latimes--2020-04-15--Podcast: Why this Solana Beach project cost more than $1 million per apartment to build

California ’ s housing crisis is being driven by a shortage of affordable homes — a situation made all the more difficult to remedy because of the high cost of building low-income apartments here .
It ’ s more expensive to build affordable housing in the state than anywhere else in the country .
The Times found one project — the Pearl in Solana Beach — where building costs topped $ 1 million per apartment .
The developer still hasn ’ t broken ground , and the project has now been on the books for more than a decade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how political , economic and bureaucratic forces often converge to drive up the cost of building affordable housing at a time when a growing number of Californians need it .
On this episode of “ Gim me Shelter : The California Housing Crisis Podcast , ” we talk with Ginger Hitzke , the developer of the Pearl .
We also talk about what protections against evictions renters do — and don ’ t — have as related to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ , ” a biweekly podcast that looks at why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in California and what the state can do about it , features Liam Dillon , who covers housing affordability issues for the Los Angeles Times , and Matt Levin , data and housing reporter for .
You can subscribe to “ Gim me Shelter ” on , , , , and .

California’s housing crisis is being driven by a shortage of affordable homes — a situation made all the more difficult to remedy because of the high cost of building low-income apartments here. It’s more expensive to build affordable housing in the state than anywhere else in the country.
The Times found one project — the Pearl in Solana Beach — where building costs topped $1 million per apartment. The developer still hasn’t broken ground, and the project has now been on the books for more than a decade. The saga serves as just one example of how political, economic and bureaucratic forces often converge to drive up the cost of building affordable housing at a time when a growing number of Californians need it.
On this episode of “Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast,” we talk with Ginger Hitzke, the developer of the Pearl. We also talk about what protections against evictions renters do — and don’t — have as related to the coronavirus pandemic.
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“ Gimme Shelter ,” a biweekly podcast that looks at why it’s so expensive to live in California and what the state can do about it, features Liam Dillon, who covers housing affordability issues for the Los Angeles Times, and Matt Levin, data and housing reporter for CalMatters .


latimes--2020-04-15--LAPD has quarantine site for officers: Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A.

Scores of Los Angeles police officers who have symptoms related to the coronavirus or who must quarantine because of possible exposure have the choice of self-isolating at home or moving into the Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A. , according to two law enforcement sources .
The officers will be housed on at least two floors of the iconic Pershing Square hotel , a move that the LAPD has kept under wraps from the public , the sources said .
The accommodations are not being covered with taxpayer funds but are paid for by the Los Angeles Police Foundation , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and offers other support to the LAPD .
Staff of another city agency , the Los Angeles Fire Department , will self-isolate or quarantine in fire station community rooms , which are used mainly as classrooms , according to Capt .
Branden Silverman .
The ad-hoc facilities , which are in separate buildings from the stations , are equipped with bathrooms and showers and have been furnished with cots , although Silverman said nearly all of the LAFD staff have been able to self-isolate at home .
“ We ’ re preparing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill , ” Silverman said .
“ We definitely needed to have that logistical setup ready , but we have not been as impacted as the East Coast fire departments.
” Josh Rubenstein , a spokesman for the LAPD , asked The Times not to publish the location of the hotel , citing officer security concerns .
The LAPD was trying to make its officers ’ presence at the Biltmore as low key as possible , sources said .
One source said that although the hotel has a reputation for luxury , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use .
Rubenstein said the hotel was selected for its central location and a prior relationship with the department .
“ It fits the bill for what we need for our officers , ” Rubenstein said .
He referred questions about the cost of the rooms to the Police Foundation .
Rooms at the Biltmore typically run about $ 180 and up per night , plus taxes .
The hotel has advertised a special discount for government employees , $ 120 per night .
It ’ s unclear what the hotel was charging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotel accommodations in a video message to staff on April 9 , although he did not identify the Biltmore by name .
“ The dangers you face in coming to work while others are staying at home are not lost on me .
I thank you for your continued commitment mission of keeping the city safe and healthy , ” Moore said in the video .
Moore said that as part of the plans to keep LAPD officers safe , he worked with leaders from the officers ’ union , the Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suitable hotel in downtown L.A .
The hotel was to be used by those who test positive , who are starting to experience flu-like symptoms , or who are awaiting test results or otherwise must go into isolation based on possible exposure .
“ This rest and isolation center has been made possible by a generous donation from the Police Foundation , and hotel accommodations will be provided at no cost to you .
Our first preference is for you to stay at home .
However , I recognize that may cause you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those you love .
So these accommodations are for you , ” the police chief said .
In the video message , Moore said that the LAPD learned of its first positive COVID-19 case on March 15 .
A week later , he said , it grew to three cases .
Now , more than 400 employees have been tested .
As of Wednesday , 57 LAPD employees had tested positive for the coronavirus , with 17 recovering and returning to work .
One individual was hospitalized .
The rest were self-isolating @ @ @ @

Richard Winton, Matt Hamilton, Benjamin Oreskes

Scores of Los Angeles police officers who have symptoms related to the coronavirus or who must quarantine because of possible exposure have the choice of self-isolating at home or moving into the Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A., according to two law enforcement sources.
The officers will be housed on at least two floors of the iconic Pershing Square hotel, a move that the LAPD has kept under wraps from the public, the sources said. The accommodations are not being covered with taxpayer funds but are paid for by the Los Angeles Police Foundation, a nonprofit independent group that buys police equipment and offers other support to the LAPD.
Staff of another city agency, the Los Angeles Fire Department, will self-isolate or quarantine in fire station community rooms, which are used mainly as classrooms, according to Capt. Branden Silverman. The ad-hoc facilities, which are in separate buildings from the stations, are equipped with bathrooms and showers and have been furnished with cots, although Silverman said nearly all of the LAFD staff have been able to self-isolate at home.
“We’re preparing for a huge influx of department members becoming ill,” Silverman said. “We definitely needed to have that logistical setup ready, but we have not been as impacted as the East Coast fire departments.”
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California 20 heartwarming photos show gratitude for healthcare workers Firefighters and law enforcement officers from L.A. to Laguna Beach express their gratitude to healthcare workers for their efforts in fighting COVID-19.
Josh Rubenstein, a spokesman for the LAPD, asked The Times not to publish the location of the hotel, citing officer security concerns.
The LAPD was trying to make its officers’ presence at the Biltmore as low key as possible, sources said. One source said that although the hotel has a reputation for luxury, that was not the primary reason for its use.
Rubenstein said the hotel was selected for its central location and a prior relationship with the department.
“It fits the bill for what we need for our officers,” Rubenstein said. He referred questions about the cost of the rooms to the Police Foundation.
Rooms at the Biltmore typically run about $180 and up per night, plus taxes. The hotel has advertised a special discount for government employees, $120 per night. It’s unclear what the hotel was charging.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore announced the hotel accommodations in a video message to staff on April 9, although he did not identify the Biltmore by name.
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“The dangers you face in coming to work while others are staying at home are not lost on me. I thank you for your continued commitment mission of keeping the city safe and healthy,” Moore said in the video.
Moore said that as part of the plans to keep LAPD officers safe, he worked with leaders from the officers’ union, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, to identify a suitable hotel in downtown L.A. The hotel was to be used by those who test positive, who are starting to experience flu-like symptoms, or who are awaiting test results or otherwise must go into isolation based on possible exposure.
“This rest and isolation center has been made possible by a generous donation from the Police Foundation, and hotel accommodations will be provided at no cost to you. Our first preference is for you to stay at home. However, I recognize that may cause you even more stress and the potential risk to those you love. So these accommodations are for you,” the police chief said.
In the video message, Moore said that the LAPD learned of its first positive COVID-19 case on March 15. A week later, he said, it grew to three cases. Now, more than 400 employees have been tested.
As of Wednesday, 57 LAPD employees had tested positive for the coronavirus, with 17 recovering and returning to work. One individual was hospitalized. The rest were self-isolating, officials said.


latimes--2020-04-15--L.A. boasts one of world's most vibrant salsa scenes. The coronavirus may wipe it out

Until recently , Colombian percussionist and bandleader Clodomiro Montes made a decent living doing what he loves best : playing a soulful repertoire of Afro-Caribbean hits at restaurants and nightclubs in the Los Angeles area .
A timbales player with dazzling technical chops and a keen understanding of salsa swing , Montes performs with his wife , Karina Zurita , a singer who also plays hand percussion and guitar .
Montes moved to L.A. in 2005 after gaining experience in the tropical music scene of his native Cartagena , then as a touring musician in Asia .
Now at 42 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time in his life — quarantining in his rental apartment in Glendora with his wife and their two children .
“ It ’ s a waiting game , ” he says in Spanish laced by a melodious Colombian accent .
“ I consider myself lucky because I ’ ve always been disciplined about money , but our savings are dwindling .
We have frozen all payments on phone service and credit cards .
We ’ re down to paying rent and buying food , counting the days for things to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is : Will there ever be a back to normal ?
Perhaps more than any other musical genre , the local salsa scene has been thrown into turmoil by the pandemic .
Historically , L.A. has always boasted a rich and varied circuit devoted to tropical music genres like salsa , bachata , merengue and cumbia .
At venues throughout the city — from the Hollywood hangout El Floridita to downtown ’ s flashy Conga Room at L.A. Live to the retro charm of the Granada in Alhambra — dancing in close intimacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ integral part of the experience .
Add a tiny stage filled to the brim with 15 sweaty musicians jamming together , and you realize live salsa is the antithesis of social distancing .
“ It ’ s such an unsafe environment .
You can ’ t play a saxophone while wearing a mask , can you ?
, ” says Dena Burroughs , whose website vidasalsera.com has chronicled the local salsa scene since 2005 .
“ In the context of a pandemic , a salsa club is like a messy mondongo soup — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other body parts are in constant contact with other people ’ s. ” The music known as salsa — a fusion of Afro-Caribbean dance formats with jazz , R & B and subtle echoes of rock — developed in Cuba and Puerto Rico thanks to the efforts of visionary bandleaders such as Beny Moré and Rafael Cortijo .
It flourished in the ’ 60s and became a global phenomenon during the ’ 70s in New York when the Fania label brought together stars like Héctor Lavoe , Willie Colón , Tito Puente , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blades .
As an epicenter of the film and music industries , Los Angeles attracted a growing number of Afro-Caribbean musicians .
By the ’ 90s , the city boasted one of the richest salsa scenes in the world , with players from all over Latin America and a variety of offerings — from traditional Cuban charanga to trombone-heavy conjuntos and virtuoso Latin jazz ensembles .
In the U.S. , contemporary artists like Marc Anthony , Víctor Manuelle and Gilberto Santa Rosa still command big audiences of all ages , even though salsa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reggaeton and a new wave of intriguing urban-pop hybrids .
Still , the local scene attracted thousands of devoted fans and dancers before the pandemic started .
Now , everyone from musicians and DJs to dance instructors and club owners is attempting to process the shock — alternating between feelings of acceptance , hope and the inevitable predictions of doom .
“ It ’ s impossible not to consider the worst-case scenario , ” says Brad Gluckstein , founder and majority owner of the Conga Room and the man who single-handedly changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced in our city .
In the late ’ 90s , the original Conga Room location at Miracle Mile allowed fans to enjoy performances by genre legends — from Celia Cruz to members of the Buena Vista Social Club — in the intimacy of a Latin-styled ballroom complete with polished wooden floors and an eccentric MC from Panama .
“ It would be heartbreaking for me personally , ” he says .
In recent weeks , Gluckstein laid off all his employees , save for his general manager .
“ I always thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Latin music .
If that legacy ceased to exist , it would be beyond disappointing .
This is a lifelong project for me and my family.
” “ Everyone seems to be taking it differently , ” adds Montes .
“ I ’ m friends with an older singer who ’ s probably one of the most talented artists to come out of Colombia .
But he depends solely on gigs for his livelihood , and in fact rents a room from the bandleader who employs him .
He doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pains me to see him falling into depression.
” Montes himself is proving to be particularly resourceful .
The son of a professional musician , he grew up enamored with the Colombian brand of salsa pioneered by artists such as Joe Arroyo , Grupo Niche and Orquesta Guayacán — marked by fast tempos , impossibly tight arrangements and a nostalgic , almost melancholy approach to melodic lines .
Montes ’ move to the U.S. was sponsored by a fellow Colombian and highly respected veteran of the L.A. scene , Yari Moré .
Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own band — Colombia Latin Soul — while also joining an electronica trio , Palenke Soultribe , a gig which includes frequent European tours .
“ I imagine there will be lots of work once this is over , but I wonder if the orchestras will remain untouched , ” he reflects .
“ In the salsa world , everyone ’ s looking to save their own skin .
Musicians may despair and sell their services for less .
They may not be as loyal to their original groups as one would hope.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ total limbo , ” agrees singer Chino Espinoza , leader of a formidable orchestra , Chino Espinoza y Los Dueños Del Son , that has been playing together since 2003 .
“ This is not going to change in three or four months .
I doubt people will have the confidence to go out again and brush against each other the way you do at a salsa club .
We will need to reinvent ourselves .
A total reset is needed.
” “ I would not want to reopen without live music , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Granada .
“ Salsa fans are a loyal community , and they like the authentic experience of a real orchestra .
Right now , we ’ re relying on state and federal government to assist us .
As long as they do their part , we can survive being closed for three or four months .
But they have to put their money where their mouth is.
” The salsa scene may need to quickly adapt new practices .
“ I see the clubs morphing into restaurants with live entertainment , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Burroughs .
“ Go , listen to the band , dance with your wife sort of thing .
The time of social mingling is over for a while.
” “ We have a rabid , dedicated fan base , ” adds the Conga Room ’ s Gluckstein .
“ I think the crowds will eventually come back .
They miss our venue and the authentic energy that we create .
Once the funding from [ the ] Payroll Protection [ Program ] comes through , I ’ m hopeful we can rehire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clubs will probably close their doors by the time it ’ s all said and done , ” predicts Espinoza .
“ Some will remain open simply because their owners don ’ t care about making a profit .
Much of the salsa scene is kept alive by people who have invested their hearts in it.
” As he spends his days in seclusion laying down tracks for a new album , Montes seems to mirror the same passion — his career fueled by a deep commitment to the music .
“ As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried about getting back on my feet as soon as possible , ” he says .
“ I want to be able to hire and support all the musicians who have stood with me for so many years .
”

Salsa musicians Clodomiro Montes and his wife, Karina Zurita, photographed at Victory Park in Glendora, Calif., have lost all their gigs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until recently, Colombian percussionist and bandleader Clodomiro Montes made a decent living doing what he loves best: playing a soulful repertoire of Afro-Caribbean hits at restaurants and nightclubs in the Los Angeles area. A timbales player with dazzling technical chops and a keen understanding of salsa swing, Montes performs with his wife, Karina Zurita, a singer who also plays hand percussion and guitar.
Montes moved to L.A. in 2005 after gaining experience in the tropical music scene of his native Cartagena, then as a touring musician in Asia. Now at 42, he finds himself out of work for the first time in his life — quarantining in his rental apartment in Glendora with his wife and their two children.
Salsa dancers at L.A.’s Conga Room in 2006. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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“It’s a waiting game,” he says in Spanish laced by a melodious Colombian accent. “I consider myself lucky because I’ve always been disciplined about money, but our savings are dwindling. We have frozen all payments on phone service and credit cards. We’re down to paying rent and buying food, counting the days for things to get back to normal.”
The question is: Will there ever be a back to normal?
Perhaps more than any other musical genre, the local salsa scene has been thrown into turmoil by the pandemic.
Historically, L.A. has always boasted a rich and varied circuit devoted to tropical music genres like salsa, bachata, merengue and cumbia. At venues throughout the city — from the Hollywood hangout El Floridita to downtown’s flashy Conga Room at L.A. Live to the retro charm of the Granada in Alhambra — dancing in close intimacy with a variety of partners is an integral part of the experience. Add a tiny stage filled to the brim with 15 sweaty musicians jamming together, and you realize live salsa is the antithesis of social distancing.
“It’s such an unsafe environment. You can’t play a saxophone while wearing a mask, can you?,” says Dena Burroughs, whose website vidasalsera.com has chronicled the local salsa scene since 2005. “In the context of a pandemic, a salsa club is like a messy mondongo soup — your sweat, hands, hair and other body parts are in constant contact with other people’s.”
The music known as salsa — a fusion of Afro-Caribbean dance formats with jazz, R&B and subtle echoes of rock — developed in Cuba and Puerto Rico thanks to the efforts of visionary bandleaders such as Beny Moré and Rafael Cortijo. It flourished in the ’60s and became a global phenomenon during the ’70s in New York when the Fania label brought together stars like Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto and Rubén Blades.
As an epicenter of the film and music industries, Los Angeles attracted a growing number of Afro-Caribbean musicians. By the ’90s, the city boasted one of the richest salsa scenes in the world, with players from all over Latin America and a variety of offerings — from traditional Cuban charanga to trombone-heavy conjuntos and virtuoso Latin jazz ensembles.
Legendary salsa singer Celia Cruz performs at L.A.’s Conga Room in 1998. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
In the U.S., contemporary artists like Marc Anthony, Víctor Manuelle and Gilberto Santa Rosa still command big audiences of all ages, even though salsa has lost considerable market share to bachata, reggaeton and a new wave of intriguing urban-pop hybrids. Still, the local scene attracted thousands of devoted fans and dancers before the pandemic started.
Now, everyone from musicians and DJs to dance instructors and club owners is attempting to process the shock — alternating between feelings of acceptance, hope and the inevitable predictions of doom.
“It’s impossible not to consider the worst-case scenario,” says Brad Gluckstein, founder and majority owner of the Conga Room and the man who single-handedly changed the way concerts of Afro-Caribbean music are experienced in our city. In the late ’90s, the original Conga Room location at Miracle Mile allowed fans to enjoy performances by genre legends — from Celia Cruz to members of the Buena Vista Social Club — in the intimacy of a Latin-styled ballroom complete with polished wooden floors and an eccentric MC from Panama.
“It would be heartbreaking for me personally,” he says. In recent weeks, Gluckstein laid off all his employees, save for his general manager. “I always thought of the Conga Room as the Troubadour of Latin music. If that legacy ceased to exist, it would be beyond disappointing. This is a lifelong project for me and my family.”
“Everyone seems to be taking it differently,” adds Montes. “I’m friends with an older singer who’s probably one of the most talented artists to come out of Colombia. But he depends solely on gigs for his livelihood, and in fact rents a room from the bandleader who employs him. He doesn’t have a plan B, and it pains me to see him falling into depression.”
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Karina Zurita and the band Colombian Latin Soul perform. (Mike Chavez / Colombian Latin Soul)
Montes himself is proving to be particularly resourceful. The son of a professional musician, he grew up enamored with the Colombian brand of salsa pioneered by artists such as Joe Arroyo, Grupo Niche and Orquesta Guayacán — marked by fast tempos, impossibly tight arrangements and a nostalgic, almost melancholy approach to melodic lines. Montes’ move to the U.S. was sponsored by a fellow Colombian and highly respected veteran of the L.A. scene, Yari Moré. Once Montes established himself, he founded his own band — Colombia Latin Soul — while also joining an electronica trio, Palenke Soultribe, a gig which includes frequent European tours.
“I imagine there will be lots of work once this is over, but I wonder if the orchestras will remain untouched,” he reflects. “In the salsa world, everyone’s looking to save their own skin. Musicians may despair and sell their services for less. They may not be as loyal to their original groups as one would hope.”
“We’re in a total limbo,” agrees singer Chino Espinoza, leader of a formidable orchestra, Chino Espinoza y Los Dueños Del Son, that has been playing together since 2003. “This is not going to change in three or four months. I doubt people will have the confidence to go out again and brush against each other the way you do at a salsa club. We will need to reinvent ourselves. A total reset is needed.”
“I would not want to reopen without live music,” adds Earl Miller, owner of the Granada. “Salsa fans are a loyal community, and they like the authentic experience of a real orchestra. Right now, we’re relying on state and federal government to assist us. As long as they do their part, we can survive being closed for three or four months. But they have to put their money where their mouth is.” The salsa scene may need to quickly adapt new practices.
“I see the clubs morphing into restaurants with live entertainment, the way it is in Cuba,” says Burroughs. “Go, listen to the band, dance with your wife sort of thing. The time of social mingling is over for a while.”
“We have a rabid, dedicated fan base,” adds the Conga Room’s Gluckstein. “I think the crowds will eventually come back. They miss our venue and the authentic energy that we create. Once the funding from [the] Payroll Protection [Program] comes through, I’m hopeful we can rehire our employees.”
A packed Conga Room, located at L.A. Live. (The Conga Room)
“I think most clubs will probably close their doors by the time it’s all said and done,” predicts Espinoza. “Some will remain open simply because their owners don’t care about making a profit. Much of the salsa scene is kept alive by people who have invested their hearts in it.”
As he spends his days in seclusion laying down tracks for a new album, Montes seems to mirror the same passion — his career fueled by a deep commitment to the music.
“As a bandleader, I’m particularly worried about getting back on my feet as soon as possible,” he says. “I want to be able to hire and support all the musicians who have stood with me for so many years.”


latimes--2020-04-15--L.A. County reports 42 more coronavirus deaths, a new single-day high

Los Angeles County health officials on Wednesday confirmed 42 more deaths linked to the coronavirus , the highest number reported in a single day , bringing the county ’ s death toll to 402 .
Public Health Department director Barbara Ferrer also confirmed 472 new COVID-19 cases , bringing the county ’ s total to nearly 10,500 .
Officials have previously said the case count includes people who have recovered , but there is no way to track those numbers .
Among the most recent deaths , 24 people were over age 65 , 11 were ages 41-65 and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Information on the other six deaths wasn ’ t immediately available .
“ This is a reminder while the mortality rates are higher for people who are older and have underlying conditions , people of all ages can in fact pass away from COVID-19 , ” Ferrer said .
The county ’ s news comes after nearly a month of unprecedented social distancing efforts that have altered the lives of Californians .
Public officials across the state this week have begun offering their insights as to when the restrictions may finally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be emerging : Now is not the time to loosen stay-at-home orders .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said California needs to increase testing , protect high-risk residents from infection and expand hospital capacity before the state can begin to modify the stay-at-home order he imposed a month ago and gradually return to a sense of normalcy .
The parameters Newsom outlined suggest the state must meet a high bar before walking back the order .
“ I want you to know it ’ s not , it will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We recognize the consequences of the stay-at-home orders have a profound impact on the economy , your personal household budget , your personal prospects around your future.
” It could be sometime in May before state and local officials begin to seriously contemplate how they might start to gradually ease the stay-at-home order .
“ This is not the end , and it ’ s not even the beginning of the end , but perhaps the end of the beginning , ” Anna Roth , director of Contra Costa Health Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s comments after a victory in World War II in 1942 .
“ Now is not the time for us to take a victory lap.
” Dr. Chris Farnitano , Contra Costa County ’ s health officer , went further .
“ It ’ s not even the end of the beginning .
It ’ s still the beginning of the beginning in this crisis , ” Farnitano told the county Board of Supervisors .
“ If we do not continue our efforts to really reduce the spread within our community by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still at risk of facing a surge that could overwhelm our hospitals , ” he said .
Managing outbreaks in long-term care facilities , where older patients with underlying health conditions are among the most vulnerable , remains a priority , Long Beach officials said Wednesday , noting that of the city ’ s 18 COVID-19 deaths , 13 have been associated with long-term care facilities .
The city issued a new health order on Wednesday requiring that all staff and residents have their temperatures checked daily and mandating that staff wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bay Area , which initially saw the largest concentration of cases statewide but has had success flattening the curve , officials on Wednesday doubled down on a message from last week : Don ’ t even think about packing together in public on 4/20 .
The city ’ s legendary love fest to cannabis won ’ t be tolerated this year and the streets surrounding Golden Gate Park , where the event is held each year , will be fenced off , San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said during a news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cite , we will , ” Scott said .
“ If we have to arrest , we will.
” California ’ s hospitals have not been stretched to the limit , as medical facilities have been in New York .
As of Wednesday , California had reported 858 deaths , while New York state has reported more than 10,000 .
Over the last week , California has averaged 1,177 new cases and 48.3 new deaths per day .
Daily coronavirus related deaths reached new heights in Los Angeles County this week .
Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus , which before Wednesday , was the highest number reported in a single day .
The latest number of those infected includes 28 people in the homeless community .
While the majority of those people were unsheltered , officials noted that six people who tested positive for COVID-19 were staying in a shelter .
At least three of the cases were reported at the Union Rescue Mission on skid row .
Ferrer added that county health officials are “ making sure everybody is appropriately isolated and quarantined ” at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily data on countywide infections and deaths to make decisions about when to start relaxing social distancing requirements .
She ’ s hopeful this could begin by the middle or end of May , but encouraged residents to continue their efforts , including wearing face coverings in public and staying home as much as possible , in the meantime .
“ The sacrifices made can not be counted : Some have lost loved ones , some have been ill , some have lost jobs , some have had to temporarily close business , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and everyone has had to live our day-to-day life very differently than we are used to , ” Ferrer said .
“ Thank you for continuing to do what you ’ re doing .
Engaging in these practices is making a difference , and we will get to the other side of this together.
” However , it may be quite a while before life as most Angelenos know it returns to normal .
An internal Los Angeles Fire Department email reviewed by The Times indicates that the city may hold off on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sporting events , until 2021 because of the coronavirus threat .
Mayor Eric Garcetti raised the issue during his weekly briefing Monday with a group of high-level staff from several departments , including Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas , according to the email .
Newsom and officials in his administration say their strategy to slow the spread of the virus is working , pointing to relatively low growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations as evidence that staying home and social distancing are preventing a surge of infections .
But that success comes with a cost .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment benefits in the last month as businesses closed due to state mandates , and the economy continues to unravel .
Some students lost access to free and reduced-cost meals when schools shuttered , and many have not participated in virtual learning .
The governor ’ s strategy of distancing residents can also and increased health risks for the elderly and vulnerable .
Despite his attempts to quell uncertainty , Newsom has not yet provided a timeline for when the state ’ s nearly 40 million people can expect to return to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those struggling to make ends meet , that ’ s the question they want answered most .
“ When are the restrictions going to be lifted ?
” asked Miguel Tot , who last worked at his job managing a downtown Los Angeles restaurant on March 16 .
“ There ’ s no timetable on that , so I have no idea , you know , when normality is going to come back.
” Times staff writers Marisa Gerber , Richard Winton , Colleen Shalby , Dakota Smith and Ben Welsh contributed @ @ @

Hannah Fry, Taryn Luna, Rong-Gong Lin II, Maura Dolan

Healthcare workers, police and firefighters gather for a tribute to the fight against the coronavirus April 14 at Glendale Adventist Hospital.
Los Angeles County health officials on Wednesday confirmed 42 more deaths linked to the coronavirus, the highest number reported in a single day, bringing the county’s death toll to 402.
Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer also confirmed 472 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the county’s total to nearly 10,500. Officials have previously said the case count includes people who have recovered, but there is no way to track those numbers.
Among the most recent deaths, 24 people were older than 65, 11 were ages 41 to 65 and one person was 18 to 40, Ferrer said. Information on the six other deaths wasn’t immediately available.
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“These are now our worst two days back to back,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said during a news conference Wednesday evening, referencing Tuesday’s death toll of 40. “These are not statistics. These are stories.”
The county’s news comes after nearly a month of unprecedented social distancing efforts that have altered the lives of Californians. Public officials across the state this week have begun offering their insights as to when the restrictions may finally be eased.
A common theme appears to be emerging: Now is not the time to loosen stay-at-home orders.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said California needs to increase testing, protect high-risk residents from infection and expand hospital capacity before the state can begin to modify the stay-at-home order he imposed a month ago and gradually return to a sense of normalcy.
The parameters Newsom outlined suggest the state must meet a high bar before walking back the order.
California So much is unknown about the pandemic because the government keeps a lid on it California and its local governments are selective about what information they provide about the coronavirus crisis. What does the public have a right to know, and why is some information being held back?
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“I want you to know it’s not, it will not be a permanent state,” he said. “We recognize the consequences of the stay-at-home orders have a profound impact on the economy, your personal household budget, your personal prospects around your future.”
It could be sometime in May before state and local officials begin to seriously contemplate how they might start to gradually ease the stay-at-home order.
“This is not the end, and it’s not even the beginning of the end, but perhaps the end of the beginning,” Anna Roth, director of Contra Costa Health Services, said Tuesday, quoting Winston Churchill’s comments after a victory in World War II in 1942. “Now is not the time for us to take a victory lap.”
Dr. Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County’s health officer, went further. “It’s not even the end of the beginning. It’s still the beginning of the beginning in this crisis,” Farnitano told the county Board of Supervisors.
“If we do not continue our efforts to really reduce the spread within our community by our social-distancing and staying-at-home efforts ... we are still at risk of facing a surge that could overwhelm our hospitals,” he said.
In Los Angeles, Garcetti said, a key step toward lifting restrictions will be widespread, two-pronged testing — virology tests, which check whether you’re actively infected, and serology tests to detect whether you’ve been infected by the virus in the past.
The tests, he said, will help L.A. move “from crisis to recovery.”
California Crackdown intensifies on those violating coronavirus stay-at-home rules California authorities are citing businesses that refuse to shut down as well as individuals visiting parks and beaches closed due to the coronavirus.
Managing outbreaks in long-term care facilities, where older patients with underlying health conditions are among the most vulnerable, remains a priority, Long Beach officials said Wednesday, noting that of the city’s 18 COVID-19 deaths, 13 have been associated with long-term care facilities. The city issued a new health order on Wednesday requiring that all staff and residents have their temperatures checked daily and mandating that staff wear surgical masks at all times.
In the Bay Area, which initially saw the largest concentration of cases statewide but has had success flattening the curve, officials on Wednesday doubled down on a message from last week: Don’t even think about packing together in public on 4/20.
The city’s legendary love fest to cannabis won’t be tolerated this year and the streets surrounding Golden Gate Park, where the event is held each year, will be fenced off, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said during a news conference.
“If we have to cite, we will,” Scott said. “If we have to arrest, we will.”
California’s hospitals have not been stretched to the limit, as medical facilities have been in New York. As of Wednesday, California had reported 858 deaths, while New York state has reported more than 10,000. Over the last week, California has averaged 1,177 new cases and 48.3 new deaths per day.
California 20 heartwarming photos show gratitude for healthcare workers Firefighters and law enforcement officers from L.A. to Laguna Beach express their gratitude to healthcare workers for their efforts in fighting COVID-19.
Daily coronavirus related deaths reached new heights in Los Angeles County this week. Health officials on Tuesday confirmed 40 deaths linked to the coronavirus, which before Wednesday, was the highest number reported in a single day.
The latest number of those infected includes 28 people in the homeless community. While the majority of those people were unsheltered, officials noted that six people who tested positive for COVID-19 were staying in a shelter. At least three of the cases were reported at the Union Rescue Mission on skid row.
Ferrer added that county health officials are “making sure everybody is appropriately isolated and quarantined” at the shelter.
She said officials are using daily data on countywide infections and deaths to make decisions about when to start relaxing social distancing requirements. She’s hopeful this could begin by the middle or end of May, but encouraged residents to continue their efforts, including wearing face coverings in public and staying home as much as possible, in the meantime.
“The sacrifices made cannot be counted: Some have lost loved ones, some have been ill, some have lost jobs, some have had to temporarily close business, some are guiding children through remote learning and everyone has had to live our day-to-day life very differently than we are used to,” Ferrer said. “Thank you for continuing to do what you’re doing. Engaging in these practices is making a difference, and we will get to the other side of this together.”
However, it may be quite a while before life as most Angelenos know it returns to normal.
An internal Los Angeles Fire Department email reviewed by The Times indicates that the city may hold off on allowing big gatherings, like concerts and sporting events, until 2021 because of the coronavirus threat. Mayor Eric Garcetti raised the issue during his weekly briefing Monday with a group of high-level staff from several departments, including Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas, according to the email.
Newsom and officials in his administration say their strategy to slow the spread of the virus is working, pointing to relatively low growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations as evidence that staying home and social distancing are preventing a surge of infections.
But that success comes with a cost.
More than 2.3 million Californians filed for unemployment benefits in the last month as businesses closed due to state mandates, and the economy continues to unravel. Some students lost access to free and reduced-cost meals when schools shuttered, and many have not participated in virtual learning . To meet a growing demand in L.A., Garcetti said Wednesday that the city plans to more than double the number of seniors receiving free meals several times a week from 5,000 to 12,000. And the governor’s strategy of distancing residents can also lead to social isolation and increased health risks for the elderly and vulnerable.
Despite his attempts to quell uncertainty, Newsom has not yet provided a timeline for when the state’s nearly 40 million people can expect to return to work — or move about freely. And to those struggling to make ends meet, that’s the question they want answered most.
“When are the restrictions going to be lifted?” asked Miguel Tot, who last worked at his job managing a downtown Los Angeles restaurant on March 16. “There’s no timetable on that, so I have no idea, you know, when normality is going to come back.”
Times staff writers Marisa Gerber, Richard Winton, Colleen Shalby, Dakota Smith and Ben Welsh contributed to this report


latimes--2020-04-15--SAT tests to move online, at home if coronavirus forces school closures in fall

High school students will be able to take an at-home online SAT test if the coronavirus keeps schools closed into the fall , the College Board announced Wednesday .
“ The College Board would ensure that at-home SAT testing is simple ; secure and fair ; accessible to all ; and valid for use in college admissions , ” a news release from the organization said .
“ Like the pencil-and-paper test , a digital , remote version of the SAT would measure what students are learning in school and what they need to know to be successful in college.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country — including the University of California — are making the SAT and ACT standardized tests optional as an admissions requirement for students entering college in fall 2021 .
The nonprofit organization previously announced that it would similarly deliver digital exams for 3 million Advanced Placement students this spring .
The College Board announced the at-home possibility as one of three options it could give students who have not been able to take the SAT this spring or who have concerns about their ability to take it in the fall .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 770,000 students scheduled to take the test this spring were unable to do so .
Other options for administering the test include offering a weekend test date every month beginning in August through the end of the calendar year , if it ’ s safe to do so from a public-health standpoint , and offering the SAT in schools .
Almost all of the College Board ’ s state partners have expressed interest in testing during the school day in the fall , the organization said .

The College Board announced plans Wednesday to offer the SAT at home this fall if schools remain closed because of the coronavirus.
High school students will be able to take an at-home online SAT if the coronavirus outbreak keeps schools closed into the fall, the College Board announced Wednesday, a radical shift that is raising concerns about equity and the security of the standardized college admissions test.
If administered at home, the College Board intends to keep the format of the exam “as close to the SAT students have been preparing for,” with some possible changes to ensure security of the exam, officials said. The organization said it would share more details about the at-home test should it look like that version will be required.
The announcement comes as colleges across the country — including the University of California — are making the SAT and ACT tests optional as an admissions requirement for students entering college in fall 2021. At the same time, the test is coming under increasing scrutiny as a barometer of college success, especially for underserved minority students.
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College Board officials said in a conference call Wednesday that they support colleges “in whatever flexibilities they adopt” to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and that they don’t know how test-optional admissions might affect students’ participation.
“We’re utterly committed to making sure that all students, particularly low-income students, have the option to distinguish themselves in admissions” by submitting test scores as well as grades, Chief Executive David Coleman said.
About 770,000 students scheduled to take the SAT this spring were unable to do so. March, May and June exam dates were canceled.
If it is safe to do so, testing could resume as normal in August and the College Board would offer a weekend test date every month through the end of the calendar year as well as in-school tests, officials said.
If schools do not reopen in the fall, a digital, at-home exam will be offered.
“The College Board would ensure that at-home SAT testing is simple; secure and fair; accessible to all; and valid for use in college admissions,” the organization said in a statement.
With millions of students nationwide attempting to continue their schooling through online learning, however, inequities have become readily apparent, with many low-income, minority and disabled students unable to access remote instruction.
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Mark Rosenbaum, a legal director at Public Counsel, is the lead attorney in a lawsuit against the UC system that alleges use of the SAT in admissions decisions is inequitable and discriminatory by race, class and disability status. He said shifting the test to an at-home, online environment would worsen inequities.
“For those individuals who don’t have online capacity or don’t have the same sort of opportunities to work at home as more privileged students do, that inequity is going to be exacerbated,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a solution for anything other than the College Board’s economic interests.”
The nonprofit organization took in more than $1 billion in revenue in 2017, according to its tax filings.
The College Board previously announced that it would deliver digital exams for 3 million Advanced Placement students this spring. Those exams, which will not be proctored, may be taken with open notes and books. They will also be shortened to just 45 minutes from the usual three to four hours and will only assess content learned up to early March.
The at-home SAT would be proctored remotely, an issue that is raising privacy concerns.
A College Board official said software applications would lock other programs on a test-taker’s computer and use its microphone and camera to monitor the surrounding environment.
Ana Mendoza, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said such measures bring up questions about how information will be stored, for how long and who may access it.
“Some people aren’t comfortable being recorded out in public, much less in their own homes,” Mendoza said.
Students have a legal expectation of privacy when it comes to their homes, biometric information such as facial characteristics and their educational records, Mendoza said. Students younger than 18 have even greater protections.
The College Board did not specify how it might modify the test or address privacy concerns if it is administered in students’ homes.
“We are working to understand students’ environmental challenges and requiring only what is most necessary to ensure test security. We’re also exploring partnerships to ensure students have access to technology, and quiet and safe testing spaces, should they not have these in their homes,” the College Board said in an email.
Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-04-15--People are leaving their homes a lot less. CDC numbers show how much

First came the emergency declarations .
Then the rules on mass gatherings , followed by limits on senior living facilities and school closures .
Bars and restaurants came next .
Then stay-at-home orders .
A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at people ’ s movement patterns in coronavirus hot spots such as New York , San Francisco , Seattle and New Orleans and compared them to the timing of closures and various orders in those cities .
The data show that in February about 80 % of people were leaving home , but by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving home varied from 42 % to 61 % .
In all four areas , the more significant declines in people leaving home occurred after limits on gatherings and school closures and after the White House issued guidelines March 16 to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Researchers also saw declines in people leaving home after state stay-at-home orders were issued .
“ We were quite encouraged , ” said Kathleen A. Ethier , a senior author of the report .
“ Fifty percent of people in each of these locations did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The study looked at people going more than 500 feet from their homes in those four cities and surrounding areas from Feb. 26 to April 1 .
Those cities were chosen because each had substantial numbers of COVID-19 cases during the early stages of the U.S. epidemic .
San Francisco imposed a stay-at-home order March 16 when there were just under 200 confirmed cases .
New York City imposed such an order on March 20 .
By then , the number of confirmed cases had already climbed above 5,000 .
It appears that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April in New York City , 42 % of people were leaving home , compared with 47 % of people in San Francisco .
The study used public data from SafeGraph , a company that aggregates location data from mobile phones .
The data was limited to 3 to 6 % of the population in each location .
The data provide a preliminary look at the timing of public policies to curb the spread of the coronavirus and the potential impact the measures may have had on disease growth .
The CDC said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the policies and social distancing may have slowed down the growth of cases .
Ethier said people were receiving a lot of information about the spread of the virus as stay-at-home orders were issued .
“ I think people were also making choices for themselves about doing social distancing because they were concerned , ” she said .
Although Ethier said that the study did not include statistical tests that linked staying at home to slowing the spread of the virus , she said the study was a “ good indication that @ @ @ @ @ @

Rush hour on the 110 Freeway is nearly empty on Good Friday when viewed from a bridge in Elysian Park.
First came the emergency declarations. Then the rules on mass gatherings, followed by limits on senior living facilities and school closures. Bars and restaurants came next. Then stay-at-home orders.
A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at people’s movement patterns in coronavirus hot spots such as New York, San Francisco, Seattle and New Orleans and compared them to the timing of closures and various orders in those cities.
The data show that in February about 80% of people were leaving home, but by April 1, the percentage of people leaving home varied from 42% to 61%. In all four areas, the more significant declines in people leaving home occurred after limits on gatherings and school closures and after the White House issued guidelines March 16 to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
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Researchers also saw declines in people leaving home after state stay-at-home orders were issued.
“We were quite encouraged,” said Kathleen A. Ethier, a senior author of the report. “Fifty percent of people in each of these locations did not leave their home at all.”
The study looked at people going more than 500 feet from their homes in those four cities and surrounding areas from Feb. 26 to April 1. Those cities were chosen because each had substantial numbers of COVID-19 cases during the early stages of the U.S. epidemic.
San Francisco imposed a stay-at-home order March 16 when there were just under 200 confirmed cases. New York City imposed such an order on March 20. By then, the number of confirmed cases had already climbed above 5,000.
It appears that people listened to the orders. By April in New York City, 42% of people were leaving home, compared with 47% of people in San Francisco.
The study used public data from SafeGraph, a company that aggregates location data from mobile phones. The data was limited to 3 to 6% of the population in each location.
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The data provide a preliminary look at the timing of public policies to curb the spread of the coronavirus and the potential impact the measures may have had on disease growth. The CDC said there are “very early indications” that the policies and social distancing may have slowed down the growth of cases.
Ethier said people were receiving a lot of information about the spread of the virus as stay-at-home orders were issued.
“I think people were also making choices for themselves about doing social distancing because they were concerned,” she said.
Although Ethier said that the study did not include statistical tests that linked staying at home to slowing the spread of the virus, she said the study was a “good indication that the policies were effective.”


latimes--2020-04-15--Claremont high school football team 'Zoombombed' during online practice

The first day of spring football practice at Claremont High School — held via the Zoom video-conferencing platform — was interrupted Tuesday when an unknown user bombarded the group with inappropriate images .
Varsity coach Shane Hile posted about the incident on social media to warn other coaches about the pitfalls of using Zoom , which has skyrocketed in popularity as millions turn to online conferencing in an attempt to stay connected during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Coaches please be careful when using Zoom , ” he wrote on Twitter .
“ Today we had our first spring practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Unfortunately our players and staff saw some inappropriate images.
” Hile could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday morning .
As more school districts and colleges turn to Zoom classrooms as a substitute for in-person classes and sports practices , internet trolls have seized a new space to disrupt and spread offensive material .
So-called Zoombombing has upended online learning , public meetings and social happy hours with hateful images and other vulgar content displayed through screen sharing .
Public schools in Los Angeles have already been hit with attacks during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrators issued an apology to the school community last month after some virtual lectures fell prey to people crashing in with “ racist and vile language.
” A City Council meeting in Laguna Beach was interrupted last month when a viewer began drawing pornographic sketches coupled with profane words on Zoom ’ s “ whiteboard ” feature that allows users to annotate on a shared screen .
The viewer began streaming pornography before city officials ended the call .
The meeting login information had been posted on the city website days earlier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a recent statement to the Los Angeles Times that the company took “ the security of Zoom meetings seriously , and we are deeply upset to hear about the incidents involving this type of attack.
” In a blog post titled “ How to Keep Uninvited Guests Out of Your Zoom Event , ” company representatives offered tips on how to adjust security settings to avoid Zoombombing .
They recommend that meeting hosts change their account settings to disable the screen-sharing option for everyone but the host .
Meeting hosts also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that prevent uninvited users from joining .
The company also suggests meeting links not be posted on social media or other public forums .
For meetings that must be public , the platform has a waiting room feature that requires the host to approve entry to participants one by one , according to the company .
Times staff writers Rosanna Xia , Howard Blume and Luke Money contributed to this report

The first day of spring football practice at Claremont High School — held via the Zoom video-conferencing platform — was interrupted Tuesday when an unknown user bombarded the group with inappropriate images.
Varsity coach Shane Hile posted about the incident on social media to warn other coaches about the pitfalls of using Zoom, which has skyrocketed in popularity as millions turn to online conferencing in an attempt to stay connected during the coronavirus pandemic.
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“Coaches please be careful when using Zoom,” he wrote on Twitter. “Today we had our first spring practice using Zoom and we were Zoom bombed. Unfortunately our players and staff saw some inappropriate images.”
Hile could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday morning.
As more school districts and colleges turn to Zoom classrooms as a substitute for in-person classes and sports practices, internet trolls have seized a new space to disrupt and spread offensive material. So-called Zoombombing has upended online learning, public meetings and social happy hours with hateful images and other vulgar content displayed through screen sharing.
Public schools in Los Angeles have already been hit with attacks during online lectures. At USC, top administrators issued an apology to the school community last month after some virtual lectures fell prey to people crashing in with “racist and vile language.”
A City Council meeting in Laguna Beach was interrupted last month when a viewer began drawing pornographic sketches coupled with profane words on Zoom’s “whiteboard” feature that allows users to annotate on a shared screen. The viewer began streaming pornography before city officials ended the call. The meeting login information had been posted on the city website days earlier, allowing public access.
Technology and the Internet Is Zoom safe to use? Here’s what you need to know Zoom, the videoconferencing service that has exploded into the vacuum created by the COVID-19 outbreak, has endured the revelation of a string of privacy and security flaws in recent weeks. How safe is it to use the platform?
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A Zoom spokesperson said in a recent statement to the Los Angeles Times that the company took “the security of Zoom meetings seriously, and we are deeply upset to hear about the incidents involving this type of attack.”
In a blog post titled “How to Keep Uninvited Guests Out of Your Zoom Event,” company representatives offered tips on how to adjust security settings to avoid Zoombombing. They recommend that meeting hosts change their account settings to disable the screen-sharing option for everyone but the host. Meeting hosts also can mute participants and set up passwords that prevent uninvited users from joining.
The company also suggests meeting links not be posted on social media or other public forums. For meetings that must be public, the platform has a waiting room feature that requires the host to approve entry to participants one by one, according to the company.
Times staff writers Rosanna Xia, Howard Blume and Luke Money contributed to this report


latimes--2020-04-15--No California 'victory lap': Lifting stay-at-home rules too soon would be disastrous, officials say

Gov .
Gavin Newsom offered his take Tuesday on how stay-at-home orders would be eased across the state , but California ’ s governor wasn ’ t alone in issuing those orders .
Local health officers also have extraordinary powers to issue wide-ranging shelter-in-place orders for each of the state ’ s 58 counties .
This week , a number of local health officers across California voiced agreement with the governor : Now is not the time to loosen up the coronavirus stay-at-home orders .
It could be sometime in May before state and local officials begin to seriously contemplate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stay-at-home order .
“ This is not the end , and it ’ s not even the beginning of the end , but perhaps the end of the beginning , ” Anna Roth , director of Contra Costa Health Services , said Tuesday , quoting Winston Churchill ’ s comments after a victory in World War II in 1942 .
“ Now is not the time for us to take a victory lap.
” But Dr. Chris Farnitano , Contra Costa County ’ s health officer , went further .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning .
It ’ s still the beginning of the beginning in this crisis , ” Farnitano told the county Board of Supervisors .
“ If we do not continue our efforts to really reduce the spread within our community by our social-distancing and staying-at-home efforts ... we are still at risk of facing a surge that could overwhelm our hospitals.
” California ’ s hospitals have not been stretched to limit , as medical facilities have been in New York .
By Tuesday night , California had reported more than 700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has reported more than 10,000 .
But the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has continued to climb in California , from about 1,600 on March 31 to about 3,100 on Tuesday .
The number of people in California ’ s intensive care units with confirmed coronavirus infections also has risen from about 650 on March 31 to nearly 1,200 on Tuesday , although it ’ s possible the number of people in ICU beds has started to show signs of flattening .
But experts say what California needs to see is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases .
That may not happen until around the end of May , or perhaps mid-June , said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley , a UCLA medical epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert .
So far , the number of new cases is continuing to increase .
Los Angeles County recorded 595 new cases Tuesday , the fourth highest daily total so far , after a momentary dip in the past week .
There were also 40 new fatalities reported Tuesday , the highest daily death total for L.A. County .
Just last week , L.A. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extension of stay-at-home restrictions until May 15 .
Added to the order : a requirement , starting Wednesday , that people shopping and working at essential businesses wear cloth face coverings .
She warned last week it might be summertime before officials look at relaxing elements of the stay-at-home order .
“ We are not yet on the other side of this pandemic , ” Ferrer said Tuesday .
In Silicon Valley , the original epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in California , officials had reason for cautious optimism , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 50 to 100 additional cases daily , said Dr. Sara Cody , health officer for Santa Clara County .
Deaths are still increasing , but slowly , she added .
As of Monday , Santa Clara County had reported 1,666 cases and 60 deaths .
“ However , I want to emphasize that we are by no means out of the woods , ” Cody said at a news conference Tuesday .
“ We ’ re still probably at the beginning of what is going to be a very long marathon.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ease restrictions are similar to those Newsom outlined Tuesday : robust hospital capacity to handle possible surges in the number of new patients ; a stockpile of personal protective equipment , including masks , gowns and gloves ; improved testing capacity ; and added staff to investigate new cases to isolate newly infected patients and find those who have been exposed to the virus and quarantine them .
“ We do not want to slip back .
... We ’ ve settled things down .
We need to settle things down more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we just lifted the shelter-in-place and went about our business , we ’ d be right back where we were.
” There were signs of increasing optimism that it ’ s possible California may be spared a feared surge of patients .
“ We [ may be ] already starting to get to a steady state with the number of cases and the number of hospitalizations starting to level off , ” said Farnitano , the Contra Costa County health officer , “ which would be a credit to all the social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ventura County , one model suggested a surge in cases was coming next week .
But the public health officer , Dr. Robert Levin , said the optimistic part of him “ thinks we may continue along this flat line that we ’ ve been on for a bit.
” Just two weeks ago , Levin warned Ventura County could see as many as 1,000 deaths from the coronavirus outbreak , although he added Tuesday he had thought more realistically it would be around 250 .
By Tuesday night , there were 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot to do with how hard everyone in our county has worked at ... maintaining social distancing , ” Levin said at a Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting .
Still , he said , the stay-at-home order would likely be in place for a while longer .
“ We want to see a reduction in cases for 14 days .
We want hospitals to be able to treat all patients without needing their surge beds .
We would like to see the ability to test all people with what could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officer , Dr. Scott Morrow , credited “ extraordinary adherence ” to the shelter-in-place order , implemented in the San Francisco Bay Area on March 16 — and issued three days ahead of the statewide order — with lowering the pace of new infections .
“ There is no perfect adherence , by any means , but it seems to be the major reason for lowering the rate of new infections to a stable level , ” Morrow said in a statement released Monday .
“ The adherence has been so good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re using to predict our future state don ’ t seem to be able to account for this fact .
It appears that we have flattened the curve , at least this first curve , for now.
” At least 17 of California ’ s 58 counties issued stay-at-home orders before Newsom issued his statewide order .
State and local officials say they ’ re acutely aware of the intense economic pain the stay-at-home orders are causing .
Mounting jobless claims point to an unemployment rate in April of 15 % or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s , when 1 in 4 workers were jobless .
“ Where we are now with the stay-at-home orders , they simply can ’ t be sustained , ” Dr. Sonia Angell , state health officer , said Tuesday .
But to get beyond the existing stay-at-home order , Newsom says , he wants to see the numbers of people hospitalized and in intensive care units start to decline .
He also wants to make sure testing is increased , and hospital capacity is expanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , ask him again in two weeks , during the first week of May .
“ Ask me the question then and we will be in a very different place , where we can be more prescriptive on giving people timelines , ” Newsom said Tuesday .
“ I know you want the timeline .
But we can ’ t get ahead of ourselves .
... Let ’ s not make the mistake of pulling the plug too early .
”

Gov. Gavin Newsom offered his take Tuesday on how stay-at-home orders would be eased across the state, but California’s governor wasn’t alone in issuing those orders. Local health officers also have extraordinary powers to issue wide-ranging shelter-in-place orders for each of the state’s 58 counties.
This week, a number of local health officers across California voiced agreement with the governor: Now is not the time to loosen up the coronavirus stay-at-home orders.
It could be sometime in May before state and local officials begin to seriously contemplate how they might start to gradually ease the stay-at-home order.
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“This is not the end, and it’s not even the beginning of the end, but perhaps the end of the beginning,” Anna Roth, director of Contra Costa Health Services, said Tuesday, quoting Winston Churchill’s comments after a victory in World War II in 1942. “Now is not the time for us to take a victory lap.”
But Dr. Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County’s health officer, went further. “It’s not even the end of the beginning. It’s still the beginning of the beginning in this crisis,” Farnitano told the county Board of Supervisors. “If we do not continue our efforts to really reduce the spread within our community by our social-distancing and staying-at-home efforts ... we are still at risk of facing a surge that could overwhelm our hospitals.”
California’s hospitals have not been stretched to limit, as medical facilities have been in New York. By Tuesday night, California had reported more than 700 deaths; New York state, meanwhile, has reported more than 10,000.
But the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has continued to climb in California, from about 1,600 on March 31 to about 3,100 on Tuesday. The number of people in California’s intensive care units with confirmed coronavirus infections also has risen from about 650 on March 31 to nearly 1,200 on Tuesday, although it’s possible the number of people in ICU beds has started to show signs of flattening.
But experts say what California needs to see is a sustained drop in the numbers of new cases. That may not happen until around the end of May, or perhaps mid-June, said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, a UCLA medical epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert.
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So far, the number of new cases is continuing to increase. Los Angeles County recorded 595 new cases Tuesday, the fourth highest daily total so far, after a momentary dip in the past week.
There were also 40 new fatalities reported Tuesday, the highest daily death total for L.A. County.
Just last week, L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer ordered an extension of stay-at-home restrictions until May 15. Added to the order: a requirement, starting Wednesday, that people shopping and working at essential businesses wear cloth face coverings. She warned last week it might be summertime before officials look at relaxing elements of the stay-at-home order.
“We are not yet on the other side of this pandemic,” Ferrer said Tuesday.
In Silicon Valley, the original epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in California, officials had reason for cautious optimism, with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases stabilizing at about 50 to 100 additional cases daily, said Dr. Sara Cody, health officer for Santa Clara County.
Deaths are still increasing, but slowly, she added. As of Monday, Santa Clara County had reported 1,666 cases and 60 deaths.
“However, I want to emphasize that we are by no means out of the woods,” Cody said at a news conference Tuesday. “We’re still probably at the beginning of what is going to be a very long marathon.”
The goals the county needs to meet to ease restrictions are similar to those Newsom outlined Tuesday: robust hospital capacity to handle possible surges in the number of new patients; a stockpile of personal protective equipment, including masks, gowns and gloves; improved testing capacity; and added staff to investigate new cases to isolate newly infected patients and find those who have been exposed to the virus and quarantine them.
“We do not want to slip back. ... We’ve settled things down. We need to settle things down more,” Cody said. “If we just lifted the shelter-in-place and went about our business, we’d be right back where we were.”
There were signs of increasing optimism that it’s possible California may be spared a feared surge of patients.
“We [may be] already starting to get to a steady state with the number of cases and the number of hospitalizations starting to level off,” said Farnitano, the Contra Costa County health officer, “which would be a credit to all the social distancing efforts we’ve done.”
In Ventura County, one model suggested a surge in cases was coming next week. But the public health officer, Dr. Robert Levin, said the optimistic part of him “thinks we may continue along this flat line that we’ve been on for a bit.”
Just two weeks ago, Levin warned Ventura County could see as many as 1,000 deaths from the coronavirus outbreak, although he added Tuesday he had thought more realistically it would be around 250. By Tuesday night, there were 13 deaths.
“I think that has a lot to do with how hard everyone in our county has worked at ... maintaining social distancing,” Levin said at a Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting.
Still, he said, the stay-at-home order would likely be in place for a while longer. “We want to see a reduction in cases for 14 days. We want hospitals to be able to treat all patients without needing their surge beds. We would like to see the ability to test all people with what could be COVID-19 symptoms.”
The San Mateo County health officer, Dr. Scott Morrow, credited “extraordinary adherence” to the shelter-in-place order, implemented in the San Francisco Bay Area on March 16 — and issued three days ahead of the statewide order — with lowering the pace of new infections.
“There is no perfect adherence, by any means, but it seems to be the major reason for lowering the rate of new infections to a stable level,” Morrow said in a statement released Monday. “The adherence has been so good, in fact, the models we’re using to predict our future state don’t seem to be able to account for this fact. It appears that we have flattened the curve, at least this first curve, for now.”
At least 17 of California’s 58 counties issued stay-at-home orders before Newsom issued his statewide order.
State and local officials say they’re acutely aware of the intense economic pain the stay-at-home orders are causing. Mounting jobless claims point to an unemployment rate in April of 15% or even higher, a tsunami-like economic hit not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s, when 1 in 4 workers were jobless.
“Where we are now with the stay-at-home orders, they simply can’t be sustained,” Dr. Sonia Angell, state health officer, said Tuesday.
But to get beyond the existing stay-at-home order, Newsom says, he wants to see the numbers of people hospitalized and in intensive care units start to decline. He also wants to make sure testing is increased, and hospital capacity is expanded.
For those wanting a timeline, he said, ask him again in two weeks, during the first week of May.
“Ask me the question then and we will be in a very different place, where we can be more prescriptive on giving people timelines,” Newsom said Tuesday. “I know you want the timeline. But we can’t get ahead of ourselves. ... Let’s not make the mistake of pulling the plug too early.”


latimes--2020-04-15--Do coronavirus social distancing orders violate religious freedom? Local pastors say yes

On Easter Sunday at a church in Fontana , a pastor delivered a fiery sermon to worshipers who crowded the pews in defiance of government orders prohibiting in-person services even on this holiest of days .
The next day , the pastor , Patrick Scales of the Shield of Faith Family Church , filed a lawsuit contesting the stay-at-home orders as a violation of 1st Amendment religious freedom .
“ We ’ re not going to stay home .
We went to the house of God anyway , ” Scales thundered in a video of the Easter service posted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail .
We were threatened by a fine .
I chose to come worship.
” People in the pews cheered and applauded , many wearing masks and gloves but appearing to be closer to each other than the six-foot distance mandated by officials to stop the spread of the coronavirus that has killed more than 126,000 worldwide .
Much about the coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented , from the mass closure of schools and restaurants to the social distancing rules requiring that religious services be held online only .
The U.S. Constitution is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious leaders from Mississippi to Kentucky to San Diego County suing their governments , asserting that they are being treated differently from businesses that can remain open , such as supermarkets and liquor stores .
Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include one of Scales ’ parishioners , Wendy Gish , and two Riverside County pastors , James Moffatt of Church Unlimited in Indio and Brenda Wood of Word of Life Ministries International Inc. in Riverside .
Moffatt was fined $ 1,000 for conducting a church service on Palm Sunday , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church held a drive-in service , which was permitted by Riverside County only for that weekend .
Photos on the church ’ s Facebook page show cars lined up in the parking lot , where a live band performed .
Some worshipers emerged into the sunshine , standing on the curbs or in the narrow gaps between cars .
“ It doesn ’ t work for the government to tell you or me that it ’ s good enough to load up Zoom and your high-speed internet and do your service remotely , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Harmeet Dhillon .
“ That ’ s incredibly arrogant and out of touch.
” Dhillon noted that in rural areas , many people do not have internet access .
On Tuesday , she filed for a temporary restraining order to obtain a ruling on whether the defendants , who include Gov .
Gavin Newsom and officials from Riverside and San Bernardino counties , should allow the churches to resume in-person services .
A hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Jesus Bernal is scheduled for June 1 .
Newsom ’ s office did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A spokeswoman for Riverside County said the county is reviewing the lawsuit but could not comment because of the ongoing litigation .
San Bernardino County officials were also reviewing the complaint and “ will continue to act in the best interests of the public ’ s health and safety , ” a spokesman said .
Constitutional law scholars interviewed by The Times were divided on the strength of Scales ’ case .
During an infectious disease pandemic , government officials have a public health interest in restricting people ’ s movements , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as freedom of religion , speech and assembly .
Barry McDonald , a professor at Pepperdine ’ s Caruso School of Law , said the plaintiffs have a “ decent claim.
” The government must have a compelling reason to treat churches differently than other organizations it has deemed essential , he said .
If churches agree to maintain safe social distancing , according to McDonald , they could argue for a carve-out like supermarkets and pharmacies .
“ These are important material needs that must be fulfilled , important social needs — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ You could say spiritual needs are essential and necessary as well.
” Aaron Caplan , a professor at Loyola Law School and a former attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington , questioned why the plaintiffs sued so quickly instead of waiting to see how much law enforcement would crack down on them .
But he agreed with McDonald that the government must have a “ really good reason ” for not putting churches on the list of businesses that can still operate .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be to design religious exceptions , because religion is important to people , ” he said .
“ Do we want the government to say we think the grocery store and the drugstore are more important than your religion ?
” In Kentucky , a federal judge granted the On Fire Christian Center ’ s request for a temporary restraining order against the city of Louisville so it could hold drive-in services .
Since Louisville allows drive-through liquor services , it must allow church services , U.S. District Court Judge Justin Walker ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential , ’ so is Easter , ” Walker wrote .
In San Diego , a judge came out on the other side , rejecting a church ’ s request for a temporary restraining order so it could hold Easter services .
The right to freedom of religion doesn ’ t “ include the right to expose the community to communicable disease , ” U.S. District Court Judge Cynthia Bashant said .
In Mississippi , U.S. Atty .
Gen. William Barr went to bat for a church whose members were fined $ 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while drive-in restaurants could continue to operate .
“ The city appears to have thereby singled churches out as the only essential service ... that may not operate despite following all … recommendations regarding social distancing , ” he wrote in a news release announcing that the Department of Justice had filed a brief in support of the church .
Lawrence Sager , a professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and visiting professor at UCLA School of Law , said the Riverside and San Bernardino county churches did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discrimination .
Whereas people can not rely exclusively on online deliveries of food and medicine , churches can deliver their messages online , he said .
“ They can behave virtually and do what needs to be done virtually .
You can ’ t give someone food virtually or medicine virtually , ” he said .
“ I think that makes the case that churches aren ’ t being treated fairly a weak case , a very weak case.
” But on Easter in Fontana , Scales recited the 1st Amendment and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” as best it could by taking legal action .
“ We can ’ t roll over and play dead .
The devil ’ s playing for keeps , ” he said .
“ We ’ re living in the last days .
It ’ s time to stand up , hallelujah , not to run and hide.
” The applause from the pews intensified .
People rose to their feet , waving hands in rubber gloves .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Ashley Amon and her daughters, Alysha, 2, and Alexandria, 4, who are currently homeless, attend an Easter service with fellow worshipers in their cars in a parking lot in Santa Ana.
On Easter Sunday at a church in Fontana, a pastor delivered a fiery sermon to worshipers who crowded the pews in defiance of government orders prohibiting in-person services even on this holiest of days.
The next day, the pastor, Patrick Scales of the Shield of Faith Family Church, filed a lawsuit contesting the stay-at-home orders as a violation of 1st Amendment religious freedom.
“We’re not going to stay home. We went to the house of God anyway,” Scales thunders in a video of the Easter service posted on Facebook. “We were threatened by jail. We were threatened by a fine. I chose to come worship.”
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People in the pews cheered and applauded, many wearing masks and gloves but appearing to be closer to each other than the six-foot distance mandated by officials to stop the spread of the coronavirus that has killed more than 126,000 worldwide.
Much about the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, from the mass closure of schools and restaurants to the social distancing rules requiring that religious services be held online only.
The U.S. Constitution is also being tested in unprecedented ways, with religious leaders from Mississippi to Kentucky to San Diego County suing their governments, asserting that they are being treated differently from businesses that can remain open, such as supermarkets and liquor stores.
Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include one of Scales’ parishioners, Wendy Gish, and two Riverside County pastors, James Moffatt of Church Unlimited in Indio and Brenda Wood of Word of Life Ministries International Inc. in Riverside.
Moffatt was fined $1,000 for conducting a church service on Palm Sunday, according to the complaint.
MaryAnn Lawson collects prayer requests from people gathering in their cars for a drive-in service in Santa Ana. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
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On Easter Sunday, his church held a drive-in service, which was permitted by Riverside County only for that weekend.
Photos on the church’s Facebook page show cars lined up in the parking lot, where a live band performed. Some worshipers emerged into the sunshine, standing on the curbs or in the narrow gaps between cars.
“It doesn’t work for the government to tell you or me that it’s good enough to load up Zoom and your high-speed internet and do your service remotely,” said the plaintiffs’ lead attorney, Harmeet Dhillon. “That’s incredibly arrogant and out of touch.”
Dhillon noted that in rural areas, many people do not have internet access. On Tuesday, she filed for a temporary restraining order to obtain a ruling on whether the defendants, who include Gov. Gavin Newsom and officials from Riverside and San Bernardino counties, should allow the churches to resume in-person services.
A hearing before U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal is scheduled for June 1.
Newsom’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
A spokeswoman for Riverside County said the county is reviewing the lawsuit but could not comment because of the ongoing litigation.
San Bernardino County officials were also reviewing the complaint and “will continue to act in the best interests of the public’s health and safety,” a spokesman said.
Constitutional law scholars interviewed by The Times were divided on the strength of Scales’ case.
During an infectious disease pandemic, government officials have a public health interest in restricting people’s movements, which can clash with constitutional rights such as freedom of religion, speech and assembly.
Barry McDonald, a professor at Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law, said the plaintiffs have a “decent claim.”
The government must have a compelling reason to treat churches differently from other organizations it has deemed essential, he said.
If churches agree to maintain safe social distancing, according to McDonald, they could argue for a carve-out like supermarkets and pharmacies.
“These are important material needs that must be fulfilled, important social needs — courts, day care, child care,” he said. “You could say spiritual needs are essential and necessary as well.”
Aaron Caplan, a professor at Loyola Law School and a former attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, questioned why the plaintiffs sued so quickly instead of waiting to see how much law enforcement would crack down on them.
But he agreed with McDonald that the government must have a “really good reason” for not putting churches on the list of businesses that can still operate.
“Maybe the best thing to do would be to design religious exceptions, because religion is important to people,” he said. “Do we want the government to say we think the grocery store and the drugstore are more important than your religion?”
In Kentucky, a federal judge granted the On Fire Christian Center’s request for a temporary restraining order against the city of Louisville so it could hold drive-in services.
Because Louisville allows drive-through liquor services, it must allow church services, U.S. District Judge Justin R. Walker ruled.
“But if beer is ‘essential,’ so is Easter,” Walker wrote.
In San Diego, a judge came out on the other side, rejecting a church’s request for a temporary restraining order so it could hold Easter services.
The right to freedom of religion doesn’t “include the right to expose the community to communicable disease,” U.S. District Judge Cynthia A. Bashant said.
In Mississippi, U.S. Atty. Gen. William Barr went to bat for a church whose members were fined $500 each for attending parking lot services while drive-in restaurants could continue to operate.
“The city appears to have thereby singled churches out as the only essential service ... that may not operate despite following all … recommendations regarding social distancing,” he wrote in a news release announcing that the Department of Justice had filed a brief in support of the church.
Lawrence Sager, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and visiting professor at UCLA School of Law, said the Riverside and San Bernardino county churches did not provide strong evidence of unconstitutional religious discrimination.
Whereas people cannot rely exclusively on online deliveries of food and medicine, churches can deliver their messages online, he said.
“They can behave virtually and do what needs to be done virtually. You can’t give someone food virtually or medicine virtually,” he said. “I think that makes the case that churches aren’t being treated fairly a weak case — a very weak case.”
But on Easter in Fontana, Scales recited the 1st Amendment and said the church was “facing the enemy” as best it could by taking legal action.
“We can’t roll over and play dead. The devil’s playing for keeps,” he said. “We’re living in the last days. It’s time to stand up — hallelujah — not to run and hide.”
The applause from the pews intensified. People rose to their feet, waving hands in rubber gloves.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-04-15--San Diego County adds 6 to coronavirus deaths as case total nears 2,000

San Diego County health officials reported Tuesday that six more residents had died of COVID-19 , bringing the region ’ s death toll to 53 .
Three of the victims were men ages 63 to 86 .
The other three were women in the 81-100 age bracket .
Among all who have died , 22 were white , 16 were Latino , two were Asian , and one was multiracial .
Race was not available in 12 cases .
Also Tuesday , the county logged an additional 83 cases of the novel coronavirus , for a new total of 1,930 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although county officials are tracking 31 clusters of cases .
Those include 20 centered in congregate living facilities and 11 outbreaks in the community .
Health officials have long said the current number of COVID-19 cases are a poor reflection of actual cases in the region because of a lack of testing .
More than 27,000 tests had been conducted and reported to the county as of Tuesday .
County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher announced Tuesday that the Lucky Duck Foundation , an organization dedicated to addressing homelessness , would fund COVID-19 tests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego Convention Center .
Beginning Thursday , 150 people at the shelter will be tested for the virus .
Testing will ramp up to 250 tests a day until everyone has been screened .

A nurse gets help putting on protective gear before caring for a COVID-19 patient at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in Chula Vista on Friday.
San Diego County health officials reported Tuesday that six more residents had died of COVID-19, bringing the region’s death toll to 53.
Three of the victims were men ages 63 to 86. The other three were women in the 81-100 age bracket.
Among all who have died, 22 were white, 16 were Latino, two were Asian, and one was multiracial. Race was not available in 12 cases.
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Also Tuesday, the county logged an additional 83 cases of the novel coronavirus, for a new total of 1,930. No new outbreaks were reported, although county officials are tracking 31 clusters of cases. Those include 20 centered in congregate living facilities and 11 outbreaks in the community.
California Coronavirus concerns force cancellation of San Diego County Fair The Del Mar fair board voted to postpone this summer’s San Diego County Fair until 2021 because of the state’s prohibitions on mass gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Health officials have long said the current number of COVID-19 cases are a poor reflection of actual cases in the region because of a lack of testing. More than 27,000 tests had been conducted and reported to the county as of Tuesday.
County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher announced Tuesday that the Lucky Duck Foundation, an organization dedicated to addressing homelessness, would fund COVID-19 tests for all homeless people sheltering at the San Diego Convention Center.
Beginning Thursday, 150 people at the shelter will be tested for the virus. Testing will ramp up to 250 tests a day until everyone has been screened.
Winkley writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.