the phrase in English — photography for the age of social distancing.


latimes--2020-04-28--Riverside County reports 23 new coronavirus deaths, bringing toll to 141

Riverside County health officials on Monday announced 23 new coronavirus-related deaths — the most reported in a single day since the pandemic began — pushing the county ’ s death toll to 141 .
The dramatic increase in the number of deaths is the result of the county catching up on records from coroner officials .
The 23 fatalities occurred between April 21 and Monday , said John Welsh , a Riverside County spokesman .
Welsh added that the number of fatalities is a reminder that the public should continue staying home as much as possible and practice social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re still seeing people succumb to this virus , ” he said .
“ We still have legitimate concerns for our residents.
” Health officials also reported 80 new coronavirus cases Monday , bringing the county total to 3,643 .
Riverside County is second only to the much more densely populated Los Angeles County in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths .
Of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 , 1,245 people have recovered from the illness , officials said .
There are currently 215 people hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including 75 people in intensive care .
Health officials also continue to see a troubling increase in outbreaks of the virus in nursing homes .
The county has more than 650 confirmed coronavirus cases — roughly 18 % of the county ’ s total number of infections — among patients and staff at assisted living facilities .
The majority of those patient cases — 414 — have been detected at 40 of the county ’ s 53 skilled nursing facilities .
Officials said 49 patients have tested positive at 14 assisted living locations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also been infected , officials said .
Similar infections are occurring at assisted living and skilled nursing facilities across the state .
Those locations have proved challenging for health officials because of the age and health of the residents who live there , as well as their close living conditions .
The state ’ s health department this month issued a partial list of outbreaks at skilled nursing homes in California .
More than 3,500 residents and more than 2,300 healthcare workers have been infected statewide .
As of Tuesday , more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across California since the outbreak began , data show .
“ We have known since the beginning of this response that congregate care facilities would provide one of the biggest challenges , ” Kim Saruwatari , director of Riverside County public health , said in a prepared statement .
“ We responded to the challenge by forming our [ Skilled Nursing Facilities and Outreach Support ] teams who have reached out to most of our facilities to support their efforts .
We also have teams that have helped out with some staffing when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consist of workers from behavioral health , a medical transportation company and other healthcare providers .
The teams target specific regions of the county and work with staff members at each facility to demonstrate proper safety techniques , distribute protective equipment and educate them about COVID-19 .
As of Sunday , the teams have visited 144 facilities and have completed follow-up visits at 10 , county officials said .

A patient is removed from Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Riverside this month after more than three dozen residents tested positive for coronavirus and the nursing staff did not show up for work.
Riverside County health officials on Monday announced 23 new coronavirus-related deaths — the most reported in a single day since the pandemic began — pushing the county’s death toll to 141.
The dramatic increase in the number of deaths is the result of the county catching up on records from coroner officials. The 23 fatalities occurred between April 21 and Monday, said John Welsh, a Riverside County spokesman.
Welsh added that the number of fatalities is a reminder that the public should continue staying home as much as possible and practice social distancing to slow the spread of the virus.
“We’re still seeing people succumb to this virus,” he said. “We still have legitimate concerns for our residents.”
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Health officials also reported 80 new coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the county total to 3,643. Riverside County is second only to the much more densely populated Los Angeles County in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, 1,245 people have recovered from the illness, officials said. There are currently 215 people hospitalized for the coronavirus in Riverside County, including 75 people in intensive care.
Health officials also continue to see a troubling increase in outbreaks of the virus in nursing homes. The county has more than 650 confirmed coronavirus cases — roughly 18% of the county’s total number of infections — among patients and staff at assisted living facilities.
The majority of those patient cases — 414 — have been detected at 40 of the county’s 53 skilled nursing facilities. Officials said 49 patients have tested positive at 14 assisted living locations. More than 200 staff members have also been infected, officials said.
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Similar infections are occurring at assisted living and skilled nursing facilities across the state. Those locations have proved challenging for health officials because of the age and health of the residents who live there, as well as their close living conditions.
The state’s health department this month issued a partial list of outbreaks at skilled nursing homes in California. More than 3,500 residents and more than 2,300 healthcare workers have been infected statewide. As of Tuesday, more than 500 residents in those facilities have died across California since the outbreak began, data show.
“We have known since the beginning of this response that congregate care facilities would provide one of the biggest challenges,” Kim Saruwatari, director of Riverside County public health, said in a prepared statement.
“We responded to the challenge by forming our [Skilled Nursing Facilities and Outreach Support] teams who have reached out to most of our facilities to support their efforts. We also have teams that have helped out with some staffing when it was appropriate.”
The four teams consist of workers from behavioral health, a medical transportation company and other healthcare providers. The teams target specific regions of the county and work with staff members at each facility to demonstrate proper safety techniques, distribute protective equipment and educate them about COVID-19.
As of Sunday, the teams have visited 144 facilities and have completed follow-up visits at 10, county officials said.


latimes--2020-04-28--California could begin new school year as early as July, Gov. Newsom says

The academic year could start in July or early August to address learning losses brought on by coronavirus-forced school closures that have affected about 6.1 million California students , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Tuesday .
“ We recognize there ’ s been a learning loss because of this disruption .
We ’ re concerned about that learning loss even into the summer , ” Newsom said .
“ Our kids have lost a lot with this disruption ... .
And you can either , you know , roll over and just accept that or you can do something about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking.
” It ’ s unclear whether campuses would physically reopen or online learning would resume as part of an early start to the academic year .
“ The governor ’ s office is looking at the health criteria for the physical reopening of schools and child-care centers and the criteria for what schools would need to do , once open , to maintain health and safety , ” state Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond said in an email .
“ The possibility that this could happen in some communities this summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being evaluated.
” Dr. Sonia Angell , director of the California Department of Public Health , said reopening child-care centers is also important for parents .
“ As we open up schools , as we make sure that child care is more broadly available , it also makes it more possible for parents to go back to work , ” Angell said .
California schools have been closed since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic .
State officials have not specified a date for reopening or how campuses will be reconfigured for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff .
“ We have made no decisions definitively in that space , but I just want folks to know the concern around learning loss , ” Newsom said .
“ Having talked to many other parents and educators , even the kids , I think we might want to consider getting that school year moved up a little bit.
” The magnitude of learning loss because of coronavirus school closures is unclear , researchers said .
A brief this month applied summer learning loss research to the current pandemic .
In one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could experience a “ COVID-19 slowdown , ” in which students would not see gains or losses in reading and math from mid-March until the fall .
In another more troubling landscape students would suffer a “ COVID-19 slide , ” in which they return in fall 2020 with 70 % of the learning gains in reading that they would typically see in a school year , and less than 50 % in math .
“ We ’ re kind of assuming ... in the slowdown projection that new materials are being offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the rate that it should , ” said Megan Kuhfeld , a research scientist at the NWEA and coauthor of the brief .
“ You think about the long game ... this is potentially a COVID-19 generation that is going to be playing catch-up for many years , ” said coauthor and NWEA ’ s executive vice president of research , Beth Tarasawa .
L.A. Unified Supt .
Austin Beutner said during his Monday briefing that schools will open gradually but that the “ school day may be different.
” First , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ robust system of testing and contact tracing.
” “ Our 75,000-plus employees serve the needs of almost 700,000 students who live with another couple of million people , ” Beutner said .
“ Will testing be available for all of these individuals and who will pay for it ?
That ’ s the sort of challenge which lies ahead.
” Still , he acknowledged the difference between distance learning and classroom attendance .
“ Twenty-five days absent from our schools .
In ordinary times we would be working overtime to help any student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get back on track , ” Beutner said .
“ In these most extraordinary of times , we ’ re doing our best to make sure all students are connected to their school community and kept on track with learning.
” Times staff writers John Myers and Howard Blume contributed to this report .

The academic year could start in late July or early August to address learning losses brought on by coronavirus-forced school closures affecting about 6.1 million California students, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday.
“We recognize there’s been a learning loss because of this disruption. We’re concerned about that learning loss even into the summer,” Newsom said. “Our kids have lost a lot with this disruption.... And you can either, you know, roll over and just accept that or you can do something about it.”
Newsom’s schools announcement came during his briefing about California’s four-phase plan to gradually reopen. The governor said the state is currently in the first phase. The second phase, which would allow select “lower risk” businesses to reopen and loosen limits on access to public spaces, might include a plan for physically reopening some K-12 campuses to offer summer school programs or consider an earlier start to the new school year.
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“If this is going to work, there are some major questions we will have to answer,” state Supt of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in a statement. Among them — how to keep everyone on campuses safe and healthy? How will schools pay for teachers and resources to facilitate the smaller class sizes that social distancing requires?
“Clearly, for now, we still have more questions than answers. But now is the time for us to problem-solve and plan for the future,” Thurmond said.
Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, said reopening child-care centers is also important for parents as they return to work, but facilities will probably operate differently to accommodate safety issues.
California schools have been closed since mid-March because of the coronavirus outbreak. State officials have not specified a date for reopening or how campuses will be reconfigured for the health and safety of students and staff.
“We have made no decisions definitively in that space, but I just want folks to know the concern around learning loss,” Newsom said. “Having talked to many other parents and educators, even the kids, I think we might want to consider getting that school year moved up a little bit.”
The magnitude of learning loss because of coronavirus school closures is unclear, researchers said. A brief this month applied summer learning loss research to the current pandemic. In one scenario, the report found that students could experience a “COVID-19 slowdown,” in which they would not see gains or losses in reading and math from mid-March until the fall.
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In another, more troubling landscape, students would suffer a “COVID-19 slide,” in which they return in the fall with 70% of the learning gains in reading that they would typically see in a school year, and less than 50% in math.
“We’re kind of assuming ... in the slowdown projection that new materials are being offered but the new learning is not continuing at the rate that it should,” said Megan Kuhfeld, a research scientist at the NWEA and coauthor of the brief.
“You think about the long game ... this is potentially a COVID-19 generation that is going to be playing catch-up for many years,” said coauthor Beth Tarasawa, NWEA’s executive vice president of research.
Some local officials said they were not expecting Newsom’s remarks and were caught off-guard. An early start, they said, could be complicated logistically, financially and academically — especially with expected budget cuts and concerns about equity among low-income students and those with disabilities.
“July would be problematic for all school districts that already have plans to implement summer school,”
said Compton Unified School District Supt. Darin Brawley. Schools use their summer classes to help students with special needs and those who need remedial classes.
In L.A. Unified, the school board approves the academic calendar but an extended school year would require union negotiation.
“Gov. Newsom outlined six very sensible metrics — such as the availability of therapeutics to deal with COVID-19 and drastically increased testing and contact tracing capacity — that would determine when it would be appropriate to lift the pandemic protections. We should meet those metrics before setting unrealistic timelines,” said Alex Caputo-Pearl, president of the L.A. Unified teachers union, United Teachers Los Angeles.
“Our 75,000-plus employees serve the needs of almost 700,000 students who live with another couple of million people,” L.A. Unified Supt. Austin Beutner said Monday. “Will testing be available for all of these individuals and who will pay for it? That’s the sort of challenge which lies ahead.”
Schools are preparing for a very different reality when they do return. L.A. County Office of Education, home to 80 school districts, has convened a task force of school superintendents from across the county “to build a framework for reopening campuses this summer or fall,” according to a statement.
Officials at Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified were coincidentally holding their own such Zoom planning meeting as the governor was speaking.
Assistant Supt. Brenna Terrones took stock of the needed supplies: Alcohol and Lysol-type products have been nearly impossible to find. The district has 16 boxes of surgical masks for health staff. An order of face masks is supposed to arrive in mid-May — opinions differed on whether they should be mandated. There’s probably a six-month supply of gloves. Thermometers are on back order.
Supt. Alexander Cherniss asked whether the district should install portable hand-washing stations and require students to wash their hands several times a day.
“Can we legally take their temperature before they enter campus” with no-touch thermometers? he asked. The answer was murky — yes for adults in a pandemic, said Diane K. Wagener, a health statistics and policy specialist in attendance. But she was not immediately certain about the legal parameters regarding students. Many children could be infectious without showing symptoms, she pointed out.
While school board President Suzanne Seymour said having 30 to 35 students in class would be a “tough sell” for parents, Cherniss said reducing class size for safety reasons or to offer more academic support “was almost an impossible task.”
“Principals, please start thinking about ways to reduce class size, ways to alter schedules,” he said. “Start thinking about those kinds of concepts.”
Times staff writer John Myers in Sacramento and Paloma Esquivel in Los Angeles contributed to this report.