latimes--2020-03-19--Senior shoppers and others more vulnerable to coronavirus get special times at these stores

As concerns over the coronavirus pandemic grow and lengthy lines that resemble those for theme park rides snake their way outside grocery stores before the sun even comes up , many retailers have announced they are setting aside time for seniors ( 65 and up at most stores ) and other at-risk populations to do their shopping in a less-crowded environment .
Here are some of the outlets that have designated special shopping hours , though customers are urged to call ahead to confirm : The supermarket chain — which includes Albertsons , Pavilions , Vons and Safeway , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. for seniors , pregnant women , those with compromised immune systems and other at-risk populations .
“ We are sensitive to the fact that everyone wants to make sure they have the items they need , and we also know that everyone wants their neighbors to stay safe and healthy too , ” President and Chief Executive Vivek Sankaran said in a statement .
“ We are asking our customers to respect these special hours for those who are most at risk in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visited an Albertsons in Los Feliz on Thursday morning found that store employees were unaware of the special hours .
The chain is offering two special shopping hours before stores open to the wider public .
Medical and pharmacy employees with valid identification can shop from 6 to 7 a.m. ; seniors and those who have disabilities can do so from 7 to 8 a.m .
Seniors can start shopping at 7 a.m. , one hour before stores open to all customers .
Stores will be open exclusively for seniors and customers with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Starting Friday , all locations will be open to seniors only from 7 to 7:30 a.m. daily .
“ Ralphs wants to provide these at-risk customers with the ability to purchase the items they need to avoid busier and more crowded shopping times , ” Director of Corporate Affairs John Votava said in a statement .
“ We request that customers respect this change for the health of our community during this time of uncertainty.
” Stores will open 30 minutes early , from 7:30 to 8 a.m. , for seniors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open at 7:45 a.m. for seniors .
“ We acknowledge and appreciate the outpouring of customer support for our store employees , ” Chief Executive Pete Van Helden said in a statement .
“ Remember , we are doing everything we can to serve you and we are in this together.
” Pregnant women , seniors and those with disabilities will be able to shop starting at 7 a.m. — one hour before stores open to the wider public .
The first hour every Wednesday will be reserved for “ vulnerable ” shoppers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underlying health concerns .
Stores will be open from 7 to 8 a.m. for seniors , pregnant women and those with disabilities .
From March 24 through April 28 , stores will open one hour early every Tuesday for customers who are least 60 years old .
The chain is allowing customers 60 and older to begin shopping an hour before stores open to the general public .
While grocery shelves stripped bare — particularly of toilet paper and hand sanitizer — have become increasingly common sights , officials have repeatedly emphasized that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than supply .
Ronald Fong , president of the California Grocers Assn.
, said markets are struggling to restock shelves because so many customers are buying an overabundance of food and supplies .
He urged customers to return to their normal grocery shopping routine , saying there is no shortage of food or necessities — just an overwhelmed supply chain to the stores .
“ The grocery stores are what the governor has deemed an essential service , ” Fong said .
“ Grocery stores are going to stay open .
But we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pattern that customers have adopted by overbuying.
” Times staff writers Phil Willon , Hannah Fry and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report .

Seniors line up outside a Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach early Wednesday. Hermosa Beach resident Aileen Martin, 73, center, was first in line at 6:25 a.m.
As concerns over the coronavirus outbreak grow and lengthy lines that resemble those for theme park rides snake their way outside grocery stores before the sun even comes up, many retailers have announced they are setting aside time for seniors (65 and up at most stores) and other at-risk populations to do their shopping in a less-crowded environment.
Here are some of the outlets that have designated special shopping hours, though customers are urged to call ahead to confirm:
Albertsons
The supermarket chain — which includes Albertsons, Pavilions, Vons and Safeway, among other brands — said it is reserving every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. for seniors, pregnant women, those with compromised immune systems and other at-risk populations.
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“We are sensitive to the fact that everyone wants to make sure they have the items they need, and we also know that everyone wants their neighbors to stay safe and healthy too,” President and Chief Executive Vivek Sankaran said in a statement. “We are asking our customers to respect these special hours for those who are most at risk in our communities.”
However, a reporter who visited an Albertsons in Los Feliz on Thursday morning found that store employees were unaware of the special hours.
Big Saver Foods
The chain is offering two special shopping hours before stores open to the wider public. Medical and pharmacy employees with valid identification can shop from 6 to 7 a.m.; seniors and those who have disabilities can do so from 7 to 8 a.m.
Costco
Starting Tuesday, Costco will offer special operating hours for shoppers who are at least 60 years old.
The designated windows will be from 8 to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In-store pharmacies also will be open during those periods, but food courts will continue operating on their normal schedule.
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Gelson’s
Seniors can start shopping at 7 a.m., one hour before stores open to all customers.
Northgate Market
Stores will be open exclusively for seniors and customers with disabilities from 7 to 8 a.m. daily.
Ralphs
Starting Friday,March 20, all All locations are open to seniors only from 7 to 7:30 a.m. daily.
“Ralphs wants to provide these at-risk customers with the ability to purchase the items they need to avoid busier and more crowded shopping times,” Director of Corporate Affairs John Votava said in a statement. “We request that customers respect this change for the health of our community during this time of uncertainty.”
Smart & Final
Stores open 30 minutes early, from 7:30 to 8 a.m., for seniors and those with disabilities.
Stater Bros. Markets
All locations open at 7:45 a.m. for seniors.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the outpouring of customer support for our store employees,” Chief Executive Pete Van Helden said in a statement. “Remember, we are doing everything we can to serve you and we are in this together.”
Super A Foods
Pregnant women, seniors and those with disabilities will be able to shop starting at 7 a.m. — one hour before stores open to the wider public.
California California asks Navy for coronavirus support The latest updates from our reporters in California and around the world
Target
The first hour every Wednesday will be reserved for “vulnerable” shoppers, such as seniors and those with underlying health concerns.
Vallarta Supermarkets
Stores will be open from 7 to 8 a.m. for seniors, pregnant women and those with disabilities.
Walgreens
Tuesdays are now “Seniors Day” at the chain — with a designated shopping hour, from 8 to 9 a.m., and other special offers available for those who are at least 55 years old.
Walmart
From March 24 through April 28, stores will open one hour early every Tuesday for customers who are least 60 years old.
Whole Foods Market
The chain is allowing customers 60 and older to begin shopping an hour before stores open to the general public.
While grocery shelves stripped bare — particularly of toilet paper and hand sanitizer — have become increasingly common sights, officials have repeatedly emphasized that the bigger issue is demand, rather than supply.
Ronald Fong, president of the California Grocers Assn., said markets are struggling to restock shelves because so many customers are buying an overabundance of food and supplies.
He urged customers to return to their normal grocery shopping routine, saying there is no shortage of food or necessities — just an overwhelmed supply chain to the stores.
“The grocery stores are what the governor has deemed an essential service,” Fong said. “Grocery stores are going to stay open. But we cannot keep up with a shopping pattern that customers have adopted by overbuying.”
Times staff writers Phil Willon, Hannah Fry and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-19--Coronavirus cases in Orange County jump to 53 amid sweeping restrictions

The number of coronavirus cases in Orange County rose to 53 , according to new numbers provided by the Orange County Department of Public Health .
So far , Orange County has reported no deaths .
Los Angeles reported its second death on Thursday , with a total of 230 cases .
Of the case , here is a breakdown : The order : Gatherings : Gatherings of any size outside of a single living unit are prohibited .
Ordered to close : All bars and other establishments that serve alcohol and not food .
Restaurants : May offer food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Along with the other measures , the order reiterates previous recommendations for people 65 and older or with preexisting health conditions — who are considered most at risk of serious effects from COVID-19 — to stay home .
All residents are urged to keep at least a six-foot separation from others , except family members .
In Westminster , some young people outside T & K Food Market Wednesday saved their face masks to give to their parents and grandparents who rushed in and out , laying their gloved hands on everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oyster sauce and aloe juice , not even looking for sales tags .
The Little Saigon crowd was deep into crisis planning , with some shoppers comparing data broadcast on Vietnamese radio to the latest death tolls updated on CNN .
“ The numbers from Vietnamese news include numbers and information from China and other parts of Asia — which are so important at this point because some countries in the world are an epicenter .
I ’ m keeping tabs on the press in different languages , ” said Tuan Nguyen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find milk tea .
With his two kids home from school , he took advantage of being able to motivate them to do their homework faster .
Whoever did earned $ 5 to cover an outing to get boba .
“ Are we stir-crazy ?
Yes , but you have to push them , and we ’ re going to different cafes each time we leave the house to make it more interesting , ” said Nguyen , 43 .
“ Of course , I bring the Lysol wipes .
But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have much left .
”

Dr. Dallas Weaver, and his wife, Janet Weaver, of Huntington Beach, wear their reusable protective masks and gloves that they will place in the oven and heat up to 160-degrees after their return from walking on the Huntington Beach pier amid coronavirus pandemic restrictions.
The number of coronavirus cases in Orange County rose to 53, according to new numbers provided by the Orange County Department of Public Health.
So far, Orange County has reported no deaths. Los Angeles reported its second death on Thursday, with a total of 230 cases.
Of the case, here is a breakdown:
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25 Travel-related
7 Person-to-person
19 Community-acquired
2 Under investigation
Age range
0 Under 18
26 18-49
17 50-64
10 65 and older
The order:
Gatherings: Gatherings of any size outside of a single living unit are prohibited.
Ordered to close: All bars and other establishments that serve alcohol and not food.
Restaurants: May offer food only by delivery, pickup or drive-through.
Effective: Now through March 31.
Along with the other measures, the order reiterates previous recommendations for people 65 and older or with preexisting health conditions — who are considered most at risk of serious effects from COVID-19 — to stay home. All residents are urged to keep at least a six-foot separation from others, except family members.
The scene
In Westminster, some young people outside T & K Food Market Wednesday saved their face masks to give to their parents and grandparents who rushed in and out, laying their gloved hands on everything from custard pastry and ong choy to oyster sauce and aloe juice, not even looking for sales tags. The Little Saigon crowd was deep into crisis planning, with some shoppers comparing data broadcast on Vietnamese radio to the latest death tolls updated on CNN.
“The numbers from Vietnamese news include numbers and information from China and other parts of Asia — which are so important at this point because some countries in the world are an epicenter. I’m keeping tabs on the press in different languages,” said Tuan Nguyen, an IT specialist taking his son out to find milk tea. With his two kids home from school, he took advantage of being able to motivate them to do their homework faster. Whoever did earned $5 to cover an outing to get boba.
“Are we stir-crazy? Yes, but you have to push them, and we’re going to different cafes each time we leave the house to make it more interesting,” said Nguyen, 43. “Of course, I bring the Lysol wipes. But I am worried. I don’t have much left.”


latimes--2020-03-19--California coronavirus deaths rise to 19: Here is what you need to know

California continued to see more coronavirus cases and deaths on Thursday .
The death toll rose by two to 19 , and the total number of cases now stands art 948 , according to The Times coronavirus tracker .
Nearly 12,000 people in the state are self-monitoring for symptoms .
Here is the latest : TESTING : The state saw a 20 % increase in testing in just one day as more labs come online .
The expanded testing is expected to result in more positive results .
More than 16,000 tests have been conducted .
RESTRICTIONS : Millions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the San Francisco Bay Area and other parts of Northern California .
Sacramento imposed strict rules allowing residents to leave their homes only to get medication , visit a doctor or purchase food and other necessary supplies .
Individuals are also permitted to attend private gatherings of no more than six nonrelatives in a home .
Social distancing should be practiced at all times , including at gatherings , the order states .
SCHOOLS : Nearly all to the coronavirus pandemic , but school — and learning — is still in session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique circumstances at this time , we are still providing education to our students , ” State Supt .
of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said .
“ School is not out , but we are finding a different way to deliver it.
” MEDICAL : Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday evening said the state has asked the Department of Defense to deploy the Navy ’ s Mercy hospital ship and two mobile hospitals to California to help care of residents stricken by the novel coronavirus who will require hospitalization .
The governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available hospital beds by roughly 20,000 .
BREAKDOWNS : The Times tracker , based on figures from the state Department of Public Health , counts 675 cases with the following age breakdown : Not counting repatriation flights , here is the breakdown of the sources of California coronavirus cases :

Alex Wigglesworth, Phil Willon, Richard Winton

Dr. Oliver Brooks, center, looks on as healthcare worker Lucy Arias, right, checks a patient, at a for COVID-19 screening station, for fever at Watts Health Center, Los Angeles.
California continued to see more coronavirus cases and deaths on Thursday.
The death toll rose by two to 19, and the total number of cases now stands art 948, according to The Times coronavirus tracker. Nearly 12,000 people in the state are self-monitoring for symptoms.
Here is the latest:
TESTING: The state saw a 20% increase in testing in just one day as more labs come online. The expanded testing is expected to result in more positive results. More than 16,000 tests have been conducted.
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RESTRICTIONS: Millions in California are under shelter-in-place restrictions, mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area and other parts of Northern California. Sacramento imposed strict rules allowing residents to leave their homes only to get medication, visit a doctor or purchase food and other necessary supplies. Individuals are also permitted to attend private gatherings of no more than six nonrelatives in a home. Social distancing should be practiced at all times, including at gatherings, the order states.
SCHOOLS: Nearly all campuses are closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but school — and learning — is still in session. “While we are in very unique circumstances at this time, we are still providing education to our students,” State Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said. “School is not out, but we are finding a different way to deliver it.”
MEDICAL: Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday evening said the state has asked the Department of Defense to deploy the Navy’s Mercy hospital ship and two mobile hospitals to California to help care for the expected surge of residents stricken by the novel coronavirus who will require hospitalization. The governor said the state is working to expand available hospital beds by roughly 20,000.
BREAKDOWNS: The Times tracker, based on figures from the state Department of Public Health, counts 675 cases with the following age breakdown:
Age 0-17: 13
18-64: 448
65+: 209
Unknown: 5
Not counting repatriation flights, here is the breakdown of the sources of California coronavirus cases:
97: Travel-related
92: Person to person
181: Community transmission
281: Under investigation


latimes--2020-03-19--KROQ abruptly fires morning host Kevin Ryder and crew, ending show's 30-year run

On Wednesday morning , veteran KROQ-FM on-air personality Kevin Ryder , best known as cohost of the alt-rock station ’ s long-running “ Kevin & Bean ” show , opened what listeners assumed would be another edition of his morning radio program with an announcement .
“ Yesterday , I got a phone call that I and everyone here on the morning show at KROQ was fired , ” said Ryder , who had been with the station for 30 years .
“ All of us , ” he repeated , his voice pinched with anger , naming cohosts Allie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compadres including the King of Mexico , Beer Mug and Old Man Ruben .
Ryder , aware that he and his posse had pranked his listeners dozens of times over the decades , felt the need to clarify : “ This isn ’ t a joke .
It actually happened.
” Though the news caught most listeners off-guard , the shift was the latest in a series of recent behind-the-scenes maneuvers at KROQ-FM ( 106.7 ) .
Once among the top-performing drive-time slots in the market , `` Kevin & Bean ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14th most popular shows among listeners ages 25 to 54 .
Last month , Kevin Weatherly , the station ’ s longtime programmer and senior vice president for parent company Entercom , left his position for a job with music streaming service Spotify .
Weatherly ’ s departure followed the 2019 retirement of Ryder ’ s longtime on-air partner , Gene “ Bean ” Baxter .
After Baxter left , “ Kevin & Bean ” was renamed “ Kevin in the Morning With Allie & Jensen.
” Despite the off-mike action , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the mass firing “ was a surprise to all of us.
” His voice filled with emotion , he expressed his love for his terrestrial radio tribe , many of whom grew up with him .
“ You guys have been incredibly loyal and loving and giving , ” Ryder said , “ and many of you have literally grown up with us , because Bean and I are incredibly old.
” Neither Ryder nor Mac Kay responded to requests for comment .
In a statement , cohost Karp said , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the time I was able to spend contributing to a legendary morning show , and I ’ m extremely disappointed with how it ended over the phone , especially considering how hard it will be for the entire team to find work during this pandemic.
” Ryder was less diplomatic in his antipathy toward Entercom , the media company that acquired KROQ after merging with CBS Radio in 2017 .
Based in Philadelphia , the publicly traded Entercom is the second-largest radio station owner in America , behind IHeartMedia .
Entercom owns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the L.A. market , among them newser KNX-AM ( 1070 ) , commercial pop station KAMP-FM ( 97.1 ) , a.k.a .
97.1 Amp Radio and KCBS-FM ( 93.1 ) , a.k.a .
Jack FM .
“ The new people in charge now , they weren ’ t here for the building of the World Famous KROQ , ” Ryder said during his farewell .
“ I don ’ t think it means anything to them .
It ’ s a numbers business , and there ’ s no family aspect to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers.
” Ryder and Baxter were unknowns when they debuted on KROQ on New Year ’ s Eve , 1989 .
Neither had ever done a morning show before , but across the 1990s , the team and the station ascended to become national power brokers .
In Los Angeles , “ Kevin & Bean ” first hit the coveted No .
1 ranking in 2003 .
As its stature grew , the show helped launch the careers of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel , podcast giant Adam Carolla and comedian Chris Hardwick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way Entercom handled the situation .
“ Shame on you , @ kroq ‘ management ’ for caring so little about the people who gave you so much .
Especially now.
” As rock music was supplanted by hip-hop and pop music on the commercial charts , KROQ ’ s ratings fell , and across the years , noted DJs including Rodney Bingenheimer , Richard Blade and Jed the Fish left the station .
In February , KROQ ranked No .
15 in the Los Angeles market , according to Nielsen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ryder ’ s departure .
In a statement , a company spokesperson wrote that KROQ ’ s commitment “ is to provide our consumers with the most compelling content and best listening experience that we know they expect from us .
We ’ ve taken a deep look at our station , and have made some recent changes.
” Ryder and company ’ s replacements are afternoon drive-time hosts Kevin Klein and Ted Stryker .
“ ‘ Kevin & Bean ’ set the bar high for mornings on KROQ , ” Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of programming , added in a separate statement .
“ We ’ re looking forward to this next chapter in the station ’ s history and think our listeners will enjoy getting to see a different side to Stryker and Klein as they start their day.
” Baxter ’ s and Ryder ’ s exits couldn ’ t have been more different .
Baxter was given the radio equivalent of a ticker-tape parade when he left the show in November .
In an interview with The Times , Baxter was asked about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He didn ’ t pull any punches .
“ I hate to shoot my own station in the foot , but it appeals to an older demo that would much rather hear the Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers songs that they grew up with than too much new music , ” he said .
Ryder was less diplomatic .
On the air , he vented about the timing , and how it will affect the team : “ Our boss said , ‘ You know , there ’ s never a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but there is a bad time for this , and it ’ s during a global pandemic when all the businesses are basically shutting down .
It ’ s not a great time to be looking for a job .
”

Kevin Ryder, best known for his KROQ show “Kevin & Bean,” was fired Tuesday, along with his morning crew.
On Wednesday morning, veteran KROQ-FM on-air personality Kevin Ryder, best known as cohost of the alt-rock station’s long-running “Kevin & Bean” show, opened what listeners assumed would be another edition of his morning radio program with an announcement.
“Yesterday, I got a phone call that I and everyone here on the morning show at KROQ was fired,” said Ryder, who had been with the station for 30 years.
“All of us,” he repeated, his voice pinched with anger, naming cohosts Allie Mac Kay, Jensen Karp and nicknamed compadres including the King of Mexico, Beer Mug and Old Man Ruben.
Ryder, aware that he and his posse had pranked his listeners dozens of times over the decades, felt the need to clarify: “This isn’t a joke. It actually happened.”
Though the news caught most listeners off-guard, the shift was the latest in a series of recent behind-the-scenes maneuvers at KROQ-FM (106.7). Once among the top-performing drive-time slots in the market, “Kevin & Bean” in 2019 fell from the fifth to the 14th most popular shows among listeners ages 25 to 54. Last month, Kevin Weatherly, the station’s longtime programmer and senior vice president for parent company Entercom, left his position for a job with music streaming service Spotify.
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Weatherly’s departure followed the 2019 retirement of Ryder’s longtime on-air partner, Gene “Bean” Baxter. After Baxter left, “Kevin & Bean” was renamed “Kevin in the Morning With Allie & Jensen.”
Despite the off-mike action, on the air that final morning, Ryder said the mass firing “was a surprise to all of us.” His voice filled with emotion, he expressed his love for his terrestrial radio tribe, many of whom grew up with him. “You guys have been incredibly loyal and loving and giving,” Ryder said, “and many of you have literally grown up with us, because Bean and I are incredibly old.”
Neither Ryder nor Mac Kay responded to requests for comment. In a statement, cohost Karp said, in part: “I’m happy with the time I was able to spend contributing to a legendary morning show, and I’m extremely disappointed with how it ended over the phone, especially considering how hard it will be for the entire team to find work during this pandemic.”
Former KROQ morning team Kevin Ryder, left, and Gene “Bean” Baxter. (KROQ)
Ryder was less diplomatic in his antipathy toward Entercom, the media company that acquired KROQ after merging with CBS Radio in 2017. Based in Philadelphia, the publicly traded Entercom is the second-largest radio station owner in America, behind IHeartMedia. Entercom owns more than 200 stations, including five in the L.A. market, among them newser KNX-AM (1070), commercial pop station KAMP-FM (97.1), a.k.a. 97.1 Amp Radio and KCBS-FM (93.1), a.k.a. Jack FM.
“The new people in charge now, they weren’t here for the building of the World Famous KROQ,” Ryder said during his farewell. “I don’t think it means anything to them. It’s a numbers business, and there’s no family aspect to it anymore. It’s only numbers.”
Ryder and Baxter were unknowns when they debuted on KROQ on New Year’s Eve, 1989. Neither had ever done a morning show before, but across the 1990s, the team and the station ascended to become national power brokers. In Los Angeles, “Kevin & Bean” first hit the coveted No. 1 ranking in 2003. As its stature grew, the show helped launch the careers of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, podcast giant Adam Carolla and comedian Chris Hardwick.
On Twitter, Kimmel expressed outrage at the way Entercom handled the situation. “Shame on you, @kroq ‘management’ for caring so little about the people who gave you so much. Especially now.”
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As rock music was supplanted by hip-hop and pop music on the commercial charts, KROQ’s ratings fell, and across the years, noted DJs including Rodney Bingenheimer, Richard Blade and Jed the Fish left the station. In February, KROQ ranked No. 15 in the Los Angeles market, according to Nielsen.
Entercom declined to comment about the circumstances of Ryder’s departure. In a statement, a company spokesperson wrote that KROQ’s commitment “is to provide our consumers with the most compelling content and best listening experience that we know they expect from us. We’ve taken a deep look at our station, and have made some recent changes.”
Ryder and company’s replacements are afternoon drive-time hosts Kevin Klein and Ted Stryker.
“ ‘Kevin & Bean’ set the bar high for mornings on KROQ,” Mike Kaplan, Entercom’s senior vice president of programming, added in a separate statement. “We’re looking forward to this next chapter in the station’s history and think our listeners will enjoy getting to see a different side to Stryker and Klein as they start their day.”
Baxter’s and Ryder’s exits couldn’t have been more different. Baxter was given the radio equivalent of a ticker-tape parade when he left the show in November. In an interview with The Times, Baxter was asked about KROQ’s place in the market. He didn’t pull any punches.
“I hate to shoot my own station in the foot, but it appeals to an older demo that would much rather hear the Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers songs that they grew up with than too much new music,” he said.
Ryder was less diplomatic. On the air, he vented about the timing, and how it will affect the team: “Our boss said, ‘You know, there’s never a good time for this.’ No — but there is a bad time for this, and it’s during a global pandemic when all the businesses are basically shutting down. It’s not a great time to be looking for a job.”


latimes--2020-03-19--Make way for Granny: L.A. grocers go 65-plus in pre-dawn hours during coronavirus pandemic

As concerns over the coronavirus pandemic grow and lengthy lines snake outside grocery stores before the sun even comes up @ @ @ @ @ they are setting aside time for people 65 and older ( at most stores ) @ @ @ @ @ do their shopping in a less-crowded environment .

As concerns over the coronavirus pandemic grow and lengthy lines snake outside grocery stores before the sun even comes up, many retailers have announced they are setting aside time for people 65 and older (at most stores) and other at-risk populations to do their shopping in a less-crowded environment.
Shoppers lined up before dawn outside the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Altadena on Thursday as the store opened before 7 a.m. for seniors. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Michell Guajardo, right, owner and operator of the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Altadena, gives a social distancing air hug to Jim Steinberg, 67, as senior shoppers lined up outside before dawn Thursday. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Volunteer Susan Hartley, right, a schoolteacher, delivers groceries from a shopping list to Anna Woods, 85, at the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Altadena. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
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Dave Leaf, 67, shops at Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach. The store is doing a “seniors shopping hour” before the store opens to the general public. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach has a “seniors shopping hour” before the store opens to the general public. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Shoppers including Eileen Oda Leaf, 67, left, and her husband Dave Leaf, 67, right, both wearing protective masks, line up outside Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-03-19--Some California cities suspend public records requests because of coronavirus

Some local governments in California are halting their responses to public records requests as they deal with staffing restrictions caused by the coronavirus outbreak .
The city of Fresno suspended “ immediate responses ” to public records requests on Tuesday after the city declared a state of emergency , according to an email from the city attorney ’ s office .
The city will resume responding to requests once the emergency declaration ends .
In the Bay Area , the city of San Leandro is closed to the public and only staffing “ essential employees ” because of a shelter-in-place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email from the city manager ’ s office .
The city will need an additional 45 days to respond to records requests after the order is lifted , the email said .
And the city clerk ’ s office in Fremont told a journalist this week it would not be able to accept public records requests until its offices reopened following an emergency declaration there .
David Snyder , executive director of the First Amendment Coalition , said he had also heard of similar issues in the Northern California cities of Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency declarations at the state and local levels made no mention of allowing governments to ignore California ’ s open records law .
“ While I ’ m totally sympathetic to staffing and other issues cities may now be facing , and understand that slower responses to public records requests may be required , the fact remains that the California Public Records Act is still the law of the land , ” Snyder said .
The coronavirus emergency makes the state ’ s open records law “ more important now than it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ The public has a need and a right to see and understand the inner workings of their government , especially when that government is taking the extreme measures it is now taking , ” Snyder said .
“ Government power is at its apex in a crisis , and so is the risk that the government will abuse that power .
Transparency provides a crucial check on that possibility.
” Most local governments in the state are still providing records and updates to requests from the public and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles Police Department is accepting and processing requests as usual , according to spokesman Josh Rubenstein .

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a news conference in Sacramento on Feb. 27 about California’s response to the coronavirus.
Some local governments in California are halting their responses to public records requests as they deal with staffing restrictions caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
The city of Fresno suspended “immediate responses” to public records requests on Tuesday after the city declared a state of emergency, according to an email from the city attorney’s office. The city will resume responding to requests once the emergency declaration ends.
In the Bay Area, the city of San Leandro is closed to the public and only staffing “essential employees” because of a shelter-in-place order from Alameda County, according to an email from the city manager’s office. The city will need an additional 45 days to respond to records requests after the order is lifted, the email said.
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And the city clerk’s office in Fremont told a journalist this week it would not be able to accept public records requests until its offices reopened following an emergency declaration there.
Reporters across the country are seeing more and more of this: government agencies indefinitely delaying public records requests because of #coronavirus #COVID19 #FOIA
I've seen:
Dallas
Fresno
Hawaii
And now Fremont, CA
Journos: where else have you received a similar response? pic.twitter.com/1lBzX1n25r — Matt Drange (@mattdrange) March 19, 2020
David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition, said he had also heard of similar issues in the Northern California cities of Los Altos and Martinez.
He said that emergency declarations at the state and local levels made no mention of allowing governments to ignore California’s open records law.
“While I’m totally sympathetic to staffing and other issues cities may now be facing, and understand that slower responses to public records requests may be required, the fact remains that the California Public Records Act is still the law of the land,” Snyder said.
The coronavirus emergency makes the state’s open records law “more important now than it has been in a very long time,” he said.
“The public has a need and a right to see and understand the inner workings of their government, especially when that government is taking the extreme measures it is now taking,” Snyder said. “Government power is at its apex in a crisis, and so is the risk that the government will abuse that power. Transparency provides a crucial check on that possibility.”
Most local governments in the state are still providing records and updates to requests from the public and media, Snyder said.
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The Los Angeles Police Department is accepting and processing requests as usual, according to spokesman Josh Rubenstein.


latimes--2020-03-19--Homeboy Industries to close down temporarily amid coronavirus restrictions

Although Homeboy Industries faces daily financial struggles , Father Gregory Boyle has always carved out time to help his homeboys and homegirls .
Even as the nonprofit — aimed at helping gang members ease out of that life for 32 years in Los Angeles — has temporarily shut down as a result of restrictions intended to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus , Boyle is still making time .
“ I get 100 text messages a day from homies , ” the founder of the organization said Thursday .
“ I dedicate chunks of time each day to respond.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve say they want to go out and help somebody , but Boyle tells them they ’ ll be more helpful if they stay home .
That advice feels counterintuitive to the 65-year-old , who is known for taking a proactive approach in his work .
The Boyle Heights resident had just returned from giving a talk in New York last week when his management team told him to work from home .
The Chinatown headquarters of Homeboy Industries closed its doors Monday .
On Thursday morning , it sent subscribers an email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , notifying them of the closure and asking them to help in any way as the organization ’ s largest fundraiser was indefinitely postponed .
Now , Homeboy Industries faces a $ 1-million shortfall , plus revenue shortage from its other social enterprise businesses , according to the email .
“ Like anybody , you hope it ’ s a pause , not a closure , ” Boyle said .
“ And because I ’ m a geezer with leukemia and my immune system isn ’ t up to par even before we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was here and they finally said , ‘ We ’ re going to have to close our doors.
’ ” Homebody Industries is yet another institution to announce its closure , days after Los Angeles County officials followed the city in directing bars , fitness centers and movie theaters to close and restaurants to pivot to takeout only .
The organization ’ s tattoo removal service and cafe temporarily shut down , but its bakery and electronic recycling service are still up and running so long as there ’ s a need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be home to take care of their children amid school closures are still getting paid , Boyle said .
“ It ’ s tough on everybody , ” he said .
“ These are people who have rents to pay and kids to feed .
We want to stay responsible to the 300-plus folks we have at Homeboys.
” Boyle started his organization in 1988 as a program called Jobs for a Future , at the Dolores Mission parish in Boyle Heights .
That later became Homeboy Industries , a company with free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in bakeries , recycling and a silkscreen shop , plus Homeboy merchandise with inspirational quotes .
In addition to job training , the revered L.A. priest has said healing is an important part of the process .
That ’ s why Homeboy provides wraparound services , such as education , mental health counseling , substance-abuse support and a tattoo removal operation run by volunteer doctors and nurses .
Boyle had hoped to see a further expansion of services as Homeboy moved forward with plans to build its own housing center .
Despite its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boyle wrote that his team will continue to provide “ our many vital services ” to the Homeboy family .

Although Homeboy Industries faces daily financial struggles, Father Gregory Boyle has always carved out time to help his homeboys and homegirls.
Even as the nonprofit — aimed at helping gang members ease out of that life for 32 years in Los Angeles — has temporarily shut down as a result of restrictions intended to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus, Boyle is still making time.
“I get 100 text messages a day from homies,” the founder of the organization said Thursday. “I dedicate chunks of time each day to respond.”
Some men and women his organization serve say they want to go out and help somebody, but Boyle tells them they’ll be more helpful if they stay home. That advice feels counterintuitive to the 65-year-old, who is known for taking a proactive approach in his work.
The Boyle Heights resident had just returned from giving a talk in New York last week when his management team told him to work from home. The Chinatown headquarters of Homeboy Industries closed its doors Monday. On Thursday morning, it sent subscribers an email embedded with a video message from Boyle, notifying them of the closure and asking them to help in any way as the organization’s largest fundraiser was indefinitely postponed.
Now, Homeboy Industries faces a $1-million shortfall, plus revenue shortage from its other social enterprise businesses, according to the email.
“Like anybody, you hope it’s a pause, not a closure,” Boyle said. “And because I’m a geezer with leukemia and my immune system isn’t up to par even before we closed, they sent me home. I was here and they finally said, ‘We’re going to have to close our doors.’”
Homebody Industries is yet another institution to announce its closure, days after Los Angeles County officials followed the city in directing bars, fitness centers and movie theaters to close and restaurants to pivot to takeout only.
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The organization’s tattoo removal service and cafe temporarily shut down, but its bakery and electronic recycling service are still up and running so long as there’s a need from customers. Homeboys who need to be home to take care of their children amid school closures are still getting paid, Boyle said.
“It’s tough on everybody,” he said. “These are people who have rents to pay and kids to feed. We want to stay responsible to the 300-plus folks we have at Homeboys.”
Boyle started his organization in 1988 as a program called Jobs for a Future, at the Dolores Mission parish in Boyle Heights. That later became Homeboy Industries, a company with free services and programs such as job-training sites in bakeries, recycling and a silkscreen shop, plus Homeboy merchandise with inspirational quotes.
In addition to job training, the revered L.A. priest has said healing is an important part of the process. That’s why Homeboy provides wraparound services, such as education, mental health counseling, substance-abuse support and a tattoo removal operation run by volunteer doctors and nurses. Boyle had hoped to see a further expansion of services as Homeboy moved forward with plans to build its own housing center.
Despite its decision to temporarily close its headquarters, Boyle wrote that his team will continue to provide “our many vital services” to the Homeboy family.


latimes--2020-03-19--California coronavirus testing: Is it finally getting easier to get a test? Here is what we know

Is testing for coronavirus finally beginning to pick up ?
Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said answer is yes .
The state saw a 20 % increase in testing in just one day as more labs come online .
Newsom said expansion is being impeded by a shortage of specimen swabs and other components needed for the testing kits supplied by the federal government .
“ We made it crystal clear to the federal government that we need to procure more swabs so we can do specimen samples , not just the diagnostics on the back end .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks that these kits are not necessarily all complete , ” Newsom said during a Wednesday evening briefing .
“ I think we need a bit more transparency about that .
But nonetheless , our capacity is increasing .
But supplies can become increasingly challenging.
” Newsom said that more testing laboratories are expected to go online in coming days and weeks , both at hospitals and private testing companies , such as Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp .
A new Google-related website that will enable people to assess whether they need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also is expected to expand , Newsom said .
The pilot site is part of Project Baseline , a health- and-disease-tracking initiative operated out of Verily , one of Google ’ s sister companies under the Alphabet umbrella .
Verily ’ s coronavirus program began in the Bay Area and could soon expand to areas such as Sacramento and Riverside , as well as other communities , Newsom said .
“ Verily ’ s site has a wonderful Q & A that determines people ’ s eligibility .
It can calm a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we do an analysis and a score to prioritize people for those tests , ” Newsom said .
“ It ’ s a wonderful platform that we hope to scale all across the state.
” Officials said they are racing to get more coronavirus testing done so they have a better sense of how many people have the virus .
In the meantime , they are urging people to stay home to avoid spreading the virus and overwhelming hospitals .
As more people are tested , the number of patients increases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are 892 cases and 17 deaths in California , according to The Times tracker .

Is testing for coronavirus finally beginning to pick up?
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said answer is yes. The state saw a 20% increase in testing in just one day as more labs come online.
The stats
12,600 People tested in California
3,215 Test results pending
598 Positive tests
Swab issues
Newsom said expansion is being impeded by a shortage of specimen swabs and other components needed for the testing kits supplied by the federal government.
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“We made it crystal clear to the federal government that we need to procure more swabs so we can do specimen samples, not just the diagnostics on the back end. We’ve been saying this now for weeks that these kits are not necessarily all complete,” Newsom said during a Wednesday evening briefing. “I think we need a bit more transparency about that. But nonetheless, our capacity is increasing. But supplies can become increasingly challenging.”
More labs
Newsom said that more testing laboratories are expected to go online in coming days and weeks, both at hospitals and private testing companies, such as Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp.
A new Google-related website that will enable people to assess whether they need to be tested, and schedule a test, also is expected to expand, Newsom said. The pilot site is part of Project Baseline, a health- and-disease-tracking initiative operated out of Verily, one of Google’s sister companies under the Alphabet umbrella.
Verily’s coronavirus program began in the Bay Area and could soon expand to areas such as Sacramento and Riverside, as well as other communities, Newsom said.
“Verily’s site has a wonderful Q&A that determines people’s eligibility. It can calm a lot of nerves as it relates to symptoms, and we do an analysis and a score to prioritize people for those tests,” Newsom said. “It’s a wonderful platform that we hope to scale all across the state.”
More cases
Officials said they are racing to get more coronavirus testing done so they have a better sense of how many people have the virus. In the meantime, they are urging people to stay home to avoid spreading the virus and overwhelming hospitals.
As more people are tested, the number of patients increases rapidly. As of Thursday morning, there are 892 cases and 17 deaths in California, according to The Times tracker.


latimes--2020-03-19--Political fundraiser admits to delivering bribes in L.A. City Hall corruption probe

A political fundraiser has agreed to plead guilty to a federal bribery charge for helping a real estate developer pay off a Los Angeles City Councilmember to clear the way for a major development project .
In a plea agreement filed Thursday , Justin Jangwoo Kim , 53 , said he would admit to a count of federal program bribery and agreed to cooperate with an ongoing investigation into corruption at City Hall .
Kim could not immediately be reached for comment .
Kim is the second person to be charged publicly in the sweeping probe FBI agents and federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than two years .
Last week , former Councilman Mitchell Englander was indicted on charges he tried to cover up payments and other gifts he allegedly received from another developer .
A real estate appraiser and consultant , Kim was a top fundraiser for a member of the Los Angeles City Council whom federal prosecutors referred to as “ Councilmember A ” in charging documents made public Thursday .
While they have kept the councilman ’ s identity secret , prosecutors said in court papers Thursday that Kim had helped the unnamed council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elect Councilmember A ’ s relative to the Los Angeles City Council once Councilmember A ’ s term expired.
” Councilman Jose Huizar , who faces term limits in December , spent much of 2018 working to get his wife , Richelle Huizar , elected to his seat .
She dropped out of contention following an FBI raid on the couple ’ s house in November that year .
The bribery scheme began in the summer of 2016 , when a labor organization filed an appeal claiming that a proposed residential development in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental law , prosecutors said Thursday .
The appeal , prosecutors said , blocked the development ’ s progress through the city ’ s powerful planning and land use committee , which must green light projects before they get final approval from the City Council .
The project ’ s developer , whom prosecutors referred to in court filings as “ Developer C , ” then allegedly called Kim and asked him to “ obtain Councilmember A ’ s assistance with the appeal , ” according to court filings .
Communicating through one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Kim he would not help the project move through City Hall “ for free , ” and that he “ would require a financial benefit , ” the filings said .
Over a series of meetings and other communications , the developer and council member used Kim and the staffer to negotiate a $ 500,000 bribe payment in exchange for the council member ’ s help .
In February or March 2017 , Kim allegedly met with the developer , who gave him $ 400,000 cash in a paper bag that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plea agreement .
Kim admitted to investigators that he kept some of the money as a fee for facilitating the payment and gave the bulk of the cash to the council member ’ s staffer , who is referred to in court records as “ City Staffer A-1.
” Around the same time , City Staffer A-1 told Kim the council member had held up his end of the deal and helped resolve the appeal .
In July 2017 , the developer provided the remaining $ 100,000 of the agreed-upon $ 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member for successfully resolving the appeal , according to prosecutors .
Kim admitted he received the money from the developer , but kept it for himself .
Kim is scheduled to make a court appearance on March 31 , when he is expected to plead guilty .
He faces up to 10 years in prison , but in their plea agreement , prosecutors agreed to seek some leniency for Kim in exchange for his cooperation in the broader investigation .

Joel Rubin, David Zahniser, Laura J. Nelson

A political fundraiser has agreed to plead guilty to a federal bribery charge for helping a real estate developer pay off a Los Angeles City Council member to clear the way for a major development project.
In a plea agreement filed Thursday, Justin Jangwoo Kim, 53, said he would admit to a count of federal program bribery and agreed to cooperate with an ongoing investigation into corruption at City Hall. Neither Kim nor his attorney could be reached for comment.
Kim is the second person to be charged publicly in a sweeping corruption investigation probing City Hall and real estate development that has been unfolding for more than two years.
Last week, former Councilman Mitchell Englander was indicted on charges that he tried to obstruct an investigation into payments and other gifts he allegedly received from another developer.
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A real estate appraiser and consultant, Kim was a top fundraiser for a City Council member whom federal prosecutors referred to as “Councilmember A” in charging documents made public Thursday.
Although they have kept the council member’s identity secret, prosecutors said in court papers Thursday that Kim had helped the unnamed council member carry out a plan to get a relative elected to the City Council because the official’s term was expiring.
Councilman Jose Huizar, who will be termed out in December, spent much of 2018 working to get his wife, Richelle Huizar, elected to his seat. She dropped out of contention after an FBI raid on the couple’s house in November of that year.
The federal filing also says “Councilmember A” had served on the council’s Planning and Land Use Management and Economic Development committees. Huizar served on both in the months leading up to the FBI raid.
Vicki Podberesky, Huizar’s attorney, declined to comment.
A federal search warrant filed in 2018 indicated that agents have been seeking evidence of potential crimes including bribery, kickbacks, extortion and money laundering involving more than a dozen people, including Huizar, Councilman Curren Price and a handful of council aides and political appointees.
The bribery scheme involving Kim began in the summer of 2016, when a labor organization filed a challenge to a proposed residential development in the council member’s district, claiming it violated state environmental law, according to the charging documents filed against Kim.
The labor group’s appeal kept the project from making its way through the city’s approval process, prosecutors said.
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The project’s developer, whom prosecutors referred to in court filings as “Developer C,” contacted Kim and asked him to get the council member to help quash the appeal, according to court filings.
Kim, in turn, reached out to someone on the council member’s staff, who is referred to as “City Staffer A-1” in court records.
At the council member’s direction, the staffer told Kim over lunch in early September 2016 that the council member would not provide his help for free and that he “would require a financial benefit,” the filings said.
In early 2017, Kim and the staffer communicated several times, relaying proposals and counter-proposals from the council member and the developer for how much the developer would pay, the court records show.
The staffer initially told Kim it would cost the developer between $1.2 million and $1.4 million to hire a lobbyist who could make the appeal go away, prosecutors said.
Kim returned with an offer of a $500,000 cash payment from the developer and the council member agreed, the filing says. The staffer later told the council member that the council member’s share of the bribe would be $300,000, prosecutors said.
At the same time, the council member and staffer sought help from an unnamed lobbyist who was a “close associate” of the head of the labor group that had filed the appeal, the court records show. The lobbyist agreed to convey to the labor leader that the council member would oppose the appeal, prosecutors said.
Over the following weeks, the council member and staffer both sought private meetings with the lobbyist. On March 3, 2017, the lobbyist sent a text message saying, “Appeal [was] dropped today,” according to the court filings.
The payment of the bribe was not so straightforward, prosecutors said.
In February or March 2017, Kim met with the developer, who gave him $400,000 in cash in a paper bag, according to the court records. Kim handed the bulk of the money to the staffer, but kept an unknown amount for himself as a fee for facilitating the payment, according to the filing.
At a meeting at the council member’s house, the staffer relayed that the developer had paid $400,000 so far and would pay the remaining $100,000 later, prosecutors said.
The staffer then showed the council member a liquor box filled with about $200,000, according to court records. The council member instructed the staffer to hide the cash at the staffer’s house until the council member asked for it, prosecutors said.
A few months later, Kim falsely told the developer that the council member had asked for the remaining $100,000 of the bribe, court filings said. The developer gave the money to Kim, who kept the cash for himself, according to the filing.
Throughout the scheme, the staffer and Kim communicated repeatedly about the need to protect the council member and help the council member’s relative win election once the council member was termed out of office. In one phone call, the staffer told Kim that if the relative were to be elected “we have another 12 years in this city,” according to the court filings.
The following month, the council member spoke with Kim about opening two political fundraising committees for the relative’s campaign. The council member suggested Kim find someone to be “the face” of one of the committees to conceal the council member’s involvement, according to court records.
Whether the council member ever got any money is unclear.
With the FBI poking around, the staffer and council member agreed during a meeting in the council member’s private City Hall bathroom that it was safest for the staffer to hold on to the $200,000 for the time being. Later, the staffer did not respond to the council member’s increasingly agitated demands to meet so he could collect the money, prosecutors said.
“Sounds like u don’t ever want to meet and face up to your commitment to meet,” the council member wrote to the staffer in a text message on Oct. 22, 2018. “U want it all and that’s the real reason why you don’t want to meet.”
Kim is scheduled to appear in court on March 31, when he is expected to plead guilty. He could face up to 10 years in prison, but in their plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to seek some leniency for Kim in exchange for his cooperation in the broader investigation.


latimes--2020-03-19--LAX coronavirus screenings are haphazard, travelers say. Experts say they're futile

As thousands continue to pour into LAX , many international travelers have complained about haphazard health screenings , being required to stand or sit near others who have returned from countries with known outbreaks of the coronavirus , or not being screened at all .
Travelers who were identified as high-risk by the White House but were not screened have taken to social media to decry the process , expressing alarm over the fact that they were so easily able to slip through the cracks amid an extraordinary global health crisis .
Kitty Horowitz said she and her husband also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at LAX from London on Sunday .
The couple had been vacationing in Europe since late February , and had visited Austria and Germany — both on the list of countries that fell under Trump ’ s order .
Horowitz said they were given a form on the plane asking whether they had traveled through the Schengen Area of Europe , where the coronavirus has quickly spread .
Several people sitting near them on the plane were coughing .
“ We were terrified , ” she said .
When they landed , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were not directed to submit the form anywhere , she said .
Several others interviewed by The Times also said their forms were not collected .
“ We saw no one getting screened .
No one took the form from us .
Nothing , ” she said .
“ We ’ ve never gotten through as fast as we did.
” Public health experts , however , say the screenings offer a false sense of security and are largely futile at this point in the pandemic .
The process — particularly corralling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding areas to await screening — endangers passengers and those with whom they will later come into contact , experts said .
“ This to me is the very definition of what we should not be doing , ” said Carolyn Cannuscio , director of research at the Center for Public Health Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania .
“ We ’ re creating a risk there , ” she added .
“ And we ’ re very likely to miss people who are in fact infected , and may also be transmitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had symptoms.
” The Trump administration has been slow to ramp up screening at international airports , even for travelers re-entering the United States from coronavirus hot spots .
On March 12 , the Trump administration dramatically narrowed the number of places where American citizens returning from Europe could enter the U.S. — currently just 13 airports , including LAX .
Customs and Border Protection and health officials began conducting “ enhanced screenings ” — consisting of temperature checks and questions about travel history and symptoms — for those passengers the day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention said returning travelers “ may be screened ” if they visited countries with widespread transmission and would be told to stay home for 14 days and practice social distancing .
The bottleneck of travelers scrambling to get back to the U.S. created mass chaos at some airports last weekend .
At O ’ Hare International Airport in Chicago , throngs of people stood shoulder-to-shoulder , in some cases for several hours , as they waited to be screened .
LAX reported much shorter screening lines , with the airport estimating about 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for passengers who were flagged for testing .
The Times spoke with several travelers who should have been screened at LAX under the White House ’ s criteria but were not .
The Department of Homeland Security , which is in charge of the screening process , did not respond to requests for comment .
Ron Nehring , the director of international programs for a nonprofit , flew into LAX from London ’ s Heathrow Airport on Monday night .
Trump ’ s order adding the United Kingdom and Ireland to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Level 3 '' countries hadn ’ t taken effect by then , but Nehring had visited two countries already on the list , Germany and Poland , so he assumed that he ’ d be screened .
He wasn ’ t , he said .
The colleague he ’ d been traveling with , who flew into Dulles International Airport outside of D.C. , was screened there , he said .
“ I walked off the plane and was expecting someone to ask me what countries I ’ d been to , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be flagged and for my temperature to be taken.
” Some travelers , though concerned by the lack of screening , were grateful to avoid cramped waiting lines .
Cannuscio , the public health expert from the University of Pennsylvania , said such lines do more harm than good .
One of her students flew into John F. Kennedy International Airport this week and spent three hours in a crowd waiting to be screened .
“ That is so upsetting , because it ’ s a perfect environment for sharing the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ origin , ” Cannuscio said .
LAX travelers interviewed by The Times said neither airport officials nor the Department of Homeland Security encouraged social distancing among those waiting to be screened .
Jerome Snell , who also flew into LAX from London on Sunday , was among those flagged for a screening .
During his trip to Europe , Snell had visited France , another of the 26 European countries in the Schengen Area .
He was asked to go to the passport-control area of the airport , where he waited briefly for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Very few people stood in line with him , though later he would watch that line become longer and more cramped .
An airport employee took his passport and asked him if he had experienced any COVID-19 symptoms — dry cough , shortness of breath — or had been around anyone with the illness .
Snell felt fine .
But he was told he needed a second screening and was asked to wait in a small sitting area , where eventually about 50 other people joined him , he said .
Snell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer , made sure to keep a few feet between himself and others .
After 45 minutes , he said , a customs employee called him to a counter and returned his passport , telling him he was “ good to go.
” No further health evaluation took place .
“ I don ’ t know how they made the determination that I didn ’ t need my temperature checked , but somebody else did , ” said Snell .
“ We ’ re not doing enough to prevent the spread of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor of epidemiology at UCLA , said airport screenings only make sense if the goal is to identify people who need medical help and give them care .
He said a rigorous screening program would be costly and would need to be checked by a secret-shopper sort of system , where people exhibiting symptoms are sent through to see if the screenings are being done properly .
“ For it to work , they ’ ll really need to invest in a comprehensive , high-quality system , ” Klausner said .
Such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person to die of COVID-19 in L.A. County .
Loretta and Roddy had layovers in South Korea on their way to the Philippines and back .
They landed at Los Angeles International Airport on March 8 .
But according to Rowena , Loretta ’ s daughter , the couple was not screened for symptoms at the airport in South Korea or in Los Angeles .
( The family asked that their last names not be used for fear of being shunned or targeted . )
The White House has repeatedly said that all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be screened in that country before boarding planes to the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said passengers would receive “ multiple temperature checks , ” among other measures .
Rowena , who lives in South Carolina , said she thinks a screening could have saved her mom ’ s life .
“ If they would ’ ve caught her , she wouldn ’ t have gone home , gone to sleep and not woken up again , ” she said .
“ It ’ s just crazy.
” Public health experts have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many who are infected with COVID-19 , as they may not develop symptoms for several days , if ever .
And some people may not be truthful when asked if they ’ d had contact with an infected person because they fear being quarantined .
“ The current process will identify the highest risk potential active cases — many of which may turn out to be false positives because a high temperature may be associated with other illnesses or situations , ” said Jay Wolfson , senior associate dean for health policy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s college of medicine .
And because the coronavirus is already spreading in the U.S. through community-level transmission , health screenings at airports will not curb the effects of the pandemic and could give citizens a false sense of security , experts say .
“ It ’ s not the optimal message you want to send , that you can only get the virus from being outside of the country , ” said Amesh Adalja , senior scholar at Johns Hopkins University ’ s Center for Health Security .
Such screenings are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources , Cannuscio said , which should instead be used to keep tabs on travelers from high-risk countries once they get home , to test symptomatic people for the virus , and to make sure that those with positive results remain in quarantine .
To prevent further spread of the virus in the U.S. , officials at every level should implement rigorous social distancing strategies as soon as possible , Cannuscio said .
This could mean advising people against air travel completely .
“ I think all non-essential travel should be canceled , @ @ @ @

Laura Newberry, Adam Elmahrek, Soumya Karlamangla

People walk up the ramp, exiting the secure area at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.
As thousands continue to pour into LAX, many international travelers have complained about haphazard health screenings, being required to stand or sit near others who have returned from countries with known outbreaks of the coronavirus, or not being screened at all.
Travelers who were identified as high-risk by the White House but were not screened have taken to social media to decry the process, expressing alarm over the fact that they were so easily able to slip through the cracks amid an extraordinary global health crisis.
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Kitty Horowitz said she and her husband also weren’t screened when they arrived at LAX from London on Sunday. The couple had been vacationing in Europe since late February, and had visited Austria and Germany — both on the list of countries that fell under Trump’s order.
Horowitz said they were given a form on the plane asking whether they had traveled through the Schengen Area of Europe, where the coronavirus has quickly spread. Several people sitting near them on the plane were coughing.
“We were terrified,” she said. When they landed, no one came to collect the form and they were not directed to submit the form anywhere, she said. Several others interviewed by The Times also said their forms were not collected.
Travelers at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
“We saw no one getting screened. No one took the form from us. Nothing,” she said. “We’ve never gotten through as fast as we did.”
Public health experts, however, say the screenings offer a false sense of security and are largely futile at this point in the pandemic.
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The process — particularly corralling travelers from high-risk countries into lines and holding areas to await screening — endangers passengers and those with whom they will later come into contact, experts said.
A traveler waits to be helped at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
“This to me is the very definition of what we should not be doing,” said Carolyn Cannuscio, director of research at the Center for Public Health Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania.
“We’re creating a risk there,” she added. “And we’re very likely to miss people who are in fact infected, and may also be transmitting the virus but haven’t yet had symptoms.”
The Trump administration has been slow to ramp up screening at international airports, even for travelers re-entering the United States from coronavirus hot spots.
On March 12, the Trump administration dramatically narrowed the number of places where American citizens returning from Europe could enter the U.S. — currently just 13 airports, including LAX.
Customs and Border Protection and health officials began conducting “enhanced screenings” — consisting of temperature checks and questions about travel history and symptoms — for those passengers the day after. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said returning travelers “may be screened” if they visited countries with widespread transmission and would be told to stay home for 14 days and practice social distancing.
The bottleneck of travelers scrambling to get back to the U.S. created mass chaos at some airports last weekend. At O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, throngs of people stood shoulder-to-shoulder, in some cases for several hours, as they waited to be screened.
LAX reported much shorter screening lines, with the airport estimating about 30 minutes being tacked onto the average wait time for passengers who were flagged for testing.
The Times spoke with several travelers who should have been screened at LAX under the White House’s criteria but were not. The Department of Homeland Security, which is in charge of the screening process, did not respond to requests for comment.
Ron Nehring, the director of international programs for a nonprofit, flew into LAX from London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday night. Trump’s order adding the United Kingdom and Ireland to the list of European nations identified as “Level 3” countries hadn’t taken effect by then, but Nehring had visited two countries already on the list, Germany and Poland, so he assumed that he’d be screened.
He wasn’t, he said. The colleague he’d been traveling with, who flew into Dulles International Airport outside of D.C., was screened there, he said.
“I walked off the plane and was expecting someone to ask me what countries I’d been to,” Nehring said. “I was expecting to be flagged and for my temperature to be taken.”
Some travelers, though concerned by the lack of screening, were grateful to avoid cramped waiting lines.
Cannuscio, the public health expert from the University of Pennsylvania, said such lines do more harm than good. One of her students flew into John F. Kennedy International Airport this week and spent three hours in a crowd waiting to be screened.
A traveler navigates Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
“That is so upsetting, because it’s a perfect environment for sharing the virus among travelers of very many points of origin,” Cannuscio said.
LAX travelers interviewed by The Times said neither airport officials nor the Department of Homeland Security encouraged social distancing among those waiting to be screened.
Jerome Snell, who also flew into LAX from London on Sunday, was among those flagged for a screening. During his trip to Europe, Snell had visited France, another of the 26 European countries in the Schengen Area.
He was asked to go to the passport-control area of the airport, where he waited briefly for an initial evaluation, he said. Very few people stood in line with him, though later he would watch that line become longer and more cramped.
An airport employee took his passport and asked him if he had experienced any COVID-19 symptoms — dry cough, shortness of breath — or had been around anyone with the illness.
Snell felt fine. But he was told he needed a second screening and was asked to wait in a small sitting area, where eventually about 50 other people joined him, he said. Snell, who recently went into remission for neck cancer, made sure to keep a few feet between himself and others.
After 45 minutes, he said, a customs employee called him to a counter and returned his passport, telling him he was “good to go.” No further health evaluation took place.
“I don’t know how they made the determination that I didn’t need my temperature checked, but somebody else did,” said Snell. “We’re not doing enough to prevent the spread of this disease.”
Stanchions are seen lined up in front of closed ticket counters at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
Jeffrey Klausner, an adjunct professor of epidemiology at UCLA, said airport screenings only make sense if the goal is to identify people who need medical help and give them care.
He said a rigorous screening program would be costly and would need to be checked by a secret-shopper sort of system, where people exhibiting symptoms are sent through to see if the screenings are being done properly.
“For it to work, they’ll really need to invest in a comprehensive, high-quality system,” Klausner said.
Such a screening might have helped save the first person to die of COVID-19 in L.A. County.
Loretta and Roddy had layovers in South Korea on their way to the Philippines and back. They landed at Los Angeles International Airport on March 8. But according to Rowena, Loretta’s daughter, the couple was not screened for symptoms at the airport in South Korea or in Los Angeles. (The family asked that their last names not be used for fear of being shunned or targeted.)
The White House has repeatedly said that all passengers on direct flights from South Korea would be screened in that country before boarding planes to the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said passengers would receive “multiple temperature checks,” among other measures.
Rowena, who lives in South Carolina, said she thinks a screening could have saved her mom’s life.
“If they would’ve caught her, she wouldn’t have gone home, gone to sleep and not woken up again,” she said. “It’s just crazy.”
Public health experts have warned that screenings can fail to detect many who are infected with COVID-19, as they may not develop symptoms for several days, if ever. And some people may not be truthful when asked if they’d had contact with an infected person because they fear being quarantined.
“The current process will identify the highest risk potential active cases — many of which may turn out to be false positives because a high temperature may be associated with other illnesses or situations,” said Jay Wolfson, senior associate dean for health policy and practice at the University of South Florida’s college of medicine.
And because the coronavirus is already spreading in the U.S. through community-level transmission, health screenings at airports will not curb the effects of the pandemic and could give citizens a false sense of security, experts say.
“It’s not the optimal message you want to send, that you can only get the virus from being outside of the country,” said Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Health Security.
Such screenings are also a poor use of limited public resources, Cannuscio said, which should instead be used to keep tabs on travelers from high-risk countries once they get home, to test symptomatic people for the virus, and to make sure that those with positive results remain in quarantine.
To prevent further spread of the virus in the U.S., officials at every level should implement rigorous social distancing strategies as soon as possible, Cannuscio said. This could mean advising people against air travel completely.
“I think all nonessential travel should be canceled,” she said.


latimes--2020-03-19--Ventura County issues coronavirus shelter-in-place order to people 75 and older

Coronavirus cases in Ventura County rose to 13 , and officials imposed a series of orders designed to slow the @ @ @ @ @ older have been ordered to shelter in place through April 1 .
The order also @ @ @ @ @ older with chronic disease .
The following types of businesses are ordered to close March @ @ @ @ @ according to Ventura County Public Health : • Bars and nightclubs that do not serve @ @ @ @ @ food facilities may only prepare and offer food that is provided to customers via delivery @ @ @ @ @ takeout dining , and via drive-through .
Californians — many isolated in their homes — @ @ @ @ @ of confirmed cases .
As of Wednesday morning , the state has at least 836 @ @ @ @ @ compared with 157 cases and three deaths the week before .
people in the state @ @ @ @ @

March 2018 view of downtown Ventura. The number of coronavirus cases in Ventura County rose to 13.
Coronavirus cases in Ventura County rose to 13, and officials imposed a series of orders designed to slow the spread.
People 75 or older have been ordered to shelter in place through April 1. The order also applies to people 70 and older with chronic disease.
The following types of businesses are ordered to close March 18 to April 1, according to Ventura County Public Health:
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Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food.
Movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys and arcades.
Gyms, fitness centers and aquatic centers.
Wineries, breweries, and tap rooms that provide tastings.
All permanent food facilities may only prepare and offer food that is provided to customers via delivery service, via pickup for takeout dining, and via drive-through.


latimes--2020-03-19--How can you grieve without a funeral? As coronavirus restrictions become more strict, families make

How can you grieve without a funeral? As coronavirus restrictions become more strict, families make heartbreaking choices

As her father lay dying of congestive heart failure this month , Mary Jo Dixon asked what kind of funeral he wanted .
Glenn Wilson , 78 , asked for old-fashioned hymns .
“ In the Garden ” sung by Andy Griffith .
“ The Old Rugged Cross ” by Alan Jackson .
Please finish the service , he requested , with “ Amazing Grace.
” His Baptist pastor would officiate .
He did not want to be cremated .
He had already paid for a cemetery plot .
Dixon scribbled the requests in a spiral notebook with the words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover .
What a blessing , indeed , she thought , to be able to plan it with him during the month he was in hospice care .
Wilson died at home in Marysville , Wash. , on Sunday .
His large family — he was one of 12 children and had four daughters , each with their own children — hoped for a funeral Saturday .
But this week , amid dramatic efforts to stop the novel coronavirus , everyone in the country was urged to stay home .
President Trump warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Which includes funerals .
What followed for Wilson ’ s family were the kind of heartrending decisions about his funeral — How do you choose the few people who can attend ?
Can it be postponed ?
Should it be live-streamed ?
— that will become increasingly common for Americans in this uncertain new world of COVID-19 .
“ Honestly , I ’ m not sure I ’ m going to be able to honor my dad ’ s wishes , ” Dixon said Tuesday , her voice cracking .
On Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death , the funeral director called and said the planned service , with 150 or so people , could not happen and that they should consider a 25-person limit .
Dixon couldn ’ t imagine turning loved ones away .
She considered postponing , hoping the restrictions would lift soon .
But with escalating orders against public life seemingly every hour , that hope quickly faded .
Her father ’ s body was at the funeral home , and she knew that his remains could only be preserved for so long .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a very real situation , so it ’ s not like we ’ re not in tune with what ’ s going on , ” Dixon said Tuesday .
“ However , it ’ s my dad , and I want to honor him ... .
I ’ m having huge anxiety because I can ’ t make plans just yet.
” Across the country , funeral directors said the rapid spread of the disease and shutdowns of public gatherings had upended their work and left grieving families at a loss .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in chapels or offered to only do small graveside burials limited to 10 people .
Others switched from open-casket viewings to broadcasting video streams of services with bodies of loved ones out of sight .
“ This is a whole new terrain , ” said Amy Cunningham , a Brooklyn-based funeral director who runs Fitting Tribute Funeral Services .
At a Jewish funeral home where she frequently works , Sherman ’ s Flatbush Memorial Chapel , most traditional services were canceled this week .
“ It leaves the family with few choices , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and give your permission to have a body cremated with no service , ” Cunningham said .
She is giving families the option to have a funeral with just a casket and officiant — with anybody else watching live via video stream , separately in their own cars , before heading to a graveside service where everyone stands 6 feet apart .
This week , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended live-streaming funerals and limiting physical attendance to immediate family .
The CDC says there is no known risk associated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body of someone who died from COVID-19 and that those bodies can be safely buried or cremated .
People should , however , avoid kissing them .
The CDC advised funeral directors and those who touch the bodies of people who died from coronavirus to wear protective equipment , including disposable gloves .
Some funeral directors have resorted to double-bagging bodies , using masks and wiping down body bags , even for those who have died of causes other than the coronavirus , said Walker Posey , a spokesman for the National Funeral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I have two services coming up where they were going to be big and public , but no longer , ” said Posey , a fourth-generation funeral director at Posey Funeral Directors in North Augusta , S.C. “ The families decided to slash and postpone the big-service invites and make what ’ s happening now private .
Considering everything going on , it ’ s not a bad idea , ” Posey said .
“ You get a chance to grieve a death and then have a positive gathering months later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your loved one.
” In Dougherty County , Ga. , public health officials took the extraordinary step Tuesday of naming two men whose recent funerals were believed to have been events where the virus was spread .
The funerals , in separate churches , were handled by the same Albany funeral home .
Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler told The Times on Wednesday that there have been at least three deaths connected to the funerals in which coronavirus is suspected .
The grieving process has already changed around the globe .
In hard-hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to add more space for obituaries , crematoriums have been running 24 hours a day , and services are taking place with only an officiant and a funeral home employee .
In California , where there had been 19 deaths linked to the virus as of Thursday afternoon , storage of bodies is not currently a problem , said Bob Achermann , executive director of the California Funeral Directors Assn .
But storage “ is not inexhaustible , ” he said .
People , he said , will have to get used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for weeks or months , as seems likely .
Despite the adjustments , Achermann added , “ Life goes on .
Death goes on.
” At Forest Lawn , which operates six memorial parks and five planning centers across Southern California , funerals are currently limited to 10 people , with free live-streaming , and cleaning protocols have been enhanced , spokesman Tom Smith said .
For live-streamed services , there are no closeups of bodies , he said .
Families , Smith said , have been remarkably understanding .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when I go to Ralphs , which is crazy time , ” he said , referencing hoarding and crowds at local supermarkets .
“ Here , people ’ s manners have been lovely , between the guests , who are going through a very difficult time and are coming here and being great , and our employees being incredibly sympathetic and understanding.
” Char Barrett runs A Sacred Moment funeral service in Everett , Wash. , in the Seattle area , which has been hit hard by the virus .
She said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When a grieving family comes into her office , she no longer has chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate out for them because of restrictions on businesses that serve food .
“ Those cookies are comfort , ” she said .
“ That is part of our job , to help people feel just a little better in the worst week of their lives .
It ’ s getting harder.
” Barrett has been handling the service for Glenn Wilson .
After three days of uncertainty , she was able to give the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have a graveside burial service on Saturday with 50 people , since it would be outdoors .
Barrett will send five employees to enforce six feet of separation among attendees , give sanitizing wipes to each family member and post signs around the cemetery about social distancing .
The family will have a much bigger memorial later , said his daughter , Dixon .
Dixon ’ s father , a truck driver and quiet , “ gentle soul , ” was in hospice care at home for a month .
At one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been out of the house for days , ventured out to get toilet paper .
She tried three stores before ending up at a Walmart where there were still no rolls .
Standing in line behind a woman with a pack of Angel Soft , she told the woman that she was lucky to find toilet paper — that her dad was home dying and they couldn ’ t find any .
The woman gave the package to her .
“ I said , ‘ Oh , you are my angel today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just shows you how kind people can be .
That would have been my dad.
” As the funeral plans kept changing , Dixon tried to explain to her mother , who has dementia .
Sometimes she understood .
Sometimes she did not , and ventured to the room where he died , looking for him .
In the difficult days after his death , Dixon tried to calm her mother with reruns of “ The Andy Griffith Show ” on Netflix .
Glenn and Louise Wilson would have been married 60 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 13 and he was 14 .
He was fixing a car in a gas station parking lot , and she rode up on a horse .
He told a hospice nurse just before his death that , somehow , they ended up at a dance together .
“ We went to that dance , ” he said , “ And we danced all night , and I never wanted to let her go , ever .
”

Jose Velasquez, left, with his parents Maria Becerril and Victor Becerril, gather at the grave of his brother Carlos Velasquez at Forest Lawn to mark Carlos’ birthday. Carlos died 10 years ago in Afghanistan.
As her father lay dying of congestive heart failure this month, Mary Jo Dixon asked what kind of funeral he wanted.
Glenn Wilson, 78, asked for old-fashioned hymns. “In the Garden” sung by Andy Griffith. “The Old Rugged Cross” by Alan Jackson. Please finish the service, he requested, with “Amazing Grace.”
For the record: An earlier version of this article quoted Mary Jo Dixon as saying, “My worst fear came through today.” She actually said: “My worst fear came true today.”
His Baptist pastor would officiate. He did not want to be cremated. He had already paid for a cemetery plot.
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Dixon scribbled the requests in a spiral notebook with the words “Blessed Beyond Measure” on the cover. What a blessing, indeed, she thought, to be able to plan it with him during the month he was in hospice care.
Wilson died at home in Marysville, Wash., on Sunday. His large family — he was one of 12 children and had four daughters, each with her own children — hoped for a funeral Saturday.
But this week, amid dramatic efforts to stop the novel coronavirus, everyone in the country was urged to stay home. President Trump warned against gatherings of more than 10 people. Which includes funerals.
Glenn and Louise Wilson, of Marysville, Wash., on their wedding day in 1960. Glenn died on March 15 and his funeral is in limbo because of coronavirus restrictions. (Wilson family)
What followed for Wilson’s family were the kind of heartrending decisions about his funeral — How do you choose the few people who can attend? Can it be postponed? Should it be livestreamed? — that will become increasingly common for Americans in this uncertain new world of COVID-19.
“Honestly, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to honor my dad’s wishes,” Dixon said Tuesday, her voice cracking.
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On Monday, the day after her father’s death, the funeral director called and said that the planned service, with 150 or so people, could not happen and that they should consider a 25-person limit. Dixon couldn’t imagine turning loved ones away.
She considered postponing, hoping the restrictions would lift soon. But with escalating orders against public life seemingly every hour, that hope quickly faded. Her father’s body was at the funeral home, and she knew that his remains could be preserved for only so long.
“We do realize that it’s a very real situation, so it’s not like we’re not in tune with what’s going on,” Dixon said Tuesday. “However, it’s my dad, and I want to honor him. ... I’m having huge anxiety because I can’t make plans just yet.”
Across the country, funeral directors said the rapid spread of the disease and shutdowns of public gatherings had upended their work and left grieving families at a loss.
Many directors refused to hold funeral services in chapels or offered to only do small graveside burials limited to 10 people. Others switched from open-casket viewings to broadcasting video streams of services with bodies of loved ones out of sight.
“This is a whole new terrain,” said Amy Cunningham, a Brooklyn-based funeral director who runs Fitting Tribute Funeral Services. At a Jewish funeral home where she frequently works, Sherman’s Flatbush Memorial Chapel, most traditional services were canceled this week.
“It leaves the family with few choices, one being to just sign authorization forms and give your permission to have a body cremated with no service,” Cunningham said.
She is giving families the option to have a funeral with just a casket and officiant — with anybody else watching live via video stream, separately in their own cars, before heading to a graveside service where everyone stands 6 feet apart.
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended livestreaming funerals and limiting physical attendance to immediate family.
The CDC says that there is no known risk associated with being in the same room with the body of someone who died from COVID-19 and that those bodies can be safely buried or cremated. People should, however, avoid kissing them.
The CDC advised funeral directors and those who touch the bodies of people who died from the coronavirus to wear protective equipment, including disposable gloves.
Some funeral directors have resorted to double-bagging bodies, using masks and wiping down body bags, even for those who have died of causes other than the coronavirus, said Walker Posey, a spokesman for the National Funeral Directors Assn., an industry group.
Glenn Wilson of Marysville, Wash., died on March 15, but his funeral was in limbo because of restrictions to combat the coronavirus. He was 78. (Wilson family)
“I have two services coming up where they were going to be big and public, but no longer,” said Posey, a fourth-generation funeral director at Posey Funeral Directors in North Augusta, S.C.
“The families decided to slash and postpone the big-service invites and make what’s happening now private. Considering everything going on, it’s not a bad idea,” Posey said. “You get a chance to grieve a death and then have a positive gathering months later, when things slow down, to remember your loved one.”
In Dougherty County, Ga., public health officials took the extraordinary step Tuesday of naming two men whose recent funerals were believed to have been events where the virus was spread. The funerals, in separate churches, were handled by the same Albany funeral home.
Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler told The Times on Wednesday that there have been at least three deaths connected to the funerals in which the coronavirus is suspected.
The grieving process has already changed around the globe. In hard-hit Italy, where newspapers have been forced to add more space for obituaries, crematoriums have been running 24 hours a day, and services are taking place with only an officiant and a funeral home employee.
In California, where there had been 19 deaths linked to the virus as of Thursday afternoon, storage of bodies is not currently a problem, said Bob Achermann, executive director of the California Funeral Directors Assn. But storage “is not inexhaustible,” he said.
People, he said, will have to get used to virtual funerals if the restrictions stretch on for weeks or months, as seems likely.
Despite the adjustments, Achermann added, “life goes on. Death goes on.”
At Forest Lawn, which operates six memorial parks and five planning centers across Southern California, funerals are currently limited to 10 people, with free livestreaming, and cleaning protocols have been enhanced, spokesman Tom Smith said. For livestreamed services, there are no closeups of bodies, he said.
Families, Smith said, have been remarkably understanding.
“It’s not like what I run into when I go to Ralphs, which is crazy time,” he said, referencing hoarding and crowds at local supermarkets. “Here, people’s manners have been lovely, between the guests, who are going through a very difficult time and are coming here and being great, and our employees being incredibly sympathetic and understanding.”
Char Barrett runs A Sacred Moment funeral service in Everett, Wash., in the Seattle area, which has been hit hard by the virus. She said the small things have been the hardest.
When a grieving family comes into her office, she no longer has chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate out for them because of restrictions on businesses that serve food.
“Those cookies are comfort,” she said. “That is part of our job, to help people feel just a little better in the worst week of their lives. It’s getting harder.”
Barrett has been handling the service for Glenn Wilson.
After three days of uncertainty, she was able to give the family good news on Wednesday: They could have a graveside burial service on Saturday with 50 people, since it would be outdoors. Barrett planned to send five employees to enforce 6 feet of separation among attendees, give sanitizing wipes to each family member and post signs around the cemetery about social distancing.
But plans quickly changed, again. Late Thursday, Barrett learned that the state of Washington had banned funerals as “nonessential services” and that interments would be limited to “delivery only.”
Barrett called Dixon with the bad news Friday morning: Wilson’s graveside service was canceled.
“My worst fear came true today,” Dixon said.
Wilson’s body remained at the funeral home. The family holds out hope for a small service in the coming weeks, with a much bigger memorial later. But everything is in limbo.
Dixon’s father, a truck driver and quiet, “gentle soul,” was in hospice care at home for a month.
At one point, Dixon, who had not been out of the house for days, ventured out to get toilet paper. She tried three stores before ending up at a Walmart where there were still no rolls.
Standing in line behind a woman with a pack of Angel Soft, she told the woman that she was lucky to find toilet paper — that her dad was home dying and they couldn’t find any. The woman gave the package to her.
“I said, ‘Oh, you are my angel today,’” Dixon said. “It just shows you how kind people can be. That would have been my dad.”
As the funeral plans kept changing, Dixon tried to explain to her mother, who has dementia. Sometimes she understood. Sometimes she did not, and ventured to the room where he died, looking for him. In the difficult days after his death, Dixon tried to calm her mother with reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show” on Netflix.
On Friday, Dixon said, her mother asked her: “When’s your dad going to be back?”
Dixon explained that he had died. Her mother wept. “He was the best person I have ever known in my whole life,” she kept saying.
Glenn and Louise Wilson would have been married 60 years this summer. They met when she was 13 and he was 14. He was fixing a car in a gas station parking lot, and she rode up on a horse.
He told a hospice nurse just before his death that, somehow, they ended up at a dance together.
“We went to that dance,” he said, “And we danced all night, and I never wanted to let her go, ever.”