latimes--2020-04-27--California faces growing pressure to ease stay-at-home rules, at least in some regions

California Gov .
Gavin Newsom and other top state and local health officials have made it clear it ’ s still too early and risky to ease stay-at-home orders , which have been credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus .
Still , Newsom is expected to face more pressure this week to offer a clearer timeline , especially in parts of California where the virus appears to be a lessening threat .
There has been a growing movement from politicians in some rural or less urbanized parts of the state to request an easing of the rules , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as severe as hot spots like Los Angeles County and Silicon Valley .
The latest request to Newsom comes from elected officials in Butte , Glenn , Tehama , Yuba , Sutter and Colusa counties in Northern California .
They say that cases and deaths in the region appear to have stabilized and that the stay-at-home order should be modified in those areas to help restart the economy .
They said that as of Friday , there was only one coronavirus patient in the intensive care unit at local hospitals .
“ At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locally — and our enhanced healthcare capacity — we ask you to allow our counties to exercise local authority to implement a careful and phased reopening of our local economies , ” the letter said .
Other areas , including regions of the Central Valley and Central Coast , have asked Newsom to partner on efforts to reopen the economy .
A group of cities in Stanislaus County last week sent Newsom steps to loosen restrictions , saying “ a reopening process that may fit , and make sense , for Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not work for our county .
Stanislaus County is nothing like the regions of San Francisco or Los Angeles.
” The cities suggested a first phase of reopening parks , churches and other houses of worship , restaurants , car washes and some other businesses , all following strict rules .
It ’ s clear that some areas have faced a much greater spread of the coronavirus than others .
Los Angeles County has seen more than 900 deaths , while more than a dozen smaller counties have recorded no deaths .
Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local conditions ” will be taken into account when considering decisions to ease restrictions .
“ We will consider those things not only from the perspective of the spread of the virus , not only from the perspective of the number of deaths and trend lines , but also in terms of our broader capacity , ” he said .
But there remains no timeline for reopening .
The governor has maintained that most of the six milestones he set to consider loosening the stay-at-home order he issued last month have not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has made is to allow some elective surgeries to again be scheduled in hospitals , citing sufficient capacity .
The six criteria are the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases ; prevent infection of high-risk people ; prepare hospitals to handle surges ; develop therapies to meet demand ; ensure schools , businesses and child-care facilities can support social distancing ; and develop guidelines for when to ask Californians to stay home again if necessary .
Many health experts agree with a cautious approach , saying reopening too early could cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There has been a series of protests around the state to reopen California .
And this weekend , thousands flocked to Orange County beaches , which were open amid a heat wave .
But there is also evidence many Californians support the rules .
According to a California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey , 75 % want the order to continue as long as it ’ s needed .
Only 11 % wanted to stop the stay-at-home order , while 13 % had no opinion .
Among low-income residents , support was even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order and only 3 % oppose it .
Ninety-five percent of respondents said they supported L.A. elected officials ’ decision to implement a stay-at-home order for all but essential personnel , according to a Loyola Marymount University poll of Los Angeles County residents .
Last week , San Francisco Mayor London Breed said it ’ s ikely the Bay Area ’ s shelter-in-place order will be extended beyond the current expiration date of May 3 .
Breed has pointed to history as a reason to be cautious , citing the premature celebrations before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She described how the illness “ came back with a vengeance , ” hitting San Francisco hard .
“ The fact is , it ’ s not over .
… We will get through this .
But it is going to require time , and it ’ s going to require patience like never before , ” she said earlier this month .
Two northern Bay Area counties have already extended their stay-at-home orders .
Solano County , which includes Vallejo and Fairfield , till May 17 .
Napa County announced its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with changes that allow for more construction work , real estate showings and some gardening and landscaping , among other things .
Newsom and others have said that stay-at-home orders must be maintained until it ’ s clear that easing restrictions won ’ t cause greater illness and economic disruption in the battle against the coronavirus .
“ How we reopen is going to be important to ensuring that we do it responsibly so that we don ’ t go backward , ” he said .
Los Angeles County ’ s Safer at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least May 15 .
Officials are developing a plan to slowly ease stay-at-home orders , but four key benchmarks must first be met .
“ We don ’ t want to undo all the good we ’ ve done and accomplished so far , ” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Friday .
“ We are not yet on the other side of this pandemic and we don ’ t want to prematurely ease restrictions.
” She said the county will first need to make sure that its hospitals are adequately staffed , have enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sufficient number of ventilators and other medical supplies to handle routine care as well as possible influxes of COVID-19 patients .
Second , the county must ensure that protections are in place for the most vulnerable , including older people , homeless people and those who live in institutional settings or don ’ t have access to services .
Third , the county must have the capacity to test , isolate and quarantine all those who are ill , as well as to conduct surveillance to prevent further spread .
And fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection control measures , including by providing businesses with educational materials and guidance to ensure that the rules can be followed when they reopen .
With deaths in L.A. County doubling in the last week , officials said now is not the time to ease social-distancing rules .
“ Because we are still seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths , we ask that you continue to stay home as much as possible , ” Barbara Ferrer , the county ’ s public health director , said over the weekend .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which were stricter than the state ’ s order .
For example , San Diego County officials on Friday announced that restrictions limiting ocean access will be lifted , paving the way for cities across the region to reopen beaches as soon as Monday .
San Diego has been the site of several demonstrations opposing the stay-at-home rules .
Hundreds of people protested the orders on Sunday in San Diego ’ s Pacific Beach .

Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money, Alex Wigglesworth

A skateboarder films protesters Sunday along Mission Boulevard in Pacific Beach during a rally demanding the reopening of California.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other top state and local health officials have made it clear it’s still too early and risky to ease stay-at-home orders, which have been credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
Still, Newsom is expected to face more pressure this week to offer a clearer timeline, especially in parts of California where the virus appears to be a lessening threat.
There has been a growing movement from politicians in some rural or less urbanized parts of the state to request an easing of the rules, arguing that the situation there is not as severe as hot spots like Los Angeles County and Silicon Valley.
Advertisement
The latest request to Newsom comes from elected officials in Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties in Northern California. They say that cases and deaths in the region appear to have stabilized and that the stay-at-home order should be modified in those areas to help restart the economy. They said that as of Friday, there was only one coronavirus patient in the intensive care unit at local hospitals.
“At this point, given the COVID-19 numbers locally — and our enhanced healthcare capacity — we ask you to allow our counties to exercise local authority to implement a careful and phased reopening of our local economies,” the letter said.
California 3 arrested at beach protest against California stay-at-home order About 75 to 100 people gathered near a San Diego County beach to protest stay-at-home orders that also limit access to public parks and beaches.
Other areas, including regions of the Central Valley and Central Coast, have asked Newsom to partner on efforts to reopen the economy.
A group of cities in Stanislaus County last week sent Newsom a letter proposing steps to loosen restrictions, saying “a reopening process that may fit, and make sense, for Los Angeles and our neighboring Bay Area regions does not work for our county. Stanislaus County is nothing like the regions of San Francisco or Los Angeles.”
The cities suggested a first phase of reopening parks, churches and other houses of worship, restaurants, car washes and some other businesses, all following strict social-distancing rules.
It’s clear that some areas have faced a much greater spread of the coronavirus than others. Los Angeles County has seen more than 900 deaths, while more than a dozen smaller counties have recorded no deaths.
Advertisement
Newsom has acknowledged these differences, saying “local conditions” will be taken into account when considering decisions to ease restrictions.
“We will consider those things not only from the perspective of the spread of the virus, not only from the perspective of the number of deaths and trend lines, but also in terms of our broader capacity,” he said.
California Coronavirus updates: Testing in L.A. now open to asymptomatic essential workers The Los Angeles Times will provide around-the-clock updates on COVID-19 from across Southern California and around the world.Tracking the coronavirus in California: latest numbers | Support our journalism with a subscriptionHave a question about coronavirus? Send us your questions here. | You also can sign up for our newsletterSee latest photo galleryCoronavirus updates for April 24-26 are here
But there remains no timeline for reopening.
The governor has maintained that most of the six milestones he set to consider loosening the stay-at-home order he issued last month have not been met. The only change the governor has made is to allow some elective surgeries to again be scheduled in hospitals, citing sufficient capacity.
The six criteria are the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases; prevent infection of high-risk people; prepare hospitals to handle surges; develop therapies to meet demand; ensure schools, businesses and child-care facilities can support social distancing; and develop guidelines for when to ask Californians to stay home again if necessary.
Many health experts agree with a cautious approach, saying reopening too early could cause new outbreaks and hurt the economy further.
There has been a series of protests around the state to reopen California. And this weekend, thousands flocked to Orange County beaches, which were open amid a heat wave.
California Photos show county lines separate packed beaches from empty ones Southern California had its first big heat wave over the weekend, but L.A. County beaches are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Beaches in nearby counties were open, however. Here are a few scenes from the weekend.
But there is also evidence many Californians support the rules.
According to a California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey, 75% want the order to continue as long as it’s needed. Only 11% wanted to stop the stay-at-home order, while 13% had no opinion. Among low-income residents, support was even stronger: 78% support the stay-at-home order and only 3% oppose it.
Ninety-five percent of respondents said they supported L.A. elected officials’ decision to implement a stay-at-home order for all but essential personnel, according to a Loyola Marymount University poll of Los Angeles County residents.
Last week, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said it’s l ikely the Bay Area’s shelter-in-place order will be extended beyond the current expiration date of May 3.
Breed has pointed to history as a reason to be cautious, citing the premature celebrations before the end of the 1918 flu contagion. She described how the illness “came back with a vengeance,” hitting San Francisco hard.
“The fact is, it’s not over. … We will get through this. But it is going to require time, and it’s going to require patience like never before,” she said earlier this month.
Two northern Bay Area counties have already extended their stay-at-home orders. Solano County, which includes Vallejo and Fairfield, extended its order till May 17.
Napa County announced its stay-at-home order will be in effect indefinitely, but with changes that allow for more construction work, real estate showings and some gardening and landscaping, among other things.
Newsom and others have said that stay-at-home orders must be maintained until it’s clear that easing restrictions won’t cause greater illness and economic disruption in the battle against the coronavirus.
“How we reopen is going to be important to ensuring that we do it responsibly so that we don’t go backward,” he said.
Los Angeles County’s Safer at Home order is in effect through at least May 15. Officials are developing a plan to slowly ease stay-at-home orders, but four key benchmarks must first be met.
“We don’t want to undo all the good we’ve done and accomplished so far,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Friday. “We are not yet on the other side of this pandemic and we don’t want to prematurely ease restrictions.”
She said the county will first need to make sure that its hospitals are adequately staffed, have enough resources to perform testing, and have a sufficient number of ventilators and other medical supplies to handle routine care as well as possible influxes of COVID-19 patients.
Second, the county must ensure that protections are in place for the most vulnerable, including older people, homeless people and those who live in institutional settings or don’t have access to services.
Third, the county must have the capacity to test, isolate and quarantine all those who are ill, as well as to conduct surveillance to prevent further spread.
And fourth, the county must maintain physical-distancing and infection control measures, including by providing businesses with educational materials and guidance to ensure that the rules can be followed when they reopen.
With deaths in L.A. County doubling in the last week, officials said now is not the time to ease social-distancing rules.
“Because we are still seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths, we ask that you continue to stay home as much as possible,” Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health director, said over the weekend.
Some communities are easing stay-at-home guidelines, which were stricter than the state’s order. For example, San Diego County officials on Friday announced that restrictions limiting ocean access will be lifted, paving the way for cities across the region to reopen beaches as soon as Monday.
San Diego has been the site of several demonstrations opposing the stay-at-home rules. Hundreds of people protested the orders on Sunday in San Diego’s Pacific Beach.


latimes--2020-04-27--Newport Beach may close beaches on weekends after heat wave draws thousands

Sandy stretches in Newport Beach could be off-limits over the next few weekends after Southern California ’ s first spring heat wave drew thousands to the city ’ s shoreline despite statewide stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus outbreak .
The Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday will consider closing the beaches for three weekends in May or blocking roads leading to popular beach spots on the Balboa Peninsula and Corona del Mar .
City officials say they have tried to keep most public beaches , parks and open spaces accessible to the public for the mental and physical well-being of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sand over the weekend — looking to beat the heat and weary of isolating at home — '' generated significant neighborhood impacts , ” according to a news release from the city .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Monday criticized Californians who defied the statewide stay-at-home order and flocked to beaches over the weekend .
He vowed to increase statewide enforcement of the order , if necessary .
“ This virus doesn ’ t take the weekends off , ” Newsom said .
“ The only thing that will set us back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and appropriate social distancing .
That ’ s the only thing that ’ s going to slow down our ability to reopen this economy.
” L.A. County kept its beaches closed over the weekend , but they were open in Orange and Ventura counties .
Orange County officials debated closing beaches and hiking trails last week ahead of the heat wave after coastal residents raised concerns about out-of-towners descending on their communities .
After surrounding counties completely shuttered their beaches , Orange County has been inundated with people from L.A. and San Diego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisa Bartlett said last week .
“ When you take a look at the folks that are coming down , they ’ re not only not adhering to safer-at-home policies in their own communities , ” she said , “ they ’ re not even staying in their own counties .
Especially with the warm weather , I think it ’ s going to be problematic.
” Officials ultimately decided to keep beaches open but left in place parking restrictions that they hoped would reduce access .
Many still found their way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Laguna Beach and Seal Beach , have closed the stretches of sand in their jurisdictions completely .
Some expressed concern about the crowds , worried that large gatherings could spread the coronavirus further .
But officials at the time said that everything seemed manageable and that many people tried to stay at least six feet apart .
Heather Rangel , a spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Police Department , said officers did not make any arrests or issue citations related to stay-at-home orders over the weekend .
The warm weather also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huntington Beach .
Authorities said no one was cited for violating social-distancing guidelines despite videos circulating on social media showing crowds at crosswalks heading to the ocean .
While on the sand , most people kept a safe distance apart .
Many donned hats , sunglasses and umbrellas , but few wore protective face masks .
Christopher Sumners , 31 , drove from Corona to Huntington Beach on Sunday morning with several friends to relax and enjoy a day in the sun .
“ And freedom , also , ” he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out on several beach towels chatting , unconcerned by health threats .
“ I think you have better chances of winning the lottery or getting hit by a car than getting coronavirus , ” Sumners said .
Public health experts have warned that the virus is highly contagious .
Social distancing has helped slow its spread , and early stay-at-home orders in California have meant fewer deaths compared with hot spots such as New York .
As of Monday , there were 44,844 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 1,700 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,100 confirmed cases and has seen 39 virus-related deaths .
Newsom emphasized last week the need for people to continue staying home despite the warm weather .
If they don ’ t , Newsom said , he fears he ’ ll soon be reporting a surge in the number of cases .
“ I don ’ t think anybody wants to hear that , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t want to share that information .
But that ’ s really less up to me ; it ’ s more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff writers Alex Wigglesworth and Phil Willon contributed to this report .

People play games and enjoy the sand and sun in Newport Beach on Saturday amid state-mandated stay-at-home and social-distancing orders.
Sandy stretches in Newport Beach could be off-limits over the next few weekends after Southern California’s first spring heat wave drew thousands to the city’s shoreline despite statewide stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday will consider closing the beaches for three weekends in May or blocking roads leading to popular beach spots on the Balboa Peninsula and Corona del Mar.
City officials say they have tried to keep most public beaches, parks and open spaces accessible to the public for the mental and physical well-being of residents. But the crowds that swarmed the sand over the weekend — looking to beat the heat and weary of isolating at home —”generated significant neighborhood impacts,” according to a news release from the city.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday criticized Californians who defied the statewide stay-at-home order and flocked to beaches over the weekend. He vowed to increase statewide enforcement of the order, if necessary.
“This virus doesn’t take the weekends off,” Newsom said. “The only thing that will set us back is people stopping to practice physical distancing and appropriate social distancing. That’s the only thing that’s going to slow down our ability to reopen this economy.”
Advertisement
California Photos show county lines separate packed beaches from empty ones Southern California had its first big heat wave over the weekend, but L.A. County beaches are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Beaches in nearby counties were open, however. Here are a few scenes from the weekend.
L.A. County kept its beaches closed over the weekend, but they were open in Orange and Ventura counties.
Orange County officials debated closing beaches and hiking trails last week ahead of the heat wave after coastal residents raised concerns about out-of-towners descending on their communities. After surrounding counties completely shuttered their beaches, Orange County has been inundated with people from L.A. and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said last week.
“When you take a look at the folks that are coming down, they’re not only not adhering to safer-at-home policies in their own communities,” she said, “they’re not even staying in their own counties. Especially with the warm weather, I think it’s going to be problematic.”
Officials ultimately decided to keep beaches open but left in place parking restrictions that they hoped would reduce access. Many still found their way to the shoreline, though. Some cities, including Laguna Beach and Seal Beach, have closed the stretches of sand in their jurisdictions completely.
Advertisement
Some expressed concern about the crowds, worried that large gatherings could spread the coronavirus further. But officials at the time said that everything seemed manageable and that many people tried to stay at least six feet apart.
Heather Rangel, a spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Police Department, said officers did not make any arrests or issue citations related to stay-at-home orders over the weekend.
The warm weather also drew crowds a few miles north in Huntington Beach. Authorities said no one was cited for violating social-distancing guidelines despite videos circulating on social media showing crowds at crosswalks heading to the ocean.
While on the sand, most people kept a safe distance apart. Many donned hats, sunglasses and umbrellas, but few wore protective face masks.
Christopher Sumners, 31, drove from Corona to Huntington Beach on Sunday morning with several friends to relax and enjoy a day in the sun.
“And freedom, also,” he said, laughing. He and five friends sprawled out on several beach towels chatting, unconcerned by health threats.
“I think you have better chances of winning the lottery or getting hit by a car than getting coronavirus,” Sumners said.
Public health experts have warned that the virus is highly contagious. Social distancing has helped slow its spread, and early stay-at-home orders in California have meant fewer deaths compared with hot spots such as New York.
As of Monday, there were 44,844 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 1,700 deaths in California. Orange County has surpassed 2,100 confirmed cases and has seen 39 virus-related deaths.
Newsom emphasized last week the need for people to continue staying home despite the warm weather. If they don’t, Newsom said, he fears he’ll soon be reporting a surge in the number of cases.
“I don’t think anybody wants to hear that,” he said. “I don’t want to share that information. But that’s really less up to me; it’s more up to all of you.”
Times staff writers Alex Wigglesworth and Phil Willon contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-04-27--A troubling trend: Coronavirus deaths doubled in L.A. County over last week

The number of coronavirus deaths in Los Angeles County doubled in the last week amid new evidence that the poor are being hardest hit , according to the county health department .
As of Sunday , the county had recorded 916 deaths and nearly 20,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
Officials said the rising numbers underscore the need to stay indoors as much as possible and also raise questions about when Los Angeles County will be able to ease its strict social distancing rules .
“ Because we are still seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home as much as possible , ” Barbara Ferrer , the county ’ s public health director , said over the weekend .
After appearing to level off for a time , the number of COVID-19 cases reported in Los Angeles County rose at a rapid clip over the past week .
Some of that is because of increased testing , as well as the clearing of , officials said .
Nursing homes alone account for 40 % of coronavirus deaths in the county , and there have been new efforts to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The California National Guard is now assisting with staffing at some homes .
The county issued an order that expands testing to both symptomatic and asymptomatic staff and residents , bans visitors , suspends communal dining and requires staff and residents alike to wear protective equipment .
The moves are designed to get a better sense of how many people inside the homes have contracted the novel coronavirus and to limit access to outsiders who could either bring in the virus or acquire it themselves .
Nearly half of the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Los Angeles County , home to a quarter of the state ’ s population .
L.A. County has seen only a fraction of the deaths of New York City .
But it ’ s become California ’ s coronavirus epicenter : Overall , black people continue to be among the highest COVID-19 fatalities in L.A. County , with 13 deaths per 100,000 people , compared with 9.5 for Latinos , 7.5 for Asians and 5.5 for whites , public health officials said .
Officials also revealed that those who live in lower-income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely to die of COVID-19 than those in wealthier communities .
Neighborhoods where 30 % to 100 % of the residents live in poverty have seen about 16.5 deaths per 100,000 people , compared with 5.3 deaths per 100,000 in communities where less than 10 % of residents live in poverty , they said .
“ As we have more information about who is dying , we are reminded that the work ahead requires that we address issues of disproportionately that result in higher rates of death among African Americans , Latinx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in poverty , ” Ferrer said .
“ Ensuring access to testing , early treatment and care , and economic support among those communities at higher risk of devastating outcomes associated with COVID-19 is essential.
” The numbers mirror a Times statewide analysis : Black and Latino Californians ages 18 to 64 are dying more frequently of COVID-19 than their white and Asian counterparts relative to their share of the population .
When accounting for each group ’ s percentage of the population , blacks and Latinos under the age of 65 had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older blacks and Latinos .
The trend is particularly noticeable among those ages 18 to 49 , The Times analysis found .
Los Angeles County ’ s Safer at Home order is in effect through at least May 15 .
It remains unclear whether it will be extended or eased .
The county has kept its beaches closed , while Orange and Ventura opened their shorelines .
Last week , health officials projections about the trajectory of the virus in L.A. County but cautioned that the improved outlook was contingent on residents ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet decreasing here , there are signs its leveling out .
County officials are developing a plan to , but four key benchmarks must first be met .
“ We don ’ t want to undo all the good we ’ ve done and accomplished so far , ” County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Friday .
“ We are not yet on the other side of this pandemic , and we don ’ t want to prematurely ease restrictions.
” She said the county will first need to make sure that its hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to perform testing and a sufficient number of ventilators and other medical supplies to handle routine care as well as possible influxes of COVID-19 patients .
Second , the county must ensure that protections are in place for the most vulnerable , including the elderly , homeless people and those who live in institutional settings or don ’ t have access to health services .
Third , the county must have the capacity to test , isolate and quarantine all those who are ill , as well as to conduct surveillance to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county must maintain physical distancing and infection control measures , including by providing businesses with educational materials and guidance to ensure that the rules can be followed when they reopen .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said last week that , while California is making progress in bending the coronavirus curve , most of the six conditions he set for the state to consider loosening the stay-at-home order he issued last month have not been met .
The only change the governor has made is to allow hospitals to begin scheduling some elective surgeries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goals are the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases ; prevent infection of high-risk people ; prepare hospitals to handle surges ; develop therapies to meet demand ; ensure schools , businesses and child-care facilities can support social distancing ; and develop guidelines for asking Californians to stay home again if necessary .
“ We will consider local conditions ” when deciding when to ease the rules Newsom said Friday .
“ We will consider those things not only from the perspective of the spread of the virus , not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths and trend lines , but also in terms of our broader capacity .
”

Medical staff work inside an isolation area of the emergency department at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, where patients with COVID-19 are being treated.
The number of coronavirus deaths in Los Angeles County doubled in the last week amid new evidence that the poor are being hardest hit, according to the county health department.
As of Sunday, the county had recorded 916 deaths and nearly 20,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Officials said the rising numbers underscore the need to stay indoors as much as possible and also raise questions about when Los Angeles County will be able to ease its strict social distancing rules.
Advertisement
“Because we are still seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths, we ask that you continue to stay home as much as possible,” Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health director, said over the weekend.
Troubling trends
After appearing to level off for a time, the number of COVID-19 cases reported in Los Angeles County rose at a rapid clip over the past week.
Some of that is because of increased testing, as well as the clearing of a backlog of pending test results , officials said.
Nursing homes alone account for 40% of coronavirus deaths in the county, and there have been new efforts to increase testing and health regulations at the facilities. The California National Guard is now assisting with staffing at some homes.
The county issued an order that expands testing to both symptomatic and asymptomatic staff and residents, bans visitors, suspends communal dining and requires staff and residents alike to wear protective equipment. The moves are designed to get a better sense of how many people inside the homes have contracted the novel coronavirus and to limit access to outsiders who could either bring in the virus or acquire it themselves.
Advertisement
Nearly half of the state’s nursing home patients are being treated in Los Angeles County, home to a quarter of the state’s population.
L.A. County has seen only a fraction of the deaths of New York City. But it’s become California’s coronavirus epicenter:
Los Angeles 916 deaths
Riverside 118
San Diego 111
Santa Clara 100
San Bernardino 82
The hardest-hit
Overall, black people continue to be among the highest COVID-19 fatalities in L.A. County, with 13 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 9.5 for Latinos, 7.5 for Asians and 5.5 for whites, public health officials said.
Officials also revealed that those who live in lower-income communities in L.A. County are three times more likely to die of COVID-19 than those in wealthier communities. Neighborhoods where 30% to 100% of the residents live in poverty have seen about 16.5 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 5.3 deaths per 100,000 in communities where less than 10% of residents live in poverty, they said.
“As we have more information about who is dying, we are reminded that the work ahead requires that we address issues of disproportionately that result in higher rates of death among African Americans, Latinx and Asians as well as residents living in poverty,” Ferrer said. “Ensuring access to testing, early treatment and care, and economic support among those communities at higher risk of devastating outcomes associated with COVID-19 is essential.”
The numbers mirror a Times statewide analysis: Black and Latino Californians ages 18 to 64 are dying more frequently of COVID-19 than their white and Asian counterparts relative to their share of the population.
When accounting for each group’s percentage of the population, blacks and Latinos under the age of 65 had a higher share of fatalities than even older blacks and Latinos. The trend is particularly noticeable among those ages 18 to 49, The Times analysis found.
The future
Los Angeles County’s Safer at Home order is in effect through at least May 15. It remains unclear whether it will be extended or eased.
The county has kept its beaches closed, while Orange and Ventura opened their shorelines.
Last week, health officials offered slightly rosier projections about the trajectory of the virus in L.A. County but cautioned that the improved outlook was contingent on residents’ continuing to practice physical distancing.
While COVID-19 cases are not yet decreasing here, there are signs its leveling out. County officials are developing a plan to slowly ease stay-at-home orders , but four key benchmarks must first be met.
“We don’t want to undo all the good we’ve done and accomplished so far,” County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Friday. “We are not yet on the other side of this pandemic, and we don’t want to prematurely ease restrictions.”
She said the county will first need to make sure that its hospitals are adequately staffed, have enough resources to perform testing and a sufficient number of ventilators and other medical supplies to handle routine care as well as possible influxes of COVID-19 patients.
Second, the county must ensure that protections are in place for the most vulnerable, including the elderly, homeless people and those who live in institutional settings or don’t have access to health services.
Third, the county must have the capacity to test, isolate and quarantine all those who are ill, as well as to conduct surveillance to prevent further spread.
And fourth, the county must maintain physical distancing and infection control measures, including by providing businesses with educational materials and guidance to ensure that the rules can be followed when they reopen.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week that, while California is making progress in bending the coronavirus curve, most of the six conditions he set for the state to consider loosening the stay-at-home order he issued last month have not been met. The only change the governor has made is to allow hospitals to begin scheduling some elective surgeries, citing sufficient capacity.
The six goals are the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases; prevent infection of high-risk people; prepare hospitals to handle surges; develop therapies to meet demand; ensure schools, businesses and child-care facilities can support social distancing; and develop guidelines for asking Californians to stay home again if necessary.
“We will consider local conditions” when deciding when to ease the rules Newsom said Friday. “We will consider those things not only from the perspective of the spread of the virus, not only from the perspective of the number of deaths and trend lines, but also in terms of our broader capacity.”


latimes--2020-04-27--Six renegade visions for LACMA. Protest group announces winners of design competition

Designs by six architectural teams from around the world — including Los Angeles ’ Paul Murdoch Architects and Coop Himmelb ( l ) au , the Austrian firm behind the Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts in downtown — made the winning cut in a renegade architectural competition to reimagine the Los Angeles County Museum of Art .
The juried competition , the results of which are expected to be announced Monday morning , was launched last month by the Citizens ’ Brigade to Save LACMA .
The ad hoc group , led by architecture critics Greg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vocal opponent of LACMA ’ s plans for a $ 750 million building complex designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor .
Over recent months , the group has drawn attention to their cause via a series of prominent newspaper ads in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times that have decried the Zumthor design .
Demolition has already begun on four existing LACMA buildings .
Even so , the public competition , says Goldin , is intended to spark a dialogue about the building .
“ We want to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and create some enthusiasm around an alternative , ” he says .
“ We feel damn strongly that this should have been the process to begin with.
” Of the 28 proposals submitted , the jury — which included a retired LACMA curator — selected six as the “ leading ideas.
” The winning studios will each receive $ 1,500 prizes .
Goldin declined to say who is funding the competition : “ It ’ s the same anonymous donor who has bankrolled the ads that we ’ ve taken out.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Himmelb ( l ) au , which features austere , intersecting anvil-like monoliths intersected by a sparkly glass dome .
Kaya Design , based in London , pitched a white cube that dissolves into architectural swirlies at street level .
And Paul Murdoch Architects created a horizontal rectangular prism on pilotis whose sandstone tones seem to evoke the colors of William Pereira ’ s original 1960s design , along with Renzo Piano ’ s later additions .
( It ’ s also a design that eats into land belonging to the La Brea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a proposal for LACMA has intruded into Tar Pits territory . )
Three of the winning proposals call for entirely new structures ; three feature revamps and expansions of the original 1960s buildings , though those are now being dismantled .
None of the proposals sought to retain a 1980s addition in the Postmodern style by New York firm Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer .
The jury for the competition included L.A. architect Barton Phelps , former LACMA curator J. Patrice Marandel and William Pedersen , a principal at the New York-based firm of Kohn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the renovation for the Petersen Automotive Museum across from LACMA ( a building former Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne once described as “ happily tasteless ” ) .
Artist Lauren Bon of Metabolic Studio , who is also vice president and director of the Annenberg Foundation , had been initially announced as a member of the jury , but ended up not participating for unspecified reasons .
The Citizen ’ s Brigade will post the six winning designs to its website , savelacma.org , on Monday .
In addition , it will feature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final cut .
The public will be invited to vote on their favorite proposals .
Two winners from the public vote will be selected for $ 500 prizes .
Coop Himmelb ( l ) au ‘ s plans include a series of raised and intersecting “ floating ” wings connected by a glass-walled bubble that offers views of the park .
The jury said it combined “ great efficiency with moments of drama.
” Paul Murdoch Architects proposed a low-slung rectangular prism that evokes the dimensions of the 5900 Wilshire tower immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ write the architects in their proposal , is “ expressive of L.A. in its openness , multiplicity of urban , natural and cultural connections , and abundant use of controlled natural light.
” A rippling glass facade along Wilshire was proposed by the Hong Kong architectural studio TheeAe ( short for the Evolved Architecture Eclectic ) .
The building would be five stories tall and feature a garden roof , with a “ hill ” element that would slope down towards the park on the north side .
Reiser + Umemoto retains aspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but weaves them together with new circulation structures and a dramatic conical skylight in the atrium of the Ahmanson Building .
In their proposal , the Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer building would be replaced by a building that harbors a series of pod-shaped gallery spaces .
In a proposal titled “ Tabula LACMA , ” Barkow Leibinger , an architectural studio in Berlin , took the silhouettes of the Pereira structures and framed them with added gallery space .
These are punctuated by a series of courtyard spaces .
The idea , stated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ provide spaces for art , delight and public encounter.
” The final proposal , by Kaya Design , a London-based firm led by Saffet Kaya Bikroglu , an architect who has worked with Zaha Hadid , removes the Hardy Holzmann Pfeiffer building , but retains the original Pereira structures .
Between these , he has sandwiched a gleaming white building that is all hard-edged business on top and fluid-line party on the bottom .
The Citizens Brigade hopes that these plans will draw attention to possible alternatives to the controversial Zumthor design @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less gallery space than the buildings it is replacing .
“ We hope that it will help the county to come to its senses and push ‘ pause , ’ ” Goldin says .
“ We are saying , ‘ Let ’ s think this thing through.
’ That would be the ideal result .
”

A rendering of an architectural proposal for a LACMA by Kaya Design, a studio with offices in London, Istanbul and Cyprus.
Designs by six architectural teams from around the world — including Los Angeles’ Paul Murdoch Architects and Coop Himmelb(l)au, the Austrian firm behind the Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts in downtown — made the winning cut in a renegade architectural competition to reimagine the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
The juried competition, the results of which are expected to be announced Monday morning, was launched last month by the Citizens’ Brigade to Save LACMA. The ad hoc group, led by architecture critics Greg Goldin and Joseph Giovannini, has been a vocal opponent of LACMA’s plans for a $750 million building complex designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. Over recent months, the group has drawn attention to their cause via a series of prominent newspaper ads in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times that have decried the Zumthor design.
For the record: An earlier version of this post reported that artist Lauren Bon served on the competition’s jury. While she was named as a juror when the competition was first announced, she ultimately did not participate.
Demolition has already begun on four existing LACMA buildings. Even so, the public competition, says Goldin, is intended to spark a dialogue about the building. “We want to give the public an opportunity to see these and create some enthusiasm around an alternative,” he says. “We feel damn strongly that this should have been the process to begin with.”
Advertisement
Of the 28 proposals submitted, the jury — which included a retired LACMA curator — selected six as the “leading ideas.” The winning studios will each receive $1,500 prizes. Goldin declined to say who is funding the competition: “It’s the same anonymous donor who has bankrolled the ads that we’ve taken out.”
Entertainment & Arts Can LACMA afford its massive re-design? A look at the numbers Michael Govan responds to critics who say building a new Peter Zumthor-designed complex will leave the museum swimming in debt. With demolition just weeks away, we look at LACMA’s tax forms and current debt load.
The winning designs include the proposal by Coop Himmelb(l)au, which features austere, intersecting anvil-like monoliths intersected by a sparkly glass dome. Kaya Design, based in London, pitched a white cube that dissolves into architectural swirlies at street level.
And Paul Murdoch Architects created a horizontal rectangular prism on pilotis whose sandstone tones seem to evoke the colors of William Pereira’s original 1960s design, along with Renzo Piano’s later additions. (It’s also a design that eats into land belonging to the La Brea Tar Pits — not the first time a proposal for LACMA has intruded into Tar Pits territory.)
Three of the winning proposals call for entirely new structures; three feature revamps and expansions of the original 1960s buildings, though those are now being dismantled. None of the proposals sought to retain a 1980s addition in the Postmodern style by New York firm Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer.
The jury for the competition included L.A. architect Barton Phelps, former LACMA curator J. Patrice Marandel and William Pedersen, a principal at the New York-based firm of Kohn Pedersen Fox Assoc., which worked on the renovation for the Petersen Automotive Museum across from LACMA (a building former Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne once described as “happily tasteless”). Artist Lauren Bon of Metabolic Studio, who is also vice president and director of the Annenberg Foundation, had been initially announced as a member of the jury, but ended up not participating for unspecified reasons.
Advertisement
Entertainment & Arts L.A.’s museum district is rebuilding. But they’re ignoring pedestrians (again) In the near future, some time in 2023, Metro’s Purple Line will disembark its first passengers at a station across the street from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Renzo Piano-designed BCAM building.
The Citizen’s Brigade will post the six winning designs to its website, savelacma.org, on Monday. In addition, it will feature nine submitted designs that did not make the final cut. The public will be invited to vote on their favorite proposals. Two winners from the public vote will be selected for $500 prizes.
The proposals
A Coop Himmelb(l)au design proposal for a new LACMA. (Coop Himmelb(l)au)
Coop Himmelb(l)au‘s plans include a series of raised and intersecting “floating” wings connected by a glass-walled bubble that offers views of the park. The jury said it combined “great efficiency with moments of drama.”
The plan by Paul Murdoch Architects features a horizontal volume on a north-south axis through Hancock Park. (Paul Murdoch Architects)
Paul Murdoch Architects proposed a low-slung rectangular prism that evokes the dimensions of the 5900 Wilshire tower immediately to the south. The design, write the architects in their proposal, is “expressive of L.A. in its openness, multiplicity of urban, natural and cultural connections, and abundant use of controlled natural light.”
TheeAe proposal imparted “a strong urban experience that changes as you drive,” noted the Citizens’ Brigade jury in their summary of the studio’s plan. (TheeAe)
A rippling glass facade along Wilshire was proposed by the Hong Kong architectural studio TheeAe (short for the Evolved Architecture Eclectic). The building would be five stories tall and feature a garden roof, with a “hill” element that would slope down towards the park on the north side.
Reiser + Umemoto’s plan incorporates aspects of the 1960s buildings by William Pereira. (Reiser + Umemoto)
Reiser + Umemoto retains aspects of Pereira’s original buildings, but weaves them together with new circulation structures and a dramatic conical skylight in the atrium of the Ahmanson Building. In their proposal, the Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer building would be replaced by a building that harbors a series of pod-shaped gallery spaces.
Barkow Leibinger added new connective tissue to the area around Pereira’s orginal LACMA buildings. (Barkow Leibinger)
In a proposal titled “Tabula LACMA,” Barkow Leibinger, an architectural studio in Berlin, took the silhouettes of the Pereira structures and framed them with added gallery space. These are punctuated by a series of courtyard spaces. The idea, stated the architects in their submission, was to “provide spaces for art, delight and public encounter.”
Kaya Design’s proposal features spiraling ramp, evoking the interiors of LACMA’s Pavilion for Japanese Art or New York’s Guggenheim Museum. (Kaya Design)
The final proposal, by Kaya Design, a London-based firm led by Saffet Kaya Bekiroglu, an architect who has worked with Zaha Hadid, removes the Hardy Holzmann Pfeiffer building, but retains the original Pereira structures. Between these, he has sandwiched a gleaming white building that is all hard-edged business on top and fluid-line party on the bottom.
The Citizens Brigade hopes that these plans will draw attention to possible alternatives to the controversial Zumthor design, which bridges Wilshire Boulevard and contains less gallery space than the buildings it is replacing.
“We hope that it will help the county to come to its senses and push ‘pause,’” Goldin says. “We are saying, ‘Let’s think this thing through.’ That would be the ideal result.”


latimes--2020-04-27--Photos show county lines separate packed beaches from empty ones

As temperatures soared into the upper 80s in some parts of the region Saturday , crossing county lines was like @ @ @ @ @ the threat of the coronavirus , many flocked to Orange County and Ventura County beaches @ @ @ @ @ Here are a few scenes showing how county lines separated a crowded day at the @ @ @ @ @

As temperatures soared into the upper 80s in some parts of the region Saturday, crossing county lines was like entering different worlds.
Despite the threat of the coronavirus, many flocked to Orange County and Ventura County beaches to beat the heat.
In contrast, L.A. County beaches remained largely empty.
Here are a few scenes showing how county lines separated a crowded day at the beach from empty sand.
Huntington Beach
An aerial view of beachgoers Saturday in Newport Beach.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Venice Beach
A woman walks on the sand in Venice despite law enforcement efforts to keep people off closed Los Angeles County beaches. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Huntington Beach
People crowded the bike path around Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Redondo Beach
The beach near Veterans Park in Redondo Beach remained closed Saturday. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach police patrolled near the pier as thousands enjoyed a warm, sunny day at the beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Santa Monica
Police keep watch over the empty beach and closed bike path in Santa Monica. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Newport Beach
Beach-goers enjoyed the warm weather. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Rocky Beach
A man played fetch with his dog Saturday on Rocky Beach in Malibu, despite law enforcement efforts to keep people off closed Los Angeles County beaches. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Newport Beach
The scene Saturday at Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Manhattan Beach
Kennedy Bobo, 2, and her brother Jackson Bobo, 6, played on a sidewalk near the Strand walking and bike path in Manhattan Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Ventura
Beachgoers fly a kite at a Ventura beach. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Hermosa Beach
Bowie Davis, 3, plays in her pool while her dad, Ed Davis, watches at their home near the Strand walking and bike path in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Ventura
Tyler MacFarland reads a book under the pier at the beach in Ventura. “I am still working, and for the last month and a half it has been just work, home, work, home,” he said. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Manhattan Beach
A pedestrian makes a video on the empty beach in Manhattan Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Ventura
Brian Chapman of Santa Monica plays Frisbee at the beach in Ventura. “We came up for the beach because all of the beaches in Los Angeles are closed,” said Chapman. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Venice
A message of positivity is woven with yellow police tape into a fence at a closed Venice beach. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-04-27--Photos from inside: Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista battles COVID-19

The impact of novel coronavirus on Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista is being felt with increasing intensity as significant numbers as the number of new cases steadily increases due , at least in part , to the facility ’ s proximity to Baja California where COVID-19 is straining medical resources .
On a recent afternoon the hospital , its main COVID unit already full , the call came down to clear the way for a patient , already on high-flow oxygen treatment , who needed to be admitted to the intensive care unit and placed on a mechanical ventilator due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quickly helping each other slip into protective equipment , a team of intensivists quickly sedated the patient before inserting a breathing tube and connecting it to the ventilators .
It is moments like these , said Dr. Juan Tovar , an emergency medicine specialist and operations executive at Scripps Chula Vista , that show medicine is truly a team effort .
From making sure that the hospital ’ s hallways were clear to backing each other up inside the patient ’ s room , communication , he said , is a supremely-important weapon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the biggest things that we ’ ve learned in this environment is that we need constant communication , both with the intensive care unit , and with our sister facility up in San Diego , ” Tovar said .
“ Everybody needs to know what ’ s coming.
” As hospitals closest to the border start to see their COVID units fill , intensive care nurse manager Terry Taylor said the focus on the mechanics of bed space management are becoming more immediate .
A constant eye must be kept on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which can quickly see patients go from stable to critical .
“ If half of them get sick , I ’ m suddenly full in the ICU , ” she said .
“ That ’ s the thing I fear every day on the floor.
” But there are plenty of bright spots .
On Thursday , the hospital ’ s intensive care unit celebrated releasing its first two COVID patients , taking them off ventilators and sending them off the ward with music and applause .

The impact of novel coronavirus on Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista is being felt with increasing intensity as significant numbers as the number of new cases steadily increases due, at least in part, to the facility’s proximity to Baja California where COVID-19 is straining medical resources.
On a recent afternoon the hospital, its main COVID unit already full, the call came down to clear the way for a patient, already on high-flow oxygen treatment, who needed to be admitted to the intensive care unit and placed on a mechanical ventilator due to severe and worsening respiratory distress.
Quickly helping each other slip into protective equipment, a team of intensivists quickly sedated the patient before inserting a breathing tube and connecting it to the ventilators.
It is moments like these, said Dr. Juan Tovar, an emergency medicine specialist and operations executive at Scripps Chula Vista, that show medicine is truly a team effort.
Advertisement
From making sure that the hospital’s hallways were clear to backing each other up inside the patient’s room, communication, he said, is a supremely-important weapon in the COVID-19 fight.
“One of the biggest things that we’ve learned in this environment is that we need constant communication, both with the intensive care unit, and with our sister facility up in San Diego,” Tovar said. “Everybody needs to know what’s coming.”
As hospitals closest to the border start to see their COVID units fill, intensive care nurse manager Terry Taylor said the focus on the mechanics of bed space management are becoming more immediate. A constant eye must be kept on the hosptial’s 26-bed general COVID unit which can quickly see patients go from stable to critical.
“If half of them get sick, I’m suddenly full in the ICU,” she said. “That’s the thing I fear every day on the floor.”
But there are plenty of bright spots.
On Thursday, the hospital’s intensive care unit celebrated releasing its first two COVID patients, taking them off ventilators and sending them off the ward with music and applause.
Nurse practitioner Charlotte Thomas readies her supplies to stabilize a patient who has just been intubated. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Dr. Dennis Amundson, center, works with colleagues to help a patient who has just arrived in the ICU. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Juan Tovar and nurse practitioner Charlotte Thomas watch as an intubation is performed on a patient. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Respiratory therapist Sandra Sandoval in protective gear inside a negative pressure isolation room. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
From left, nurse practitioner Charlotte Thomas, respiratory therapist Sandra Sandoval and registered nurse Saul Reynoso work on a COVID-19 patient. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Lornna Hopping signals to a colleague as personnel monitor the removal of protective gear inside an anteroom that connects to an isolation room housing a COVID-19 patient. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Nurse practitioner Charlotte Thomas works with an infected patient. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement
Healthcare workers celebrate as Claudia Martinez is discharged from the ICU after recovering from COVID-19 symptoms at Scripps Mercy Hospital. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Claudia Martinez is discharged from the ICU after her recovery. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
California California poppy bloom tempts visitors to break coronavirus stay-at-home order A bloom of California poppies springs up in the Antelope Valley,enticing visitors stuck at home. But the live cam is your best bet, officials say.


latimes--2020-04-27--Those flocking to the beach see little risk of getting coronavirus. Experts aren't so sure

The sunshine and a yearning for freedom beckoned Christopher Sumners to the ocean .
So the 31-year-old and several of his friends hit the road Sunday morning , driving from hot and dry Corona to much cooler Huntington Beach .
Beneath cloudy skies , the group of six sprawled on their beach towels and chatted with one another , unconcerned by the threat of the coronavirus .
Sumners believes he ’ ll be fine as long as he continues to wash his hands , he said .
“ I think you have better chances of winning the lottery or getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Sumners said .
As the year ’ s first heat wave hit California this weekend , thousands converged on Southland beaches to seek relief from record-breaking temperatures and weeks of isolation .
There has been some debate over the size of the crowds and the degree to which beachgoers were able to maintain social distancing in Orange and Ventura counties , where officials have not closed beaches but have urged outsiders to stay away .
Still , images of crowded beaches went viral Saturday , raising questions about whether allowing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s progress in slowing the virus ’ spread .
It is also testing the strength of messaging from health officials , who insist that staying at home is the best way to “ flatten the curve ” and restart the economy .
“ I ’ m concerned , ” said John Swartzberg , an infectious disease specialist at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health .
“ If the people going to the beach can assure that they will remain six feet or more apart and not touch common things ... then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But I think the chances of that happening ... is extremely small.
” Some communities , including Los Angeles County and many parts of the Bay Area , have kept beaches closed .
L.A. beaches were largely empty Saturday .
“ We won ’ t let one weekend undo a month of progress , ” L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted Sunday .
“ While the sunshine is tempting , we ’ re staying home to save lives.
” Barbara Ferrer , director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent an overflow of visitors who might be carrying the coronavirus .
She has asked L.A. residents not to crowd the coast in neighboring counties .
Communities in the Bay Area have cracked down on those who violate the rules .
Last week in San Mateo County , officials ordered 275 people off Linda Mar Beach and threatened arrests and citations if people continued to violate the order .
Though health experts have slightly varying opinions about the extent to which gathering in public spaces should be permitted at this point in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should maintain a sizable buffer between themselves and others — something that can be difficult at beaches and their adjacent parking lots .
Swartzberg argues that decisions to open certain spaces should be commensurate to the capacity for testing and contact tracing , so that such decisions can be scaled back if there is evidence of increased infections .
“ To not be prudent now is taking a chance , taking a real big risk , ” he said .
Dr. William Schaffner , professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thumb in terms of the right time to open beaches .
He ’ s more concerned with how it is done .
“ We have to reopen , ” Schaffner said .
“ We can ’ t stay at home and outlast the coronavirus until we get an effective vaccine.
” But people should be given clear and detailed guidelines for how to behave in recreational spaces like beaches , Schaffner said .
For example , he said , officials need to let the public know that it is still unsafe to mingle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarify whether people should wear masks while on the beach .
Terry Tamminen , who was Gov .
Arnold Schwarzenegger ’ s secretary for environmental protection when the state was preparing for the bird flu epidemic in 2005 , cautioned against reopening beaches before health officials understand the full extent of infections and have “ adequately prepared hospital infrastructure for any future ‘ waves.
’ ” “ It seems like SoCal has managed much better than NYC or other places whose systems and health workers were totally overwhelmed by the pandemic , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infrastructure is in decent shape for whatever is next , ” he said in an email .
But first responders in California still need time to recover from the first wave , Tamminen cautioned .
Any activity that might hasten the arrival of a second wave “ wouldn ’ t be the best idea , ” he said .
The number of deaths in L.A. County doubled over the last week to nearly 900 , prompting health officials to urge residents to stay home whenever possible .
The pandemic has not hit all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County , 39 people had died from COVID-19 complications as of Sunday .
Polls have found wide support for the stay-at-home order among Californians .
Among those polled for a recent California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos , 75 % wanted the order to continue as long as needed .
Only 11 % wanted to stop the stay-at-home order , while 13 % had no opinion .
Yet the ocean beckoned many as the mercury rose .
Authorities in Ventura and Orange counties kept a number of beach parking lots closed and were out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Sunday morning , dozens of surfers rode the waves at Huntington Beach as others played on the sand .
A mother kept watch over young boys digging holes with a shovel near the shore , while several teenagers flopped onto boogie boards .
Eva Sanchez sat on a beach towel with her husband , Jorge , 21 , and their 7-month-old baby , Mateo .
They kept their distance from others gathered on the sand .
“ I wanted to get out of the house for a little bit , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her family were armed with hand sanitizer and were careful about what they touched .
“ I believe I ’ m taking my precautions , practicing social distancing , constantly washing our hands , ” she said .
“ So I ’ m not that scared .
”

Dorany Pineda, Doug Smith, Alex Wigglesworth, Laura Newberry

Thousands of beachgoers enjoy a warm, sunny day in Huntington Beach on April 25 amid state-mandated stay-at-home orders designed to stave off the coronavirus pandemic.
The sunshine and a yearning for freedom beckoned Christopher Sumners to the ocean. So the 31-year-old and several of his friends hit the road Sunday morning, driving from hot and dry Corona to much cooler Huntington Beach.
Beneath cloudy skies, the group of six sprawled on their beach towels and chatted with one another, unconcerned by the threat of the coronavirus. Sumners believes he’ll be fine as long as he continues to wash his hands, he said.
“I think you have better chances of winning the lottery or getting hit by a car than getting coronavirus,” Sumners said.
As the year’s first heat wave hit California this weekend, thousands converged on Southland beaches to seek relief from record-breaking temperatures and weeks of isolation.
Advertisement
There has been some debate over the size of the crowds and the degree to which beachgoers were able to maintain social distancing in Orange and Ventura counties, where officials have not closed beaches but have urged outsiders to stay away.
Still, images of crowded beaches went viral Saturday, raising questions about whether allowing the shoreline to stay open could thwart California’s progress in slowing the virus’ spread.
California Photos show county lines separate packed beaches from empty ones Southern California had its first big heat wave over the weekend, but L.A. County beaches are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Beaches in nearby counties were open, however. Here are a few scenes from the weekend.
It is also testing the strength of messaging from health officials, who insist that staying at home is the best way to “flatten the curve” and restart the economy.
“I’m concerned,” said John Swartzberg, an infectious disease specialist at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. “If the people going to the beach can assure that they will remain six feet or more apart and not touch common things ... then I think it’s OK. But I think the chances of that happening ... is extremely small.”
Some communities, including Los Angeles County and many parts of the Bay Area, have kept beaches closed. L.A. beaches were largely empty Saturday.
“We won’t let one weekend undo a month of progress,” L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted Sunday. “While the sunshine is tempting, we’re staying home to save lives.”
Advertisement
Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, has repeatedly said that beaches should stay closed to prevent an overflow of visitors who might be carrying the coronavirus. She has asked L.A. residents not to crowd the coast in neighboring counties.
Communities in the Bay Area have cracked down on those who violate the rules. Last week in San Mateo County, officials ordered 275 people off Linda Mar Beach and threatened arrests and citations if people continued to violate the order.
Though health experts have slightly varying opinions about the extent to which gathering in public spaces should be permitted at this point in the pandemic, most agree that people should maintain a sizable buffer between themselves and others — something that can be difficult at beaches and their adjacent parking lots.
Swartzberg argues that decisions to open certain spaces should be commensurate to the capacity for testing and contact tracing, so that such decisions can be scaled back if there is evidence of increased infections.
“To not be prudent now is taking a chance, taking a real big risk,” he said.
Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, sees no absolute rule of thumb in terms of the right time to open beaches. He’s more concerned with how it is done.
“We have to reopen,” Schaffner said. “We can’t stay at home and outlast the coronavirus until we get an effective vaccine.”
But people should be given clear and detailed guidelines for how to behave in recreational spaces like beaches, Schaffner said.
For example, he said, officials need to let the public know that it is still unsafe to mingle in parking lots. And they should clarify whether people should wear masks while on the beach.
Terry Tamminen, who was Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s secretary for environmental protection when the state was preparing for the bird flu epidemic in 2005, cautioned against reopening beaches before health officials understand the full extent of infections and have “adequately prepared hospital infrastructure for any future ‘waves.’”
“It seems like SoCal has managed much better than NYC or other places whose systems and health workers were totally overwhelmed by the pandemic, so at least we can conclude that our infrastructure is in decent shape for whatever is next,” he said in an email.
But first responders in California still need time to recover from the first wave, Tamminen cautioned. Any activity that might hasten the arrival of a second wave “wouldn’t be the best idea,” he said.
The number of deaths in L.A. County doubled over the last week to nearly 900, prompting health officials to urge residents to stay home whenever possible.
The pandemic has not hit all of California equally. In neighboring Orange County, 39 people had died from COVID-19 complications as of Sunday.
Polls have found wide support for the stay-at-home order among Californians. Among those polled for a recent California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey , 75% wanted the order to continue as long as needed. Only 11% wanted to stop the stay-at-home order, while 13% had no opinion.
Yet the ocean beckoned many as the mercury rose. Authorities in Ventura and Orange counties kept a number of beach parking lots closed and were out in force attempting to impose social distancing rules.
On Sunday morning, dozens of surfers rode the waves at Huntington Beach as others played on the sand. A mother kept watch over young boys digging holes with a shovel near the shore, while several teenagers flopped onto boogie boards.
Few wore protective face masks.
Eva Sanchez sat on a beach towel with her husband, Jorge, 21, and their 7-month-old baby, Mateo. They kept their distance from others gathered on the sand.
“I wanted to get out of the house for a little bit,” said Sanchez, 20. She and her family were armed with hand sanitizer and were careful about what they touched.
“I believe I’m taking my precautions, practicing social distancing, constantly washing our hands,” she said. “So I’m not that scared.”


latimes--2020-04-27--Californians battling unemployment amid coronavirus are stymied by state agency's tech issues

For Californians desperate to get unemployment assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic , the last month has been a perfect storm of failures for a state government with a long history of technology problems .
Many seeking jobless benefits in recent weeks found phone lines jammed at the state Employment Development Department and had their calls disconnected before they could talk to a live service representative at the agency , which processes unemployment insurance claims .
Others said their attempts to file applications at the state ’ s unemployment insurance online portal were greeted with error messages , frozen screens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s technology systems were woefully unprepared for a disaster of this magnitude .
With millions of Californians thrown out of work by the state ’ s stay-at-home order , services offered by the EDD have buckled under a lack of sufficient technology to support them , an issue that has plagued the agency for years but has now been put into stark relief by the current crisis .
“ I know this sounds crazy because we are in California , we are the tech center of the world , but our system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and because of that it is inflexible — it is very difficult to change , ” California Labor Secretary Julie Su said in a Facebook Live chat Friday .
State officials have scrambled to roll out improvements to the claims process , including extending call center hours and even suspending a requirement that applicants certify their eligibility for benefits , but despite the measures , many jobless people say they still have not received the financial assistance they need .
The effort to resolve problems with the claims system is all the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin accepting millions of unemployment assistance claims from those previously excluded from the process , including independent contractors , gig workers and the self-employed .
Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron of Escondido credits Gov .
Gavin Newsom with trying to resolve the problems amid an unprecedented flood of new unemployment claims , but she said technology problems are a “ recurring theme ” in California state government .
“ This is unacceptable , ” Waldron said of the EDD ’ s issues with processing claims .
“ Our constituents need help , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modernization creates a barrier for accessing services by our most vulnerable.
” The governor ’ s March 19 order requiring Californians to stay at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus has resulted in many businesses temporarily closing , putting millions out of work .
Within days of the order , Californians complained that they could not get through by phone to the EDD , whose call center was open for just a few hours each day from 8 a.m. to noon , five days a week .
Newsom initially ordered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second EDD call center with expanded hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week .
Although the new call center can answer general questions and help reset passwords , it does not have the capability of processing claims or resolving problems with those that have been filed , officials said .
As a result , unemployed Californians have continued to complain of problems reaching the agency to process their claims .
Calls by The Times to the new line each day last week confirmed the issues were not resolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls than we have the capacity to answer , ” a recorded message at the new call center said Friday .
“ At the end of the message the phone will hang up.
” The message urges people to instead use UI Online , an internet portal that allows people to file applications for unemployment insurance benefits digitally .
But that , too , appeared to be a dead end for many who tried to log on to the website and reported receiving an error message .
On Wednesday and Thursday , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website : “ Some customers are experiencing issues using this service .
We ’ re working to restore it as soon as possible .
Please check back later.
” The disclaimer was removed Friday and replaced with a note warning that UI Online would be “ unavailable ” from 6 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday for “ service maintenance.
” The computer problems forced the EDD to suspend a requirement that applicants certify eligibility when they apply and every two weeks afterward .
Su , the labor secretary , said that has helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Thursday , Newsom again acknowledged the ongoing problems with the EDD call center , saying the state was “ working overtime ” to address the issues and noting that the agency has processed an unprecedented 3.2 million new claims for unemployment benefits received in the last month .
A claim is deemed processed when a benefit is paid or denied , but EDD officials declined to provide data on how many claims have been initiated and denied .
“ None of us are naive about the responsibility we have as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure that the call center gets cleaned up and we do more in continuing to process those claims , ” Newsom said during his daily public briefing on the coronavirus crisis .
Though many people say they have been unable to file claims or have had claims rejected , the state has made payments to about 76 % of those who were able to submit an application , said Maurice Emsellem , the Fair Chance program director at the National Employment Law Project .
Los Angeles resident Jeff Williams said he filed an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ e-commerce job , but despite trying to reach the EDD by phone and email , he has not been able to find out when benefits will start arriving .
“ This is terrible that you can ’ t get an answer even after the increase in hours ” at the call center , Williams said .
“ I am now out of money and have limited food .
Something needs to be done.
” In response to the continued complaints , Newsom said Friday that the state would again redouble its efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a few hundred more state employees were being transferred in to help handle the flood of calls to “ address some of the anxiety around getting access to an individual human being to answer the phone.
” The EDD also acknowledged in a notice to the public Thursday that it is aware of “ the persistent inability of claimants to access the UI Online.
” California ’ s state employment agency is no stranger to problems in processing claims .
It has a history of computer glitches and other technical issues dating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the EDD proposed two projects to modernize access to its unemployment insurance services at a total cost of $ 96 million , according to a 2010 report by the independent Legislative Analyst ’ s Office .
The work , which included upgrades to the EDD ’ s call centers and call routing system , and automating the claims process for customers , ran into delays that pushed its original 2008 completion schedule back at least four years as costs swelled .
“ Total costs went from an original $ 96 million to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Before that work could be completed , the EDD ’ s archaic computer system caused delays of a month or more for unemployment checks to an estimated 117,000 Californians in 2009 , The Times reported .
In 2013 , as many as 300,000 unemployment checks were delayed when the then-upgraded computer system malfunctioned over Labor Day weekend .
That May , the agency made the decision to shut down its call centers from noon to 5 p.m. because of deep cuts in federal funding .
Now , the limited hours have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , which has been compounded by the EDD ’ s issues at its other points of service .
Barbara Gessler , 66 , who worked part time at the St. Francis Mission gift shop in San Francisco , said she was able early in the process to access the EDD ’ s online claims portal , but she was unable to complete her application because the system repeatedly gave her an error message .
Then , when she called the unemployment office for help , she could not reach a live service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended up mailing in a paper application April 17 and has not heard yet whether it has been approved .
“ There is no way working people can support themselves when government services fail like this , ” Gessler said of her experience with the EDD , which she called “ incredibly frustrating , time-consuming and disheartening.
” Others who created online accounts were repeatedly stymied last week while trying to check on the status of their benefits .
“ An error has occurred , ” read a message to users of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later.
” In addition , those who hoped to apply to an EDD program called Work Sharing , which seeks to help companies keep employees on their payroll by providing unemployment benefits for reductions in hours , were shocked to discover they could not do so online — paper applications must be filled out and sent in , adding to delays in approval .
Martin Haley , who was furloughed by a company that provides classes on energy healing techniques , wanted to use Work Sharing but has been unable to get approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be filed online .
“ This program relies exclusively on mail-in applications , mailed-back responses and physical claim forms that employers are supposed to physically hand to their employees , ” Haley said .
“ This can not stand as the only option in a time like this.
” Despite the obstacles , the state so far this year has approved Work Sharing applications for 768 employers and 9,766 employees , said Loree Levy , an EDD spokeswoman .
“ The Work Share program has traditionally required processing of paper applications and certifications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways the EDD has to coordinate with employers and their employees compared to the regular UI program , ” Levy said .
The state had started working on updating the process before the pandemic and hopes to offer some automation features to help people apply in the first week of May , she added .
Haley offered another description of Work Sharing : “ It ’ s a program in place since 1978 that ’ s still using 1978 methods .
”

Unionized hospitality workers wait in line in a basement garage to apply for unemployment benefits at the Hospitality Training Academy on March 13 in Los Angeles.
For Californians desperate to get unemployment assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, the last month has been a perfect storm of failures for a state government with a long history of technology problems.
Many seeking jobless benefits in recent weeks found phone lines jammed at the state Employment Development Department and had their calls disconnected before they could talk to a live service representative at the agency, which processes unemployment insurance claims.
Others said their attempts to file applications at the state’s unemployment insurance online portal were greeted with error messages, frozen screens and other glitches, showing that the state’s technology systems were woefully unprepared for a disaster of this magnitude.
Advertisement
With millions of Californians thrown out of work by the state’s stay-at-home order, services offered by the EDD have buckled under a lack of sufficient technology to support them, an issue that has plagued the agency for years but has now been put into stark relief by the current crisis.
“I know this sounds crazy because we are in California, we are the tech center of the world, but our system is built on multiple antiquated systems, and because of that it is inflexible — it is very difficult to change,” California Labor Secretary Julie Su said in a Facebook Live chat Friday.
State officials have scrambled to roll out improvements to the claims process, including extending call center hours and even suspending a requirement that applicants certify their eligibility for benefits, but despite the measures, many jobless people say they still have not received the financial assistance they need.
The effort to resolve problems with the claims system is all the more urgent because the state on Tuesday will begin accepting millions of unemployment assistance claims from those previously excluded from the process, including independent contractors, gig workers and the self-employed.
Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron of Escondido credits Gov. Gavin Newsom with trying to resolve the problems amid an unprecedented flood of new unemployment claims, but she said technology problems are a “recurring theme” in California state government.
“This is unacceptable,” Waldron said of the EDD’s issues with processing claims. “Our constituents need help, and the state’s ongoing lack of modernization creates a barrier for accessing services by our most vulnerable.”
The governor’s March 19 order requiring Californians to stay at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus has resulted in many businesses temporarily closing, putting millions out of work. Within days of the order, Californians complained that they could not get through by phone to the EDD, whose call center was open for just a few hours each day from 8 a.m. to noon, five days a week.
Newsom initially ordered a shift of 1,300 state workers to create a second EDD call center with expanded hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Although the new call center can answer general questions and help reset passwords, it does not have the capability of processing claims or resolving problems with those that have been filed, officials said.
As a result, unemployed Californians have continued to complain of problems reaching the agency to process their claims. Calls by The Times to the new line each day last week confirmed the issues were not resolved.
“We are currently receiving more calls than we have the capacity to answer,” a recorded message at the new call center said Friday. “At the end of the message the phone will hang up.”
The message urges people to instead use UI Online, an internet portal that allows people to file applications for unemployment insurance benefits digitally.
But that, too, appeared to be a dead end for many who tried to log on to the website and reported receiving an error message. On Wednesday and Thursday, a disclaimer was posted for visitors to the website: “Some customers are experiencing issues using this service. We’re working to restore it as soon as possible. Please check back later.”
Advertisement
The disclaimer was removed Friday and replaced with a note warning that UI Online would be “unavailable” from 6 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday for “service maintenance.”
The computer problems forced the EDD to suspend a requirement that applicants certify eligibility when they apply and every two weeks afterward. Su, the labor secretary, said that has helped reduce traffic that was causing system problems.
On Thursday, Newsom again acknowledged the ongoing problems with the EDD call center, saying the state was “working overtime” to address the issues and noting that the agency has processed an unprecedented 3.2 million new claims for unemployment benefits received in the last month.
A claim is deemed processed when a benefit is paid or denied, but EDD officials declined to provide data on how many claims have been initiated and denied.
“None of us are naive about the responsibility we have as a state and as an administration to make sure that the call center gets cleaned up and we do more in continuing to process those claims,” Newsom said during his daily public briefing on the coronavirus crisis.
Though many people say they have been unable to file claims or have had claims rejected, the state has made payments to about 76% of those who were able to submit an application, said Maurice Emsellem, the Fair Chance program director at the National Employment Law Project.
Los Angeles resident Jeff Williams said he filed an unemployment claim April 1 after losing his e-commerce job, but despite trying to reach the EDD by phone and email, he has not been able to find out when benefits will start arriving.
“This is terrible that you can’t get an answer even after the increase in hours” at the call center, Williams said. “I am now out of money and have limited food. Something needs to be done.”
In response to the continued complaints, Newsom said Friday that the state would again redouble its efforts to improve the unemployment insurance process, announcing that a few hundred more state employees were being transferred in to help handle the flood of calls to “address some of the anxiety around getting access to an individual human being to answer the phone.”
The EDD also acknowledged in a notice to the public Thursday that it is aware of “the persistent inability of claimants to access the UI Online.”
California’s state employment agency is no stranger to problems in processing claims. It has a history of computer glitches and other technical issues dating back nearly 20 years.
In 2003, the EDD proposed two projects to modernize access to its unemployment insurance services at a total cost of $96 million, according to a 2010 report by the independent Legislative Analyst’s Office. The work, which included upgrades to the EDD’s call centers and call routing system, and automating the claims process for customers, ran into delays that pushed its original 2008 completion schedule back at least four years as costs swelled.
“Total costs went from an original $96 million to $159 million,” the analysts reported.
Before that work could be completed, the EDD’s archaic computer system caused delays of a month or more for unemployment checks to an estimated 117,000 Californians in 2009, The Times reported.
In 2013, as many as 300,000 unemployment checks were delayed when the then-upgraded computer system malfunctioned over Labor Day weekend.
That May, the agency made the decision to shut down its call centers from noon to 5 p.m. because of deep cuts in federal funding.
Now, the limited hours have fueled the chaos over claims during the pandemic, which has been compounded by the EDD’s issues at its other points of service.
Barbara Gessler, 66, who worked part time at the St. Francis Mission gift shop in San Francisco, said she was able early in the process to access the EDD’s online claims portal, but she was unable to complete her application because the system repeatedly gave her an error message. Then, when she called the unemployment office for help, she could not reach a live service representative.
As a result, Gessler ended up mailing in a paper application April 17 and has not heard yet whether it has been approved.
“There is no way working people can support themselves when government services fail like this,” Gessler said of her experience with the EDD, which she called “incredibly frustrating, time-consuming and disheartening.”
Others who created online accounts were repeatedly stymied last week while trying to check on the status of their benefits.
“An error has occurred,” read a message to users of the benefits portal. “Please try again later.”
In addition, those who hoped to apply to an EDD program called Work Sharing, which seeks to help companies keep employees on their payroll by providing unemployment benefits for reductions in hours, were shocked to discover they could not do so online — paper applications must be filled out and sent in, adding to delays in approval.
Martin Haley, who was furloughed by a company that provides classes on energy healing techniques, wanted to use Work Sharing but has been unable to get approved after discovering that applications can’t be filed online.
“This program relies exclusively on mail-in applications, mailed-back responses and physical claim forms that employers are supposed to physically hand to their employees,” Haley said. “This cannot stand as the only option in a time like this.”
Despite the obstacles, the state so far this year has approved Work Sharing applications for 768 employers and 9,766 employees, said Loree Levy, an EDD spokeswoman.
“The Work Share program has traditionally required processing of paper applications and certifications for ongoing benefit payments due to different ways the EDD has to coordinate with employers and their employees compared to the regular UI program,” Levy said.
The state had started working on updating the process before the pandemic and hopes to offer some automation features to help people apply in the first week of May, she added.
Haley offered another description of Work Sharing: “It’s a program in place since 1978 that’s still using 1978 methods.”