latimes--2020-03-24--Domestic abuse victims in 'worst-case scenario' during outbreak, providers say

One evening last week , a 38-year-old woman showed up in the emergency room of a Los Angeles hospital .
She had been beaten by her boyfriend .
Under normal circumstances , the hospital would contact a domestic violence advocate , who would meet with the woman in person and help her find shelter and other services .
But that night , because of limitations on visitors and health guidelines due to COVID-19 , an advocate had to connect by phone .
About a dozen calls later , the woman was placed in a shelter .
“ We got lucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the chief program and operating officer for Peace Over Violence , a nonprofit focused on ending interpersonal relationship violence .
“ It ’ s really hard to find an immediate placement for someone in need.
” Lozano and other advocates worry that the changes to everyday life brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic — stay-at-home mandates , job losses and school closures — may worsen already strained relationships , leading to increased rates of domestic abuse .
Others are concerned that those who are suffering may be less inclined to report a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ For someone who is in an abusive relationship , this is kind of a worst-case scenario , ” said Alyson Messenger , a managing staff attorney with the Jenesse Center , a domestic violence organization based in South Los Angeles .
“ Compound that with the fact that access to services is more difficult than ever.
” This nightmare for domestic violence victims has already played out elsewhere .
The number of such incidents in China has risen sharply as people across much of that country have been quarantined , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Domestic Violence Hotline has begun to field some highly distressing calls as quarantine measures have been implemented , said the hotline ’ s chief executive , Katie Ray-Jones .
One woman said her partner threatened to throw her out onto the street if she showed any symptoms of COVID-19 .
Another said her partner vowed to prevent her from seeking medical care if she became sick .
Al Provinziano , a family lawyer in Los Angeles , said calls to his firm related to domestic violence doubled last week .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe they ’ ll be stuck with their abuser , and that they don ’ t know how they ’ re going to get through this period of quarantine , ” Provinziano said .
The idea that stress and isolation lead to higher rates of domestic violence is not new .
During the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009 , the National Domestic Violence Hotline fielded many calls from those in long-term abusive relationships who said the violence against them had grown more intense , said Ray-Jones .
Research has found a relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interpersonal violence , especially among households that experience significant financial strain .
After Hurricane Andrew , a Category 5 storm that made landfall in South Florida in 1992 , spousal-abuse calls to Miami ’ s helpline increased by 50 % , researchers found .
In L.A. , advocates saw domestic violence rise in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake .
The concern isn ’ t that quarantine will cause normally peaceful partners and parents to suddenly become abusive .
Rather , it ’ s likely that widespread isolation and stress-inducing conditions — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helplessness — will increase the number and severity of such incidents in households that have already seen a cycle of violence , advocates say .
“ Domestic violence is rooted in power and control , ” Ray-Jones said .
“ When an abuser loses that power control , they tend to exert or take that out on the victims in their relationship.
” At the same time , survivors will be less able to break away from the surveillance of their abusers .
And those who might have stayed with aging parents are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the elderly are far more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 .
It ’ s estimated that more than 10 million people experience domestic violence in the U.S. each year , and the number of homicides related to domestic violence has been on the rise since 2010 .
In L.A. County , as overall homicides have declined , the number of women slain has steadily risen .
Income loss might also make it more difficult for victims to leave .
Someone who has saved money in order to execute an escape plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cash in the face of job loss or a reduction in hours .
And when victims of domestic violence aren ’ t out in the community , the red flags of abuse are less likely to be noticed by friends and family members .
“ We get reports through schools or hospitals that somebody has had a physical injury , but kids aren ’ t going to school right now , and people are avoiding hospitals , ” said Tara Peterson , executive director of the YWCA of Glendale .
The East Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of trained promotoras , women who educate their communities about healthy relationships , to connect with those in East and South Los Angeles who are most at risk for violence , said Barbara Kappos , the center ’ s executive director .
Now , the women can ’ t meet weekly and in-person to help those who may be the most resistant .
In response to COVID-19 , the Los Angeles Police Department last week closed front desks and walk-up services to “ ensure social distancing , ” a move that worried those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police to report abuse .
The county courts are still open for essential functions , which include processing petitions for emergency domestic-violence restraining orders .
Judges may still issue emergency protective orders at the request of law enforcement , which can lead to the temporary removal of an abuser from a home .
If victims are seeking a temporary restraining order or an emergency protective order , they can go to their local stations and will be assisted , said LAPD Assistant Chief Robert Arcos in an email .
Each station has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victims , he said , and teams that respond to such incidents will continue to be deployed .
As of Monday , Arcos said , he hadn ’ t seen an increase in calls for service .
Meanwhile , organizations that provide services to domestic violence victims and survivors in L.A. County are forced to be creative in serving their clients .
In-person support groups have been replaced by virtual ones .
Therapists are deploying code words with their clients to keep them safe .
Although many shelters are full across the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , executive director of Peace Over Violence , said her staff of about 70 is working remotely .
Counseling and staff meetings have been conducted virtually .
“ We ’ re committed to not abandoning any people who are on our caseloads , ” she said .
Carmen McDonald , director of legal services at the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice , worries that victims now will be less likely to seek services .
Already , she said , she ’ s seeing a decline in new clients and requests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going on with our clients , but we don ’ t know what ’ s going on with the other folks who need services , ” she said .
It is still uncertain how shelters for victims of domestic violence will be affected by the pandemic .
But some warn that it may become increasingly difficult to find a spot at an emergency shelter .
Elizabeth Eastlund , executive director of Rainbow Services in San Pedro , said the organization ’ s transitional and emergency shelters are full and aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the uncertainty of the pandemic .
If clients don ’ t have a solid plan for where they will go next , they ’ re not leaving .
Peterson said the YWCA of Glendale ’ s small shelter for domestic violence victims is open , and a handful of its 12 beds are available .
The YWCA will provide vouchers for hotel rooms once the shelter is full .
The Glendale shelter is not screening residents for the coronavirus but does have a designated , private space for anyone presenting COVID-19 symptoms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect to halt services anytime soon , the pandemic has already affected their finances .
The YWCA of Glendale had to cancel its biggest fundraiser , scheduled for April .
“ We rely on that money to be able to be nimble and provide additional resources , ” Peterson said .
“ We are monitoring the situation daily , but we ’ re concerned about being fully operational if this goes on longer than a couple of months.
” If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence , call 1-800-799-SAFE ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hotline .
You can also call L.A. County ’ s hotline at 1-800-978-3600 .

Housing program supervisor Magda Sellon in her office Wednesday at the YWCA in Glendale. Workers are providing services by videoconference or phone.
One evening last week, a 38-year-old woman showed up in the emergency room of a Los Angeles hospital. She had been beaten by her boyfriend.
Under normal circumstances, the hospital would contact a domestic violence advocate, who would meet with the woman in person and help her find shelter and other services. But that night, because of limitations on visitors and health guidelines due to COVID-19, an advocate had to connect by phone.
About a dozen calls later, the woman was placed in a shelter.
“We got lucky this time,” said Yvette Lozano, the chief program and operating officer for Peace Over Violence, a nonprofit focused on ending interpersonal relationship violence. “It’s really hard to find an immediate placement for someone in need.”
Lozano and other advocates worry that the changes to everyday life brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic — stay-at-home mandates, job losses and school closures — may worsen already strained relationships, leading to increased rates of domestic abuse. Others are concerned that those who are suffering may be less inclined to report a crime or reach out for help.
“For someone who is in an abusive relationship, this is kind of a worst-case scenario,” said Alyson Messenger, a managing staff attorney with the Jenesse Center, a domestic violence organization based in South Los Angeles. “Compound that with the fact that access to services is more difficult than ever.”
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This nightmare for domestic violence victims has already played out elsewhere. The number of such incidents in China has risen sharply as people across much of that country have been quarantined, according to Chinese news sources. Already, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has begun to field some highly distressing calls as quarantine measures have been implemented, said the hotline’s chief executive, Katie Ray-Jones.
One woman said her partner threatened to throw her out onto the street if she showed any symptoms of COVID-19. Another said her partner vowed to prevent her from seeking medical care if she became sick.
Al Provinziano, a family lawyer in Los Angeles, said calls to his firm related to domestic violence doubled last week.
“People are saying that they can’t believe they’ll be stuck with their abuser, and that they don’t know how they’re going to get through this period of quarantine,” Provinziano said.
The idea that stress and isolation lead to higher rates of domestic violence is not new. During the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009, the National Domestic Violence Hotline fielded many calls from those in long-term abusive relationships who said the violence against them had grown more intense, said Ray-Jones.
Research has found a relationship between natural disasters and increased rates of interpersonal violence, especially among households that experience significant financial strain. After Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 storm that made landfall in South Florida in 1992, spousal-abuse calls to Miami’s helpline increased by 50%, researchers found. In L.A., advocates saw domestic violence rise in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
The concern isn’t that quarantine will cause normally peaceful partners and parents to suddenly become abusive. Rather, it’s likely that widespread isolation and stress-inducing conditions — such as job loss and feelings of helplessness — will increase the number and severity of such incidents in households that have already seen a cycle of violence, advocates say.
“Domestic violence is rooted in power and control,” Ray-Jones said. “When an abuser loses that power control, they tend to exert or take that out on the victims in their relationship.”
At the same time, survivors will be less able to break away from the surveillance of their abusers. And those who might have stayed with aging parents are less likely to do so now, as the elderly are far more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.
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It’s estimated that more than 10 million people experience domestic violence in the U.S. each year, and the number of homicides related to domestic violence has been on the rise since 2010. In L.A. County, as overall homicides have declined, the number of women slain has steadily risen.
Income loss might also make it more difficult for victims to leave. Someone who has saved money in order to execute an escape plan may now be forced to use that cash in the face of job loss or a reduction in hours.
And when victims of domestic violence aren’t out in the community, the red flags of abuse are less likely to be noticed by friends and family members.
“We get reports through schools or hospitals that somebody has had a physical injury, but kids aren’t going to school right now, and people are avoiding hospitals,” said Tara Peterson, executive director of the YWCA of Glendale.
Support groups that typically meet in this room at the YWCA in Glendale are now being offered to survivors remotely through Zoom. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
The East Los Angeles Women’s Center uses hundreds of trained promotoras, women who educate their communities about healthy relationships, to connect with those in East and South Los Angeles who are most at risk for violence, said Barbara Kappos, the center’s executive director. Now, the women can’t meet weekly and in-person to help those who may be the most resistant.
In response to COVID-19, the Los Angeles Police Department last week closed front desks and walk-up services to “ensure social distancing,” a move that worried those who work with victims and depend on police to report abuse. The county courts are still open for essential functions, which include processing petitions for emergency domestic-violence restraining orders. Judges may still issue emergency protective orders at the request of law enforcement, which can lead to the temporary removal of an abuser from a home.
If victims are seeking a temporary restraining order or an emergency protective order, they can go to their local stations and will be assisted, said LAPD Assistant Chief Robert Arcos in an email.
Each station has a night-watch detective available to assist domestic violence victims, he said, and teams that respond to such incidents will continue to be deployed. As of Monday, Arcos said, he hadn’t seen an increase in calls for service.
Meanwhile, organizations that provide services to domestic violence victims and survivors in L.A. County are forced to be creative in serving their clients. In-person support groups have been replaced by virtual ones. Therapists are deploying code words with their clients to keep them safe. Although many shelters are full across the county, hotlines are available.
Patti Giggans, executive director of Peace Over Violence, said her staff of about 70 is working remotely. Counseling and staff meetings have been conducted virtually.
“We’re committed to not abandoning any people who are on our caseloads,” she said.
Carmen McDonald, director of legal services at the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice, worries that victims now will be less likely to seek services. Already, she said, she’s seeing a decline in new clients and requests for legal assistance.
“We know what is going on with our clients, but we don’t know what’s going on with the other folks who need services,” she said.
It is still uncertain how shelters for victims of domestic violence will be affected by the pandemic. But some warn that it may become increasingly difficult to find a spot at an emergency shelter.
Elizabeth Eastlund, executive director of Rainbow Services in San Pedro, said the organization’s transitional and emergency shelters are full and aren’t cycling people in and out due to the uncertainty of the pandemic. If clients don’t have a solid plan for where they will go next, they’re not leaving.
Peterson said the YWCA of Glendale’s small shelter for domestic violence victims is open, and a handful of its 12 beds are available. The YWCA will provide vouchers for hotel rooms once the shelter is full.
The Glendale shelter is not screening residents for the coronavirus but does have a designated, private space for anyone presenting COVID-19 symptoms.
Though organizations that help survivors do not expect to halt services anytime soon, the pandemic has already affected their finances. The YWCA of Glendale had to cancel its biggest fundraiser, scheduled for April.
“We rely on that money to be able to be nimble and provide additional resources,” Peterson said. “We are monitoring the situation daily, but we’re concerned about being fully operational if this goes on longer than a couple of months.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. You can also call L.A. County’s hotline at 1-800-978-3600.


latimes--2020-03-24--Three workers connected to L.A. Metro infected with the coronavirus

Three employees with ties to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have been infected with the coronavirus , Los Angeles County officials said Tuesday .
A maintenance worker at Metro ’ s bus yard in South Los Angeles was hospitalized and tested positive a week later , officials said in a statement .
The worker , who last went to the Hyde Park facility on March 16 , has since been released and allowed to go home under quarantine , Metro said .
The areas of the bus yard where the employee worked were “ thoroughly cleaned and disinfected ” Tuesday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Division 5 who may have been in contact with the employee within the past 14 days have been notified by Metro , ” the agency said in a statement .
“ They have been asked to self-monitor their health , including taking their temperatures twice each day and seeking health care if they develop a fever or other symptoms of the virus.
” Ridership has plummeted on Metro buses and trains since the start of the coronavirus pandemic , but Metro is continuing to operate a scaled-back schedule .
The agency ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s stay-at-home order .
The news follows two other cases of coronavirus among Metro-affiliated workers .
On Monday , Metro reported that an electrical worker who reported to a downtown Los Angeles subway yard with flu-like symptoms later tested positive for the coronavirus .
The worker stayed inside a truck after feeling ill , officials said .
Three employees who had close contact with the worker were sent home and were asked to self-quarantine for two weeks , officials said .
Crews working on the project have “ returned to work with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , including holding meetings outdoors “ whenever possible ” and using a roll call instead of passing around a sign-in sheet .
A document worker for the consortium of companies building the Crenshaw Line project through South L.A. became ill on Wednesday and was hospitalized on Saturday , officials said .
All employees who worked on the same floor of the office building in Inglewood were “ notified and placed into quarantine , ” officials said .
Los Angeles County authorities on Tuesday confirmed an additional 128 cases of infection with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total to 662 .
Of that total , 42 % of cases involve people age 18 to 40 , and 39 % involve people 41 to 65 .
Eleven people have died .

Three employees with ties to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have been infected with the coronavirus, Los Angeles County officials said Tuesday.
A maintenance worker at Metro’s bus yard in South Los Angeles was hospitalized and tested positive a week later, officials said in a statement. The worker, who last went to the Hyde Park facility on March 16, has since been released and allowed to go home under quarantine, Metro said.
The areas of the bus yard where the employee worked were “thoroughly cleaned and disinfected” Tuesday morning, officials said.
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“Co-workers at Division 5 who may have been in contact with the employee within the past 14 days have been notified by Metro,” the agency said in a statement. “They have been asked to self-monitor their health, including taking their temperatures twice each day and seeking health care if they develop a fever or other symptoms of the virus.”
Ridership has plummeted on Metro buses and trains since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but Metro is continuing to operate a scaled-back schedule. The agency’s service is classified as essential under California’s stay-at-home order.
The news follows two other cases of coronavirus among Metro-affiliated workers. On Monday, Metro reported that an electrical worker who reported to a downtown Los Angeles subway yard with flu-like symptoms later tested positive for the coronavirus.
The worker stayed inside a truck after feeling ill, officials said. Three employees who had close contact with the worker were sent home and were asked to self-quarantine for two weeks, officials said.
Crews working on the project have “returned to work with remedial actions taken,” the agency said, including holding meetings outdoors “whenever possible” and using a roll call instead of passing around a sign-in sheet.
A document worker for the consortium of companies building the Crenshaw Line project through South L.A. became ill on Wednesday and was hospitalized on Saturday, officials said. All employees who worked on the same floor of the office building in Inglewood were “notified and placed into quarantine,” officials said.
Los Angeles County authorities on Tuesday confirmed an additional 128 cases of infection with the coronavirus, bringing the county’s total to 662. Of that total, 42% of cases involve people age 18 to 40, and 39% involve people 41 to 65. Eleven people have died.


latimes--2020-03-24--L.A. County teen's death may be coronavirus-related. Here's what we know

A teenager who lived in Lancaster may be the first child to have died from the coronavirus , but confirming that will require additional testing , authorities said .
Los Angeles County health officials announced Tuesday what they believed to be the first COVID-19 death in the U.S. of someone younger than 18 .
Experts have long said older people are more susceptible to the virus and that young people in general are less likely to contract the illness .
But health officials said Tuesday the death underscores the threat that coronavirus poses to the entire population .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of all ages , ” L.A. County Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said .
But a few hours after that announcement , the county ’ s Public Health Department sent out a clarification : “ The juvenile fatality that the Los Angeles County Department Public Health reported earlier today will require further evaluation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , ” the statement read .
“ Though early tests indicated a positive result for COVID-19 , the case is complex and there may be an alternate explanation for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further details at this time.
” The minor was a teenager who lived in Lancaster and did not have any preexisting conditions , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a news briefing Tuesday evening .
The Public Health Department was working to confirm how the teenager might have contracted the virus .
The agency also is also working to confirm whether the case marks the first such death of a minor linked to coronavirus in the country , but cases are not always broken down by age , said Tim Gilman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll in Los Angeles County now stands at 11 .
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released last week , there had been no coronavirus fatalities in the United States of people under 18 .
The report also said there had been no reported ICU admissions for people under 19 .
Overall , relatively few young people have tested positive in Los Angeles County .
But the data show people between the ages of 18 and 65 have tested positive most often .
( These numbers exclude Pasadena @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orange County , the numbers are similar : Here are the statewide age breakdowns , as of Monday : Overall , officials have said young children are at lesser risk than older people for contracting the coronavirus .
One possible reason babies , toddlers and young children have not been critically threatened is because of their immature immune systems .
An undeveloped immune system might prevent the body from triggering inflammation severe enough to result in pneumonia , septic shock or organ failure .
A of 44,672 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in China published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that no deaths occurred among anyone younger than 10. by experts in Wuhan , China — the initial epicenter of the outbreak — published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn .
sought to review all hospitalized infants diagnosed with COVID-19 infection between Dec. 8 and Feb. 6 in China .
By Feb. 6 , there had been 31,211 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 637 fatalities .
But the authors could find only nine infected babies who were hospitalized nationwide .
“ None of the nine infants required intensive care or mechanical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the study said .
Four had fever , two had mild upper respiratory tract symptoms , and one had no symptoms but tested positive for the virus because of the baby ’ s exposure to an infected family member .
There were no symptoms available for the other two patients .
And a in the World Journal of Pediatrics , summarizing experts ’ consensus on the coronavirus in children , also warned that people who have a “ silent infection ” are among the main sources of transmission for the illness .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ asymptomatic cases , which may play a critical role in the transmission process , ” the report said .
“ Respiratory droplets and contact are the main transmission routes .
Close contact with symptomatic cases and asymptomatic cases with silent infection are the main transmission routes of [ novel coronavirus ] infection in children.
” And while children are largely spared the worst effects of the coronavirus , the first reports to document deaths in children make clear that those under 18 are neither immune from infection nor completely spared from becoming very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus has claimed the lives of a 10-month-old and a 14-year-old , at least .
As officials try to determine the exact cause of death for the teenager , it ’ s possible the coronavirus and bacterial infection are correlated .
“ We do know that respiratory viruses in general can exacerbate secondary bacterial infections , ” said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado , a Stanford University professor of pediatric infectious diseases and the chair of the American Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases .
Maldonado said it ’ s possible that a viral infection could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a secondary bacterial infection , including pneumonia or sepsis .
“ I see no reason why this virus would be any different , ” she said .
Times staff writers Luke Money and Melissa Healy contributed to this report .

Children’s playground equipment is cordoned off at Venice Beach on Monday.
A teenager who lived in Lancaster may be the first child to have died from the coronavirus, but confirming that will require additional testing, authorities said.
Los Angeles County health officials announced Tuesday what they believed to be the first COVID-19 death in the U.S. of someone younger than 18.
Experts have long said older people are more susceptible to the virus and that young people in general are less likely to contract the illness. But health officials said Tuesday the death underscores the threat that coronavirus poses to the entire population.
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“This is a devastating reminder that COVID-19 affects people of all ages,” L.A. County Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said.
But a few hours after that announcement, the county’s Public Health Department sent out a clarification:
“The juvenile fatality that the Los Angeles County Department Public Health reported earlier today will require further evaluation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” the statement read. “Though early tests indicated a positive result for COVID-19, the case is complex and there may be an alternate explanation for this fatality. Patient privacy prevents our offering further details at this time.”
The minor was a teenager who lived in Lancaster and did not have any preexisting conditions, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a news briefing Tuesday evening.
The Public Health Department was working to confirm how the teenager might have contracted the virus. The agency also is also working to confirm whether the case marks the first such death of a minor linked to coronavirus in the country, but cases are not always broken down by age, said Tim Gilman, a representative for the department.
The death toll in Los Angeles County now stands at 11.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released last week, there had been no coronavirus fatalities in the United States of people under 18. The report also said there had been no reported ICU admissions for people under 19.
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Age breakdowns
Overall, relatively few young people have tested positive in Los Angeles County. But the data show people between the ages of 18 and 65 have tested positive most often. (These numbers exclude Pasadena and Long Beach.):
0-17: 10
18-40: 268
41-65: 250
65+: 107
In Orange County, the numbers are similar:
0-17: 1
18-49: 87
50-64: 41
65+ 23
Here are the statewide age breakdowns, as of Monday:
0-17: 25
18-49: 837
50-64: 442
65+: 415
Unknown age: 14
Child risks
Overall, officials have said young children are at lesser risk than older people for contracting the coronavirus.
One possible reason babies, toddlers and young children have not been critically threatened is because of their immature immune systems. An undeveloped immune system might prevent the body from triggering inflammation severe enough to result in pneumonia, septic shock or organ failure.
A sweeping review of 44,672 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in China published in early March by Chinese authorities found that no deaths occurred among anyone younger than 10.
Another study by experts in Wuhan, China — the initial epicenter of the outbreak — published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. sought to review all hospitalized infants diagnosed with COVID-19 infection between Dec. 8 and Feb. 6 in China.
By Feb. 6, there had been 31,211 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 637 fatalities. But the authors could find only nine infected babies who were hospitalized nationwide.
“None of the nine infants required intensive care or mechanical ventilation or had any severe complications,” the study said.
Four had fever, two had mild upper respiratory tract symptoms, and one had no symptoms but tested positive for the virus because of the baby’s exposure to an infected family member. There were no symptoms available for the other two patients.
And a report published in the World Journal of Pediatrics, summarizing experts’ consensus on the coronavirus in children, also warned that people who have a “silent infection” are among the main sources of transmission for the illness.
“We also should attach importance to asymptomatic cases, which may play a critical role in the transmission process,” the report said. “Respiratory droplets and contact are the main transmission routes. Close contact with symptomatic cases and asymptomatic cases with silent infection are the main transmission routes of [novel coronavirus] infection in children.”
And while children are largely spared the worst effects of the coronavirus, the first reports to document COVID-19 deaths in children make clear that those under 18 are neither immune from infection nor completely spared from becoming very sick.
In China, the novel coronavirus has claimed the lives of a 10-month-old and a 14-year-old, at least.
Possible correlation
As officials try to determine the exact cause of death for the teenager, it’s possible the coronavirus and bacterial infection are correlated.
“We do know that respiratory viruses in general can exacerbate secondary bacterial infections,” said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a Stanford University professor of pediatric infectious diseases and the chair of the American Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases.
Maldonado said it’s possible that a viral infection could worsen a bacterial superinfection and lead to a secondary bacterial infection, including pneumonia or sepsis.
“I see no reason why this virus would be any different,” she said.
Times staff writers Luke Money and Melissa Healy contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-24--First coronavirus death confirmed in Orange County as overall case count swells to 152

Health officials Tuesday confirmed Orange County ’ s first death due to COVID-19 as overall infections continued to climb .
The man was in his 70s and had underlying health conditions , according to the O.C .
Health Care Agency .
Officials confirmed he was a county resident but declined to identify where he had been hospitalized or his hometown .
“ We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the patient ’ s family and friends , ” said County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick .
“ This serves as a very unfortunate reminder to the community about the importance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving the household for essential activities , or to work at an essential business , in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help protect our most vulnerable neighbors.
” Orange County ’ s overall COVID-19 case count has soared by 60 % over the last two days and hit 152 on Tuesday — up from 125 Monday and 95 the day before that , according to the Health Care Agency .
Most of the patients — 87 — are between the ages of 18 and 49 .
The number of men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 89 , continues to outpace the number of women , 63 .
Countywide , 2,159 people have been tested so far .
As the number of cases continues to climb , county officials have taken additional steps aimed at curbing the virus ’ spread .
On Tuesday , county leaders announced they would close parking lots at trails , beaches and parks to prevent people from gathering there .
The county also has unveiled additional outreach tools recently — including phone hotlines and a text-alert system — to provide residents with updates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrival of new resources , however , the county Health Care Agency has also announced a departure — its director , Richard Sanchez , who has been appointed interim chief executive of CalOptima .
CalOptima is a county-organized health system that serves those with disabilities or who are low income .
Sanchez will join the agency in April .
The county plans to appoint an interim director to replace him at the Health Care Agency .
“ Richard Sanchez has been an exemplary director at HCA , ” County Executive Officer Frank Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership to his colleagues at HCA and in the entire county family will be greatly missed .
It ’ s an incredible opportunity for Richard , and I greatly look forward to working with him in his new role at CalOptima .
”

Street-side seating that is usually crowded sits empty as a man walks past the Longboard Restaurant & Pub in downtown Huntington Beach on Wednesday.
Health officials Tuesday confirmed Orange County’s first death due to COVID-19 as overall infections continued to climb.
The man was in his 70s and had underlying health conditions, according to the O.C. Health Care Agency. Officials confirmed he was a county resident but declined to identify where he had been hospitalized or his hometown.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the patient’s family and friends,” said County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick. “This serves as a very unfortunate reminder to the community about the importance of staying at home and social distancing when leaving the household for essential activities, or to work at an essential business, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help protect our most vulnerable neighbors.”
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Orange County’s overall COVID-19 case count has soared by 60% over the last two days and hit 152 on Tuesday — up from 125 Monday and 95 the day before that, according to the Health Care Agency.
Most of the patients — 87 — are between the ages of 18 and 49. The number of men who have tested positive in the county, 89, continues to outpace the number of women, 63.
Countywide, 2,159 people have been tested so far.
As the number of cases continues to climb, county officials have taken additional steps aimed at curbing the virus’ spread. On Tuesday, county leaders announced they would close parking lots at trails, beaches and parks to prevent people from gathering there.
The county also has unveiled additional outreach tools recently — including phone hotlines and a text-alert system — to provide residents with updates regarding the ongoing pandemic.
Amid the arrival of new resources, however, the county Health Care Agency has also announced a departure — its director, Richard Sanchez, who has been appointed interim chief executive of CalOptima.
CalOptima is a county-organized health system that serves those with disabilities or who are low income. Sanchez will join the agency in April. The county plans to appoint an interim director to replace him at the Health Care Agency.
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“Richard Sanchez has been an exemplary director at HCA,” County Executive Officer Frank Kim said in a statement. “His leadership to his colleagues at HCA and in the entire county family will be greatly missed. It’s an incredible opportunity for Richard, and I greatly look forward to working with him in his new role at CalOptima.”


latimes--2020-03-24--L.A. County reports first death of a possible coronavirus patient under 18 as COVID-19 cases top 660

Mayor Eric Garcetti warned Los Angeles on Tuesday that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic was still to come and that residents should be prepared for more loss of life .
Garcetti said L.A. could be six to 12 days from seeing similar numbers to the outbreak in New York City , where the death toll has dramatically increased in recent days .
“ It ’ s coming , ” Garcetti said .
“ The peak is not here yet .
The peak will be bad .
People will lose their lives.
” The mayor also rebuffed President Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eased quickly and said that Angelenos should be “ prepared for a couple months like this.
” “ I know that everybody is hopeful , and some are putting out that hope of us being back in churches by Easter or synagogues by Passover , of restarting the economy in a couple weeks , ” Garcetti said .
“ I think we owe it to everybody to be straightforward and honest that we will not be back to that [ level of ] normal in that short period of time.
” Garcetti ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Los Angeles County confirmed four more deaths linked to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday , including what might be the first fatality of a person younger than 18 .
The number of deaths in the county from the virus is now 11 .
Tuesday ’ s update also included a previously reported death in Long Beach .
Hours after announcing the juvenile ’ s death Tuesday , county heath officials issued a clarification that the death “ will require further evaluation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
” “ Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , the case is complex and there may be an alternate explanation for this fatality .
Patient privacy prevents our offering further details at this time , ” officials said .
The young victim , a teenager from Lancaster , died of septic shock , Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris told The Times .
The teen ’ s father contracted the virus , Parris said .
“ The father had close contact on the job with the public daily , ” the mayor said .
“ This is truly awful , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parris said , he is asking that all children stay indoors , and is working to secure 100,000 test kits .
“ They aren ’ t testing hardly anybody , ” Parris said .
“ So we aren ’ t going to wait for the county .
We are going to provide our own tests.
” Two of the people who died were between the ages of 50 and 70 .
One had underlying health issues and resided in the West Adams neighborhood , health officials said .
“ This is a devastating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ages , ” L.A. County Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said .
The Public Health Department said it was working to confirm whether the case marks the first such death of a minor linked to coronavirus in the country .
Garcetti said he was informed by county officials that the Lancaster teen did not have any preexisting conditions .
Authorities also confirmed an additional 128 cases of coronavirus infection , bringing the county ’ s total to 662 .
Of those , 42 % are people ages 18 to 40 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At least 119 residents , or 18 % of all positive cases in the county , have been hospitalized for the virus .
At his news conference Tuesday afternoon , Garcetti said that his office is still receiving daily reports of nonessential businesses that continue to operate as normal — behavior he called “ irresponsible and selfish.
” He announced a Safer at Home business ambassadors initiative that aims to help push greater adherence from nonessential businesses to the city ’ s order to close .
Businesses that ignore the order should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from prosecutors before the city takes more aggressive action , including turning off their water and power , the mayor said .
“ The easiest way to avoid a visit from the city is to follow the rules , ” Garcetti said .
The city has not cited any nonessential businesses so far , according to a spokesperson for the mayor ’ s office .
The total number of complaints filed was not available .
There are 40 business ambassadors assigned to enforcement of the nonessential business order .
Residents can report scofflaws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced 27 new cases , bringing the total to 152 .
The county ’ s first death was reported Tuesday .
San Mateo County saw a jump of 19 new cases , pushing its total to 161 , and its second fatality .
The number of cases increased by more than 10 % in one day , according to Preston Merchant , a public information officer working in the county ’ s joint information center .
The latest death was of a resident at the Atria Senior Living facility in Burlingame , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of residents had tested positive .
Monday ’ s fatality was the first of a resident related to the coronavirus .
“ Our thoughts are with their family during this difficult time , ” Atria said in a statement .
“ We remain in close communication with all our residents and their families and continue to provide our support as we navigate this unprecedented situation together.
” Atria said it was working closely with the San Mateo County Health Department , and officials have been on site to confirm proper health and safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus cases in California surged to and the death toll climbed to at least 51 as officials issued urgent warnings about the need for more hospital beds and equipment as medical facilities begin to fill up .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom says he believes California will need 50,000 hospital beds for patients suffering from COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus .
That marks a significant increase from the 20,000 beds his administration forecast last week .
The Democratic governor said the state ’ s 416 hospitals were doubling their “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will result in 30,000 new beds across the system .
San Francisco officials warned that a surge in coronavirus infections was expected to come within a week or two , and voiced dismay over images of the public crowding beaches and parks across California .
“ The worst is yet to come , ” Dr. Grant Colfax , San Francisco ’ s director of public health , said at a news conference Monday .
San Francisco has already taken steps to decompress the healthcare system — banning almost all visitors to hospitals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routine medical visits , ordering that appointments be done by phone or video if possible , and opening up tents to care for patients who have mild symptoms in order to keep hospital beds free for those more seriously ill. A steep rise in people being hospitalized with COVID-19 in Los Angeles County probably signals the approach of a wave of extremely sick patients that could overwhelm hospitals in the coming weeks , experts say .
As of March 6 , five people in the county had been hospitalized at some point with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , that figure had jumped to 48 .
By Monday , the total had climbed to 90 .
Though the raw numbers remain relatively low , the rate of increase has set many doctors and nurses on edge after watching the disease ’ s alarming trajectory in China , Italy and , most recently , New York City .
In Long Beach , Mayor Robert Garcia tweeted Tuesday that the city is now up to 28 confirmed COVID-19 cases .
“ If you have the ability to stay home , please do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wash your hands and social distance .
We all need to work to flatten the curve.
” Art Marroquin , spokesman for the city ’ s joint information center , said Long Beach ’ s 28 cases include one of two Cal State Long Beach students who tested positive for the virus and were in self-isolation off campus .
The student was included because they are a Long Beach resident .
One student had not been on campus for two weeks , the university said .
In the second case , public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on-campus exposure .
Students who might have come into close contact with the patients were being notified by health officials , according to the email .
As the number of cases continues to rise , officials throughout the state kept up their call for an increase in testing capacity and reporting .
Frustrated public health directors in six Bay Area counties have ordered an assortment of commercial , university and pop-up testing sites that are screening residents for COVID-19 to begin reporting not just the positive cases , but the negative results too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woefully inadequate as Santa Clara County wrestles with mounting deaths .
As of Tuesday , 16 people had died in the county , more than half of the virus fatalities in California .
The Santa Clara County Sheriff ’ s Office confirmed four cases among its staff , including a deputy who is self-isolating at home .
California requires labs and hospitals to report known cases of COVID-19 , but not the number of negative tests .
Cody said that information is critical to tracking the spread of the virus .
She warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical situation is a window into what will be seen in San Francisco and other Bay Area communities in the next one to two weeks .
Contra Costa County is one of the six counties that ordered new requirements .
On Friday , health officer Chris Farnitano said the county would issue an order for negative tests to be reported as well .
Meanwhile , California remains largely shut down under state and local orders .
L.A. County officials have cracked down on nonessential businesses , which Sheriff Alex Villanueva declared Tuesday includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t close their doors , he said , they will be cited and face penalty , including the loss of their business licenses .
Officials previously closed beach parking lots , parks and hiking trials amid concerns some people were not staying at least six feet apart while in public .
Laguna Beach took the restrictions a step further and closed its beaches entirely on Monday .
On Tuesday , Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu called for the closure of Runyon Canyon Park and Lake Hollywood Park on weekends .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I grew up in a two-bedroom apartment off the 101 Freeway , and our city ’ s parks were my only access to outdoor space , ” Ryu said of his recommendation to Michael Shull , the general manager of the city ’ s Department of Recreation and Parks .
“ I don ’ t make this recommendation easily , but closing Runyon Canyon Park on weekends , when we have seen the highest volume of visitors , should follow to keep everyone safe.
” In Sonoma County , all parks and open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials announced this week .
The closure includes city , county , state and federal parklands and recreational lands operated by private groups and nonprofits , according to a news release .
“ Closing parks is a difficult decision , but it is the right decision at this time , ” Sundari Mase , the county ’ s interim health officer , said in a statement .
“ Allowing crowded conditions in parks is not in our best interest during this health crisis .
The best action we can take is to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to our yards and neighborhoods.
” Mase announced the closure Monday after too many visitors flocked to outdoor spaces over the weekend .
Criminal and civil trials were discontinued in California for at least two months after a sweeping order was issued late Monday by the state ’ s chief justice that aimed to sharply reduce public traffic in state courthouses .
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye said in her order that court facilities were “ ill-equipped to effectively allow the social distancing and other public health requirements ” that had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the novel coronavirus .
“ Even if court facilities could allow for sufficient social distancing , the closure of schools means that many court employees , litigants , witnesses , and potential jurors can not leave their homes to attend court proceedings because they must stay home to supervise their children , ” Cantil-Sakauye said in the order .
The 60-day delay — which puts the courts in California ’ s 58 counties on a uniform trial delay schedule — came the same day that the presiding judge of Los Angeles County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocked public access to county courthouses except for attorneys , staff , defendants and “ authorized persons , ” a vague category that includes news reporters .
The clerk ’ s office will still be available to accept filings and assist people by phone or electronically .
The California National Guard on Monday provided details about how personnel would be deployed across the state to assist in coronavirus aid .
Officials said the guard was being used purely for humanitarian purposes , such as distributing food and medical supplies as well as helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Grand Princess cruise ship , which docked in California after an outbreak of the virus on board .
With the coronavirus pandemic further stifling the efforts of California and other states to issue Real ID licenses , President Trump on Monday said he would extend the Oct. 1 deadline for people to apply for the identification cards to board domestic flights in the United States .
Times staff writers Priscella Vega , Paige St. John and Luke Money contributed to this report .

Taryn Luna, Rong-Gong Lin II, Colleen Shalby, Hannah Fry, Sarah Parvini, Richard Winton, Jaclyn Cosgrove

Mayor Eric Garcetti warned Los Angeles on Tuesday that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic was still to come and that residents should be prepared for more loss of life.
Garcetti said L.A. could be six to 12 days from seeing similar numbers to the outbreak in New York City, where the death toll has dramatically increased in recent days.
“It’s coming,” Garcetti said. “The peak is not here yet. The peak will be bad. People will lose their lives.”
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The mayor also rebuffed President Trump’s earlier comments suggesting restrictions might be eased quickly and said that Angelenos should be “prepared for a couple months like this.”
“I know that everybody is hopeful, and some are putting out that hope of us being back in churches by Easter or synagogues by Passover, of restarting the economy in a couple weeks,” Garcetti said. “I think we owe it to everybody to be straightforward and honest that we will not be back to that [level of] normal in that short period of time.”
Garcetti’s warning came on the same day that Los Angeles County confirmed four more deaths linked to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, including what might be the first fatality of a person younger than 18.
The number of deaths in the county from the virus is now 11. Tuesday’s update also included a previously reported death in Long Beach.
Hours after announcing the juvenile’s death Tuesday, county heath officials issued a clarification that the death “will require further evaluation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
“Though early tests indicated a positive result for COVID-19, the case is complex and there may be an alternate explanation for this fatality. Patient privacy prevents our offering further details at this time,” officials said.
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The young victim, a teenager from Lancaster, died of septic shock, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris told The Times. The teen’s father contracted the virus, Parris said.
“The father had close contact on the job with the public daily,” the mayor said. “This is truly awful, to lose a child.”
In response, Parris said, he is asking that all children stay indoors, and is working to secure 100,000 test kits.
“They aren’t testing hardly anybody,” Parris said. “So we aren’t going to wait for the county. We are going to provide our own tests.”
Two of the people who died were between the ages of 50 and 70. One had underlying health issues and resided in the West Adams neighborhood, health officials said.
“This is a devastating reminder that COVID-19 affects people of all ages,” L.A. County Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said.
The Public Health Department said it was working to confirm whether the case marks the first such death of a minor linked to coronavirus in the country. Garcetti said he was informed by county officials that the Lancaster teen did not have any preexisting conditions.
Authorities also confirmed an additional 128 cases of coronavirus infection, bringing the county’s total to 662. Of those, 42% are people ages 18 to 40, and 39% are people 41 to 65.
At least 119 residents, or 18% of all positive cases in the county, have been hospitalized for the virus.
At his news conference Tuesday afternoon, Garcetti said that his office is still receiving daily reports of nonessential businesses that continue to operate as normal — behavior he called “irresponsible and selfish.”
He announced a Safer at Home business ambassadors initiative that aims to help push greater adherence from nonessential businesses to the city’s order to close. Businesses that ignore the order should also expect to get a warning call from prosecutors before the city takes more aggressive action, including turning off their water and power, the mayor said.
“The easiest way to avoid a visit from the city is to follow the rules,” Garcetti said.
The city has not cited any nonessential businesses so far, according to a spokesperson for the mayor’s office. The total number of complaints filed was not available.
There are 40 business ambassadors assigned to enforcement of the nonessential business order. Residents can report scofflaws here.
More cases confirmed throughout state
In Orange County, officials announced 27 new cases, bringing the total to 152. The county’s first death was reported Tuesday.
San Mateo County saw a jump of 19 new cases, pushing its total to 161, and its second fatality. The number of cases increased by more than 10% in one day, according to Preston Merchant, a public information officer working in the county’s joint information center.
The latest death was of a resident at the Atria Senior Living facility in Burlingame, which learned on March 15 that a number of residents had tested positive. Monday’s fatality was the first of a resident related to the coronavirus.
“Our thoughts are with their family during this difficult time,” Atria said in a statement. “We remain in close communication with all our residents and their families and continue to provide our support as we navigate this unprecedented situation together.”
Atria said it was working closely with the San Mateo County Health Department, and officials have been on site to confirm proper health and safety measures are in place.
The number of coronavirus cases in California surged to nearly 2,500 Tuesday afternoon and the death toll climbed to at least 51 as officials issued urgent warnings about the need for more hospital beds and equipment as medical facilities begin to fill up.
Gov. Gavin Newsom says he believes California will need 50,000 hospital beds for patients suffering from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. That marks a significant increase from the 20,000 beds his administration forecast last week. The Democratic governor said the state’s 416 hospitals were doubling their “surge plans,” a move that will result in 30,000 new beds across the system.
San Francisco officials warned that a surge in coronavirus infections was expected to come within a week or two, and voiced dismay over images of the public crowding beaches and parks across California.
“The worst is yet to come,” Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of public health, said at a news conference Monday.
San Francisco has already taken steps to decompress the healthcare system — banning almost all visitors to hospitals and long-term-care facilities, canceling elective surgeries and routine medical visits, ordering that appointments be done by phone or video if possible, and opening up tents to care for patients who have mild symptoms in order to keep hospital beds free for those more seriously ill.
A steep rise in people being hospitalized with COVID-19 in Los Angeles County probably signals the approach of a wave of extremely sick patients that could overwhelm hospitals in the coming weeks, experts say.
As of March 6, five people in the county had been hospitalized at some point with COVID-19. Two weeks later, on Friday, that figure had jumped to 48. By Monday, the total had climbed to 90.
Though the raw numbers remain relatively low, the rate of increase has set many doctors and nurses on edge after watching the disease’s alarming trajectory in China, Italy and, most recently, New York City.
In Long Beach, Mayor Robert Garcia tweeted Tuesday that the city is now up to 28 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
“If you have the ability to stay home, please do so,” Garcia wrote. “Wash your hands and social distance. We all need to work to flatten the curve.”
Art Marroquin, spokesman for the city’s joint information center, said Long Beach’s 28 cases include one of two Cal State Long Beach students who tested positive for the virus and were in self-isolation off campus. The student was included because they are a Long Beach resident.
One student had not been on campus for two weeks, the university said. In the second case, public health officials determined there was no opportunity for on-campus exposure. Students who might have come into close contact with the patients were being notified by health officials, according to the email.
More testing needed
As the number of cases continues to rise, officials throughout the state kept up their call for an increase in testing capacity and reporting.
Frustrated public health directors in six Bay Area counties have ordered an assortment of commercial, university and pop-up testing sites that are screening residents for COVID-19 to begin reporting not just the positive cases, but the negative results too.
Dr. Sara Cody said testing remains woefully inadequate as Santa Clara County wrestles with mounting deaths. As of Tuesday, 16 people had died in the county, more than half of the virus fatalities in California.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed four cases among its staff, including a deputy who is self-isolating at home.
California requires labs and hospitals to report known cases of COVID-19, but not the number of negative tests. Cody said that information is critical to tracking the spread of the virus. She warned that Santa Clara County’s current critical situation is a window into what will be seen in San Francisco and other Bay Area communities in the next one to two weeks.
Contra Costa County is one of the six counties that ordered new requirements. On Friday, health officer Chris Farnitano said the county would issue an order for negative tests to be reported as well.
Closures remain in place
Meanwhile, California remains largely shut down under state and local orders. L.A. County officials have cracked down on nonessential businesses, which Sheriff Alex Villanueva declared Tuesday includes gun stores. If gun sellers don’t close their doors, he said, they will be cited and face penalty, including the loss of their business licenses.
Officials previously closed beach parking lots, parks and hiking trials amid concerns some people were not staying at least six feet apart while in public. Laguna Beach took the restrictions a step further and closed its beaches entirely on Monday.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu called for the closure of Runyon Canyon Park and Lake Hollywood Park on weekends.
“Making this request pains me greatly. I grew up in a two-bedroom apartment off the 101 Freeway, and our city’s parks were my only access to outdoor space,” Ryu said of his recommendation to Michael Shull, the general manager of the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks. “I don’t make this recommendation easily, but closing Runyon Canyon Park on weekends, when we have seen the highest volume of visitors, should follow to keep everyone safe.”
In Sonoma County, all parks and open spaces were closed indefinitely, public health officials announced this week.
The closure includes city, county, state and federal parklands and recreational lands operated by private groups and nonprofits, according to a news release.
“Closing parks is a difficult decision, but it is the right decision at this time,” Sundari Mase, the county’s interim health officer, said in a statement. “Allowing crowded conditions in parks is not in our best interest during this health crisis. The best action we can take is to stay close to home and limit our outdoor time to our yards and neighborhoods.”
Mase announced the closure Monday after too many visitors flocked to outdoor spaces over the weekend.
Criminal and civil trials were discontinued in California for at least two months after a sweeping order was issued late Monday by the state’s chief justice that aimed to sharply reduce public traffic in state courthouses.
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye said in her order that court facilities were “ill-equipped to effectively allow the social distancing and other public health requirements” that had been imposed across California to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Even if court facilities could allow for sufficient social distancing, the closure of schools means that many court employees, litigants, witnesses, and potential jurors cannot leave their homes to attend court proceedings because they must stay home to supervise their children,” Cantil-Sakauye said in the order.
The 60-day delay — which puts the courts in California’s 58 counties on a uniform trial delay schedule — came the same day that the presiding judge of Los Angeles County Superior Court, Kevin C. Brazile, blocked public access to county courthouses except for attorneys, staff, defendants and “authorized persons,” a vague category that includes news reporters. The clerk’s office will still be available to accept filings and assist people by phone or electronically.
The California National Guard on Monday provided details about how personnel would be deployed across the state to assist in coronavirus aid. Officials said the guard was being used purely for humanitarian purposes, such as distributing food and medical supplies as well as helping at food banks and working with officials on the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in California after an outbreak of the virus on board.
With the coronavirus pandemic further stifling the efforts of California and other states to issue Real ID licenses, President Trump on Monday said he would extend the Oct. 1 deadline for people to apply for the identification cards to board domestic flights in the United States.
Times staff writers Priscella Vega, Paige St. John and Luke Money contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-25--How to care for someone with COVID-19

How to care for someone with COVID-19

Has someone in your home tested positive for the coronavirus or started showing symptoms ?
Here ’ s how to care for your loved one and keep yourself safe .
First , remember that most people who get sick with COVID-19 will have mild symptoms .
Experts say those people should stay home and leave only for medical care .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends five steps for caring for a person with COVID-19 : monitor the person for worsening symptoms , prevent the spread of germs , treat their symptoms and , finally , decide when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person ’ s symptoms worsen , call their healthcare provider .
Signs that someone may require immediate medical attention include pain or pressure in the chest , shortness of breath ( “ I can ’ t seem to get enough air ” ) , confusion or turning blue .
Prevent the spread of the virus Say your spouse or roommate is showing symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 .
First , isolate that person .
If you can , put that person in a separate bedroom with a separate bathroom .
Make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airflow .
“ The idea here is they ’ re not just walking around everyplace , ” said Robert Kim-Farley , a UCLA professor of epidemiology and community health sciences .
If that ’ s not possible , try to limit that person ’ s movements around your home .
If there ’ s a shared bathroom , give it a quick wipe with antibacterial cleaner after the person ’ s use .
Try to avoid sharing items such as towels , bedding and dishes with the infected person .
( And after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items . )
Be extra vigilant about cleaning common surfaces at home , including counters , tabletops and doorknobs .
When doing laundry , use the warmest setting possible and use gloves if you ’ re dealing with soiled clothes or bedding .
Don ’ t shake the laundry before placing it in the machine , Farley-Kim said .
That could disperse the virus .
If you can find masks , have the infected person wear one when others are in the room .
If you can ’ t find a mask , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Kim-Farley said .
Also , make sure that person avoids contact with pets .
Until more is known about the novel coronavirus , the CDC advises limiting contact .
If you ’ re already practicing social distancing , this is a no-brainer : Avoid unnecessary visitors .
It ’ s like your mother said : Drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated .
Get rest .
Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol can help with fever .
The CDC recommends waiting until the person ’ s fever has subsided for 72 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without the use of fever-reducing medication ) , other symptoms such as shortness of breath have improved , and at least seven days have passed since their symptoms first appeared .
So if your fever was over on Wednesday , but your symptoms first appeared on Sunday , you would wait seven days from Sunday rather than 72 hours from Wednesday .
Kim-Farley said COVID-19 will be a mild illness for about 80 % of people .
Isolation can be tough , so make sure to combat potential loneliness .
“ We really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family to create social bonding , ” he said .

ORANGE, CA - FEBRUARY 12 , 2020 - Dr. Brian Lee, emergency department medical director at St. Joseph Medical Center in Orange. American hospitals are stocking up on gowns and goggles and holding refresher courses in infection control amid a growing outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Has someone in your home tested positive for the coronavirus or started showing symptoms? Here’s how to care for your loved one and keep yourself safe.
First, remember that most people who get sick with COVID-19 will have mild symptoms. Experts say those people should stay home and leave only for medical care.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends five steps for caring for a person with COVID-19: monitor the person for worsening symptoms, prevent the spread of germs, treat their symptoms and, finally, decide when to end home isolation.
Monitor symptoms
If the person’s symptoms worsen, call their healthcare provider. Signs that someone may require immediate medical attention include pain or pressure in the chest, shortness of breath (“I can’t seem to get enough air”), confusion or turning blue.
Prevent the spread of the virus
Say your spouse or roommate is showing symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19. First, isolate that person. If you can, put that person in a separate bedroom with a separate bathroom. Make sure the room has access to good airflow.
“The idea here is they’re not just walking around everyplace,” said Robert Kim-Farley, a UCLA professor of epidemiology and community health sciences.
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If that’s not possible, try to limit that person’s movements around your home. If there’s a shared bathroom, give it a quick wipe with antibacterial cleaner after the person’s use.
Try to avoid sharing items such as towels, bedding and dishes with the infected person. (And after that person uses them, wash the items.)
Be extra vigilant about cleaning common surfaces at home, including counters, tabletops and doorknobs.
When doing laundry, use the warmest setting possible and use gloves if you’re dealing with soiled clothes or bedding. Don’t shake the laundry before placing it in the machine, Farley-Kim said. That could disperse the virus.
If you can find masks, have the infected person wear one when others are in the room. If you can’t find a mask, “a bandanna is better than nothing,” Kim-Farley said.
Also, make sure that person avoids contact with pets. Until more is known about the novel coronavirus, the CDC advises limiting contact.
If you’re already practicing social distancing, this is a no-brainer: Avoid unnecessary visitors.
Advertisement
Treat symptoms
It’s like your mother said: Drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. Get rest. Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol can help with fever.
Decide when to end isolation
The CDC recommends waiting until the person’s fever has subsided for 72 hours (three full days of no fever without the use of fever-reducing medication), other symptoms such as shortness of breath have improved, and at least seven days have passed since their symptoms first appeared. So if your fever was over on Wednesday, but your symptoms first appeared on Sunday, you would wait seven days from Sunday rather than 72 hours from Wednesday.
Kim-Farley said COVID-19 will be a mild illness for about 80% of people. Isolation can be tough, so make sure to combat potential loneliness.
“We really should be reaching out to friends and family to create social bonding,” he said.


latimes--2020-03-25--After delays, L.A. City Council will meet Friday via call-in to take up relief measures

The Los Angeles City Council will convene an emergency meeting Friday , allowing members of the public to comment by phoning in or sending email , an aide to Council President Nury Martinez said Wednesday .
Martinez spokesman Rick Coca said she decided to call the meeting after staffers successfully tested a remote dial-in meeting on Wednesday .
The councilwoman plans to be on the council floor for the meeting , along with a city clerk , a city attorney and possibly a handful of other officials .
“ Last week we were going for 50 people or less , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re trying to go for 10 or less in the room.
” The decision to conduct a Zoom conference call for council members comes two days after Martinez abruptly canceled the last two regularly scheduled council meetings in March .
Labor unions , nonprofit groups and community activists quickly voiced alarm , saying council members need to act swiftly on protections for renters and workers suffering financially amid the coronavirus pandemic before April rent is due .
“ The people who are the most vulnerable are being left behind , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the Los Angeles Tenants Union , hours before Coca announced the upcoming meeting .
Although Martinez had left the door open to an emergency meeting , she went days without indicating when that might occur .
By Wednesday , at least one group of activists had begun calling for her to resign as council president due to the canceled meetings .
In an online petition , the homeless advocacy group KTown for All said Martinez had left Angelenos in limbo by failing to convene and giving inconsistent explanations of her decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of leadership hurts the most vulnerable Angelenos and threatens the stability of our city as a whole , ” the group said .
KTown for All is a member of the Healthy LA Coalition , a collection of groups pushing for the emergency relief measures .
The Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy is also involved in the coalition but said it opposed any effort to oust Martinez .
“ We want the full council to meet as quickly as possible to move on key issue areas outlined by Healthy LA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alliance , in an email .
“ We certainly do not think Nury Martinez should be stepping down as council president.
” Coca declined to address the KTown for All petition , but said city officials have been working on a system that would be safe for participants and capable of allowing public comment .
He said Martinez , who represents such working class communities as Van Nuys , Sun Valley and Panorama City , was acutely aware of the need for the council to take action .
“ She knows very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she has felt it herself .
She grew up in poverty .
She understands action is needed and hopefully we ’ re going to be taking our action on Friday , ” he said .
City officials have struggled in recent days to successfully convene public meetings in a way that will allow the public to weigh in .
The Board of Public Works and the Department of Water and Power commissions — panels that are made up of appointees of Mayor Eric Garcetti — both called for and then canceled meetings that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday ’ s meeting is expected to involve voice votes by council members .
He also said there ’ s a possibility that participants — not just members of the public , but council members — could get cut off during the session .
“ We ’ re gon na fight our way through it best as we can , ” Coca said .

L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez and fellow council members will hold an emergency meeting Friday, with the public allowed to comment by phone or email.
The Los Angeles City Council will convene an emergency meeting Friday, allowing members of the public to comment by phoning in or sending email, an aide to Council President Nury Martinez said Wednesday.
Martinez spokesman Rick Coca said the council president decided to call the meeting after staffers successfully tested a remote dial-in meeting Wednesday. Martinez plans to be on the council floor for the meeting, along with a city clerk, a city attorney and possibly a handful of other officials.
“Last week we were going for 50 people or less,” Coca said. “Now we’re trying to go for 10 or less in the room.”
The decision to conduct a Zoom conference call for council members comes two days after Martinez abruptly canceled the last two regularly scheduled council meetings in March. Labor unions, nonprofit groups and community activists quickly voiced alarm, saying council members need to act swiftly on protections for renters and workers suffering financially amid the coronavirus pandemic before April rent is due.
“The people who are the most vulnerable are being left behind,” said Eagle Rock resident Jane Demian, a member of the Los Angeles Tenants Union, hours before Coca announced the upcoming meeting.
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Although Martinez had left the door open to an emergency meeting, she went days without indicating when that might occur. By Wednesday, one group of activists had begun calling for her to resign as council president because of the canceled meetings.
The homeless advocacy group KTown for All said in an online petition that Martinez had given inconsistent explanations for her decision and left vulnerable Angelenos in limbo by failing to convene the council.
Coca declined to address the petition, saying his boss wants the meeting to be safe for participants and capable of allowing public comment. But he said Martinez, who represents such working-class areas as Van Nuys, Sun Valley and Panorama City, is acutely aware of the need for the council to act.
“She knows very well what people are feeling, because she has felt it herself. She grew up in poverty. She understands action is needed and hopefully we’re going to be taking our action on Friday,” Coca said.
KTown for All, in a message on Twitter, called those remarks “a smarmy and cynical move aimed at damage control.” Coca and the councilwoman “have zero respect for your intelligence and are desperately hoping you have the memory of a goldfish,” the group said.
KTown for All is part of the Healthy LA Coalition, a collection of groups pushing for the emergency relief measures. The Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, an advocacy group also involved in the coalition, said it opposes any effort to oust Martinez as president.
“For us, the important thing is that we get a vote to protect workers and tenants at the emergency meeting on Friday,” said spokeswoman Haley Potiker.
City officials have struggled in recent days to convene public meetings in a way that allows the public to weigh in. The Board of Public Works and the Department of Water and Power commissions — panels that are made up of appointees of Mayor Eric Garcetti — both called for and then canceled meetings that were scheduled for Tuesday.
Coca said Friday’s meeting is expected to involve voice votes by council members. There’s also a possibility that participants — not just members of the public but also council members — will get cut off during the session.
“We’re gonna fight our way through it best as we can,” Coca said.


latimes--2020-03-25--Eight Long Beach firefighters test positive for the coronavirus

Eight Long Beach firefighters who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus are in self-isolation at home .
The new cases bring the total of confirmed cases in Long Beach to 41 .
Four of the firefighters are Long Beach residents and are included in the total , while four others are residents of other areas .
“ Our Long Beach firefighters are community heroes , and they have been on the front lines every day of this health crisis , ” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia .
“ We are doing everything we can to provide support to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognize the seriousness of this latest development and are committed to doing all that we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Long Beach.
” Fire Station 11 , located at 160 E. Market St. , has been identified as one common location where those who tested positive had recently worked .
The original case that connects them is unknown , officials said .
“ The treatment of these firefighters , along with all of our current positive cases , remains our highest priority , ” said City Health Officer Dr. Anissa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact of these results on our community and understand the significant concerns this news brings .
We are working diligently to identify potential situations where additional exposure may have occurred.
” The Los Angeles Fire Department has had at least two positive results with at least 79 tested .

Eight Long Beach firefighters who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus are in self-isolation at home.
The new cases bring the total of confirmed cases in Long Beach to 41. Four of the firefighters are Long Beach residents and are included in the total, while four others are residents of other areas.
“Our Long Beach firefighters are community heroes, and they have been on the front lines every day of this health crisis,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “We are doing everything we can to provide support to these firefighters and their families. We recognize the seriousness of this latest development and are committed to doing all that we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Long Beach.”
Fire Station 11, located at 160 E. Market St., has been identified as one common location where those who tested positive had recently worked. The original case that connects them is unknown, officials said.
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“The treatment of these firefighters, along with all of our current positive cases, remains our highest priority,” said City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis. “We are aware of the impact of these results on our community and understand the significant concerns this news brings. We are working diligently to identify potential situations where additional exposure may have occurred.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department has had at least two positive results with at least 79 tested.


latimes--2020-03-25--No, the LAPD isn't ticketing for outdoor exercising, driving amid coronavirus rules

The Los Angeles Police Department said its officers are not stopping people for violating the city ’ s strict Safer at Home restrictions .
“ We ’ ve heard the rumors , so let ’ s put an end to them .
No , the LAPD is not stopping or ticketing people for exercising outdoors .
Spreading false rumors during this time does no good , ” tweeted the department .
Asst .
Chief Horace Frank said the department is not conducting driving under influence checkpoints or towing or impounding cars .
Mayor Eric Garcetti has expressed frustration and outrage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus restrictions .
On Tuesday , Garcetti said that his office is still receiving daily reports of nonessential businesses that continue to operate as normal — behavior he called “ irresponsible and selfish.
” He also announced a Safer at Home business ambassadors initiative that aims to help push greater adherence from nonessential businesses that aren ’ t complying with the city ’ s order to close .
Such businesses should expect to get a warning call from local prosecutors before the city takes more aggressive action , including turning off their water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Safer at Home , all Los Angeles businesses that require in-person attendance must cease operations , with exceptions .
Here is a full list of the rules .
On Sunday , Los Angeles and other jurisdictions ordered many beach parking lots , hiking trials , recreation areas and sports fields closed after they were jammed over the weekend .

The Los Angeles Police Department said its officers are not stopping people for violating the city’s strict Safer at Home restrictions.
“We’ve heard the rumors, so let’s put an end to them. No, the LAPD is not stopping or ticketing people for exercising outdoors. Spreading false rumors during this time does no good,” tweeted the department.
Asst. Chief Horace Frank said the department is not conducting driving under influence checkpoints or towing or impounding cars.
Mayor Eric Garcetti has expressed frustration and outrage that some nonessential businesses remain open despite coronavirus restrictions.
On Tuesday, Garcetti said that his office is still receiving daily reports of nonessential businesses that continue to operate as normal — behavior he called “irresponsible and selfish.”
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He also announced a Safer at Home business ambassadors initiative that aims to help push greater adherence from nonessential businesses that aren’t complying with the city’s order to close.
Such businesses should expect to get a warning call from local prosecutors before the city takes more aggressive action, including turning off their water and power, he said.
Under Safer at Home, all Los Angeles businesses that require in-person attendance must cease operations, with exceptions. Here is a full list of the rules.
On Sunday, Los Angeles and other jurisdictions ordered many beach parking lots, hiking trials, recreation areas and sports fields closed after they were jammed over the weekend.


latimes--2020-03-25--San Francisco says it could face coronavirus crisis on par with New York

San Francisco city leaders said Wednesday that it was “ plausible ” San Francisco could face a coronavirus health crisis on par with that now occurring in New York City and fall short 1,500 ventilators and 5,000 hospital beds .
“ It is not even a question as to whether we will need more , ” Mayor London Breed said during an hourlong news conference .
She called on the state and federal government for more assistance .
Breed also repeatedly asked the public to remain at home and engage in social distancing .
If people fail to do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick relatives may have to be turned away from hospitals because of shortages , she said .
San Francisco now has 178 confirmed cases of the virus and one death .
City officials who spoke at the news conference said social distancing appears to be helping , but the number of cases rises daily .
“ Sadly , things are going to get worse , ” Breed said .
The news conference appeared aimed at countering contradicting President Trump and others who contend the stay-home orders are excessive .
“ I know there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you to believe our efforts are too aggressive , but I can not stress enough just how vital they are , ” said Dr. Grant Colfax , director of public health for San Francisco .
He said the city expects the initial surge to start within two weeks but he could not estimate how long it would last .
“ It is plausible that we could have a scenario similar to what is playing out in New York this very day , ” he said .
“ If that happens , our surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city has been ramping up for the crisis , securing new hospital beds , postponing elective surgeries and acquiring hotel rooms where infected people can isolate .
San Francisco is much smaller than New York and so far has a fraction of the cases .
New York City now has more than 17,800 cases and at least 192 deaths .
New York state as a whole has more than 30,800 cases and at least 285 deaths .

A man looks toward the skyline from Bernal Heights Hill in San Francisco on March 16. The city’s mayor said Wednesday that the coronavirus crisis could escalate in San Francisco to the degree it has in New York City.
San Francisco leaders said Wednesday that it was plausible the city could face a crisis similar to that of New York City’s and fall short 1,500 ventilators and a 5,000 hospital beds.
“It is not even a question as to whether we will need more,” Mayor London Breed said during an hourlong news conference.
She said she sent a letter to state and federal government officials “making it clear what we need.”
“This is not the first time,” she said. “I hope that they will deliver.”
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On Wedesday evening, the city was forced to lock down Laguna Honda Hospital, a skilled nursing facility with elderly patients, after four nurses and a staff member tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Hours earlier, Breed used her news conference to repeatedly ask the public to remain at home and engage in social distancing.
If people fail to do that, she said, authorities may need to turn them or their sick relatives away from hospitals because of shortages, she said.
San Francisco now has confirmed 172 cases of the virus and one death. City officials who spoke at the news conference said social distancing appears to be helping, but the number of cases rises every single day.
“Sadly, things are going to get worse,” Breed said.
The news conference appeared aimed at countering President Trump and others who contend the stay-home orders are excessive.
“I know there are people out there who will lead you to believe our efforts are too aggressive, but I cannot stress enough just how vital they are,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of health for San Francisco.
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A day earlier, Breed used even stronger language in response to Trump.
“Why are we still listening to the president?” Breed said Tuesday on KGO-TV. “I mean, the fact is, we here in our city, throughout states in the United States of America, we have demonstrated, sadly, that we have had to jump into action and make this work without federal government support.”
California How Silicon Valley became California’s epicenter of the coronavirus The drivers of Santa Clara County’s economy — tech companies, foreign travel and close human interaction — made it a ripe target for the coronavirus.
Colfax said the city expects to see a surge of virus cases in less than two weeks. He added that he could not estimate how long it would last.
Based on modeling by epidemiologists and infectious-disease experts, “it is plausible that we could have a scenario similar to what is playing out in New York this very day,” Colfax said. “If that happens, our surge capacity will be far exceeded. We will require federal and state assistance. We cannot manage that alone.”
California How Silicon Valley became California’s epicenter of the coronavirus The drivers of Santa Clara County’s economy — tech companies, foreign travel and close human interaction — made it a ripe target for the coronavirus.
The city has been ramping up for the crisis, securing new hospital beds, postponing elective surgeries and acquiring hotel rooms where infected people can isolate.
San Francisco now has 1,300 medical beds and 200 staffed intensive care unit beds, enough for the “initial surge,” Colfax said.
The city also is preparing to open a new floor at St. Francis Memorial Hospital for coronavirus patients only, with 40 medical beds and eight critical care beds. Plans are afoot to add another 50 to 60 beds by May 1 at another hospital, officials said.
They noted the city is now testing about 400 people a day for the virus with kits aimed at getting 24-hour results.
So far, the city has leased more than 300 hotel rooms, said Trent Rhorer, executive director of the city’s human services agency. Infected homeless patients now in hospitals for isolation will be moved into some of those rooms, he said. Leasing also is underway for another 920 rooms.
Rhorer said the city also has ordered enhanced cleaning of single room occupancy hotels and was setting up sanitary stations on the streets for homeless people.
The homeless who are most at risk — those 60 or older and those who have underlying medical conditions — will be given priority for hotel rooms, Rhorer said.
Those who are unable to provide self-care will be moved into a staffed medical shelter, he said.
At Laguna Honda Hospital, operated by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, patients will still have access to the 62-acre campus but will be barred from the hospital.
Only 15 of about 750 patients at the facility have been tested for the virus. None was positive.
The lockdown will remain in place until California lifts its stay-at-home order.


latimes--2020-03-25--L.A. sues Venice landlord over 'illegal hotel.' Tenants say they face coronavirus risk

Los Angeles is taking a longtime landlord to court , accusing him of illegally running a Venice apartment building as an unpermitted hotel outfitted with a reception desk , key cards and noisy shows for a revolving door of tourists .
The Ellison has long been a focus for local activists and officials alarmed that apartments buildings have been illegally turned into hotels .
City Councilman Mike Bonin , who represents Venice , has called it the “ poster child ” for the problem , which eventually spurred the city to pass new rules on renting out homes and apartments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as Angelenos were urged to stay home to protect themselves and others from the novel coronavirus , tenants at the Ellison have complained that the ongoing crush of travelers could jeopardize their health .
“ I ’ m a ‘ senior citizen with an underlying condition , ’ basically the far end of the at-risk group , and I have to share the elevator , stairwell and lobby with an ever changing stream of tourists , ” longtime resident Bruce Kijewski , 71 , wrote in an email outlining his concerns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some are just partying like there ’ s no tomorrow.
” In their new lawsuit , city attorneys accuse landlord Lance Jay Robbins and two companies tied to the Venice building of trying to push out longtime tenants so that more rooms can be rented to night-to-night guests who book rooms online .
Doing so has pulled needed housing off the market and violates both municipal and state laws , they argue .
The lawsuit calls for an injunction to stop the 58-unit building from being advertised and operated as a hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falls under L.A. 's Rent Stabilization Ordinance , which limits annual rent increases for tenants .
“ We will fight when a landlord tries to replace scarce rent-stabilized apartments with short-term rentals , ” City Atty .
Mike Feuer said in a statement .
“ L.A .
desperately needs more affordable housing , not less.
” Attorney Thomas Nitti , who represents Robbins and the other defendants , said the city was retaliating for their lawsuits against the city “ to establish the Ellison as a historical hotel.
” The building owners have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historically rented out for short stays and wrongly categorized decades ago by the city as an apartment house .
“ It ’ s an act of desperation by the city , ” Nitti said .
Tenants also lodged a lawsuit of their own nearly two years ago , alleging that running the Ellison as a hotel had created nuisances for longtime residents .
One of those residents , Brian Averill , said this week that the problem had gone from a “ quality-of-life thing ” to “ a life-or-death thing ” He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an oxygen tank .
“ If there ever was a reason to shut down this building , the coronavirus is it , ” Averill said .
Nitti said that fewer guests were staying at the Ellison than usual , and that nightly rates had been cut to ensure it could keep operating .
Building management has been providing hand sanitizer , wiping down surfaces , and “ deep cleaning the units — the industry standard , ” Nitti said .
Robbins rejected allegations of nuisances at the building , pointing to positive reviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Ellison was less risky for coronavirus infection than other buildings because it had open spaces and an entrance that wasn ’ t enclosed , as well as rooms and a rooftop large enough to practice social distancing .
“ If people want to be in a healthy environment , this is about as healthy an environment as you can be in , ” Robbins said .
Averill , the tenant , disputed the idea that building operators were taking special steps to protect them and guests .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a phone interview Wednesday .

The Ellison, above, has long been a focus for local activists and officials alarmed that apartments buildings have been illegally turned into hotels.
Los Angeles is taking a longtime landlord to court, accusing him of illegally running a Venice apartment building as an unpermitted hotel outfitted with a reception desk, key cards and noisy shows for a revolving door of tourists.
The Ellison has long been a focus for local activists and officials alarmed that apartment buildings have been illegally turned into hotels. City Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents Venice, has called it the “poster child” for the problem, which eventually spurred the city to pass new rules on renting out homes and apartments for short stays.
In recent days, as Angelenos were urged to stay home to protect themselves and others from the novel coronavirus, tenants at the Ellison have complained that the ongoing crush of travelers could jeopardize their health.
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“I’m a ‘senior citizen with an underlying condition,’ basically the far end of the at-risk group, and I have to share the elevator, stairwell and lobby with an ever changing stream of tourists,” longtime resident Bruce Kijewski, 71, wrote in an email outlining his concerns. “Some are wearing masks and gloves, some are just partying like there’s no tomorrow.”
In their new lawsuit, city attorneys accuse landlord Lance Jay Robbins and two companies tied to the Venice building of trying to push out longtime tenants so that more rooms can be rented to night-to-night guests who book rooms online.
Doing so has pulled needed housing off the market and violates both municipal and state laws, they argue. The lawsuit calls for an injunction to stop the 58-unit building from being advertised and operated as a hotel. City attorneys stressed that the Ellison falls under L.A.’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which limits annual rent increases for tenants.
“We will fight when a landlord tries to replace scarce rent-stabilized apartments with short-term rentals,” City Atty. Mike Feuer said in a statement. “L.A. desperately needs more affordable housing, not less.”
Attorney Thomas Nitti, who represents Robbins and the other defendants, said the city was retaliating for their lawsuits against the city “to establish the Ellison as a historical hotel.” The building owners have argued in court that the Ellison was historically rented out for short stays and wrongly categorized decades ago by the city as an apartment house.
“It’s an act of desperation by the city,” Nitti said.
Tenants Bruce Kijewski, left, and Kelly Day talk about concerns with night-to-night rentals at the Ellison on September 11, 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Tenants also lodged a lawsuit of their own nearly two years ago, alleging that running the Ellison as a hotel had created nuisances for longtime residents. One of those residents, Brian Averill, said this week that the problem had gone from a “quality-of-life thing” to “a life-or-death thing.” He was especially alarmed for Kijewski, who uses an oxygen tank.
“If there ever was a reason to shut down this building, the coronavirus is it,” Averill said.
Nitti said that fewer guests were staying at the Ellison than usual, and that nightly rates had been cut to ensure it could keep operating. Building management has been providing hand sanitizer, wiping down surfaces, and “deep cleaning the units — the industry standard,” Nitti said.
Robbins rejected allegations of nuisances at the building, pointing to positive reviews posted online by travelers. He argued that the Ellison was less risky for coronavirus infection than other buildings because it had open spaces and an entrance that wasn’t enclosed, as well as rooms and a rooftop large enough to practice social distancing.
“If people want to be in a healthy environment, this is about as healthy an environment as you can be in,” Robbins said.
Averill, the tenant, disputed the idea that building operators were taking special steps to protect them and guests. “It’s business as usual here,” he said in a phone interview Wednesday.