latimes--2020-02-28--UC Santa Cruz fires 54 graduate student workers striking for higher pay

UC Santa Cruz fired 54 graduate student workers who were on strike demanding higher pay to afford the area ’ s high cost of living .
As part of a “ wildcat strike , ” about 200 teaching assistants decided in December to withhold fall quarter grades after months of back and forth with campus administrators .
They demanded an increase in pay of $ 1,412 a month .
The strike is not backed by the union that represents the university ’ s graduate student employees .
Tension between student workers , the campus and University of California administrators heightened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Students escalated the grade strike in early February to a full work stoppage , declining to teach , hold office hours , conduct research or post grades .
at a campus protest Feb. 12 , and UC Santa Cruz and the UC president published a series of letters online over the last month warning student workers they would be disciplined if they failed to submit grades .
On Monday , UC Santa Cruz told teaching assistants it would check for the withheld grades later in the week .
The campus sent letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 54 students .
An estimated 30 other students who had yet to secure spring teaching jobs were told they would not be eligible for the positions , student activists said .
Housing is expensive in Santa Cruz , and student workers have a difficult time living on the typical stipend of $ 2,400 a month before taxes , said Veronica Hamilton , vice president of UC Santa Cruz ’ s graduate student association and chair of the campus ’ unit of UAW Local 2865 , the union for more than 19,000 student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost-of-living-adjustment movement has spread to other UC campuses .
UC Santa Barbara graduate students for a full strike , and UC Davis students decided Thursday to withhold student grades for the winter quarter until the university raises their housing supplement .
Students from across the 10-campus UC system have held rallies in support of student workers at UC Santa Cruz .
UC Santa Cruz spokesman Scott Hernandez-Jason said in a statement that 96 % of grades were submitted and the “ vast majority ” of graduate students have returned to work , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by withholding grades for undergraduate students in a way that unfairly impairs their education.
” Among those fired Friday was Brenda Arjona , a third-year doctoral student in anthropology who has a 10-year-old son and lives in student family housing .
She ’ s still trying to figure out what being fired will mean for her status as a student .
As a teaching assistant , she doesn ’ t pay tuition , and Arjona said there ’ s no way she can pay thousands of dollars of tuition out of pocket , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a leave of absence from the school .
“ I ’ m struggling for basic needs such as toilet paper , buying my son milk , ” said Arjona , who pays about $ 1,700 a month in rent out of the $ 2,200 she receives after taxes .
“ If there ’ s an emergency , I have truly nothing to fall back on.
” She had known losing her job was a possibility but wanted to keep pushing on with the strike .
“ I should not have to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hernandez-Jason said UC Santa Cruz ’ s administration has worked to hear and address teaching assistants ’ concerns .
“ UCSC leadership is well aware of the housing crisis in Santa Cruz and has made numerous good faith efforts to offer solutions and assist our TAs , ” Hernandez-Jason said in an email .
Those efforts include an annual $ 2,500 housing supplement until more campus housing becomes available for graduate students and two temporary housing assistance programs for graduate students .
The campus ’ chancellor also announced a joint working group to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student support , Hernandez-Jason said .
Hamilton said the $ 2,500 supplement offered by the university after negotiations this year provides students with only an extra $ 200 a month , which does not do much to fix the problem .
She said students shouldn ’ t have to relinquish their only leverage for the university to come to the table .
“ They shouldn ’ t fire anybody , ” said Hamilton , who is a graduate student teaching assistant but was not among those fired .
She pays $ 1,800 a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from campus in a cabin with no heat .
“ People are telling them they ’ re homeless , and they won ’ t have a substantive conversation.
” The UC system ’ s four-year contract with the union , which expires in 2022 , includes “ fair pay and excellent benefits , ” UC spokesman Andrew Gordon said in a statement .
“ Reopening the contract would defeat the purpose of a signed agreement and would be unfair to all the other UC unions as well as nearly 90,000 represented employees at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bargaining agreements , ” he said .
Hamilton said that the contract ’ s terms were inadequate and that although it was ratified UC-wide , 83 % of student employees at UC Santa Cruz voted against it at the time .
On Feb. 14 , the campus ’ provost sent an message saying that the student workers participating in the grading strike had until Feb. 21 to submit missing grades and that those who did not would not receive spring quarter jobs as teaching assistants , or would be dismissed from their spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , UC President Janet Napolitano addressed to faculty , staff and students saying teaching assistants would be fired if they continued to withhold grades .
“ Holding undergraduate grades hostage and refusing to carry out contracted teaching responsibilities is the wrong way to go .
Therefore , participation in the wildcat strike will have consequences , up to and including the termination of existing employment at the University , ” Napolitano wrote .
“ We urge the striking TAs to turn in their grades and return to the classroom.
” The UC system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday alleging the union failed to take the steps required by the collective bargaining agreement to stop the strike by teaching assistants at UC Santa Cruz .
In response , UAW 2865 filed its own unfair-labor-practice charge Thursday against the UC system alleging that it refused to meet with the union to negotiate a cost of living adjustment that has been the focus of actions across the state and the wildcat strike at UC Santa Cruz .
“ I ’ m staying optimistic that we can continue to galvanize people on other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arjona said .

UC Santa Cruz fired 54 graduate student workers who were on strike demanding higher pay to afford the area’s high cost of living.
As part of a “wildcat strike,” about 200 teaching assistants decided in December to withhold fall quarter grades after months of back and forth with campus administrators. They demanded an increase in pay of $1,412 a month. The strike is not backed by the union that represents the university’s graduate student employees.
Tension between student workers, the campus and University of California administrators heightened dramatically in recent weeks as talks floundered. Students escalated the grade strike in early February to a full work stoppage, declining to teach, hold office hours, conduct research or post grades. Seventeen students were arrested at a campus protest Feb. 12, and UC Santa Cruz and the UC president published a series of letters online over the last month warning student workers they would be disciplined if they failed to submit grades.
On Monday, UC Santa Cruz told teaching assistants it would check for the withheld grades later in the week. The campus sent letters of intent to dismiss Friday around noon to 54 students. An estimated 30 other students who had yet to secure spring teaching jobs were told they would not be eligible for the positions, student activists said.
Housing is expensive in Santa Cruz, and student workers have a difficult time living on the typical stipend of $2,400 a month before taxes, said Veronica Hamilton, vice president of UC Santa Cruz’s graduate student association and chair of the campus’ unit of UAW Local 2865, the union for more than 19,000 student workers at the UC system.
The cost-of-living-adjustment movement has spread to other UC campuses.
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UC Santa Barbara graduate students voted Monday for a full strike, and UC Davis students decided Thursday to withhold student grades for the winter quarter until the university raises their housing supplement. Students from across the 10-campus UC system have held rallies in support of student workers at UC Santa Cruz.
UC Santa Cruz spokesman Scott Hernandez-Jason said in a statement that 96% of grades were submitted and the “vast majority” of graduate students have returned to work, but 54 students continued to “disrupt campus by withholding grades for undergraduate students in a way that unfairly impairs their education.”
Among those fired Friday was Brenda Arjona, a third-year doctoral student in anthropology who has a 10-year-old son and lives in student family housing. She’s still trying to figure out what being fired will mean for her status as a student.
As a teaching assistant, she doesn’t pay tuition, and Arjona said there’s no way she can pay thousands of dollars of tuition out of pocket, so she may have to withdraw or take a leave of absence from the school.
“I’m struggling for basic needs such as toilet paper, buying my son milk,” said Arjona, who pays about $1,700 a month in rent out of the $2,200 she receives after taxes. “If there’s an emergency, I have truly nothing to fall back on.”
She had known losing her job was a possibility but wanted to keep pushing on with the strike. “I should not have to live this way,” Arjona said.
Hernandez-Jason said UC Santa Cruz’s administration has worked to hear and address teaching assistants’ concerns.
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“UCSC leadership is well aware of the housing crisis in Santa Cruz and has made numerous good faith efforts to offer solutions and assist our TAs,” Hernandez-Jason said in an email.
Those efforts include an annual $2,500 housing supplement until more campus housing becomes available for graduate students and two temporary housing assistance programs for graduate students. The campus’ chancellor also announced a joint working group to develop “appropriate and sustainable” graduate student support, Hernandez-Jason said.
Hamilton said the $2,500 supplement offered by the university after negotiations this year provides students with only an extra $200 a month, which does not do much to fix the problem. She said students shouldn’t have to relinquish their only leverage for the university to come to the table.
“They shouldn’t fire anybody,” said Hamilton, who is a graduate student teaching assistant but was not among those fired. She pays $1,800 a month to live a 40-minute drive away from campus in a cabin with no heat. “People are telling them they’re homeless, and they won’t have a substantive conversation.”
The UC system’s four-year contract with the union, which expires in 2022, includes “fair pay and excellent benefits,” UC spokesman Andrew Gordon said in a statement.
“Reopening the contract would defeat the purpose of a signed agreement and would be unfair to all the other UC unions as well as nearly 90,000 represented employees at the University who do adhere to collective bargaining agreements,” he said.
Hamilton said that the contract’s terms were inadequate and that although it was ratified UC-wide, 83% of student employees at UC Santa Cruz voted against it at the time.
On Feb. 14, the campus’ provost sent an message saying that the student workers participating in the grading strike had until Feb. 21 to submit missing grades and that those who did not would not receive spring quarter jobs as teaching assistants, or would be dismissed from their spring quarter appointments.
On the same day, UC President Janet Napolitano sent a letter addressed to faculty, staff and students saying teaching assistants would be fired if they continued to withhold grades.
“Holding undergraduate grades hostage and refusing to carry out contracted teaching responsibilities is the wrong way to go. Therefore, participation in the wildcat strike will have consequences, up to and including the termination of existing employment at the University,” Napolitano wrote. “We urge the striking TAs to turn in their grades and return to the classroom.”
The UC system filed an unfair-labor-practice charge against UAW 2865 on Tuesday alleging the union failed to take the steps required by the collective bargaining agreement to stop the strike by teaching assistants at UC Santa Cruz.
In response, UAW 2865 filed its own unfair-labor-practice charge Thursday against the UC system alleging that it refused to meet with the union to negotiate a cost of living adjustment that has been the focus of actions across the state and the wildcat strike at UC Santa Cruz.
“I’m staying optimistic that we can continue to galvanize people on other campuses and spread this movement,” Arjona said.


latimes--2020-02-28--Lack of accurate coronavirus tests sets back effort to limit infections

For weeks , federal health officials told states that only the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a few other public labs could test patients for the new coronavirus .
That was because test kits that the CDC had sent to state and local labs across the country to do their own screening had a flaw that caused inaccurate results .
“ It was a malfunctioning chemical , ” said Kelly Wroblewski , director of infectious disease programs at the Assn .
of Public Health Laboratories .
Now , officials say they have made changes so that California labs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country will be able to start testing for the virus .
The lack of tests for the coronavirus was made clear this week when a patient was diagnosed with the virus who had not traveled or been in contact with anyone infected .
Doctors who treated the woman at UC Davis Medical Center said they had asked the CDC to test the woman but then waited days for that to happen .
The CDC ’ s flawed test kits stalled the surveillance testing that federal officials had said Feb. 14 would begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three other cities .
CDC officials said then that the surveillance tests were aimed at finding patients in the community who had been unknowingly infected with the virus .
But by Thursday , fewer than 500 tests had been performed in the U.S. , according to the CDC .
In comparison , South Korea says it has been testing thousands of people a day .
“ If you test less than 500 people , you can ’ t say at all what is going on , ” said Michael Osterholm , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Policy at the University of Minnesota .
Osterholm said the delay in testing could mean that many cases have gone undetected .
“ The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence , ” he said .
“ I expect a sizable jump in cases in the next few weeks.
” Said Wroblewski , “ It ’ s unfortunate there was a delay with testing .
Earlier is always better , but we were waiting for a quality test.
” Some state and local labs wanted to use their own tests they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But that was not possible after the federal government declared the coronavirus , known as COVID-19 , a public health emergency at the end of January .
After the emergency declaration , any test had to receive authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration to ensure its accuracy .
After an appeal from the public labs association , federal officials said Thursday they were making changes so that 40 state and local labs would be able to test for the virus .
Wroblewski explained that the original test had three parts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing more broadly for coronaviruses and not just for COVID-19 , gave off false readings .
She said some labs will now be able to use the test without using the third part .
At the same time , the CDC has modified the test and is manufacturing new kits that it will soon be sending to public labs .
She said she does not believe the test is less accurate when just two of the three parts are used .
Officials hope the 40 labs will be able to test for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would allow an estimated 4,000 tests a day , Wroblewski said .
“ We ’ re in a position to start the surveillance testing , I hope.
” Wroblewski said the association ’ s goal is to have 100 public labs performing the tests , which would allow 10,000 patients to be tested each day .
State officials said late Friday they expected to get a shipment of test kits to initially cover 1,200 people .
Some commercial labs are also working to develop tests for COVID-19 , said Julie Khani , president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But only the CDC and other public labs are authorized to test for the virus in the U.S. “ At this time , commercial laboratories are not collecting , processing or transporting specimens from patients suspected of having , or confirmed to have , COVID-19 , ” Khani said .

An illustration of the COVID-19 coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For weeks, federal health officials told states that only the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a few other public labs could test patients for the new coronavirus.
That was because test kits that the CDC had sent to state and local labs across the country to do their own screening had a flaw that caused inaccurate results.
“It was a malfunctioning chemical,” said Kelly Wroblewski, director of infectious disease programs at the Assn. of Public Health Laboratories.
Now, officials say they have made changes so that California labs and three dozen other public labs across the country will be able to start testing for the virus.
The lack of tests for the coronavirus was made clear this week when a patient was diagnosed with the virus who had not traveled or been in contact with anyone infected. Doctors who treated the woman at UC Davis Medical Center said they had asked the CDC to test the woman but then waited days for that to happen.
The CDC’s flawed test kits stalled the surveillance testing that federal officials had said Feb. 14 would begin in Los Angeles, San Francisco and three other cities. CDC officials said then that the surveillance tests were aimed at finding patients in the community who had been unknowingly infected with the virus.
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But by Thursday, fewer than 500 tests had been performed in the U.S., according to the CDC. In comparison, South Korea says it has been testing thousands of people a day.
“If you test less than 500 people, you can’t say at all what is going on,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
Osterholm said the delay in testing could mean that many cases have gone undetected. “The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence,” he said. “I expect a sizable jump in cases in the next few weeks.”
Said Wroblewski, “It’s unfortunate there was a delay with testing. Earlier is always better, but we were waiting for a quality test.”
Some state and local labs wanted to use their own tests they had developed in-house, Wroblewski said. But that was not possible after the federal government declared the coronavirus, known as COVID-19, a public health emergency at the end of January. After the emergency declaration, any test had to receive authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration to ensure its accuracy.
After an appeal from the public labs association, federal officials said Thursday they were making changes so that 40 state and local labs would be able to test for the virus.
Wroblewski explained that the original test had three parts. The problematic third part, aimed at testing more broadly for coronaviruses and not just for COVID-19, gave off false readings. She said some labs will now be able to use the test without using the third part. At the same time, the CDC has modified the test and is manufacturing new kits that it will soon be sending to public labs.
She said she does not believe the test is less accurate when just two of the three parts are used.
Officials hope the 40 labs will be able to test for the virus by early next week — which would allow an estimated 4,000 tests a day, Wroblewski said. “We’re in a position to start the surveillance testing, I hope.”
Wroblewski said the association’s goal is to have 100 public labs performing the tests, which would allow 10,000 patients to be tested each day.
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State officials said late Friday they expected to get a shipment of test kits to initially cover 1,200 people.
Some commercial labs are also working to develop tests for COVID-19, said Julie Khani, president of the American Clinical Laboratory Assn.
But only the CDC and other public labs are authorized to test for the virus in the U.S.
“At this time, commercial laboratories are not collecting, processing or transporting specimens from patients suspected of having, or confirmed to have, COVID-19,” Khani said.


latimes--2020-02-28--Westlands Water District gets permanent U.S. contract for massive irrigation deliveries

The Interior Department on Friday awarded the nation ’ s largest farm water district a permanent entitlement to annual irrigation deliveries that amount to roughly twice as much water as the nearly 4 million residents of Los Angeles use in a year .
Gaining a permanent contract for so much cheap Central Valley Project water represents a major milestone for Westlands Water District , which supplies some of the state ’ s wealthiest growers and has long-standing ties to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt .
But the new pact , which would take effect June 1 , provides no refuge for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wars .
The district , which has rarely received its full contract amount in recent decades , will remain low in the federal project ’ s pecking order and will continue to be among the first cut in times of shortage .
The deal won ’ t end battles over the environmental impacts of massive water diversions from the source of Westlands ’ supplies , Northern California ’ s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta .
The contract won ’ t change the fact that about half of the district ’ s land is plagued by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selenium that can poison wildlife when it accumulates in wastewater from Westlands ’ irrigated fields .
And it won ’ t head off more lawsuits from critics who scored legal points in challenges of Westlands similarly-sized , short-term contracts .
The district is one of more than 75 Central Valley Project customers — most of them farm irrigation districts — that are taking advantage of a 2016 law to convert water service contracts that require periodic renewal to agreements that permanently lock in delivery entitlements and other terms .
The U.S. Bureau of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also signed permanent contracts on Friday with a handful of municipal districts that it supplies .
“ Completing these contracts is a big win-win for our contractors and the American public , ” regional reclamation director Ernest Conant said in a statement .
“ The federal government will receive early payment of over $ 200 million , which Congress directed should be used for much-needed storage projects.
” The 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act , known as the WIIN Act , opened the door for reclamation contractors across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repaid what they still owe U.S. taxpayers for construction of a federal water project .
The Central Valley Project is the largest water supply-system in the country .
Conceived in the 1930s and built over the next several decades by the federal government , the network of tall dams , big reservoirs and wide canals stretches 450 miles from the Redding region to Bakersfield .
The project ’ s supply of cheap , government subsidized water helped turn the arid scrublands of the San Joaquin Valley into a highly productive and profitable food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flows to the fields of large growers and agricultural corporations rather than the small family farms envisioned in the 1902 Reclamation Act has made the project the subject of periodic reform attempts and enduring criticism .
There is no project contractor as controversial as Westlands , which covers more than 1,000 thinly-populated square miles on the San Joaquin Valley ’ s sun-soaked west side .
The district started taking federal irrigation deliveries in the 1960s .
Westlands has a history of filing lawsuits to block endangered species protections that have curbed delta deliveries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Westlands as a Washington lawyer and lobbyist before joining the Trump administration — argued one of those cases .
To foes , the district ’ s huge water contract , legacy of tainted field drainage and circumvention of federal reclamation law are emblematic of the shortcomings of federal irrigation policy .
When large landowners in Westlands broke up their holdings to meet acreage limits on the delivery of taxpayer-subsidized water , the cropland was often spread among extended family members and their trusts .
Westlands says it supplies 700 “ family-owned multi-generational farms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 875 acres — which is under the 960-acre limit .
But University of California researchers in 2011 found 350 farm networks “ grouped by common ownership.
” Growers will no longer have to worry about such restrictions , which are dropped when contractors pay off their construction debt .
Last year Westlands general manager Tom Birmingham said the district owed the government $ 320.5 million .
In response to recent questions from The Times , the reclamation bureau said that sum represented Westlands construction debt as of September 2016 .
Westlands ’ payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an estimated $ 202 million , said Shane Hunt , acting public affairs officer for the bureau .
Fishing and environmental groups have for years contended that the federal government should cut the size of Westlands ’ contract , which at 1.15 million acre feet , is the largest in the Central Valley Project network .
They argue that Westlands has already taken roughly 100,000 acres out of production because of drainage problems and water shortages , and may have to retire more cropland .
They further note that neither the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program to fully deal with selenium-tainted wastewater from Westlands fields , which in the early 1980s poisoned waterfowl at the Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge .
The groups won a favorable court ruling in 2016 , when the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the reclamation bureau should have considered reducing the contract quantity when it renewed a series of short-term Westlands contracts .
That case is still pending and may be rendered moot by the new pact .
Reclamation officials have said they do not have to conduct a review of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WINN Act directs the agency to issue them .
Not so , said attorney Stephan Volker , who represents tribal and salmon fishing groups who filed earlier challenges .
“ We will be in court again and I ’ m optimistic that we will overturn that unlawful approval , ” he said .
“ The Bureau of Reclamation has never conducted an adequate [ environmental ] review that would identify the host of devastating impacts on the delta and its fish and wildlife that results in taking 1.2 million acre feet annually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to corporate farmers to apply to poisoned lands , ” Volker argued .
Birmingham said last year that even if the district took a third of its 600,000 acres out of production , growers who have expanded plantings of almond and pistachio trees would continue to need full deliveries .
He also dismissed suggestions that the permanent entitlement positions the district to go into the water sales business .
“ To date Westlands hasn ’ t sold any water outside of its district .
We don ’ t sell the water for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Interior Department on Friday awarded the nation’s largest farm water district a permanent entitlement to annual irrigation deliveries that amount to roughly twice as much water as the nearly 4 million residents of Los Angeles use in a year.
Gaining a permanent contract for so much cheap Central Valley Project water represents a major milestone for Westlands Water District, which supplies some of the state’s wealthiest growers and has long-standing ties to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.
But the new pact, which would take effect June 1, provides no refuge for Westlands from California’s acrimonious water wars.
The district, which has rarely received its full contract amount in recent decades, will remain low in the federal project’s pecking order and will continue to be among the first cut in times of shortage.
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The deal won’t end battles over the environmental impacts of massive water diversions from the source of Westlands’ supplies, Northern California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
The contract won’t change the fact that about half of the district’s land is plagued by bad drainage and laced with naturally occurring selenium that can poison wildlife when it accumulates in wastewater from Westlands’ irrigated fields.
And it won’t head off more lawsuits from critics who scored legal points in challenges of Westlands similarly-sized, short-term contracts.
The district is one of more than 75 Central Valley Project customers — most of them farm irrigation districts — that are taking advantage of a 2016 law to convert water service contracts that require periodic renewal to agreements that permanently lock in delivery entitlements and other terms.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which runs the federal project, also signed permanent contracts on Friday with a handful of municipal districts that it supplies.
“Completing these contracts is a big win-win for our contractors and the American public,” regional reclamation director Ernest Conant said in a statement. “The federal government will receive early payment of over $200 million, which Congress directed should be used for much-needed storage projects.”
The 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, known as the WIIN Act, opened the door for reclamation contractors across the West to get permanent contracts if they repaid what they still owe U.S. taxpayers for construction of a federal water project.
Advertisement
The Central Valley Project is the largest water supply system in the country. Conceived in the 1930s and built over the next several decades by the federal government, the network of tall dams, big reservoirs and wide canals stretches 450 miles from the Redding region to Bakersfield.
The project’s supply of cheap, government subsidized water helped turn the arid scrublands of the San Joaquin Valley into a highly productive and profitable food factory.
That much of the water flows to the fields of large growers and agricultural corporations rather than the small family farms envisioned in the 1902 Reclamation Act has made the project the subject of periodic reform attempts and enduring criticism.
There is no project contractor as controversial as Westlands, which covers more than 1,000 thinly-populated square miles on the San Joaquin Valley’s sun-soaked west side. The district started taking federal irrigation deliveries in the 1960s.
California Amid California’s drought, a bruising battle for cheap water The signs appear about 200 miles north of Los Angeles, tacked onto old farm wagons parked along quiet two-lane roads and bustling Interstate 5.
Westlands has a history of filing lawsuits to block endangered species protections that have curbed delta deliveries. Bernhardt — who for years represented Westlands as a Washington lawyer and lobbyist before joining the Trump administration — argued one of those cases.
To foes, the district’s huge water contract, legacy of tainted field drainage and circumvention of federal reclamation law are emblematic of the shortcomings of federal irrigation policy.
When large landowners in Westlands broke up their holdings to meet acreage limits on the delivery of taxpayer-subsidized water, the cropland was often spread among extended family members and their trusts.
Westlands says it supplies 700 “family-owned multi-generational farms,” with an average size of 875 acres — which is under the 960-acre limit. But University of California researchers in 2011 found 350 farm networks “grouped by common ownership.”
Growers will no longer have to worry about such restrictions, which are dropped when contractors pay off their construction debt.
Last year Westlands general manager Tom Birmingham said the district owed the government $320.5 million. In response to recent questions from The Times, the reclamation bureau said that sum represented Westlands construction debt as of September 2016.
Westlands’ payments since then have whittled the remaining debt to an estimated $202 million, said Shane Hunt, acting public affairs officer for the bureau.
Fishing and environmental groups have for years contended that the federal government should cut the size of Westlands’ contract, which at 1.15 million acre-feet is the largest in the Central Valley Project network.
They argue that Westlands has already taken roughly 100,000 acres out of production because of drainage problems and water shortages, and may have to retire more cropland.
They further note that neither the district nor the federal government has adopted a program to fully deal with selenium-tainted wastewater from Westlands fields, which in the early 1980s poisoned waterfowl at the Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge.
The groups won a favorable court ruling in 2016, when the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the reclamation bureau should have considered reducing the contract quantity when it renewed a series of short-term Westlands contracts. That case is still pending and may be rendered moot by the new pact.
Reclamation officials have said they do not have to conduct a review of the environmental impacts of granting permanent contracts because the WINN Act directs the agency to issue them.
Not so, said attorney Stephan Volker, who represents tribal and salmon fishing groups who filed earlier challenges. “We will be in court again and I’m optimistic that we will overturn that unlawful approval,” he said.
“The Bureau of Reclamation has never conducted an adequate [environmental] review that would identify the host of devastating impacts on the delta and its fish and wildlife that results in taking 1.2 million acre feet annually out of that beleaguered system and giving it to corporate farmers to apply to poisoned lands,” Volker argued.
Birmingham said last year that even if the district took a third of its 600,000 acres out of production, growers who have expanded plantings of almond and pistachio trees would continue to need full deliveries.
He also dismissed suggestions that the permanent entitlement positions the district to go into the water sales business.
“To date Westlands hasn’t sold any water outside of its district. We don’t sell the water for a handsome profit,” he said.


latimes--2020-02-28--South Korean flight attendant developed coronavirus symptoms after leaving Los Angeles

A South Korean flight attendant who was diagnosed with novel coronavirus in her home country was not symptomatic during a recent visit to Los Angeles County and posed no health risk to others while here , public health officials said Friday .
South Korean news media had reported that the flight attendant might have worked flights between Seoul and Los Angeles .
But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that she did not develop symptoms until after she left Los Angeles , the county Department of Public Health said in a statement .
There are no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in the county and no evidence of person-to-person spread , according to the statement , which noted that the immediate health risk from exposure remains low .
But officials said more cases of coronavirus are likely to occur here , amid other respiratory illnesses such as the flu .
“ Respiratory infections predominantly spread when people are sick with fever and cough [ and ] are in contact with others , ” said Barbara Ferrer , county public health director .
“ Everyone should stay at home when they ’ re sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be flexible when staff and students are sick and need to stay home .
”

A South Korean flight attendant who was diagnosed with novel coronavirus in her home country was not symptomatic during a recent visit to Los Angeles County and posed no health risk to others while here, public health officials said Friday.
South Korean news media had reported that the flight attendant might have worked flights between Seoul and Los Angeles. But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that she did not develop symptoms until after she left Los Angeles, the county Department of Public Health said in a statement.
There are no new cases of coronavirus, or COVID-19, in the county and no evidence of person-to-person spread, according to the statement, which noted that the immediate health risk from exposure remains low. But officials said more cases of coronavirus are likely to occur here, amid other respiratory illnesses such as the flu.
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“Respiratory infections predominantly spread when people are sick with fever and cough [and] are in contact with others,” said Barbara Ferrer, county public health director. “Everyone should stay at home when they’re sick. This requires our employers and schools to be flexible when staff and students are sick and need to stay home.”


latimes--2020-02-28--Three UC Davis students quarantined as officials grapple with coronavirus danger

This section of Nothern California has become the center of the U.S. effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus , sparking concerns from some while others say they think it is important to go on with their lives .
Authorities are searching for people who might have come in contact with a woman believed to be the country ’ s first coronavirus patient who did not recently travel to China or have contact with someone who did .
The patient is from Solano County and was treated at two hospitals : UC Davis Medical Center and NorthBay VacaValley Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as one awaits test results after showing mild coronavirus symptoms , officials said Thursday .
The students are roommates at Kearney Hall , UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May said .
Just outside the dormitory , freshman Dominic Alvarez sat on a concrete bench casually texting friends on Friday .
He was unfazed about reports of the students who were possibly exposed to the coronavirus .
Alvarez said some students are panicking unnecessarily , not realizing that the risk of getting the virus is very low .
“ Me and friends , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation is just people spreading rumors .
It ’ s pretty dumb , ” said Alvarez , a mechanical engineering student from Los Angeles .
“ We ’ re keeping up with the medical news .
For young healthy adults with healthy immune systems , it ’ s just like the flu .
Older people have to worry , and younger kids , though.
” Alvarez said he ’ s always been good about washing his hands often and covering his mouth and nose when he coughs or sneezes .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dorm was much more concerned .
The student , who asked only to be identified by his nickname , “ Vac , ” was wearing a protective mask over his mouth and nose and black medical gloves on his hands .
“ I ’ m super worried .
We ’ re in classes every day with other students who may have been exposed , ” said Vac , 21 , an environmental engineering student .
Students live all over the region , including in Solano County and Sacramento where there are people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
“ Students that go to restaurants in Sacramento and go to grocery stores in Solano County , it ’ s very likely that they could come back with the virus , ” Vac said .
Vac is from northern China and has been in constant contact with his family .
He says they are fine but that he , along with many other foreign students from all over Asia , are worried about their loved ones .
“ They ’ re hearing from families and friends who say it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s exactly how it ’ s been in China and Japan for the past month , ” he said .
Vac said he has seen plenty of vitriolic racism against Asians on the internet since the outbreak of the virus , but he hasn ’ t experienced any sort of discrimination at UC Davis .
“ We have a pretty strong Asian community on campus , ” he said .
Kearney Hall sits in the middle of the sprawling UC Davis campus , just across the street from a stable of cows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four-story dorm is part of a cluster of student housing and surrounded by rack after rack of bicycles , a preferred mode of transportation among students and around Davis .
One of The quarantined student who was experiencing symptoms has been off campus since Tuesday and has been tested for COVID-19 .
The student is in isolation at home , UC Davis spokeswoman Melissa Lutz Blouin said Friday .
The other two have not shown any symptoms and have therefore not been tested , but they have been isolated since Wednesday night as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vacant on-campus apartment and are in self-isolation for 14 days , the time symptoms would appear if they had the virus .
Blouin said the university is providing those students with food and the apartment is equipped with a kitchen and bathroom .
Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman said officials know the source of the possible exposure for the student who might have the virus , but could not disclose that information because of privacy rules .
When the university first learned about the exposure , officials alerted all students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dining services personnel also have increased cleaning rounds at those campus facilities , disinfecting doorknobs , tables and other areas with lots of student contact .

This section of Nothern California has become the center of the U.S. effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus, sparking concerns from some while others say they think it is important to go on with their lives.
Authorities are searching for people who might have come in contact with a woman believed to be the country’s first coronavirus patient who did not recently travel to China or have contact with someone who did. The patient is from Solano County and was treated at two hospitals: UC Davis Medical Center and NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville,
Three UC Davis students are under 14-day isolation as one awaits test results after showing mild coronavirus symptoms, officials said Thursday.
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The students are roommates at Kearney Hall, UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May said.
Just outside the dormitory, freshman Dominic Alvarez sat on a concrete bench casually texting friends on Friday. He was unfazed about reports of the students who were possibly exposed to the coronavirus.
Alvarez said some students are panicking unnecessarily, not realizing that the risk of getting the virus is very low.
“Me and friends, we’re not gullible. We know the situation is just people spreading rumors. It’s pretty dumb,” said Alvarez, a mechanical engineering student from Los Angeles. “We’re keeping up with the medical news. For young healthy adults with healthy immune systems, it’s just like the flu. Older people have to worry, and younger kids, though.”
Alvarez said he’s always been good about washing his hands often and covering his mouth and nose when he coughs or sneezes.
However, another student parking his bike outside the dorm was much more concerned. The student, who asked only to be identified by his nickname, “Vac,” was wearing a protective mask over his mouth and nose and black medical gloves on his hands.
“I’m super worried. We’re in classes every day with other students who may have been exposed,” said Vac, 21, an environmental engineering student.
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Students live all over the region, including in Solano County and Sacramento where there are people who have been diagnosed with or exposed to the virus.
“Students that go to restaurants in Sacramento and go to grocery stores in Solano County, it’s very likely that they could come back with the virus,” Vac said.
Vac is from northern China and has been in constant contact with his family. He says they are fine but that he, along with many other foreign students from all over Asia, are worried about their loved ones.
“They’re hearing from families and friends who say it’s scary out there, because that’s exactly how it’s been in China and Japan for the past month,” he said.
Vac said he has seen plenty of vitriolic racism against Asians on the internet since the outbreak of the virus, but he hasn’t experienced any sort of discrimination at UC Davis.
“We have a pretty strong Asian community on campus,” he said.
Kearney Hall sits in the middle of the sprawling UC Davis campus, just across the street from a stable of cows at a dairy research center. The four-story dorm is part of a cluster of student housing and surrounded by rack after rack of bicycles, a preferred mode of transportation among students and around Davis.
One of The quarantined student who was experiencing symptoms has been off campus since Tuesday and has been tested for COVID-19. The student is in isolation at home, UC Davis spokeswoman Melissa Lutz Blouin said Friday.
The other two have not shown any symptoms and have therefore not been tested, but they have been isolated since Wednesday night as a precaution. They were moved to a vacant on-campus apartment and are in self-isolation for 14 days, the time symptoms would appear if they had the virus. Blouin said the university is providing those students with food and the apartment is equipped with a kitchen and bathroom.
Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman said officials know the source of the possible exposure for the student who might have the virus, but could not disclose that information because of privacy rules.
When the university first learned about the exposure, officials alerted all students, faculty and staff. Housing and dining services personnel also have increased cleaning rounds at those campus facilities, disinfecting doorknobs, tables and other areas with lots of student contact.


latimes--2020-02-28--Court temporarily blocks Trump's 'Remain in Mexico' policy, then suspends its own order

A federal appeals court on Friday blocked a Trump administration policy that requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases wind through U.S. immigration courts .
In a 2-1 decision , the panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction against the so-called Remain in Mexico policy , which has forced nearly 60,000 people to wait in Mexico for their applications to be processed and their cases to be heard .
But in a reversal late in the day , same panel voted unanimously to suspend its own order .
The three-judge panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of Monday and the plaintiffs to respond by the end of Tuesday .
The Justice Department said at least 25,000 asylum seekers subject to the policy are waiting in Mexico and expressed “ massive and irreparable national-security of public-safety concerns.
” Government attorneys said immigration lawyers had begun demanding that asylum seekers be allowed in the United States , with one insisting that 1,000 people be allowed to enter at one location .
“ The court ’ s reinstatement of the injunction causes the United States public and the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security , public safety , public health and diplomatic relations , ” Justice Department attorneys wrote .
The Remain in Mexico policy is one of several the administration has put in place to prevent migrants from coming into the country at the southern border .
In another case Friday , the same panel decided unanimously to uphold an injunction against a Trump rule that denied asylum eligibility for migrants who crossed the southern border between designated ports of entry .
“ Today ’ s decisions make clear they can ’ t use two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to gut the asylum system , ” said Omar Jadwat , director of the American Civil Liberties Union ’ s Immigrants ’ Rights Project .
“ But there are still others out there.
” One is a policy in place that requires migrants to apply for asylum in one of the countries they pass through on the way to the U.S. border .
The Supreme Court previously allowed this policy to be enforced .
Immigration lawyers Friday were still trying to understand the effect of the decision on migrants who already have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their cases to be processed .
Legal analysts expressed certainty that the government would quickly appeal .
“ This issue is surely headed to the Supreme Court , ” said Cornell Law School professor Stephen Yale-Loehr .
The high court has yet to consider the policy but has refused in the past to remove an injunction blocking asylum for migrants who do not apply at official border crossings .
In a statement late Friday , Chad Wolf , the acting secretary of Homeland Security , called the injunction “ grave and reckless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ been a gamechanger in the U.S. government ’ s efforts to address the ongoing crisis at the Southwest border.
” Wolf said that if the ruling stands , “ the safety and security of our border communities , international relationships and regional stability is at risk.
” In the Remain in Mexico case , the two judges in the majority , both appointed by Democrats , said uncontested evidence shows that migrants face substantial harm , even death , in Mexico while they wait for decisions by U.S. immigration authorities .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence , sexual assault , overwhelmed and corrupt law enforcement , lack of food and shelter , and practical obstacles to participation in court proceedings in the United States , ” Judge William A. Fletcher , appointed by President Clinton , wrote for the majority .
“ The hardship and danger to individuals returned to Mexico … have been repeatedly confirmed by reliable news reports.
” He said the panel could not revive the injunction because a separate 9th Circuit motions panel already had blocked it on an emergency motion by the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made after extensive written arguments and a hearing , found the Remain in Mexico program violated U.S. immigration law and a United Nations refugee convention , which bar the government from returning someone to a place where they would be persecuted .
The majority pointed to sworn declarations by people ordered to wait in Mexico that they had been subject to violence and threats because they were non-Mexican .
Several swore that they had been ordered to Mexico after short , confusing interviews with immigration agents who failed to ask them about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , failed to provide any evidence that the migrants would be safe in Mexico .
“ We recognize that nationwide injunctions have become increasingly controversial , but we begin by noting that it is something of a misnomer to call the district court ’ s order in this case a ‘ nationwide injunction ’ ” because it affects only four states on the southern border , two of them , California and Arizona , within the 9th Circuit ’ s jurisdiction , the majority wrote .
A spokesperson for the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences and impropriety of nationwide injunctions.
” “ The Trump administration has acted faithfully to implement a statutory authority provided by Congress over two decades ago and signed into law by President Clinton , ” the spokesperson said .
“ The 9th Circuit ’ s decision not only ignores the constitutional authority of Congress and the administration for a policy in effect for over a year , but also extends relief beyond the parties before the court.
” The Times reported last year that tens of thousands of migrants have been ordered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department considers some of the most dangerous in the world .
Migrants have been attacked , sexually assaulted and robbed , and some have died while waiting , The Times found .
A group called Human Rights First reported Friday that there have been more than 1,000 publicly reported cases of murder , rape , torture , kidnappings and other violent assaults against the migrants in Mexico .
While attorneys representing asylum seekers already in the Remain in Mexico pipeline celebrated the Friday ruling , they said it was unlikely to ultimately help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to appeal .
“ No clue what it will mean , but no doubt the government will appeal , ” said Jodi Goodwin , a Brownsville , Texas , immigration lawyer who represents some of the thousands of asylum seekers camped across the border in Matamoros , Mexico .
She said she was meeting with other advocates Friday , planning a response to the ruling .
By midafternoon , a group of about a dozen migrants — a mix of parents and children accompanied by Jewish Family Service attorneys — asked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gate leading to the San Ysidro Port of Entry from Tijuana .
A Customs and Border Protection officer told the attorneys that they couldn ’ t represent their clients at the border , forcing the attorneys to prepare their clients to make the request for entry on their own .
By 6:30 p.m. , no one had been allowed in , and the group had more than doubled in size to about 30 people .
The asylum seekers were nervous and excited , but as time wore on , those feelings evolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you think we ’ ll get in ?
” one Nicaraguan woman who had been in the Remain in Mexico program for eight months asked anxiously .
A Honduran father encouraged his squirming 8-year-old son to be patient .
A couple of Venezuelan mothers messaged with concerned family members about their options , struggling to explain the legal terms that they were hearing as the attorneys moved up and down the line to conduct miniature know-your-rights conversations specific to the order ’ s changes .
One Nicaraguan family of three had been returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but after the father was assaulted , they made their way to Tijuana .
They still didn ’ t feel safe , she said , and hoped that before the night was over they would be allowed into the U.S. As of Friday evening , no one had been allowed to cross .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Maura Dolan, Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Kate Morrissey

A federal appeals court on Friday blocked a Trump administration policy that requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases wind through U.S. immigration courts.
In a 2-1 decision, the panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction against the so-called Remain in Mexico policy, which has forced nearly 60,000 people to wait in Mexico for their applications to be processed and their cases to be heard.
But in a reversal late in the day, same panel voted unanimously to suspend its own order.
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The three-judge panel told the government to file written arguments by the end of Monday and the plaintiffs to respond by the end of Tuesday.
The Justice Department said at least 25,000 asylum seekers subject to the policy are waiting in Mexico and expressed “massive and irreparable national-security of public-safety concerns.”
Government attorneys said immigration lawyers had begun demanding that asylum seekers be allowed in the United States, with one insisting that 1,000 people be allowed to enter at one location.
“The court’s reinstatement of the injunction causes the United States public and the government significant and irreparable harms — to border security, public safety, public health and diplomatic relations,” Justice Department attorneys wrote.
The Remain in Mexico policy is one of several the administration has put in place to prevent migrants from coming into the country at the southern border.
In another case Friday, the same panel decided unanimously to uphold an injunction against a Trump rule that denied asylum eligibility for migrants who crossed the southern border between designated ports of entry.
“Today’s decisions make clear they can’t use two of the programs they laid out to try to gut the asylum system,” said Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project. “But there are still others out there.”
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One is a policy in place that requires migrants to apply for asylum in one of the countries they pass through on the way to the U.S. border. The Supreme Court previously allowed this policy to be enforced.
Immigration lawyers Friday were still trying to understand the effect of the decision on migrants who already have applied and are now waiting in Mexico for their cases to be processed. Legal analysts expressed certainty that the government would quickly appeal.
“This issue is surely headed to the Supreme Court,” said Cornell Law School professor Stephen Yale-Loehr.
The high court has yet to consider the policy but has refused in the past to remove an injunction blocking asylum for migrants who do not apply at official border crossings.
In a statement late Friday, Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of Homeland Security, called the injunction “grave and reckless” and said the migrant protocols have “been a gamechanger in the U.S. government’s efforts to address the ongoing crisis at the Southwest border.”
Wolf said that if the ruling stands, “the safety and security of our border communities, international relationships and regional stability is at risk.”
In the Remain in Mexico case, the two judges in the majority, both appointed by Democrats, said uncontested evidence shows that migrants face substantial harm, even death, in Mexico while they wait for decisions by U.S. immigration authorities.
The migrants “face targeted discrimination, physical violence, sexual assault, overwhelmed and corrupt law enforcement, lack of food and shelter, and practical obstacles to participation in court proceedings in the United States,” Judge William A. Fletcher, appointed by President Clinton, wrote for the majority. “The hardship and danger to individuals returned to Mexico … have been repeatedly confirmed by reliable news reports.”
Joining Fletcher was 9th Circuit Judge Richard A. Paez, another Clinton appointee.
Judge Ferdinand F. Fernandez, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, dissented.
He said the panel could not revive the injunction because a separate 9th Circuit motions panel already had blocked it on an emergency motion by the government.
Friday’s earlier decision, made after extensive written arguments and a hearing, found the Remain in Mexico program violated U.S. immigration law and a United Nations refugee convention, which bar the government from returning someone to a place where they would be persecuted.
The majority pointed to sworn declarations by people ordered to wait in Mexico that they had been subject to violence and threats because they were non-Mexican. Several swore that they had been ordered to Mexico after short, confusing interviews with immigration agents who failed to ask them about their fears.
The government, the majority said, failed to provide any evidence that the migrants would be safe in Mexico.
“We recognize that nationwide injunctions have become increasingly controversial, but we begin by noting that it is something of a misnomer to call the district court’s order in this case a ‘nationwide injunction’” because it affects only four states on the southern border, two of them, California and Arizona, within the 9th Circuit’s jurisdiction, the majority wrote.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said the decision highlighted “the consequences and impropriety of nationwide injunctions.”
“The Trump administration has acted faithfully to implement a statutory authority provided by Congress over two decades ago and signed into law by President Clinton,” the spokesperson said. “The 9th Circuit’s decision not only ignores the constitutional authority of Congress and the administration for a policy in effect for over a year, but also extends relief beyond the parties before the court.”
The Times reported last year that tens of thousands of migrants have been ordered to remain in Mexican cities that the State Department considers some of the most dangerous in the world. Migrants have been attacked, sexually assaulted and robbed, and some have died while waiting, The Times found.
A group called Human Rights First reported Friday that there have been more than 1,000 publicly reported cases of murder, rape, torture, kidnappings and other violent assaults against the migrants in Mexico.
While attorneys representing asylum seekers already in the Remain in Mexico pipeline celebrated the Friday ruling, they said it was unlikely to ultimately help their clients because the Trump administration is likely to appeal.
“No clue what it will mean, but no doubt the government will appeal,” said Jodi Goodwin, a Brownsville, Texas, immigration lawyer who represents some of the thousands of asylum seekers camped across the border in Matamoros, Mexico. She said she was meeting with other advocates Friday, planning a response to the ruling.
By midafternoon, a group of about a dozen migrants — a mix of parents and children accompanied by Jewish Family Service attorneys — asked to be let into the United States at the gate leading to the San Ysidro Port of Entry from Tijuana.
A Customs and Border Protection officer told the attorneys that they couldn’t represent their clients at the border, forcing the attorneys to prepare their clients to make the request for entry on their own.
By 6:30 p.m., no one had been allowed in, and the group had more than doubled in size to about 30 people.
The asylum seekers were nervous and excited, but as time wore on, those feelings evolved into confusion and frustration.
“Do you think we’ll get in?” one Nicaraguan woman who had been in the Remain in Mexico program for eight months asked anxiously.
A Honduran father encouraged his squirming 8-year-old son to be patient. A couple of Venezuelan mothers messaged with concerned family members about their options, struggling to explain the legal terms that they were hearing as the attorneys moved up and down the line to conduct miniature know-your-rights conversations specific to the order’s changes.
One Nicaraguan family of three had been returned to Ciudad Juarez, the mother said, but after the father was assaulted, they made their way to Tijuana. They still didn’t feel safe, she said, and hoped that before the night was over they would be allowed into the U.S.
As of Friday evening, no one had been allowed to cross.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-29--New coronavirus cases in California spark fears of wider spread

California recorded a new case of the coronavirus Friday in Santa Clara County , heightening concerns that the disease is spreading in the United States .
Health officials in Santa Clara County said the new patient had no known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected person .
The individual is an older adult , a woman with chronic health conditions who was hospitalized for a respiratory illness , officials said at a news conference Friday .
Her physician contacted the public health department this week to discuss the case and request testing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working to identify contacts and understand the extent of exposure .
“ This new case indicates that there is evidence of community transmission but the extent is still not clear , ” said Dr. Sara Cody , health officer for Santa Clara County and director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department .
“ I understand this may be concerning to hear , but this is what we have been preparing for .
Now we need to start taking additional actions to slow down the spread of the disease.
” Friday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus cases Friday night , a woman who had recently traveled to South Korea and a high school student whose school will be closed and sanitized .
The new cases comes as officials in Northern California are searching for people who might have come in contact with a Solano County woman who is believed to be the country ’ s first novel coronavirus patient who did not recently travel outside the U.S. or come in contact with someone who did .
Authorities said her case might indicate that the virus is already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant leap , making it essential that they quickly find anyone who might have been exposed to her .
The woman was hospitalized more than a week ago but was not tested for several days because she did not fit screening criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which include both symptoms of the virus and either a recent history of travel to China or close contact with another coronavirus patient .
“ It is important to recognize that we have moved from containment to mitigation , ” Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officer , said in a statement .
“ We are investigating potential exposures and ensuring that proper evaluation and care are provided if they become sick.
” Before she was transferred to UC Davis , the woman was hospitalized for three days at NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville , Aimee Brewer , president of NorthBay Healthcare Group , said in a statement .
She was taken by ambulance to the UC Davis facility in Sacramento once her condition worsened , Brewer said .
“ As for the patient ’ s care in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did the patient fit the existing CDC criteria for COVID-19 , and therefore a test was not immediately administered , ” she said .
After learning of the diagnosis , the hospital “ launched a meticulous tracing ” of anyone who might have been in contact with her , Brewer said .
The hospital remains open and is operating normally .
UC Davis officials said the woman arrived on Feb. 19 but was not tested until Sunday .
The hospital said that precautions had been put in place because of caregivers ’ concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small number ” of employees had been asked to stay home and monitor their temperature .
Sacramento County Director of Health Services Peter Beilenson said the woman had been transferred to the hospital under virus containment protocols , but additional measures , such as isolation in a negative pressure room , which prevents air from escaping , were now in place .
Beilenson said he did not expect additional cases of the virus based on those in contact with the patient in Sacramento , where she is receiving treatment , but did expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she is from .
The woman was “ in her community ” for a number of days before accessing care , California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said .
Investigators are now working to identify and locate anyone who may have come in contact with the woman .
The CDC has sent 10 staffers to help trace her contacts , officials said .
“ Contact tracing is super important because it can help reduce transmission , ” said Dr. Brandon Brown , an associate professor at the UC Riverside School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communities .
“ The worst-case scenario is that outside of close contacts — family , friends and coworkers — there were other people exposed to the virus in places where this person visited.
” The tracing will likely start with the infected patient ’ s family and coworkers , who would be isolated and tested , and then move out to those who might have come in casual contact with her in places she ’ s visited within the past two weeks , which is believed to be the incubation period of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who came into contact with the woman at the hospital , Northbay VacaValley officials sifted through medical records to see which clinicians entered her room .
Additionally , three days ’ worth of security footage from 8 p.m. Feb. 15 to mid-morning Feb. 19 were scoured to ensure that all visitors and non-clinicians – like workers who brought in food trays or refilled bathroom supplies – were tallied .
Sacramento County health officials said that dozens of people might be quarantined at home based on having contact with the woman .
UC Davis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be higher than 70 but refused to say if more or fewer people were quarantined .
Steve Huddleston , vice president of public affairs of NorthBay Healthcare , said that the quarantine affected dozens connected to the hospital .
Huddleston said that the hospital staff is comprised of about a couple hundred .
Those employees who have been home , due to quarantine or unrelated matters , have been backfilled .
On Friday afternoon , Makayla Lara , 20 , sipped iced green tea on the porch of a Starbucks that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital , the first medical facility to care for the first community-based case of the coronavirus in the United States .
( The woman is now under treatment at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento . )
“ I don ’ t think people are super freaked out , ” said Lara , a nursing student at Solano Community College .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s anything to be afraid of .
Just take like the necessary precautions that you do with any virus .
If you are sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wash your hands , you know.
” At the Lowe ’ s homes improvement store in Vacaville , the shelves have been stripped of protective masks and hand sanitizer for weeks .
Employees said customers have been buying them by the case and they fly off the shelves as soon as new supplies arrive .
The employees did not have authority to speak on behalf of the store and asked to remain unnamed .
Customer Teresa Del Rio , 48 , said she ’ s not worried about the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nurse and knows how to avoid risks of transmission .
But she ’ s worried about the healthcare providers who cared for the patient at a local hospital who was later confirmed to have the virus .
“ The only anxiety is that I don ’ t think people are being proactive enough knowing that the patient exposed a bunch of nurses who probably went out into the community , ” said Del Rio , who works at a different medical facility .
“ I think they needed to be more proactive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital , it ’ s easy to spot planes landing to the south at Travis Air Force Base , the federal facility that accepted some of the first Americans evacuated from Wuhan , China — the epicenter of the outbreak .
According to the Washington Post , a whistleblower reported that the Department of Health and Human Services sent a crew of workers to the base without the adequate protective gear or proper training on viral outbreaks .
Beilenson , Sacramento County ‘ s director of health services , said “ definitely we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You shed virus before you are symptomatic so it ’ s already out of the bag in a lot of ways , ” Beilenson said .
“ It ’ s going to spread ; it ’ s just going to spread.
” Beilenson said most people that contract the virus – more than 80 % – will have mild or no symptoms , but still be able to pass COVID-19 to others .
On Thursday night , the CDC revised its testing guidelines to allow for more people to be tested for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu-like symptoms and a travel history to China or close contact with someone who traveled to China .
Now , doctors can order coronavirus tests for anyone with flu-like symptoms who has recently traveled to China , Iran , Italy , Japan and South Korea .
In an even bigger change , Patients hospitalized with fever and pneumonia and no travel history could be tested by doctors .
The change is widely interpreted to be a response to the UC Davis patient , who had no travel history .
It took several days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the patient , who was severely ill. Beilenson said new community cases were more likely in Solano than Sacramento , “ predominately because the UC Davis case came ensconced ( in protective measures ) .
If it would happen anywhere it would happen in Solano County , ” he said .
Three UC Davis students are under 14-day isolation as one awaits test results after showing mild coronavirus symptoms , officials said .
The students are roommates at Kearney Hall , UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May said .
One student has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested for COVID-19 .
The student is in isolation at their home , UC Davis spokeswoman Melissa Lutz Blouin said Friday .
The other two have not shown any symptoms and have therefore not been tested , but they have been isolated since Wednesday night as a precaution .
They were moved to a vacant on-campus apartment and are in self-isolation for 14 days , the time symptoms would appear if they had a virus .
Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman said officials know the source of the possible exposure for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but could not disclose that information because of privacy rules .
When the university first learned about the exposure , officials alerted all students , faculty and staff .
Housing and dining services personnel also have increased cleaning rounds at those campus facilities , disinfecting doorknobs , tables and other areas with lots of student contact .
UC Davis is following the direction of the Yolo County Public Health Department in its response to the incident .
Just outside the Kearney Hall dorm at the university , freshman Dominic Alvarez sat on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
He was unfazed about reports of the students who were reportedly exposed to the coronavirus .
“ Me and friends , we ’ re not gullible , ” said Alvarez , a mechanical engineering student from Los Angeles .
“ We ’ re keeping up with the medical news .
For young healthy adults with healthy immune systems , it ’ s just like the flu .
Older people have to worry , and younger kids , though.
” Another student parking his bike outside the dorm was more concerned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be identified by his nickname “ Vac , ” was wearing a protective mask over his mouth and nose and black medical gloves on his hands .
“ I ’ m super worried , ” said Vac , 21 , an environmental engineering student .
“ We ’ re in classes every day with other students who may have been exposed.
” Vac is from northern China and has been in constant contact with his family .
He says they are fine but that he , along with many other foreign students from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their loved ones .
“ They ’ re hearing from families and friends who say it ’ s scary out there , because that ’ s exactly how it ’ s been in China and Japan for the past month , ” he said .
There will now be eight public health labs capable of coronavirus testing in California in the counties of Los Angeles , Orange , Ventura , San Diego , Contra Costa , Alameda , Santa Clara and Tulare , said Charity Dean , deputy director of the California Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Solano County formally announced two cases — but both patients appear to have contracted the virus through foreign travel .
They had previously been counted as coronavirus patients .
One patient had been on the Diamond Princess cruise ship when an outbreak occurred and had been housed at Travis Air Force Base , according to the county .
A second resident — who was also housed at Travis — was tested positive by Japanese officials .
Times staff writer Soumya Karlamangla contributed to this report , as did AP .

Alex Wigglesworth, Colleen Shalby, Anita Chabria, Phil Willon

A Solano County resident who is the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 coronavirus that was “community acquired” is being held in isolation while undergoing treatment at the UC Davis Medical Center.
California recorded a new case of the coronavirus Friday in Santa Clara County, heightening concerns that the disease is spreading in the United States.
Health officials in Santa Clara County said the new patient had no known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected person.
For the record: A previous version of this post misspelled the last name of the director of health services in Sacramento County. His name is Peter Beilenson, not Beilson.
The individual is an older adult, a woman with chronic health conditions who was hospitalized for a respiratory illness, officials said at a news conference Friday. Her physician contacted the public health department this week to discuss the case and request testing for the novel coronavirus. The department is working to identify contacts and understand the extent of exposure.
“This new case indicates that there is evidence of community transmission but the extent is still not clear,” said Dr. Sara Cody, health officer for Santa Clara County and director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. “I understand this may be concerning to hear, but this is what we have been preparing for. Now we need to start taking additional actions to slow down the spread of the disease.”
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Friday night, Washington state health officials announced two new coronavirus cases Friday night, a woman who had recently traveled to South Korea and a high school student whose school will be closed and sanitized.
The new cases comes as officials in Northern California are searching for people who might have come in contact with a Solano County woman who is believed to be the country’s first novel coronavirus patient who did not recently travel outside the U.S. or come in contact with someone who did.
Authorities said her case might indicate that the virus is already spreading within the local community, a significant leap, making it essential that they quickly find anyone who might have been exposed to her.
The woman was hospitalized more than a week ago but was not tested for several days because she did not fit screening criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which include both symptoms of the virus and either a recent history of travel to China or close contact with another coronavirus patient.
“It is important to recognize that we have moved from containment to mitigation,” Dr. Bela Matyas, the county’s health officer, said in a statement. “We are investigating potential exposures and ensuring that proper evaluation and care are provided if they become sick.”
Before she was transferred to UC Davis, the woman was hospitalized for three days at NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville, Aimee Brewer, president of NorthBay Healthcare Group, said in a statement.
She was taken by ambulance to the UC Davis facility in Sacramento once her condition worsened, Brewer said.
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“As for the patient’s care in NorthBay VacaValley Hospital, at no time did the patient fit the existing CDC criteria for COVID-19, and therefore a test was not immediately administered,” she said.
After learning of the diagnosis, the hospital “launched a meticulous tracing” of anyone who might have been in contact with her, Brewer said. The hospital remains open and is operating normally.
UC Davis officials said the woman arrived on Feb. 19 but was not tested until Sunday . The hospital said that precautions had been put in place because of caregivers’ concerns about her condition and that a “small number” of employees had been asked to stay home and monitor their temperature.
Sacramento County Director of Health Services Peter Beilenson said the woman had been transferred to the hospital under virus containment protocols, but additional measures, such as isolation in a negative pressure room, which prevents air from escaping, were now in place.
Beilenson said he did not expect additional cases of the virus based on those in contact with the patient in Sacramento, where she is receiving treatment, but did expect more cases in Solano County, where she is from.
The woman was “in her community” for a number of days before accessing care, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said.
Investigators are now working to identify and locate anyone who may have come in contact with the woman. The CDC has sent 10 staffers to help trace her contacts, officials said.
“Contact tracing is super important because it can help reduce transmission,” said Dr. Brandon Brown, an associate professor at the UC Riverside School of Medicine’s Center for Healthy Communities. “The worst-case scenario is that outside of close contacts — family, friends and coworkers — there were other people exposed to the virus in places where this person visited.”
The tracing will likely start with the infected patient’s family and coworkers, who would be isolated and tested, and then move out to those who might have come in casual contact with her in places she’s visited within the past two weeks, which is believed to be the incubation period of the virus.
In order to identify individuals who came into contact with the woman at the hospital, Northbay VacaValley officials sifted through medical records to see which clinicians entered her room. Additionally, three days’ worth of security footage from 8 p.m. Feb. 15 to mid-morning Feb. 19 were scoured to ensure that all visitors and non-clinicians – like workers who brought in food trays or refilled bathroom supplies – were tallied.
Sacramento County health officials said that dozens of people might be quarantined at home based on having contact with the woman. UC Davis spokesman Steve Telliano disputed that the number could be higher than 70 but refused to say if more or fewer people were quarantined.
Steve Huddleston, vice president of public affairs of NorthBay Healthcare, said that the quarantine affected dozens connected to the hospital.
Huddleston said that the hospital staff is comprised of about a couple hundred. Those employees who have been home, due to quarantine or unrelated matters, have been backfilled.
On Friday afternoon, Makayla Lara, 20, sipped iced green tea on the porch of a Starbucks that’s a short walk from Northbay VacaValley Hospital, the first medical facility to care for the first community-based case of the coronavirus in the United States. (The woman is now under treatment at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.)
“I don’t think people are super freaked out,” said Lara, a nursing student at Solano Community College. “I don’t think it’s anything to be afraid of. Just take like the necessary precautions that you do with any virus. If you are sick, don’t go out. Wash your hands, you know.”
At the Lowe’s homes improvement store in Vacaville, the shelves have been stripped of protective masks and hand sanitizer for weeks.
Employees said customers have been buying them by the case and they fly off the shelves as soon as new supplies arrive. The employees did not have authority to speak on behalf of the store and asked to remain unnamed.
Customer Teresa Del Rio, 48, said she’s not worried about the spread of the virus at this point because she’s a nurse and knows how to avoid risks of transmission. But she’s worried about the healthcare providers who cared for the patient at a local hospital who was later confirmed to have the virus.
“The only anxiety is that I don’t think people are being proactive enough knowing that the patient exposed a bunch of nurses who probably went out into the community,” said Del Rio, who works at a different medical facility. “I think they needed to be more proactive with their testing.”
From Northbay VacaValley Hospital, it’s easy to spot planes landing to the south at Travis Air Force Base, the federal facility that accepted some of the first Americans evacuated from Wuhan, China — the epicenter of the outbreak.
According to the Washington Post, a whistleblower reported that the Department of Health and Human Services sent a crew of workers to the base without the adequate protective gear or proper training on viral outbreaks.
Beilenson, Sacramento County‘s director of health services, said “definitely we will have more cases here.”
“You shed virus before you are symptomatic so it’s already out of the bag in a lot of ways,” Beilenson said. “It’s going to spread; it’s just going to spread.”
Beilenson said most people that contract the virus – more than 80% – will have mild or no symptoms, but still be able to pass COVID-19 to others.
On Thursday night, the CDC revised its testing guidelines to allow for more people to be tested for the coronavirus. Previously, only people with flu-like symptoms and a travel history to China or close contact with someone who traveled to China.
Now, doctors can order coronavirus tests for anyone with flu-like symptoms who has recently traveled to China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea. In an even bigger change, Patients hospitalized with fever and pneumonia and no travel history could be tested by doctors.
The change is widely interpreted to be a response to the UC Davis patient, who had no travel history. It took several days for the CDC to allow testing of the patient, who was severely ill.
Beilenson said new community cases were more likely in Solano than Sacramento, “predominately because the UC Davis case came ensconced (in protective measures). If it would happen anywhere it would happen in Solano County,” he said.
Three UC Davis students are under 14-day isolation as one awaits test results after showing mild coronavirus symptoms, officials said.
The students are roommates at Kearney Hall, UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May said.
One student has been off campus since Tuesday and has been tested for COVID-19. The student is in isolation at their home, UC Davis spokeswoman Melissa Lutz Blouin said Friday.
The other two have not shown any symptoms and have therefore not been tested, but they have been isolated since Wednesday night as a precaution. They were moved to a vacant on-campus apartment and are in self-isolation for 14 days, the time symptoms would appear if they had a virus.
Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman said officials know the source of the possible exposure for the student who might have the virus, but could not disclose that information because of privacy rules.
When the university first learned about the exposure, officials alerted all students, faculty and staff. Housing and dining services personnel also have increased cleaning rounds at those campus facilities, disinfecting doorknobs, tables and other areas with lots of student contact.
UC Davis is following the direction of the Yolo County Public Health Department in its response to the incident.
Just outside the Kearney Hall dorm at the university, freshman Dominic Alvarez sat on a concrete bench casually texting friends on Friday. He was unfazed about reports of the students who were reportedly exposed to the coronavirus.
“Me and friends, we’re not gullible,” said Alvarez, a mechanical engineering student from Los Angeles. “We’re keeping up with the medical news. For young healthy adults with healthy immune systems, it’s just like the flu. Older people have to worry, and younger kids, though.”
Another student parking his bike outside the dorm was more concerned. The student, who asked only to be identified by his nickname “Vac,” was wearing a protective mask over his mouth and nose and black medical gloves on his hands.
“I’m super worried,” said Vac, 21, an environmental engineering student. “We’re in classes every day with other students who may have been exposed.”
Vac is from northern China and has been in constant contact with his family. He says they are fine but that he, along with many other foreign students from all over Asia, are concerned for their loved ones.
“They’re hearing from families and friends who say it’s scary out there, because that’s exactly how it’s been in China and Japan for the past month,” he said.
There will now be eight public health labs capable of coronavirus testing in California in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and Tulare, said Charity Dean, deputy director of the California Department of Public Health.
On Friday night, Solano County formally announced two cases — but both patients appear to have contracted the virus through foreign travel. They had previously been counted as coronavirus patients.
One patient had been on the Diamond Princess cruise ship when an outbreak occurred and had been housed at Travis Air Force Base, according to the county. A second resident — who was also housed at Travis — was tested positive by Japanese officials.
Times staff writer Soumya Karlamangla contributed to this report, as did AP.