latimes--2020-05-03--Earthquake: Magnitude 3.3 quake hits the San Fernando Valley

A magnitude 3.3 earthquake shook up the San Fernando Valley on Sunday morning .
The epicenter of the earthquake , which hit at 3:19 a.m. , occurred in Chatsworth .
Light shaking was felt in the northwest section of the Valley , while weak shaking was felt in the rest of the Valley and into downtown Los Angeles and the Westside , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
Light shaking , as defined by the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale , can wake people up and rattle dishes and windows , can rock stationary motor vehicles , and can feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Within 20 minutes of the earthquake , hundreds of people reported feeling the earthquake and reported it to the USGS ’ Did You Feel It ?
crowdsourcing survey .
Residents reported feeling it as far away as Simi Valley , Santa Clarita and Santa Monica .
In the last 10 days , there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in the greater Los Angeles area , according to a recent three-year data sample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 4.3 miles .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
The first version of this story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times journalist .
If you ’ re interested in learning more about the system , visit our list of frequently asked questions .

A magnitude 3.3 earthquake was reported in the San Fernando Valley early Sunday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
A magnitude 3.3 earthquake shook up the San Fernando Valley on Sunday morning.
The epicenter of the earthquake, which hit at 3:19 a.m., occurred in Chatsworth. Light shaking was felt in the northwest section of the Valley, while weak shaking was felt in the rest of the Valley and into downtown Los Angeles and the Westside, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Light shaking, as defined by the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, can wake people up and rattle dishes and windows, can rock stationary motor vehicles, and can feel like a truck hitting a building.
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Within 20 minutes of the earthquake, hundreds of people reported feeling the earthquake and reported it to the USGS’ Did You Feel It? crowdsourcing survey. Residents reported feeling it as far away as Simi Valley, Santa Clarita and Santa Monica.
EARTHQUAKE. — Ava DuVernay (@ava) May 3, 2020
I’m very awake here in Northridge, and I see some neighbors in the next building turning on their lights. — Julian Lozos (@seismogenic) May 3, 2020
In the last 10 days, there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
An average of five earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in the greater Los Angeles area, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 4.3 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
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Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
The first version of this story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published, and it was updated by a Times journalist. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-05-04--Rural areas have a message for Newsom: One size doesn't fit all in reopening California

Rebellion is infectious .
Rural people are in revolt against Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s statewide virus-fighting rules , which make little sense in burgs such as Bieber .
Bieber has hardly anything in common with the likes of Burbank or Balboa .
“ There ’ s a bar , a restaurant , a hardware store , market , post office , school and a gas station with one pump , ” says Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle of Bieber in Lassen County .
“ No stop light.
” Dahle grows cereal grains and represents 11 mostly mountain counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Megan Dahle , is a Republican assemblywoman .
In four of the senator ’ s counties — Modoc , Lassen , Sierra and Alpine — there hasn ’ t been one case of coronavirus , he says .
Zero .
“ People are getting fed up ” with the governor ’ s stay-at-home , business-shut-down orders , Dahle says .
“ They want to open up , get back to normal .
“ We ’ re not like Los Angeles or San Francisco .
Let ’ s get back to cooler heads .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Oregon border six miles north of Dahle ’ s farm , with a population of only 9,570 , didn ’ t wait for the governor to set it free .
The county reopened itself Friday .
“ Our businesses are dying , and people need to be able to feed their children and pay their rent , ” said Heather Hadwick , a Modoc County emergency services official .
Good for Modoc .
Its “ big city ” is Alturas , the county seat , with a population of 2,826 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in virus risk .
Neither is Coloma anything like Carson or Covina .
Coloma is where gold was discovered in 1848 , along the American River in the Sierra foothills east of Sacramento .
The find set off the ’ 49ers ’ rush to California in search of riches that mostly never panned out .
But we were admitted to statehood the next year .
There ’ s a state park at the Coloma gold discovery site in El Dorado County .
Newsom ordered it and several state recreation areas along historic Highway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it ’ s spring .
Wildflowers are blooming , trout are biting and the weather has been spectacular .
Inevitably , people have been ignoring the governor and enjoying the public parks — educating themselves on the gold discovery , hiking , fishing and basking in the Motherlode majesty .
Problem is , Newsom also closed the parking lots — as he did at the coastal beaches .
With no public lots open , motorists park on streets — and clog beach community neighborhoods .
Closing parking lots inconveniences motorists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreation seeker .
Definitely not along Highway 49 .
“ The governor said it ’ s OK for people to go out and exercise for their physical and mental health , so people are doing that , ” says El Dorado County Sheriff John D ’ Agostini .
“ But the parks are closed and people can ’ t get into the lots .
So they ’ re parking on the two-lane road .
With a lot of traffic , somebody is going to get hit.
” D ’ Agostini asked the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks .
“ They don ’ t have to open all the concessions , ” he says .
“ Just get people off the roadway .
“ But they are absolutely refusing to do that .
They ’ re not willing to budge and work with us .
They say they can ’ t violate the governor ’ s orders.
” “ The governor is dragging his feet , ” the sheriff adds .
“ I ’ m monitoring it .
If things look like they ’ re going to get out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m considering cutting the locks and opening the gates myself.
” El Dorado County — population 193,000 , including South Lake Tahoe — is letting its stay-at-home directive expire and has asked Newsom to loosen restrictions on business .
The county has been lightly touched by the virus , with no deaths .
Politically , these northern mountain and valley farm counties are California outliers .
They ’ re largely Republican .
Bakersfield Republican Shannon Grove is the Senate minority leader .
She keeps stressing that north of the Tehachapi , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as in densely populated Southern California .
“ The governor should realize that L.A. County is different than Kern County , ” Grove says .
“ We need to open up county by county .
We ’ ve had only a handful of deaths .
Our hospitals are empty .
We definitely have to reopen the economy.
” Both parties are trying to keep partisan politics out of the virus fight .
They ’ re following the lead of recent uncharacteristically cordial relations between Newsom and President Trump .
Nevertheless , northern farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being looped in with and overpowered by Southern California , eyeing Angelenos suspiciously as water grabbers .
Now they ’ re trying to escape Newsom ’ s stay-at-home orders that they protest are too heavy-handed for sparsely populated areas .
Yuba and Sutter counties in the Sacramento Valley plan to reopen businesses this week .
They and four other nearby counties — Butte , Glenn , Tehama and Colusa — have asked Newsom to exempt them from his stay-home order .
“ Local businesses can ’ t survive week after week with no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( R-Tehama ) says .
“ After a while they throw up their hands and quit , and there go the jobs .
“ Given the low infection rates , we have to open up our local economy .
It ’ s always struggling anyway.
” Assemblyman James Gallagher ( R-Yuba City ) , a rice farmer , says : “ We ’ re not saying all of California is ready to open , but we are .
We ’ ve met the [ governor ’ s ] criteria .
The dynamics have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t make sense anymore.
” Newsom keeps hinting at loosening his reins .
He shouldn ’ t dawdle .
Rural folks are beginning to cut the reins themselves and head in another direction .

State Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama) discusses the impact the coronavirus is having on rural residents and businesses during a news conference in Sacramento on April 28.
Rebellion is infectious. Rural people are in revolt against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statewide virus-fighting rules, which make little sense in burgs such as Bieber.
Bieber has hardly anything in common with the likes of Burbank or Balboa.
“There’s a bar, a restaurant, a hardware store, market, post office, school and a gas station with one pump,” says Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle of Bieber in Lassen County. “No stoplight.”
Dahle grows cereal grains and represents 11 mostly mountain counties in the Senate. His wife, Megan Dahle, is a Republican assemblywoman.
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In four of the senator’s counties — Modoc, Lassen, Sierra and Alpine — there hasn’t been one case of coronavirus, he says. Zero.
“There is no curve. It’s flat.”
“People are getting fed up” with the governor’s stay-at-home, business-shut-down orders, Dahle says. “They want to open up, get back to normal.
“We’re not like Los Angeles or San Francisco. Let’s get back to cooler heads. Let the people free.”
Modoc, on the Oregon border six miles north of Dahle’s farm, with a population of only 9,570, didn’t wait for the governor to set it free. The county reopened itself Friday.
“Our businesses are dying, and people need to be able to feed their children and pay their rent,” said Heather Hadwick, a Modoc County emergency services official.
California Some California businesses reopen in defiance of coronavirus stay-at-home orders From the high desert to the beach enclaves of Orange County, a growing number of California businesses deemed nonessential are choosing to reopen in defiance of orders from local and state authorities.
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Good for Modoc. Its “big city” is Alturas, the county seat, with a population of 2,826. Alturas hardly equates with Alhambra or Anaheim in virus risk.
Neither is Coloma anything like Carson or Covina.
Coloma is where gold was discovered in 1848, along the American River in the Sierra foothills east of Sacramento. The find set off the ’49ers’ rush to California in search of riches that mostly never panned out. But we were admitted to statehood the next year.
There’s a state park at the Coloma gold discovery site in El Dorado County. Newsom ordered it and several state recreation areas along historic Highway 49 closed to slow the virus spread.
But it’s spring. Wildflowers are blooming, trout are biting and the weather has been spectacular. Inevitably, people have been ignoring the governor and enjoying the public parks — educating themselves on the gold discovery, hiking, fishing and basking in the Motherlode majesty.
Problem is, Newsom also closed the parking lots — as he did at the coastal beaches. With no public lots open, motorists park on streets — and clog beach community neighborhoods.
Closing parking lots inconveniences motorists, but it doesn’t deter every recreation seeker. Definitely not along Highway 49.
“The governor said it’s OK for people to go out and exercise for their physical and mental health, so people are doing that,” says El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostini.
“But the parks are closed and people can’t get into the lots. So they’re parking on the two-lane road. With a lot of traffic, somebody is going to get hit.”
Tracking the coronavirus in L.A. County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
D’Agostini asked the state parks department to reopen the lots and parks.
“They don’t have to open all the concessions,” he says. “Just get people off the roadway.
“But they are absolutely refusing to do that. They’re not willing to budge and work with us. They say they can’t violate the governor’s orders.”
“The governor is dragging his feet,” the sheriff adds. “I’m monitoring it. If things look like they’re going to get out of control and threaten public safety, I’m considering cutting the locks and opening the gates myself.”
El Dorado County — population 193,000, including South Lake Tahoe — is letting its stay-at-home directive expire and has asked Newsom to loosen restrictions on business. The county has been lightly touched by the virus, with no deaths.
Politically, these northern mountain and valley farm counties are California outliers. They’re largely Republican.
Bakersfield Republican Shannon Grove is the Senate minority leader. She keeps stressing that north of the Tehachapi, the virus hasn’t been as vicious as in densely populated Southern California.
“The governor should realize that L.A. County is different than Kern County,” Grove says. “We need to open up county by county. We’ve had only a handful of deaths. Our hospitals are empty. We definitely have to reopen the economy.”
Both parties are trying to keep partisan politics out of the virus fight. They’re following the lead of recent uncharacteristically cordial relations between Newsom and President Trump.
Nevertheless, northern farmers and mountain people have always fought against being looped in with and overpowered by Southern California, eyeing Angelenos suspiciously as water grabbers.
Now they’re trying to escape Newsom’s stay-at-home orders that they protest are too heavy-handed for sparsely populated areas.
The mall in Yuba City, Calif., on April 27. “We’re not saying all of California is ready to open, but we are,” Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), said. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)
Yuba and Sutter counties in the Sacramento Valley plan to reopen businesses this week. They and four other nearby counties — Butte, Glenn, Tehama and Colusa — have asked Newsom to exempt them from his stay-home order.
“Local businesses can’t survive week after week with no business,” state Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama) says. “After a while they throw up their hands and quit, and there go the jobs.
“Given the low infection rates, we have to open up our local economy. It’s always struggling anyway.”
Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), a rice farmer, says: “We’re not saying all of California is ready to open, but we are. We’ve met the [governor’s] criteria. The dynamics have changed a lot. This doesn’t make sense anymore.”
Newsom keeps hinting at loosening his reins. He shouldn’t dawdle. Rural folks are beginning to cut the reins themselves and head in another direction.


latimes--2020-05-03--Navy took lessons from coronavirus outbreaks on three other ships to act quickly aboard Kidd

Novel coronavirus outbreaks aboard three Navy warships have taught the military service valuable lessons that enabled it to respond quickly in late March when a sailor started displaying symptoms of COVID-19 on the guided-missile destroyer Kidd , a vice admiral in charge of the Navy ’ s surface force said last week .
The Kidd was conducting counter-drug operations in the eastern Pacific near South America when a sailor began showing symptoms of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , on April 22 .
Less than a week later , the ship was moored at Naval Base San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 330 sailors evacuated from the vessel .
Vice Adm. Richard Brown , commander of the Naval Surface Force Pacific in San Diego , said Friday that quick action by the Navy to bring the Kidd into port soon after its first case was reported likely prevented a broader outbreak among the crew .
“ This virus is insidious , ” Brown said during a conference call with reporters .
“ If we had left her out there , the entire crew would have got infected.
” Brown said that after outbreaks on other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tripoli , littoral combat ship Coronado and aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt — the Navy knew that from the first case on the Kidd , the clock was ticking .
“ You can stop the spread of the virus , but it takes a huge effort and urgency to do that , ” Brown said .
That lesson came from the Tripoli , a ship recently built in Mississippi .
According to Brown , the ship was set to be delivered to the Navy and hundreds of sailors moved aboard in mid-March , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was picking up nationwide .
The Essex and Coronado , two San Diego ships , were among the first in the Navy to report cases of the coronavirus .
Brown said the Essex , while in port , started rotating its crew day to day by duty section — allowing for social distancing onboard .
The number of cases initially rose slowly but soon flattened and eventually stopped .
“ That almost became the model , but that was the first week of the Navy crisis — when Tripoli hit a month later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
When the virus began spreading on the Tripoli , the decision to move crew members off was made within a day of the third confirmed case , Brown said .
About 630 sailors were moved off the ship and , as a result , the outbreak was limited to around about a couple dozen sailors .
That number has since gone down , he said .
One of the most valuable lessons the Navy has learned about the virus is how it can spread between people who do not appear ill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coronado had its first positive COVID-19 case on March 17 .
The Navy , for the first time , tested the entire crew — now a standard practice aboard ships leaving for deployment .
“ That ’ s the evolution , ” Brown said .
“ We did not know a lot about the virus back in the middle of March .
It ’ s amazing what we learned .
When you do 100 % testing , that ’ s when you find the asymptomatic sailors.
” Asymptomatic carriers of the virus have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Roosevelt .
The first known coronavirus cases on the Roosevelt emerged in late March .
Two days after the Navy announced the outbreak , the San Diego aircraft carrier pulled into Guam .
Initially , the Navy said sailors would remain on the ship and be restricted to the pier .
Days later , the ship ’ s then-commanding officer , Capt .
Brett Crozier , sent a letter to Navy captains and three U.S. Pacific Fleet admirals warning that the only way to get the outbreak under control — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move 90 % of the crew off the ship .
Crozier was fired by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly after a copy of that letter was leaked to the media .
Modly then resigned less than a week later after a profanity-laden speech he delivered to the Roosevelt ’ s crew was also leaked .
The ordeal is the subject of an ongoing Navy investigation .
Crozier ’ s proposal was adopted by Navy leaders and sailors began moving off the ship .
Eventually , more than 4,200 who tested negative for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island .
Those with positive tests were placed in isolation on base .
However , as the Navy began to bring sailors back the ship after at least 14 days in quarantine , some tested positive for the virus , despite having no symptoms .
On Friday , Jonathan Hoffman , a Pentagon spokesman , said the Navy will no longer routinely release specific coronavirus case numbers on ships .
“ We believe we ’ ve moved past the point where the daily updates are providing useful information for public conversation , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Roosevelt , released Thursday , said 1,102 sailors have active cases of the virus — an increase of 162 from two days prior .
The Navy attributed that surge to asymptomatic sailors coming out of quarantine .
In order to return to the Roosevelt , which has been sterilized bow to stern , sailors must now test negative on two successive tests , the Navy says .
That policy will apply to Kidd sailors now in quarantine in San Diego , Brown said .
The last numbers released by the Navy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number Brown said will likely rise or fall over the next couple of weeks .
“ Even though a sailor tested negative on the day of arrival , there was crew interaction on the ship , ” Brown said , adding that it took about six days for the ship to get to San Diego after its first case .
“ They might not be at a viral load that they ’ re showing ( right now ) .
” Brown said he is confident the Navy has learned from what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those lessons are minimizing the virus ’ effect on the Kidd .
“ There ’ s not a massive breakout because we acted so fast , ” Brown said .
An industrial cleaning company has been brought aboard to sanitize the Kidd — another lesson from the Tripoli , he added .
The Navy expects the Kidd will remain in San Diego at least a month for quarantine and sanitation .

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Shane Miller, left, and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Austin Kelly, both assigned to Fleet Surgical Team 9, draw blood from a sailor assigned to the guided-missile destroyer Kidd after its arrival in San Diego last week.
Novel coronavirus outbreaks aboard three Navy warships have taught the military service valuable lessons that enabled it to respond quickly in late March when a sailor started displaying symptoms of COVID-19 on the guided-missile destroyer Kidd, a vice admiral in charge of the Navy’s surface force said last week.
The Kidd was conducting counter-drug operations in the eastern Pacific near South America when a sailor began showing symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, on April 22. Less than a week later, the ship was moored at Naval Base San Diego, with 243 of its roughly 330 sailors evacuated from the vessel.
Vice Adm. Richard Brown, commander of the Naval Surface Force Pacific in San Diego, said Friday that quick action by the Navy to bring the Kidd into port soon after its first case was reported likely prevented a broader outbreak among the crew.
“This virus is insidious,” Brown said during a conference call with reporters. “If we had left her out there, the entire crew would have got infected.”
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Brown said that after outbreaks on other ships — amphibious assault ships Essex and Tripoli, littoral combat ship Coronado and aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt — the Navy knew that from the first case on the Kidd, the clock was ticking.
“You can stop the spread of the virus, but it takes a huge effort and urgency to do that,” Brown said.
That lesson came from the Tripoli, a ship recently built in Mississippi. According to Brown, the ship was set to be delivered to the Navy and hundreds of sailors moved aboard in mid-March, just when broad community spread of the coronavirus was picking up nationwide.
The Essex and Coronado, two San Diego ships, were among the first in the Navy to report cases of the coronavirus. Brown said the Essex, while in port, started rotating its crew day to day by duty section — allowing for social distancing onboard. The number of cases initially rose slowly but soon flattened and eventually stopped.
“That almost became the model, but that was the first week of the Navy crisis — when Tripoli hit a month later, we were ready,” Brown said.
When the virus began spreading on the Tripoli, the decision to move crew members off was made within a day of the third confirmed case, Brown said. About 630 sailors were moved off the ship and, as a result, the outbreak was limited to around about a couple dozen sailors.
That number has since gone down, he said.
One of the most valuable lessons the Navy has learned about the virus is how it can spread between people who do not appear ill, known as asymptomatic spread.
The Coronado had its first positive COVID-19 case on March 17. The Navy, for the first time, tested the entire crew — now a standard practice aboard ships leaving for deployment.
“That’s the evolution,” Brown said. “We did not know a lot about the virus back in the middle of March. It’s amazing what we learned. When you do 100% testing, that’s when you find the asymptomatic sailors.”
Asymptomatic carriers of the virus have prolonged the quarantine period for some sailors on the Roosevelt.
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The first known coronavirus cases on the Roosevelt emerged in late March. Two days after the Navy announced the outbreak, the San Diego aircraft carrier pulled into Guam. Initially, the Navy said sailors would remain on the ship and be restricted to the pier.
Days later, the ship’s then-commanding officer, Capt. Brett Crozier, sent a letter to Navy captains and three U.S. Pacific Fleet admirals warning that the only way to get the outbreak under control — and save sailors’ lives — was to move 90% of the crew off the ship.
Crozier was fired by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly after a copy of that letter was leaked to the media. Modly then resigned less than a week later after a profanity-laden speech he delivered to the Roosevelt’s crew was also leaked.
The ordeal is the subject of an ongoing Navy investigation.
Crozier’s proposal was adopted by Navy leaders and sailors began moving off the ship. Eventually, more than 4,200 who tested negative for the virus were moved to hotels on the island. Those with positive tests were placed in isolation on base.
However, as the Navy began to bring sailors back the ship after at least 14 days in quarantine, some tested positive for the virus, despite having no symptoms.
On Friday, Jonathan Hoffman, a Pentagon spokesman, said the Navy will no longer routinely release specific coronavirus case numbers on ships.
“We believe we’ve moved past the point where the daily updates are providing useful information for public conversation,” Hoffman said.
The last official numbers from the Roosevelt, released Thursday, said 1,102 sailors have active cases of the virus — an increase of 162 from two days prior. The Navy attributed that surge to asymptomatic sailors coming out of quarantine.
In order to return to the Roosevelt, which has been sterilized bow to stern, sailors must now test negative on two successive tests, the Navy says.
That policy will apply to Kidd sailors now in quarantine in San Diego, Brown said. The last numbers released by the Navy said 78 sailors had tested positive — a number Brown said will likely rise or fall over the next couple of weeks.
“Even though a sailor tested negative on the day of arrival, there was crew interaction on the ship,” Brown said, adding that it took about six days for the ship to get to San Diego after its first case. “They might not be at a viral load that they’re showing (right now).”
Brown said he is confident the Navy has learned from what’s happened on the Roosevelt and that those lessons are minimizing the virus’ effect on the Kidd.
“There’s not a massive breakout because we acted so fast,” Brown said.
An industrial cleaning company has been brought aboard to sanitize the Kidd — another lesson from the Tripoli, he added.
The Navy expects the Kidd will remain in San Diego at least a month for quarantine and sanitation.
Dyer writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune


latimes--2020-05-04--Strict rules, limited access as California Legislature resumes work on coronavirus needs

Separated from one another and wearing masks while speaking into microphones draped with protective coverings , some members of the California Legislature returned to the state Capitol on Monday , determined to begin addressing the myriad problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
Seven weeks after public health concerns brought the work of the Legislature to a sudden halt , only members of the Assembly are returning to Sacramento this week , with the Senate choosing to do so on May 11 .
And even then , neither house is planning to reconvene for final votes on bills until June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges for adequate physical distancing posed by the tightly placed desks for legislators in the chambers of the Senate and Assembly .
“ I know it ’ s going to be a very different way of doing business .
But I think it was important for us to be here , to start thinking about the great challenges that we have ahead , ” Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio ( D-Baldwin Park ) said during the day ’ s first event , an Assembly hearing on healthcare issues .
Access to the historic statehouse remained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or staff members had their temperatures checked at the building ’ s entrance .
Elevators were limited to a single occupant — an easy rule to follow on Monday , given the Capitol ’ s emptiness , but impossible during most springtime workdays , when dozens of hearings and events are usually scheduled .
“ The work of the Legislature is essential for democracy , but preserving people ’ s health as we do that is of the highest importance , ” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon ( D-Lakewood ) said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six weeks developing a way to continue government with maximum safety.
” Assembly members were advised by Dr. Peter Beilenson , director of Sacramento ’ s County Department of Health Services , to be screened for the novel coronavirus before returning Monday .
“ To protect both the legislators when they gather and the public who will be attending , I recommended that they get tested , ” he said in an interview .
Because asymptomatic people can still transmit the virus , Beilenson said , all lawmakers and staff should contact their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if they are not showing symptoms .
“ Anyone testing positive should isolate themselves at home for 14 days , ” Beilenson wrote in a memo to the Assembly .
“ Of course , any legislator or staff that falls in the high-risk groups ( 65-plus and/or chronic underlying health conditions ) should follow the guidance of their healthcare provider in terms of their decision about whether or not they should attend the session.
” Some lawmakers , including Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ( D-San Diego ) , have balked at getting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public , including healthcare workers , have not yet been checked for the virus .
Gonzalez said she asked for a clear directive from Beilenson ’ s office that she could give to her doctor , but she has not received one .
“ As such , I do not meet our county ’ s criteria for testing and will not ask to be pushed to the front of the line , ” Gonzalez said .
“ If I am required to get tested in Sacramento , exhibit any symptoms or am exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so.
” Age is one risk factor among the 120 members of the Legislature .
Thirteen members of the Senate are 65 or older , while 10 in that age group serve in the Assembly .
California had more than 55,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,200 deaths tied to the virus as of Monday afternoon , according to data collected by The Times .
A spokesman for Rendon said his office has not heard of any Assembly member testing positive for COVID-19 .
Six Assembly members asked for , and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sacramento due to age or underlying health conditions .
One of them , Assemblyman Bill Quirk ( D-Hayward ) , sent a letter to Rendon asking for consideration to vote remotely on bills .
“ We see individuals , despite taking the best of precautions , getting infected , ” Quirk said on Friday .
“ This is concerning.
” But legislative lawyers think a 2016 constitutional amendment , approved by voters , makes that untenable .
of the California Constitution says that “ the proceedings of each house and the committees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” written as part of Proposition 54 ’ s mandate that bills be available for public review for 72 hours before a final vote .
The concern is that lawmakers voting remotely won ’ t meet the standard for public access to their actions .
Assemblyman Kevin Mullin ( D-San Mateo ) , who serves as speaker pro tem , says he ’ s working on a constitutional amendment to help clarify the rules in hopes that it provides governing options in times like these and during natural disasters .
The change would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November .
How much the Legislature can accomplish this year is limited by the calendar .
Almost all of the Assembly ’ s policy committees will meet only one more time this year to consider bills authored by its members .
Only 14 bills were on the agenda for Monday ’ s meeting of the Assembly Transportation Committee , even though legislative records show 84 bills were sent to the committee — meaning most of them will be held without further action .
The transportation panel offered one of the more unusual moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assorted staff convening in the cavernous Assembly chamber , where they could safely spread out .
Two legislators wore gloves .
One of them , Assemblyman Mike Gipson ( D-Carson ) , sported a black protective mask with the phrase “ California Safe ” written in white letters .
“ What a historic moment , ” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas ( D-North Hollywood ) as she stood behind a stanchion to present her bill , Assembly Bill 3213 , which seeks to force new project priorities for the California High-Speed Rail Authority .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dialed in by phone , her bill was quickly approved and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee .

Elevators in the Capitol were limited to a single occupant as the Assembly returned to work on Monday.
Separated from one another and wearing masks while speaking into microphones draped with protective coverings, some members of the California Legislature returned to the state Capitol on Monday, determined to begin addressing the myriad problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Seven weeks after public health concerns brought the work of the Legislature to a sudden halt, only members of the Assembly are returning to Sacramento this week, with the Senate choosing to do so on May 11. And even then, neither house is planning to reconvene for final votes on bills until June — in large part because of the challenges for adequate physical distancing posed by the tightly placed desks for legislators in the chambers of the Senate and Assembly.
“I know it’s going to be a very different way of doing business. But I think it was important for us to be here, to start thinking about the great challenges that we have ahead,” Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) said during the day’s first event, an Assembly hearing on healthcare issues.
Access to the historic statehouse remained limited. Those who were not legislators or staff members had their temperatures checked at the building’s entrance. Elevators were limited to a single occupant — an easy rule to follow on Monday, given the Capitol’s emptiness, but impossible during most springtime workdays, when dozens of hearings and events are usually scheduled.
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“The work of the Legislature is essential for democracy, but preserving people’s health as we do that is of the highest importance,” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) said in a statement. “We have spent the past six weeks developing a way to continue government with maximum safety.”
Assembly members were advised by Dr. Peter Beilenson, director of Sacramento’s County Department of Health Services, to be screened for the novel coronavirus before returning Monday.
“To protect both the legislators when they gather and the public who will be attending, I recommended that they get tested,” he said in an interview.
Because asymptomatic people can still transmit the virus, Beilenson said, all lawmakers and staff should contact their private physicians to arrange coronavirus tests, even if they are not showing symptoms.
“Anyone testing positive should isolate themselves at home for 14 days,” Beilenson wrote in a memo to the Assembly. “Of course, any legislator or staff that falls in the high-risk groups (65-plus and/or chronic underlying health conditions) should follow the guidance of their healthcare provider in terms of their decision about whether or not they should attend the session.”
Some lawmakers, including Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), have balked at getting a test when many other members of the public, including healthcare workers, have not yet been checked for the virus. Gonzalez said she asked for a clear directive from Beilenson’s office that she could give to her doctor, but she has not received one.
“As such, I do not meet our county’s criteria for testing and will not ask to be pushed to the front of the line,” Gonzalez said. “If I am required to get tested in Sacramento, exhibit any symptoms or am exposed to a COVID-19-positive individual, I will do so.”
Age is one risk factor among the 120 members of the Legislature. Thirteen members of the Senate are 65 or older, while 10 in that age group serve in the Assembly.
California had more than 55,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,200 deaths tied to the virus as of Monday afternoon, according to data collected by The Times. A spokesman for Rendon said his office has not heard of any Assembly member testing positive for COVID-19.
Six Assembly members asked for, and were granted, an excused absence from traveling to Sacramento due to age or underlying health conditions. One of them, Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward), sent a letter to Rendon asking for consideration to vote remotely on bills.
“We see individuals, despite taking the best of precautions, getting infected,” Quirk said on Friday. “This is concerning.”
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But legislative lawyers think a 2016 constitutional amendment, approved by voters, makes that untenable. Article IV, Section 7 of the California Constitution says that “the proceedings of each house and the committees thereof shall be open and public,” written as part of Proposition 54’s mandate that bills be available for public review for 72 hours before a final vote. The concern is that lawmakers voting remotely won’t meet the standard for public access to their actions.
Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D-San Mateo), who serves as speaker pro tem, says he’s working on a constitutional amendment to help clarify the rules in hopes that it provides governing options in times like these and during natural disasters. The change would have to be approved by voters this November.
How much the Legislature can accomplish this year is limited by the calendar. Almost all of the Assembly’s policy committees will meet only one more time this year to consider bills authored by its members. Only 14 bills were on the agenda for Monday’s meeting of the Assembly Transportation Committee, even though legislative records show 84 bills were sent to the committee — meaning most of them will be held without further action.
The transportation panel offered one of the more unusual moments on Monday, its 15 members and assorted staff convening in the cavernous Assembly chamber, where they could safely spread out.
Two legislators wore gloves. One of them, Assemblyman Mike Gipson (D-Carson), sported a black protective mask with the phrase “California Safe” written in white letters.
“What a historic moment,” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood) as she stood behind a stanchion to present her bill, Assembly Bill 3213, which seeks to force new project priorities for the California High-Speed Rail Authority. With no public witnesses in person or dialed in by phone, her bill was quickly approved and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.


latimes--2020-05-04--UC could reopen just one-third of its dorm rooms this fall

The University of California could reopen just one-third to one-half of dorm rooms this fall in order to maintain safe distances among students amid the coronavirus outbreak , a top UC official said Monday , raising questions about what would happen to others without campus housing .
Campuses are still making decisions on their fall scenarios , which may come in June or July .
Last week , UC President Janet Napolitano said campuses will first be required to satisfy systemwide guidelines to ensure public health and safety and any reopening “ will probably be greatly reduced.
” Any reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in housing revenue — would amplify the staggering financial toll on the UC system triggered by the coronovirus crisis .
The UC system was hit with $ 558 million in revenue losses and added expenses to its 10 campuses and five medical centers in March alone and those costs are projected to rise to about $ 2.5 billion by the end of the fiscal year June 30 , according to Nathan Brostrom , UC Merced interim chancellor who also has served as systemwide chief financial officer .
He made the remarks about dorm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education sponsored by the UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education .
Brostrom said the “ financial shock ” of lost revenue from multiple sources , including dining and housing contracts , sporting events , study abroad programs and elective surgeries , would be a short-term crisis .
“ These are one-time shocks , ” Brostrom said during the webinar .
“ There still is incredibly strong demand for our medical centers , pent-up demand for treatments , our housing .
We could fill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to open.
” Higher education officials across the nation are grappling with how to safely reopen campuses this fall , with many of them envisioning modified access to dorms , classrooms and dining facilities .
Some small liberal arts campuses , such as Pomona and Claremont McKenna colleges , have secured leases to house additional students in nearby off-campus apartments .
But that option is more difficult for UC campuses , particularly those located in tight housing markets such as Santa Cruz and Berkeley .
George Blumenthal , former UC Santa Cruz chancellor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education center , said one possibility is to bring back limited groups of students , such as freshmen , for the all-important campus bonding experience and continue online learning for graduating seniors .
Students involved in UC ’ s vaunted research enterprise also would benefit from campus housing because it ’ s harder to do such work remotely , he said .
Blumenthal added that housing payments are used in part to pay off loans for construction of new buildings , so the loss of that revenue will affect UC ’ s ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Housing projects are underway at several campuses , including Santa Cruz , Berkeley , Merced and UCLA .
Merced , however , is on track to open 1,000 new beds this fall as part of its Merced 2020 project .
The campus expects to house significantly more students than in past years even with reduced occupancy resulting from social distancing , Brostrom said in an email .
The campus has introduced a two-year residency requirement to help its students — most of whom are low-income and the first in their families to attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely with faculty and peers .
But Merced would relax the requirement for this year “ if that is determined to be the safest and healthiest approach to housing , ” he said .
Cal State Fresno President Joseph Castro said the 23-campus California State University system could see unanticipated costs triggered by the pandemic rise to $ 400 million by the end of June .
The biggest loss of revenue came from canceled housing , dining , parking , athletics and other large-scale events .
“ The impact of COVID-19 on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... much broader in its impact than the Great Recession was a decade ago , ” Castro said .
James Hyatt , UC Berkeley former chief financial officer and currently a senior research associate at the higher education center , said the UC system is facing reduced enrollment of nonresident students , who helped campuses get through the Great Recession by paying higher tuition .
He also said federal research funding could decline .
UC is heavily dependent on those federal funds , which make up 60 % of the system ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brostrom said .
The panelists called for more state and federal funding but also said the crisis could open opportunities for more innovation , particularly in using technology for teaching and learning .

UCLA student Kiera Laney, 20, attends a class online in her dorm room on campus. The UC system may reopen only one-third to one-half of dorms this fall.
The University of California could reopen just one-third to one-half of dorm rooms this fall in order to maintain safe distances among students amid the coronavirus outbreak, a top UC official said Monday, raising questions about what would happen to others without campus housing.
Campuses are still making decisions on their fall scenarios, which may come in June or July. Last week, UC President Janet Napolitano said campuses will first be required to satisfy systemwide guidelines to ensure public health and safety and any reopening “will probably be greatly reduced.”
Any reduced availability of dorms — and subsequent decline in housing revenue — would amplify the staggering financial toll on the UC system triggered by the coronavirus crisis.
The UC system was hit with $558 million in revenue losses and added expenses to its 10 campuses and five medical centers in March alone and those costs are projected to rise to about $2.5 billion by the end of the fiscal year that ends June 30, according to Nathan Brostrom, UC Merced interim chancellor, who also has served as systemwide chief financial officer.
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He made the remarks about dorm reopenings during a broad-ranging online discussion on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education sponsored by the UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education.
Brostrom said the “financial shock” of lost revenue from multiple sources, including dining and housing contracts, sporting events, study abroad programs and elective surgeries, would be a short-term crisis.
“These are one-time shocks,” Brostrom said during the webinar. “There still is incredibly strong demand for our medical centers, pent-up demand for treatments, our housing. We could fill every single bed tomorrow if we were to open.”
Higher education officials across the nation are grappling with how to safely reopen campuses this fall, with many of them envisioning modified access to dorms, classrooms and dining facilities. Some small liberal arts campuses, such as Pomona and Claremont McKenna colleges, have secured leases to house additional students in nearby off-campus apartments.
But that option is more difficult for UC campuses, particularly those located in tight housing markets such as Santa Cruz and Berkeley. George Blumenthal, former UC Santa Cruz chancellor who now directs the UC Berkeley higher education center, said one possibility is to bring back limited groups of students, such as freshmen, for the all-important campus bonding experience and continue online learning for graduating seniors.
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Students involved in UC’s vaunted research enterprise also would benefit from campus housing because it’s harder to do such work remotely, he said.
Blumenthal added that housing payments are used in part to pay off loans for construction of new buildings, so the loss of that revenue will affect UC’s ability to build badly needed residence halls. Housing projects are underway at several campuses, including Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Merced, UCLA and UC Riverside.
Merced, however, is on track to open 1,000 new beds this fall as part of its Merced 2020 project. The campus expects to house significantly more students than in past years even with reduced occupancy resulting from social distancing, Brostrom said in an email.
The campus has introduced a two-year residency requirement to help its students — most of whom are low-income and the first in their families to attend college — better succeed by bonding more closely with faculty and peers. But Merced would relax the requirement for this year “if that is determined to be the safest and healthiest approach to housing,” he said.
Cal State Fresno President Joseph Castro said the 23-campus California State University system could see unanticipated costs triggered by the pandemic rise to $400 million by the end of June. The biggest loss of revenue came from canceled housing, dining, parking, athletics and other large-scale events.
“The impact of COVID-19 on the CSU has been swift, significant and...much broader in its impact than the Great Recession was a decade ago,” Castro said.
James Hyatt, UC Berkeley former chief financial officer and currently a senior research associate at the higher education center, said the UC system is facing reduced enrollment of nonresident students, who helped campuses get through the Great Recession by paying higher tuition. He also said federal research funding could decline.
UC is heavily dependent on those federal funds, which make up 60% of the system’s $6 billion in contracts and grants, Brostrom said.
The panelists called for more state and federal funding but also said the crisis could open opportunities for more innovation, particularly in using technology for teaching and learning.


latimes--2020-05-04--Masks should be mandatory on L.A. Metro buses and trains, official says

A face mask should be mandatory for anyone who wants to board a bus or train in Los Angeles County during the coronavirus outbreak , a county official said Monday .
Allowing passengers without face coverings to ride on Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses “ threatens to compound the spread ” of coronavirus because workers at grocery stores , restaurants and other essential businesses rely on public transportation , Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a letter Monday .
Hahn , who is also a Metro director , said that Los Angeles County is requiring customers to wear face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an essential service too , she said , and should have the same requirements .
Hahn ’ s letter to Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington cited a Times story on bus drivers , who said they feared for their health because many riders were not wearing masks and bus yards faced periodic shortages of masks , hand sanitizer and other protective gear .
“ If I come to work , am I going to catch it today ?
Will I catch it tomorrow ?
Will I catch it next week ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Boyle Heights who was not authorized to speak publicly .
“ It ’ s always in the back of my head.
” Metro , the busiest bus network on the West Coast , has encouraged passengers to wear masks during the outbreak , but has stopped short of requiring them .
Allowing riders to board without masks “ feels like a slap in the face , ” said a driver who works in Chatsworth .
“ If you have to wear a mask to go to Target or the grocery store , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you get on a bus .
You ’ re in a small , confined space with other people.
” Metro spokesman Dave Sotero said last week that enforcing a mask requirement on every bus in the county would be “ physically impractical.
” If the policy were enacted and a rider were not carrying a face covering , Hahn would want Metro to provide one , spokeswoman Liz Odendahl said .
Metro passengers are now required to board through the back of the bus .
Drivers have been told to close and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their seats from the fare box — but to accept any money that ’ s offered .
Rather than interact with strangers , most bus drivers said they ’ re waving away fares .
Some are barricading the aisle leading to the fare box with bungee cords , twine or seat belts .
Rather than impose a uniform policy on how many people are allowed in each bus , Metro has told drivers to use their discretion when picking up riders .
That advice has “ unfairly put the onus on bus operators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face coverings on buses and to enforce social distancing , ” Hahn wrote .
Hahn asked Washington to address the question before the May 28 meeting of the Metro board .
Washington received the letter and will discuss it Tuesday morning with senior agency officials , Sotero said .

Passengers, some without masks, ride the Line 33 bus last week. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is asking riders to wear masks, but does not require them.
A face mask should be mandatory for anyone who wants to board a bus or train in Los Angeles County during the coronavirus outbreak, a county official said Monday.
Allowing passengers without face coverings to ride on Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses “threatens to compound the spread” of coronavirus because workers at grocery stores, restaurants and other essential businesses rely on public transportation, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a letter Monday.
Hahn, who is also a Metro director, said that Los Angeles County is requiring customers to wear face coverings while visiting essential businesses. Transportation is an essential service too, she said, and should have the same requirements.
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Hahn’s letter to Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington cited a Times story on bus drivers, who said they feared for their health because many riders were not wearing masks and bus yards faced periodic shortages of masks, hand sanitizer and other protective gear.
“If I come to work, am I going to catch it today? Will I catch it tomorrow? Will I catch it next week?” said a driver from a bus yard in Boyle Heights who was not authorized to speak publicly. “It’s always in the back of my head.”
Metro, the busiest bus network on the West Coast, has encouraged passengers to wear masks during the outbreak, but has stopped short of requiring them.
Allowing riders to board without masks “feels like a slap in the face,” said a driver who works in Chatsworth. “If you have to wear a mask to go to Target or the grocery store, you should also need to do that when you get on a bus. You’re in a small, confined space with other people.”
Metro spokesman Dave Sotero said last week that enforcing a mask requirement on every bus in the county would be “physically impractical.”
If the policy were enacted and a rider were not carrying a face covering, Hahn would want Metro to provide one, spokeswoman Liz Odendahl said.
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Metro passengers are now required to board through the back of the bus. Drivers have been told to close and fasten the clear plastic barrier that separates their seats from the fare box — but to accept any money that’s offered.
Rather than interact with strangers, most bus drivers said they’re waving away fares. Some are barricading the aisle leading to the fare box with bungee cords, twine or seat belts.
Rather than impose a uniform policy on how many people are allowed in each bus, Metro has told drivers to use their discretion when picking up riders. That advice has “unfairly put the onus on bus operators to decide whether to allow passengers without face coverings on buses and to enforce social distancing,” Hahn wrote.
Hahn asked Washington to address the question before the May 28 meeting of the Metro board.
Washington received the letter and will discuss it Tuesday morning with senior agency officials, Sotero said.


latimes--2020-05-04--These California businesses can reopen this week, and these can't

Gov .
Gavin Newsom has announced that some stay-at-home rules would be modestly eased later this week .
He said details would be provided later this week , but here are some highlights : Bookstores , music stores , toy stores , florists , sporting goods retailers , clothing stores and others can reopen for pickup as early as Friday .
Additional businesses could be named later this week , also with curbside pickup .
Right now , only essential businesses such as grocery stores , drug stores , medical offices , gas stations and auto repair are open , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those businesses would also be allowed to resume .
Offices , shopping malls , and seated dining at restaurants are still ordered shut .
Personal grooming businesses , entertainment venues , live concerts and sports are also not included in the first phase of Newsom ’ s reopening plan .
There will be more decision-making at the local level , allowing some communities to move further at their own pace instead of adhering to a uniform policy across the state .
Some rural counties that have not been hard hit by the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties want to do more , they must first meet certain requirements for hospital beds , testing kits and the ability to track infected people and trace their contacts .
While some counties want to reopen now , other more hard-hit counties in the Bay Area and Southern California are urging caution .
Newsom said communities that reopen businesses more slowly , like the San Francisco Bay Area , can still do so .
Pandemic conditions vary widely throughout the state , he said .
Some counties — Modoc , Yuba and Sutter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom ’ s orders and allowed more or all kinds of businesses to reopen beyond the statewide order .
The governor declined to say Monday whether there would be consequences for those counties .
He added that the overwhelming majority of California ’ s 58 counties are doing the right thing .
Los Angeles County ’ s public health director , Barbara Ferrer , said Monday that officials will be sharing its recovery plans this week .
“ Wherever it ’ s possible to safely reopen , we ’ ll be doing so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
California is in Phase One of the governor ’ s reopening plan .
The easing planned for this week would cover Phase Two .
“ We are entering into the next phase this week , ” Newsom said at his Monday news conference .
“ This is a very positive sign , and it ’ s happened only for one reason : The data says it can happen.
” This phase is now underway .
• Continue to build out testing and contact-tracing capabilities and hospital surge capacity .
• Continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for essential workers .
• Work on adaptations to the physical setting and workflow in hospitals and other settings .
• Prepare safety guidelines for an expanded force of front-line workers .
In this phase , modified school programs and child care reopen .
So will the following sectors and spaces : • Retail ( with curbside pickup , for example ) • Offices ( when teleworking is not possible ) An expanded workforce safety net could mean : • Wage replacement so workers can stay home when sick .
Adaptions for reopened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Summer programs and an earlier start to the next academic year , in July or August .
What ’ s needed to get from Stage 1 to Stage 2 ?
• Enacting policies that allow people to stay home when they ’ re sick .
• Providing guidance on how to reduce coronavirus risk .
• Provide wage replacement so workers can stay home when sick .
• Allow employees to continue to work from home when possible .
• Use safety precautions , such as physical distancing and wearing masks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are at high risk .
Key goals to hit before moving to Stage 2 : • There is sufficient personal protective equipment to meet demand .
The transition to Stage 2 will occur through a statewide modification to the stay-at-home order .
During Stage 2 , counties may choose to relax stricter local orders at their own pace .
After Stage 2 , once a statewide COVID-19 surveillance system is made possible through testing , further regional variations could be supported .
The state will consult and collaborate closely with local governments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been developed and other key goals met .
These events and sites will then reopen : Officials said there is no timetable for more businesses to open under Stage 2 or when Stages 3 and 4 would occur .

Bicyclists pass the closed Boardwalk Sports store on the boardwalk in Newport Beach on Monday. The business is only renting bicycles but is hoping to fully open after Gov. Newsom’s announcement that some businesses will be able to reopen.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that some stay-at-home rules will be modestly eased later this week.
He said details would be provided later in the week, but here are some highlights:
Businesses that can open
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Bookstores, music stores, toy stores, florists, sporting goods retailers, clothing stores and others can reopen for pickup as early as Friday. Additional businesses could be named later this week, also with curbside pickup.
Right now, only essential businesses such as grocery stores, drug stores, medical offices, gas stations and auto repair are open, with social distancing. Factories that supply those businesses would also be allowed to resume.
Businesses that can’t
Offices, shopping malls, and seated dining at restaurants are still ordered shut. Personal grooming businesses, entertainment venues, live concerts and sports are also not included in the first phase of Newsom’s reopening plan.
Local controls
There will be more decision-making at the local level, allowing some communities to move further at their own pace instead of adhering to a uniform policy across the state. Some rural counties that have not been hard hit by the coronavirus have been asking for this.
Benchmarks
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If counties want to do more, they must first meet certain requirements for hospital beds, testing kits and the ability to track infected people and trace their contacts.
While some counties want to reopen now, other more hard-hit counties in the Bay Area and Southern California are urging caution.
Newsom said communities that reopen businesses more slowly, like the San Francisco Bay Area, can still do so. Pandemic conditions vary widely throughout the state, he said.
Varying conditions
Some counties — Modoc, Yuba and Sutter counties in Northern California — have defied Newsom’s orders and allowed more or all kinds of businesses to reopen beyond the statewide order.
The governor declined to say Monday whether there would be consequences for those counties. He added that the overwhelming majority of California’s 58 counties are doing the right thing.
Los Angeles County’s public health director, Barbara Ferrer, said Monday that officials will be sharing its recovery plans this week. “Wherever it’s possible to safely reopen, we’ll be doing so as quickly as possible,” she said.
California A pivotal week for California reopening, as communities and businesses revolt against Newsom The governor has urged Californians to stay the course, saying the state is moving in the right direction but needs more time in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus.
California is in Phase One of the governor’s reopening plan. The easing planned for this week would cover Phase Two.
“We are entering into the next phase this week,” Newsom said at his Monday news conference. “This is a very positive sign, and it’s happened only for one reason: The data says it can happen.”
Stage 1: safety and preparedness
This phase is now underway.
Continue to build out testing and contact-tracing capabilities and hospital surge capacity.
Continue to make workplaces as safe as possible for essential workers.
Work on adaptations to the physical setting and workflow in hospitals and other settings.
Build a safety net for essential workforce.
Make personal protective equipment more widely available.
Incorporate individual behavior changes.
Prepare safety guidelines for an expanded force of front-line workers.
Stage 2: Retail and lower-risk workplaces reopen.
Beginning Friday:
More retail stores (with curbside pickup)
Manufacturing and logistics to support retail
Later on:
Offices (when teleworking is not possible)
Additional public spaces
Modified schools programs and child care
Potentially beginning the academic school year in July or August
An expanded workforce safety net could mean:
Wage replacement so workers can stay home when sick.
Adaptions for reopened schools and child-care facilities could mean:
Summer programs and an earlier start to the next academic year, in July or August.
What’s needed to get from Stage 1 to Stage 2?
Government actions:
Enacting policies that allow people to stay home when they’re sick.
Providing guidance on how to reduce coronavirus risk.
Business actions:
Provide wage replacement so workers can stay home when sick.
Implement adaptations to lower-risk workplaces.
Allow employees to continue to work from home when possible.
Individual actions:
Use safety precautions, such as physical distancing and wearing masks.
Avoid all nonessential travel.
Support and care for people who are at high risk.
Key goals to hit before moving to Stage 2:
Hospitalization and ICU trends are stable.
Hospital surge capacity can meet demand.
There is sufficient personal protective equipment to meet demand.
Testing capacity is sufficient to meet demand.
There’s contact-tracing capacity statewide.
The transition to Stage 2 will occur through a statewide modification to the stay-at-home order.
Opportunity for regional variations
During Stage 2, counties may choose to relax stricter local orders at their own pace.
After Stage 2, once a statewide COVID-19 surveillance system is made possible through testing, further regional variations could be supported.
The state will consult and collaborate closely with local governments.
Stage 3: Higher-risk workplaces reopen
The following sectors reopen:
Personal care (hair and nail salons, gyms)
Entertainment venues (movie theaters, sports without live audiences)
In-person religious services (churches, weddings)
Stage 4: Stay-at-home order ends
At this point, therapeutics will have been developed and other key goals met. These events and sites will then reopen:
Concerts
Convention centers
Sports events with live audiences
Officials said there is no timetable for more businesses to open under Stage 2 or when Stages 3 and 4 would occur.


latimes--2020-05-04--After coronavirus outbreak at Ralphs in Hollywood, chain will test all workers with symptoms

Amid an outbreak at one of its stores in Southern California , the largest U.S. grocery chain has announced it will provide free coronavirus testing for all its frontline associates who have symptoms or medical needs that make them eligible for testing under guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Kroger , which operates multiple supermarket chains , including Kroger , Ralphs and Food4Less , said Monday it will begin offering the testing this month through its healthcare division , Kroger Health .
The tests will be provided through a combination of self-administered kits and public drive-through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The resilience of the Kroger family is unparalleled , and we ’ re doing all we can to keep our team healthy and safe , ” Colleen Lindholz , president of Kroger Health , said in a statement .
“ The widespread availability of diagnostic testing will now allow our associates to feel more empowered and knowledgeable about their health , creating safer stores and facilities.
” The company did not immediately respond to questions about how many employees are considered frontline associates and how many will be tested as a result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks to all associates , stepped up cleanings , installed plexiglass partitions at checkout lanes and reduced customer capacity limits , according to the release .
The announcement comes as an outbreak at a Ralphs in Hollywood marks the largest cluster of infections at a retail store recorded by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health .
Of the Sunset Boulevard store ’ s 158 employees , 21 have tested positive for the virus , John Votava , spokesman for the grocery chain , said Monday .
They ’ ve been self-quarantining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The store was closed early for deep cleaning and sanitizing by a CDC-approved third party on April 15 , 21 and 30 , Votava said .
The company has also instituted mandatory pre-shift temperature and symptom checks for employees at that location , he said .
“ With regular visits from the Los Angeles County Health Department , we ’ ve affirmed that our processes continue to live up to our high safety standards in protecting our more than 20,000 associates and the millions of customers that visit our 188 stores each week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rae Campos , 51 , who has worked as a cashier at the Hollywood Ralphs for over a year , said she thinks the store should shut down for a full 24 hours .
“ We would like for it to be sterilized and cleaned out so that we don ’ t have to be afraid anymore to go to work because it ’ s a scary time , ” she said .
She said the store began doing temperature checks in mid-April but could not provide enough gloves or masks for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She would often take her mask home and spray it with Lysol so she could use it the next day , she said .
Campos took a leave of absence on April 16 , when between 15 and 17 of her coworkers had tested positive , she said .
She lives with her mother and stepfather , who have compromised immune systems , and she worried she could bring the virus home .
“ I love everybody in the store , ” she said .
“ They ’ re like a family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they were not taking care of us.
” In addition to making sure that employees have enough supplies , she ’ d like to see the store do more to reduce crowding .
She said that on one occasion , she had to direct security to close the doors because there were too many customers .
Kroger has increased its investment in personal protective equipment , and employees at the Hollywood Ralphs are currently being supplied with a pair of gloves and a face covering for each shift , Votava said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customer capacity to 25 % of normal , allowing for one person for every 180 feet of store space , he said .
Ahead of the testing announcement , Campos and other employees protested Friday outside the Hollywood Ralphs in a May Day rally organized by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770 , which represents more than 20,000 grocery workers in Southern California .
They called on the company to do more to protect associates by providing testing and instituting a response protocol for positive results .
John Grant , president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement that Kroger ’ s decision to test employees was “ a significant victory ” for the union but that the company had yet to provide specific details on how the strategy would work .
“ Without that information , we can ’ t properly assess their plan , ” Grant said .
“ We are glad they are listening to workers and taking steps to protect everyone in the stores .
We will continue to work to ensure that testing will be quick , accurate and cost-free for UFCW members.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ union is calling for a 24-hour closure for deep cleaning each time an employee tests positive , a protocol following a positive test that includes notifying affected workers and evaluating whom to quarantine , and a joint labor-management health and safety committee in each store .
“ At Ralphs , our associates are like family , ” Votava said .
“ We are in communication with our associates that have tested positive to assist in their needs .
”

Carts block the entrance to the parking lot of Ralphs in Hollywood on Friday as store workers, UFCW 770 representatives and community members hold a rally.
Amid an outbreak at one of its stores in Southern California, the largest U.S. grocery chain has announced it will provide free coronavirus testing for all its frontline associates who have symptoms or medical needs that make them eligible for testing under guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kroger, which operates multiple supermarket chains, including Kroger, Ralphs and Food 4 Less, said Monday it will begin offering the testing this month through its healthcare division, Kroger Health. The tests will be provided through a combination of self-administered kits and public drive-through sites, the company said.
“The resilience of the Kroger family is unparalleled, and we’re doing all we can to keep our team healthy and safe,” Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health, said in a statement. “The widespread availability of diagnostic testing will now allow our associates to feel more empowered and knowledgeable about their health, creating safer stores and facilities.”
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The company did not immediately respond to questions about how many employees are considered frontline associates and how many will be tested as a result of the announcement.
Kroger also has supplied masks to all associates, stepped up cleanings, installed plexiglass partitions at checkout lanes and reduced customer capacity limits, according to the release.
California Coronavirus updates: These California businesses can reopen this week, and these can’t The Los Angeles Times will provide around-the-clock updates on COVID-19 from across Southern California and around the world.Tracking the coronavirus in California: latest numbers | Support our journalism with a subscriptionHave a question about coronavirus? Send us your questions here. | You also can sign up for our newsletterSee latest photo galleryCoronavirus updates for May 3 are here
The announcement comes as an outbreak at a Ralphs in Hollywood marks the largest cluster of infections at a retail store recorded by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Of the Sunset Boulevard store’s 158 employees, 21 have tested positive for the virus, John Votava, spokesman for the grocery chain, said Monday. They’ve been self-quarantining since April 21, he said.
The store was closed early for deep cleaning and sanitizing by a CDC-approved third party on April 15, 21 and 30, Votava said. The company has also instituted mandatory pre-shift temperature and symptom checks for employees at that location, he said.
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“With regular visits from the Los Angeles County Health Department, we’ve affirmed that our processes continue to live up to our high safety standards in protecting our more than 20,000 associates and the millions of customers that visit our 188 stores each week,” Votava said in an email.
Rae Campos, 51, who has worked as a cashier at the Hollywood Ralphs for over a year, said she thinks the store should shut down for a full 24 hours.
“We would like for it to be sterilized and cleaned out so that we don’t have to be afraid anymore to go to work, because it’s a scary time,” she said.
She said the store began doing temperature checks in mid-April but could not provide enough gloves or masks for employees to wear new ones each shift. She would often take her mask home and spray it with Lysol so she could use it the next day, she said.
Campos took a leave of absence on April 16, when between 15 and 17 of her coworkers had tested positive, she said. She lives with her mother and stepfather, who have compromised immune systems, and she worried she could bring the virus home.
“I love everybody in the store,” she said. “They’re like a family, and I really really hated going out, but they were not taking care of us.”
In addition to making sure that employees have enough supplies, she’d like to see the store do more to reduce crowding. She said that on one occasion, she had to direct security to close the doors because there were too many customers.
Kroger has increased its investment in personal protective equipment, and employees at the Hollywood Ralphs are currently being supplied with a pair of gloves and a face covering for each shift, Votava said. The store also has limited its customer capacity to 25% of normal, allowing for one person for every 180 feet of store space, he said.
Ahead of the testing announcement, Campos and other employees protested Friday outside the Hollywood Ralphs in a May Day rally organized by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, which represents more than 20,000 grocery workers in Southern California. They called on the company to do more to protect associates by providing testing and instituting a response protocol for positive results.
John Grant, president of UFCW Local 770, said Monday in a statement that Kroger’s decision to test employees was “a significant victory” for the union but that the company had yet to provide specific details on how the strategy would work.
“Without that information, we can’t properly assess their plan,” Grant said. “We are glad they are listening to workers and taking steps to protect everyone in the stores. We will continue to work to ensure that testing will be quick, accurate and cost-free for UFCW members.”
In addition to testing, the union is calling for a 24-hour closure for deep cleaning each time an employee tests positive, a protocol following a positive test that includes notifying affected workers and evaluating whom to quarantine, and a joint labor-management health and safety committee in each store.
“At Ralphs, our associates are like family,” Votava said. “We are in communication with our associates that have tested positive to assist in their needs.”


latimes--2020-05-04--San Francisco police to replace 'thin blue line' masks after controversy

San Francisco police officers will be provided with neutral face coverings after some responded to a recent protest wearing masks with the “ thin blue line ” logo , sparking controversy , Police Chief Bill Scott announced over the weekend .
The move drew harsh criticism from the San Francisco police union , which distributed the face masks to officers last week .
“ With a global pandemic raging across the world and the inability of police officers to shelter in place , San Francisco ’ s professional protesters played the race card , ” San Francisco Police Officers Assn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message to members sent Saturday .
“ They pulled the strings that control our chief , and we are now prohibited from wearing the POA masks on duty.
” The masks , which appeared in news photos of officers responding to a housing protest on Friday , feature a black and white American flag with a blue line through it and the POA logo .
Critics say the “ thin blue line ” imagery has been used by white supremacist groups to symbolize support for the police and opposition to Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the union logo also violates a department ban on on-duty political activity .
“ In promoting the POA sign / symbol , it suggests to the community that the officers are acting on behalf of the POA , not the department , ” John Hamasaki , a member of the city ’ s Police Commission , wrote in an email to Scott , which he also posted to his Twitter account on Friday .
“ In addition , as I ’ m sure you are aware , the Blue Lives Matter symbol is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a symbol of anti-black sentiment arising after the Black Lives Matter movement.
” Later Friday , Scott wrote in a message to officers that the department was working to find alternatives to the face coverings .
“ The San Francisco Police Department stands for safety with respect for all , and in consideration of concerns some community members have expressed that ‘ thin blue line ’ symbolism on some of our officers ’ face masks may be perceived as divisive or disrespectful , we are taking steps with our officers and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neutral personal protective equipment , ” he wrote .
The police union characterized the move as one of capitulation , noting that union officials had shown the masks to Scott ’ s command staff before they were distributed to officers , and no issue was raised .
Montoya said the flag is meant to memorialize officers who were killed in the line of duty and represents “ law enforcement ’ s separation of order and chaos.
” “ To be clear , because no one who spouted off yesterday asked , we absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and any group that promotes racism , hate or bigotry , ” he said Saturday .
“ It is a fact that extremist groups attempt to use well-known symbols to mainstream their repugnant ideas .
We repudiate their beliefs and refuse to let them win.
” Tom Saggau , spokesman for the San Francisco Police Officers Assn.
, said Monday that the face masks can ’ t be replaced until the city is able to provide an alternative , which he says it has so far been unable to do .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident the chief didn ’ t put the public safety of his officers first instead of caving to the same group of folks that would protest anything , ” he said Monday .
“ If it was just a plain white mask , folks would complain it was racist in some way .
If it was black it would be disrespectful .
If it was brown it would be , what about the black and white folks ?
It ’ s just silly.
” John Crew , a retired civil rights attorney , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both the flag and union logo violate San Francisco Police Department rules prohibiting on-duty political activity .
“ The definition of a uniform is that it ’ s uniform , ” he said .
“ There is no option to add your own statements , affiliations , whatever.
” But Saggau said the union was merely trying to provide a face covering that its members would like and would want to wear .
He said that the week before the masks were given out in San Francisco , the Los Angeles Police Protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Los Angeles Police officers , and that no problem has been reported .
“ Putting it in the appropriate context , none of us have been through a worldwide pandemic , ” he said .
“ So things are being done now and things are happening now that no one ’ s ever seen .
”

The San Francisco Police Department says it is working to find alternatives to controversial face coverings.
San Francisco police officers will be provided with neutral face coverings after some responded to a recent protest wearing masks with the “thin blue line” logo, sparking controversy, Police Chief Bill Scott announced over the weekend.
The move drew harsh criticism from the San Francisco police union, which distributed the face masks to officers last week.
“With a global pandemic raging across the world and the inability of police officers to shelter in place, San Francisco’s professional protesters played the race card,” San Francisco Police Officers Assn. President Tony Montoya said in a message to members sent Saturday. “They pulled the strings that control our chief, and we are now prohibited from wearing the POA masks on duty.”
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The masks, which appeared in news photos of officers responding to a housing protest on Friday, feature a black and white American flag with a blue line through it and the POA logo.
Critics say the “thin blue line” imagery has been used by white supremacist groups to symbolize support for the police and opposition to Black Lives Matter protesters. Some say the presence of the union logo also violates a department ban on on-duty political activity.
“In promoting the POA sign / symbol, it suggests to the community that the officers are acting on behalf of the POA, not the department,” John Hamasaki, a member of the city’s Police Commission, wrote in an email to Scott, which he also posted to his Twitter account on Friday.
“In addition, as I’m sure you are aware, the Blue Lives Matter symbol is also considered by people in the community as a symbol of anti-black sentiment arising after the Black Lives Matter movement.”
Later Friday, Scott wrote in a message to officers that the department was working to find alternatives to the face coverings.
“The San Francisco Police Department stands for safety with respect for all, and in consideration of concerns some community members have expressed that ‘thin blue line’ symbolism on some of our officers’ face masks may be perceived as divisive or disrespectful, we are taking steps with our officers and the Police Officers Association to provide alternative, neutral personal protective equipment,” he wrote.
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The police union characterized the move as one of capitulation, noting that union officials had shown the masks to Scott’s command staff before they were distributed to officers, and no issue was raised. Montoya said the flag is meant to memorialize officers who were killed in the line of duty and represents “law enforcement’s separation of order and chaos.”
“To be clear, because no one who spouted off yesterday asked, we absolutely reject any correlation between our face coverings and any group that promotes racism, hate or bigotry,” he said Saturday. “It is a fact that extremist groups attempt to use well-known symbols to mainstream their repugnant ideas. We repudiate their beliefs and refuse to let them win.”
Tom Saggau, spokesman for the San Francisco Police Officers Assn., said Monday that the face masks can’t be replaced until the city is able to provide an alternative, which he says it has so far been unable to do.
“It’s unfortunate that in this particular incident the chief didn’t put the public safety of his officers first instead of caving to the same group of folks that would protest anything,” he said Monday. “If it was just a plain white mask, folks would complain it was racist in some way. If it was black it would be disrespectful. If it was brown it would be, what about the black and white folks? It’s just silly.”
John Crew, a retired civil rights attorney, told the San Francisco Examiner he believed both the flag and union logo violate San Francisco Police Department rules prohibiting on-duty political activity.
“The definition of a uniform is that it’s uniform,” he said. “There is no option to add your own statements, affiliations, whatever.”
But Saggau said the union was merely trying to provide a face covering that its members would like and would want to wear.
He said that the week before the masks were given out in San Francisco, the Los Angeles Police Protective League distributed masks with the union logo to Los Angeles Police officers, and that no problem has been reported.
“Putting it in the appropriate context, none of us have been through a worldwide pandemic,” he said. “So things are being done now and things are happening now that no one’s ever seen.”


latimes--2020-05-04--Orange County reports 5 more coronavirus deaths as dispute rages over beach closures

Orange County health officials reported five additional coronavirus-linked fatalities Monday , bringing the region ’ s death toll to 57 .
In the latest update — which followed days of protests over Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s decision to close local beaches — the county also confirmed another 89 coronavirus infections , bringing its cumulative total to 2,819 since the outbreak began .
The number of new COVID-19 cases Orange County announced Monday was the lowest since April 28 .
The county has seen its daily caseload swell recently as it has significantly increased testing .
Monday was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The county reported only 237 tests — the fewest on any one day in about a month .
Overall , 37,050 people have been screened countywide , and about 7.6 % have tested positive for coronavirus infection .
The county ’ s observed mortality rate associated with COVID-19 is about 2 % , roughly half that of the state ’ s and of neighboring Los Angeles County ’ s .
With another heat wave on tap this week , though , many eyes have been on the county ’ s beaches — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of residents and weekend visitors flocked to the shore despite California ’ s statewide stay-at-home order .
The decision drew , and continues to draw , condemnation from some county officials who claim the governor overstepped and was misled by media photographs that misconstrued what the beach conditions were actually like .
Huntington Beach and Dana Point filed a lawsuit against the decision , and Newport Beach has agreed to file a court brief in support of the endeavor .
Supervisor Don Wagner said Monday that he didn ’ t expect the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state regarding the beach closure .
“ We continue — or some of us , at least , are continuing — to suggest the governor ’ s policy is wrong , misguided , ought to be rethought , but that ’ s not a legal issue that we ’ re going to fight to my knowledge , ” he said .
State officials announced Monday that Laguna Beach and San Clemente would be allowed to open their sandy shores this week , with some limitations in place .
Both cities previously submitted plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreation along their coastlines while maintaining measures to avoid overcrowding and allow for appropriate physical distancing .
“ We appreciate the governor ’ s willingness to work with us to provide a responsible , gradual approach to reopening all beaches in Laguna Beach for active recreation , ” city Mayor Bob Whalen said in a statement Monday .
“ This will allow people the opportunity to walk , jog , swim and surf and get some fresh air and exercise on a limited basis , but not congregate or gather in large groups.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of an active plan as “ half steps that satisfy , I guess , the governor ’ s need to feel like he ’ s won something.
” “ The science is entirely in favor of the position the county took before the governor ’ s ill-advised order , ” he said .
Orange County Executive Officer Frank Kim said Monday that the decision of whether the county itself should submit such a plan rested with the Board of Supervisors , which is expected to discuss the matter Tuesday .
Note : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas .
Daily updates are preliminary and subject to change as the county receives new information .

Orange County health officials reported five additional coronavirus-linked fatalities Monday, bringing the region’s death toll to 57.
In the latest update — which followed days of protests over Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to close local beaches — the county also confirmed another 89 coronavirus infections, bringing its cumulative total to 2,819 since the outbreak began.
The number of new COVID-19 cases Orange County announced Monday was the lowest since April 28. The county has seen its daily caseload swell recently as it has significantly increased testing.
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Monday was a bit of an outlier in that respect. The county reported only 237 tests — the fewest on any one day in about a month.
California Protesters rally in Orange County to denounce Newsom’s beach closure At the Huntington Beach pier about 50 protesters gathered to pick up where they had left off on Friday. The turnout was light, but the rhetoric was just as passionate.
Overall, 37,050 people have been screened countywide, and about 7.6% have tested positive for coronavirus infection.
The county’s observed mortality rate associated with COVID-19 is about 2%, roughly half that of the state’s and of neighboring Los Angeles County’s.
With another heat wave on tap this week, though, many eyes have been on the county’s beaches — which Newsom ordered closed Thursday after thousands of residents and weekend visitors flocked to the shore despite California’s statewide stay-at-home order.
The decision drew, and continues to draw, condemnation from some county officials who claim the governor overstepped and was misled by media photographs that misconstrued what the beach conditions were actually like.
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Huntington Beach and Dana Point filed a lawsuit against the decision, and Newport Beach has agreed to file a court brief in support of the endeavor.
Supervisor Don Wagner said Monday that he didn’t expect the county would join the legal action against the state regarding the beach closure.
“We continue — or some of us, at least, are continuing — to suggest the governor’s policy is wrong, misguided, ought to be rethought, but that’s not a legal issue that we’re going to fight to my knowledge,” he said.
State officials announced Monday that Laguna Beach and San Clemente would be allowed to open their sandy shores this week, with some limitations in place.
Both cities previously submitted plans to the state that would allow active recreation along their coastlines while maintaining measures to avoid overcrowding and allow for appropriate physical distancing.
“We appreciate the governor’s willingness to work with us to provide a responsible, gradual approach to reopening all beaches in Laguna Beach for active recreation,” city Mayor Bob Whalen said in a statement Monday. “This will allow people the opportunity to walk, jog, swim and surf and get some fresh air and exercise on a limited basis, but not congregate or gather in large groups.”
Wagner, however, characterized the idea of an active plan as “half steps that satisfy, I guess, the governor’s need to feel like he’s won something.”
“The science is entirely in favor of the position the county took before the governor’s ill-advised order,” he said.
California Coronavirus updates: These California businesses can reopen this week, and these can’t The Los Angeles Times will provide around-the-clock updates on COVID-19 from across Southern California and around the world.Tracking the coronavirus in California: latest numbers | Support our journalism with a subscriptionHave a question about coronavirus? Send us your questions here. | You also can sign up for our newsletterSee latest photo galleryCoronavirus updates for May 3 are here
Orange County Executive Officer Frank Kim said Monday that the decision of whether the county itself should submit such a plan rested with the Board of Supervisors, which is expected to discuss the matter Tuesday.
Here’s the latest COVID-19 information for Orange County:
Age breakdown of cases:
0-17 — 57
18-24 — 267
25-34 — 520
35-44 — 420
45-54 — 512
55-64 — 464
65-74 — 286
75-84 — 171
85+ — 120
Unknown — 2
Age breakdown of deaths:
25-34 — 2
35-44 — 3
45-54 — 5
55-64 — 8
65-74 — 9
75-84 — 19
85+ — 11
California Do you know someone who has lost the battle with COVID-19? In our effort to cover this pandemic as thoroughly as possible, we’d like to hear from the loved ones of people who have died from the coronavirus.
Cases by community:
Aliso Viejo — 18
Anaheim — 420
Brea — 21
Buena Park — 93
Costa Mesa — 43
Coto de Caza — 5
Cypress — 44
Dana Point — 22
Fountain Valley — 35
Fullerton — 93
Garden Grove — 135
Huntington Beach — 230
Irvine — 137
La Habra — 56
La Palma — 14
Ladera Ranch — 11
Laguna Beach — 38
Laguna Hills — 22
Laguna Niguel — 32
Laguna Woods — 8
Lake Forest — 31
Los Alamitos — 31
Midway City — 7
Mission Viejo — 47
Newport Beach — 101
Orange — 128
Placentia — 62
Rancho Mission Viejo — 6
Rancho Santa Margarita — 14
San Clemente — 50
San Juan Capistrano — 28
Santa Ana — 405
Seal Beach — 11
Stanton — 28
Trabuco Canyon — 12
Tustin — 46
Villa Park — 5
Westminster — 47
Yorba Linda — 52
Other — 147
Unknown — 84
Note: The “other” category includes unincorporated areas. Daily updates are preliminary and subject to change as the county receives new information.