latimes--2020-04-14--Gov. Gavin Newsom names six goals that must be met to lift California coronavirus order

Gov .
Gavin Newsom said California needs to increase testing , protect high-risk residents from infection and expand hospital capacity before the state can begin to modify the unprecedented stay-at-home order he imposed one month ago and gradually return to a sense of normalcy .
“ I want you to know it ’ s not , it will not be a permanent state , ” Newsom said of the restrictions put in place to fight the spread of coronavirus .
“ We recognize the consequences of the stay-at-home orders have a profound impact on the economy , your personal household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future.
” The governor broadly described the steps his administration expects to take in the weeks and months ahead to protect the public and gauge how long the order should remain in place , underscoring a transition in the fight against the virus in recent days as California and other states map out plans to ease restrictions .
Newsom also gave Californians a glimpse of what their “ new normal ” might look like when the rules are eventually loosened , noting that face coverings could become a mainstay , schools might stagger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen with fewer tables and large gatherings would remain off limits .
The new parameters Newsom outlined Tuesday suggest the state must meet a high bar before walking back the order .
The administration highlighted six key indicators for altering his stay-home mandate , including the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases , prevent infection of high-risk people , increase surge capacity at hospitals , develop therapeutics and ensure physical distance at schools , businesses and child care facilities .
The state also must develop guidelines for when to ask Californians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modifies the order and the virus surges , he said .
Newsom and officials in his administration say their strategy to slow the spread of the virus is working , pointing to relatively low growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations as evidence that staying home and social distancing are preventing a surge of infections .
But that success comes with a cost .
More than 2.3 million Californians filed for unemployment benefits in the last month as businesses closed due to state mandates , and the economy continues to unravel .
Some students lost access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shuttered , and many have not participated in virtual learning .
The governor ’ s strategy of distancing residents can also lead to social isolation and increased health risks for the elderly and vulnerable populations .
Despite his attempts to quell uncertainty , Newsom has not yet provided a timeline for when the state ’ s nearly 40 million people can expect to return to work — or move about freely .
And to those struggling to make ends meet , that ’ s the question they want answered most .
“ When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” asked Miguel Tot , who last worked at his job managing a downtown Los Angeles restaurant on March 16 .
“ There ’ s no timetable on that , so I have no idea , you know , when normality is going to come back.
” The 34-year-old said he and his wife have enough money saved to buy groceries , pay rent and bills and provide for their two young children for about two months .
Despite having no health insurance , Tot said he began looking for a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that safety net running out and with no sense of when the order will end .
The governor said the length of the order largely depends on when hospitalizations and intensive care patients with COVID-19 flatten and decline in California .
He said the end date is fluid and that he expects to provide an answer in the next two weeks if conditions continue to improve .
California has seen more than 25,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 767 deaths .
On Tuesday , Los Angeles County public health officials confirmed 40 more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest number of deaths reported in a single day .
The Newsom administration has predicted a peak in COVID-19 cases to begin in May and said hospitalizations are below expectations .
Newsom urged Californians to remain at home and practice physical distancing .
“ You ’ ve met this moment in remarkable ways , and it ’ s put us as a state in a position where we can lay out this roadmap , but again it is all conditioned on us continuing to stay the course on the current road that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Stay at home , practice appropriate social distancing and make sure that we are physically distanced from one another.
” As chief executive , Newsom has the power to call off the statewide order , but individual counties can keep their own orders in place .
Newsom announced a pact on Monday to work with his counterparts in Oregon and Washington to develop a regional strategy to reduce restrictions on residents in the coming months .
“ The most important thing for leaders is to be honest and be honest about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Daniel Zingale , a former aide to Newsom who retired earlier this year .
“ If it comes to a point where we do know more , then tell them.
” Lisa Berkman , a professor of public policy and epidemiology at the Harvard University T.H .
Chan School of Public Health , agrees that offering false hope won ’ t help struggling Californians or anyone else .
“ It ’ s not helpful to give an end date if we don ’ t know an end date , ” Berkman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that any governor should be saying that we ’ re going to end this in three , four or five weeks when it ’ s completely unknown .
You don ’ t want to end this until you see a leveling out of the curve .
You don ’ t want to end it early and have an uprising in cases.
” Berkman ’ s work is focused on the health effects of public and workplace policies .
People who are socially isolated have a higher risk of mortality , including dying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of other causes , she said .
She said orders across the country have exposed socioeconomic inequality in disadvantaged communities , and she stressed the importance of reducing isolation by expanding internet access , introducing government programs to help at-risk residents and calling and checking on elders .
Newsom said earlier this month that Google would donate 100,000 mobile hot spots to provide free and unlimited high-speed Internet for the remainder of the school year , but it ’ s unclear which communities will receive that benefit .
Berkman and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the state to expand its testing beyond sick patients to attempt to ascertain the percentage of the population that is infected , or to determine how many people previously contracted the disease and have immunity .
Newsom has said antibody blood tests are “ critical in terms of our capacity to make a determination about community spread and about immunity.
” Diana Dooley , a chief of staff to former Gov .
Jerry Brown , said the lack of access to tests has prevented California and other states from accurately determining how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The whole issue of how much it ’ s out there will drive the fundamental question of when could it end , ” she said .
The governor has said testing broader samples of the public throughout the state , and not just people exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms , will help officials determine when to lift the restrictions .
For now , that kind of testing is occurring only at the local level or at universities .
Los Angeles County , for example , began testing the blood of 1,000 randomly selected residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or previously had COVID-19 .
Dooley called statewide random blood sample tests “ a bit of an academic wish ” given that California still doesn ’ t have enough tests for sick patients .
Mark Ghaly , secretary of the state ’ s Health and Human Services agency , said the state is prioritizing traditional diagnostic tests for patients suspected of having COVID-19 and expanding access to those tests to hospital workers , low-income Californians and communities of color .
On Tuesday , he said the state needs to expand its ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the exposed to prevent spread before modifying the orders .
Ghaly said the state expects to begin statewide antibody tests in the next few weeks , an undertaking supported by the scientific community .
“ Right now it takes away from testing people who could be potentially ill , and that ’ s a horrible decision to make , but in the long run as a public health scientist , I would say we learn a lot from surveillance , ” Berkman said .
“ It ’ s one of the bedrocks that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we first identify early cases .
It ’ s how we learn how people survive or not , who is vulnerable or more resistant .
Without some kind of a random sample , we can ’ t learn any of that.
” Absent a vaccine , Newsom said on Tuesday that Californians should expect to continue to wear face coverings or masks , and to visit restaurants with fewer tables , disposable menus and waiters wearing masks and gloves as the state slowly transitions back to normal .
His administration suggested the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ health checks ” when employees return to work .
The governor said it ’ s unlikely that mass gatherings will be allowed again at any point this summer .
He also discussed the possibility of staggering school start times throughout the day for students if they return to campus in the fall .
“ We talk about what the new normal will look like as I said , normal it will not be — at least until we have herd immunity and we have a vaccine , ” Newsom said .
Dooley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are predisposed to social distancing , such as hair salons or certain retail stores , to reopen first before gradually expanding to other types of facilities .
Others suggest staggered work shifts , more telecommuting and , perhaps , the end of the handshake will become part of what Newsom has described as the “ new normal ” in the next several months .
With access to basic necessities such as water , heat and food , Berkman remains hopeful that Americans can endure stay-at-home orders for as long as it takes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this together ” message repeated by Newsom and other leaders across the country also helps people cope with the new conditions and feel a sense of connection with others across the world , she said .
“ As Americans , we have rarely been called upon to do something for the public good , ” Berkman said .
“ It ’ s not just to protect our own risk ; it ’ s to help protect everybody .
It ’ s a rare collective action , and if people understand they are forsaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they normally behave to really curb something that is for the good of the country and the world , there ’ s a lot of joy in that .
”

Gov. Gavin Newsom said California needs to increase testing, protect high-risk residents from infection and expand hospital capacity before the state can begin to modify the unprecedented stay-at-home order he imposed one month ago and gradually return to a sense of normalcy.
“I want you to know it’s not, it will not be a permanent state,” Newsom said of the restrictions put in place to fight the spread of coronavirus. “We recognize the consequences of the stay-at-home orders have a profound impact on the economy, your personal household budget, your personal prospects around your future.”
The governor broadly described the steps his administration expects to take in the weeks and months ahead to protect the public and gauge how long the order should remain in place, underscoring a transition in the fight against the virus in recent days as California and other states map out plans to ease restrictions.
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Newsom also gave Californians a glimpse of what their “new normal” might look like when the rules are eventually loosened, noting that face coverings could become a mainstay, schools might stagger start times for students, restaurants may reopen with fewer tables and large gatherings would remain off limits.
The new parameters Newsom outlined Tuesday suggest the state must meet a high bar before walking back the order.
The administration highlighted six key indicators for altering his stay-home mandate, including the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases, prevent infection of high-risk people, increase surge capacity at hospitals, develop therapeutics and ensure physical distance at schools, businesses and child care facilities. The state also must develop guidelines for when to ask Californians to stay home again if the governor modifies the order and the virus surges, he said.
Newsom and officials in his administration say their strategy to slow the spread of the virus is working, pointing to relatively low growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations as evidence that staying home and social distancing are preventing a surge of infections.
But that success comes with a cost.
More than 2.3 million Californians filed for unemployment benefits in the last month as businesses closed due to state mandates, and the economy continues to unravel. Some students lost access to free and reduced-cost meals when schools shuttered, and many have not participated in virtual learning. The governor’s strategy of distancing residents can also lead to social isolation and increased health risks for the elderly and vulnerable populations.
Despite his attempts to quell uncertainty, Newsom has not yet provided a timeline for when the state’s nearly 40 million people can expect to return to work — or move about freely. And to those struggling to make ends meet, that’s the question they want answered most.
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“When are the restrictions going to be lifted?” asked Miguel Tot, who last worked at his job managing a downtown Los Angeles restaurant on March 16. “There’s no timetable on that, so I have no idea, you know, when normality is going to come back.”
The 34-year-old said he and his wife have enough money saved to buy groceries, pay rent and bills and provide for their two young children for about two months. Despite having no health insurance, Tot said he began looking for a new job late last month in anticipation of that safety net running out and with no sense of when the order will end.
World & Nation Trump suspends U.S. funding for World Health Organization Trump says he has directed a halt to U.S. payments to the World Health Organization pending a review of its warnings about the coronavirus, blaming the organization for not preventing the pandemic.
The governor said the length of the order largely depends on when hospitalizations and intensive care patients with COVID-19 flatten and decline in California. He said the end date is fluid and that he expects to provide an answer in the next two weeks if conditions continue to improve.
California has seen more than 25,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 767 deaths. On Tuesday, Los Angeles County public health officials confirmed 40 more deaths linked to the coronavirus, the highest number of deaths reported in a single day.
The Newsom administration has predicted a peak in COVID-19 cases to begin in May and said hospitalizations are below expectations.
Newsom urged Californians to remain at home and practice physical distancing.
“You’ve met this moment in remarkable ways, and it’s put us as a state in a position where we can lay out this roadmap, but again it is all conditioned on us continuing to stay the course on the current road that we’re on,” Newsom said. “Stay at home, practice appropriate social distancing and make sure that we are physically distanced from one another.”
As chief executive, Newsom has the power to call off the statewide order, but individual counties can keep their own orders in place. Newsom announced a pact on Monday to work with his counterparts in Oregon and Washington to develop a regional strategy to reduce restrictions on residents in the coming months.
“The most important thing for leaders is to be honest and be honest about what we don’t know,” said Daniel Zingale, a former aide to Newsom who retired earlier this year. “If it comes to a point where we do know more, then tell them.”
Lisa Berkman, a professor of public policy and epidemiology at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, agrees that offering false hope won’t help struggling Californians or anyone else.
“It’s not helpful to give an end date if we don’t know an end date,” Berkman said. “I don’t think that any governor should be saying that we’re going to end this in three, four or five weeks when it’s completely unknown. You don’t want to end this until you see a leveling out of the curve. You don’t want to end it early and have an uprising in cases.”
Berkman’s work is focused on the health effects of public and workplace policies. People who are socially isolated have a higher risk of mortality, including dying of cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases and a number of other causes, she said.
She said orders across the country have exposed socioeconomic inequality in disadvantaged communities, and she stressed the importance of reducing isolation by expanding internet access, introducing government programs to help at-risk residents and calling and checking on elders.
Newsom said earlier this month that Google would donate 100,000 mobile hot spots to provide free and unlimited high-speed Internet for the remainder of the school year, but it’s unclear which communities will receive that benefit.
Berkman and other academic experts support Newsom’s call for the state to expand its testing beyond sick patients to attempt to ascertain the percentage of the population that is infected, or to determine how many people previously contracted the disease and have immunity.
Newsom has said antibody blood tests are “critical in terms of our capacity to make a determination about community spread and about immunity.”
Diana Dooley, a chief of staff to former Gov. Jerry Brown, said the lack of access to tests has prevented California and other states from accurately determining how long to keep orders in place.
“The whole issue of how much it’s out there will drive the fundamental question of when could it end,” she said.
The governor has said testing broader samples of the public throughout the state, and not just people exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, will help officials determine when to lift the restrictions.
For now, that kind of testing is occurring only at the local level or at universities. Los Angeles County, for example, began testing the blood of 1,000 randomly selected residents last week to see whether they have or previously had COVID-19.
1 / 83 Socially distanced bikers and walkers, against a backdrop of the Queen Mary, make their way along pedestrian and beach bike path on the first day that Long Beach reopened the path on Monday May 11, 2020. The city of Long Beach eased a few of its public health restrictions, allowing under certain guidelines the reopening of pedestrian and beach bike paths, tennis centers and courts. Beach bathrooms are also reopening, but the parking lots and beaches still remain closed. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 83 Traffic remains light on the southbound 110 Freeway headed toward downtown Los Angeles on April 28. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 83 Dominique Barrett, center, known as “King Vader” to his 2.4 million TikTok followers, prepares to shoot a video on April 30 in Glendora. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 83 Cody Purcell of Redondo Beach rides a wave, glowing from the bioluminescence, in Hermosa Beach, CA, after midnight Friday morning, May 8. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 83 Friends play spikeball, a game perfect for social distancing on an open but restricted San Buenaventura State Beach. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 83 The majority of golfers are wearing masks while hitting balls on the driving range at Van Buren Executive Golf Course in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 83 Beaches including Harbor Cove Beach were open but beachgoers were not supposed to be sitting on the sand. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 83 Tango instructor Yelizaveta Nersesova leads a Zoom tango event from her Los Angeles home April 27 that brought together hundreds of dancers from around the world. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 83 Grocery store workers, joined by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 770 representatives and community members, hold a rally in support of strict social distancing on May 1 at a Ralphs store in Hollywood where 19 employees have tested positive for COVID-19. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 83 Mostly masked commuters keep their distance from one another on a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles on April 29. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 83 Gregory Kuhl, 69, heads home after a shopping trip in Hollywood on April 28. Big cracks in the street, cars parked in driveways blocking sidewalks and uneven pavement levels make navigating his route difficult. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 83 Tenants and their supporters from across Los Angeles gather at city hall to call on L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, the L.A. City Council and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to cancel rent and mortgage payments during the COVID-19 crisis. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 83 Aerial view of over 100 vehicles lined up at the West Valley COVID-19 testing center at Warner Center in Woodland Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 83 Senior Mason Wise, left, helps his sister, Mackenzie, a sophomore, clean out her PE locker at El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills. School officials were allowing no more than five students at a time on campus to take home their belongings. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 83 Shuttered storefront businesses in the garment district of Los Angeles. California’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed since the statewide coronavirus shutdown took effect. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 83 Healthcare workers celebrate as Claudia Martinez is discharged from the ICU after she recovered from COVID-19 at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 83 Carson residents Kaeli Burks, 3, left, and her cousin Bailey Watson, 5, look out the window of their car after their mothers helped them with self-testing at a new drive-up testing site for COVID-19 in Carson. Free COVID-19 testing is available to all city residents thanks to a partnership between the city and US Health Fairs. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 83 Norm and Tracy Kahn enjoy eating dinner outside on a small cafe table sitting in blue chairs on their side yard during the coronavirus pandemic on April 27 in Riverside. “During this pandemic, eating outside offers us an opportunity to change surrounding and appreciate the calmness of being outdoors among trees, scents from nature and the sounds of birds,” she said. Also adding, “Mixing up where we eat puts variety into our days and takes away the sameness of feeling trapped at home.” (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 83 Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center nurses carry supplies outside the hospital. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 83 Tom Sean Foley pauses on a walk with his kids, Cathelen Claire, “C.C.,” 3, and Timothy Joseph, 4, to take a photo in front of the “Love Wall,” mural by artist Curtis Kulig, outside of Smashbox Studios in Culver City. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 83 Protesters stand along Mission Blvd. in Pacific Beach during A Day of Liberty rally on April 26. The protesters were against the government shutdown due to the coronavirus. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 83 People make orders at a food truck along Shoreline Avenue in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 83 Medical staff, wearing protective gear, work inside a COVID-19 isolation area inside the emergency department at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, where patients with the virus are being treated. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 83 Neighbors practice social distancing while enjoying the nice weather near The Strand in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 83 Counter-protesters attend a protest to call on state and local officials to reopen the economy in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 83 A group of protesters cheer on cars during a vehicle caravan protest to call on state and local officials to reopen the economy in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 83 Cedar Mountain Post Acute Rehabilitation staff member Navi Cavaltera waters a flower pot put up by the community to show their support for the nursing staff of the facility in Yucaipa. Eighteen of 20 coronavirus-related deaths in Yucaipa were residents of the skilled nursing facility. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 83 A pedestrian wearing a protective mask passes a mural on a store on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 83 Jonte Florence, a freestyle dancer, does a handstand on a mostly empty Hollywood Walk of Fame. Florence said he normally performs for hundreds of tourists along the busy street. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 83 The Tyrannosaurus rex overlooking the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue wears a protective mask while practicing social distancing. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 83 Businesses are shuttered and pedestrians are few and far between on Hollywood Boulevard. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 83 Daniel Rogerson wears a vintage military gas mask while riding a bike along the beach path in Santa Monica, which is closed to enforce social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 83 A face mask seller in colorful dress appears to be part of a mural behind a bus stop on Soto Street in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 83 Life around Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Soto Street has slowed down as California officials extended stay-at-home orders into May and residents entered Easter weekend with unprecedented limits on their movements. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 83 UC Irvine Medical Center health care workers return their gratitude as about 25 Orange County first responder vehicles participate in a drive-by parade of gratitude as they battle COVID-19 at the hospital. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 83 Billy Budd, 55, of Hollywood, walks along Hollywood Boulevard with a protective face covering. Budd is a scenic artist for movies and television who is currently out of work due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 83 Stuart Reyes and his sister, Stephanie, sell masks for $5 each on the 3000 block of West Century Boulevard in Inglewood. Stuart Reyes said he is selling masks to support his mother. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 83 A jogger runs on a closed trail past dozens of pieces of caution tape, torn off by hikers and mountain bikers at El Escorpion Canyon Park in West Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 83 Alex Herron and nurse Mercy Pineda at a blood drive sponsored by USC athletics and the American Red Cross at USC’s Galen Center. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 83 Los Angeles City Hall displays blue lights to show support for healthcare workers and first responders. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 83 After being indoors for several days because of rainy weather and coronavirus stay-at-home orders, Olivia Jacobs, 4, and her mom, Cia Jacobs, enjoy a warm and sunny afternoon making chalk drawings on the sidewalk in front of their home in West Hills. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 83 An Oceanview Plaza security guard sports a whimsical mask while on patrol. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 83 Jacob De Wilde, left, and Lesli Lytle load a car with food during a food distribution organized to mark Good Friday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 83 As a late season storm continues to make its way across the Southland, a young basketball player dribbles along an alley through an Elysian Park neighborhood in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 83 People are silhouetted in a window of an apartment building in Hollywood, where a stay-at-home order remains in effect to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 83 The Wilshire Grand Center display blue lights and a heart to show support for healthcare workers and first responders. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 83 Women wear masks as they stroll along Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Wearing masks while outdoors is mandatory in the city of Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 83 Patients are removed from Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after 39 tested positive for the coronavirus and nursing staff was not showing up to work. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 83 A specimen is turned in at the new mobile testing site for people with symptoms of the coronavirus at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 83 Hippie Kitchen in Los Angeles hands out food, water and toiletries to homeless people and residents of skid row. Additionally, masks were offered to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 83 Nurses pose for a fun photo during a break in drive-through public testing for the coronavirus at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 83 A woman shows a notice from her doctor that allows her to obtain a test for coronavirus at a new drive-up testing site in a parking lot at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 83 A person who wishes to remain anonymous strikes from her car to support McDonald’s employees who are demanding the company cover healthcare costs of any worker or immediate family member who gets sick from COVID-19 in Los Angeles. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 83 Cassidy Roosen, with Beach Cities Health District, holds up a sign that says, “We’re All in This Together,” while waiting to direct cars at a drive-through, appointment-only coronavirus testing location at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 83 Juliann Hartman, center, and her husband, Butch, wave signs they created to cheer up people on Calabasas Road in Calabasas during the pandemic. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 83 Grace Carter, 15, of Riverside, practices a dance routine at home after dance classes and school were canceled. She has to use the Zoom app on her iPhone to practice with her dance group. “It’s hard,” she said. “My bedroom is a smaller space. I miss all my friends at the studio.” (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 83 A man works from his home in Long Beach. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 83 A San Bernardino County healthcare worker takes a sample at a coronavirus drive-through testing site at the county fairgrounds in Victorville. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 83 A Metro general service employee disinfects a bench in Boyle Heights. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 60 / 83 A runner jogs past the Pottery Barn in Pasadena. Some businesses in the area have boarded up their stores. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 61 / 83 Raquel Lezama and daughter Monica Ramos collect meals for their family at Manual Arts High School. Lezama was laid off from her $17.76-an-hour job at a Beverly Hills hotel. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 62 / 83 The Iron City Tavern in San Pedro tries an incentive to lure takeout customers. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 63 / 83 Healthcare workers gather outside UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center to call for further action from the federal government in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 64 / 83 Kristen Edgerle, of Victorville, collects information from a blood donor before drawing blood at The Richard Nixon Presidential Library blood drive during the coronavirus pandemic in Yorba Linda. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 65 / 83 Shauna Jin, of Los Angeles, with her dog, Bodhi, practices social distancing with John Kiss, of Los Angeles, at the entrance of Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 83 A lending library had some additional useful items, including a roll of toilet paper and cans of beans and corn, in a Hermosa Beach neighborhood. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 67 / 83 Protesters drive by the Getty House, the home of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, in Hancock Park. Tenant advocates are demanding a total moratorium on evictions during the coronavirus crisis. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 68 / 83 Venice residents Emily Berry and Gavin Kelley take a break at Venice Beach. Berry, a cocktail waitress at Enterprise Fish Co., lost her job due to the coronavirus outbreak. Kelley, a manager at a performing arts school with a focus on music, said that he still has a job and that classes at the school will resume online this coming Monday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 69 / 83 The JW Marriott at L.A. Live is sharing a message of hope with red lights in 34 windows, creating a 19-story display on the hotel’s north side. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 70 / 83 Juan Diaz Jr., a lifelong Dodgers fan, prays that the season will start by May in front of Dodger Stadium on what would have been opening day. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 71 / 83 Hayley, CEO and founder of Love My Neighbor Foundation, right, dances with Crystal Armster, 51, while she and her colleagues continue to feed the homeless on skid row amid the pandemic. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 72 / 83 A masked passenger on a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 73 / 83 Dede Oneal waits for a coronavirus test at the Crenshaw Christian Center in South Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 74 / 83 A man in a mask passes a closed restaurant along Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 75 / 83 Artist Corie Mattie paints a mural on the side of a pop-up store as a man takes a picture in West Hollywood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 76 / 83 Medical assistant Zoila Villalta works with Rosie Boston, 32, of Glendale, who is donating blood for her first time at L.A. Care Health Plan downtown. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 77 / 83 A couple wait for a bus outside the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 78 / 83 With all Los Angeles schools closed until further notice, LAUSD buses sit idle in Gardena. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 79 / 83 A lone traveler makes his way to catch a flight in Tom Bradley International Terminal. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 80 / 83 Denise Young looks on as her daughter, Allison, 9, a fourth-grader at EARThS (Environmental Academy of Research Technology and Earth Sciences) Magnet School in Newbury Park, receives a Chromebook. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 81 / 83 Hollywood Boulevard is devoid of the usual crowds. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 82 / 83 Michael Ray, 11, plays before a movie at the Paramount Drive-In. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 83 / 83 Isabella Leader, 15, counts how many flags have been left for World War II veteran Lt. Col. Sam Sachs who was celebrating his 105th birthday at the Mom & Dad’s House, an assisted living facility, in Lakewood. Lt. Col. Sachs appealed to the public for birthday cards after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of a big celebration and wound up receiving thousands, including a letter and photo from President Trump. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Dooley called statewide random blood sample tests “a bit of an academic wish” given that California still doesn’t have enough tests for sick patients.
Mark Ghaly, secretary of the state’s Health and Human Services agency, said the state is prioritizing traditional diagnostic tests for patients suspected of having COVID-19 and expanding access to those tests to hospital workers, low-income Californians and communities of color. On Tuesday, he said the state needs to expand its ability to track and trace potential cases and isolate the exposed to prevent spread before modifying the orders.
Ghaly said the state expects to begin statewide antibody tests in the next few weeks, an undertaking supported by the scientific community.
“Right now it takes away from testing people who could be potentially ill, and that’s a horrible decision to make, but in the long run as a public health scientist, I would say we learn a lot from surveillance,” Berkman said. “It’s one of the bedrocks that we have. It’s how we first identify early cases. It’s how we learn how people survive or not, who is vulnerable or more resistant. Without some kind of a random sample, we can’t learn any of that.”
Absent a vaccine, Newsom said on Tuesday that Californians should expect to continue to wear face coverings or masks, and to visit restaurants with fewer tables, disposable menus and waiters wearing masks and gloves as the state slowly transitions back to normal. His administration suggested the state will introduce guidelines for businesses to conduct “health checks” when employees return to work.
The governor said it’s unlikely that mass gatherings will be allowed again at any point this summer. He also discussed the possibility of staggering school start times throughout the day for students if they return to campus in the fall.
“We talk about what the new normal will look like as I said, normal it will not be — at least until we have herd immunity and we have a vaccine,” Newsom said.
Dooley expects the state to allow businesses that are predisposed to social distancing, such as hair salons or certain retail stores, to reopen first before gradually expanding to other types of facilities.
Others suggest staggered work shifts, more telecommuting and, perhaps, the end of the handshake will become part of what Newsom has described as the “new normal” in the next several months.
With access to basic necessities such as water, heat and food, Berkman remains hopeful that Americans can endure stay-at-home orders for as long as it takes. The “we’re all in this together” message repeated by Newsom and other leaders across the country also helps people cope with the new conditions and feel a sense of connection with others across the world, she said.
“As Americans, we have rarely been called upon to do something for the public good,” Berkman said. “It’s not just to protect our own risk; it’s to help protect everybody. It’s a rare collective action, and if people understand they are forsaking their comforts and joys and the way they normally behave to really curb something that is for the good of the country and the world, there’s a lot of joy in that.”


latimes--2020-04-14--Coronavirus lockdowns and civil liberties collide in a remote corner of California

In Del Norte County , which lies along California ’ s northern coast , officials are straddling a tenuous line : On the one side , they are desperate to keep their residents free of a deadly virus raging across the globe ; on the other , they can ’ t ignore their community ’ s libertarian tendencies and traditions .
“ For people living here , we kind of naturally social distance already , ” said the county ’ s sheriff , Erik Apperson , who noted that many of the county ’ s residents lived here precisely because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic found elsewhere in the state .
“ But , if we start pushing too far onto people ’ s civil rights and personal liberties — their ability to move freely , or get out onto the ocean to fish — well , what are we doing here ?
” he said , referring to his office ’ s role in defending and enforcing the U.S. Constitution .
Crescent City , the county seat , is roughly 20 miles south of the Oregon border .
It ’ s wedged between the Pacific Ocean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ densely forested mountains .
Poor and remote , it is known for having experienced 41 tsunamis since 1933 , and somehow coming back after each one .
It ’ s also where Bigfoot is rumored to live , among the redwoods that blanket this coastal range .
On a drive south from the Oregon border on Monday morning , sightings of sasquatch statues were frequent — and almost all were adorned with face masks .
According to county officials and residents , the city , and Del Norte County as a whole , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the concerns and hubbub of the rest of the state .
“ When the rest of California has a drought , we look around and think , ‘ What ?
Where ?
’ ” said Apperson .
“ While we ’ re physically in California , we often don ’ t feel the impact of things happening elsewhere.
” As of Tuesday , the county had reported only two recorded cases of coronavirus infection and no deaths .
None of the people the Los Angeles Times interviewed Monday personally knew anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the people wasn ’ t from here , ” said Richard Warner , 33 , a commercial crab fisherman , who was cleaning empty crab pots on a dock at Crescent City ’ s harbor .
Health and enforcement officials are also wary of outsiders .
Bill Steven , a spokesman for both the county Sheriff ’ s Department and its emergency operations , said he couldn ’ t confirm or deny the residence status of that case , nor the other case .
But he is concerned that although the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatively unscathed , when the state reopens , that bubble could burst .
“ It takes just one person , ” he said .
Like the rest of California , restaurants and taverns are temporarily closed here , as are many nonessential businesses , such as tattoo and massage parlors .
The county has also ordered all campgrounds , RV parks and hotels to either close down or shut their doors to guests — unless those visitors plan to stay for 30 days .
The thousands of California sea lions congregating around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t seem to mind the shutdown .
Their chatter and barks can be heard throughout the downtown area all day and through the night .
So far , the restrictions on businesses seem to have worked , said Apperson .
“ People get upset when they see out-of-state license plates , like , from Oregon , driving around here , ” he said .
“ They trust one another in this community to do the right thing .
But it ’ s the people who come from outside .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time , he ’ s concerned about government overreach , and the definition of what makes a business essential versus nonessential .
While gun stores have been shuttered in cities such as Los Angeles , Pasadena and San Jose , Apperson and others see them as vital to maintaining calm and a sense of well-being in the region .
“ Lots of us hunt , here , ” said Leslee Cates , who is waiting from the state to get final approval to sell guns .
She is the owner of PRO2Arms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her house on the outskirts of town .
“ Most people who live here are familiar with guns .
We see them as essential : for hunting game and for protecting ourselves and our homes , ” she said .
“ The problem is when people who aren ’ t familiar with them start buying them in a panic .
But , that ’ s not the case here.
” Down at the docks , people are also concerned the government could restrict their right to fish recreationally .
Pandemonium transpired on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who were discussing the possibility of a coronavirus-spurred limited ban on sportfishing .
“ That was craziness , ” said Chris Hegles , the manager of Crescent City ’ s Englund Marine , who was on the call .
He said people were concerned the government was going to prohibit them from getting on their own boats and heading out to the ocean .
Signs around the marina urge boaters to go out on the water only with immediate family members .
And for now , everybody seems to be respecting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if people feel their way of life is being taken away , that could be a problem .
“ I think we ’ ve responded well and the precautions we have taken are necessary , ” he said .
“ But if you start doing things that go against the data that we have , well , I ’ m not sure that ’ s a good thing.
” Los Angeles Times reporter Susanne Rust and photographer Carolyn Cole are embarking on a road journey throughout California .
They aim to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California as they grapple with the worst health and economic calamity of our lifetimes .

Susanne Rust, Photography by Carolyn Cole

In Del Norte County, which lies along California’s northern coast, officials are straddling a tenuous line: On the one side, they are desperate to keep their residents free of a deadly virus raging across the globe; on the other, they can’t ignore their community’s libertarian tendencies and traditions.
“For people living here, we kind of naturally social distance already,” said the county’s sheriff, Erik Apperson, who noted that many of the county’s residents lived here precisely because they wanted to avoid the crowds and traffic found elsewhere in the state.
“But, if we start pushing too far onto people’s civil rights and personal liberties — their ability to move freely, or get out onto the ocean to fish — well, what are we doing here?” he said, referring to his office’s role in defending and enforcing the U.S. Constitution.
Crescent City, the county seat, is roughly 20 miles south of the Oregon border. It’s wedged between the Pacific Ocean and an expansive range of steep, densely forested mountains. Poor and remote, it is known for having experienced 41 tsunamis since 1933, and somehow coming back after each one.
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It’s also where Bigfoot is rumored to live, among the redwoods that blanket this coastal range. On a drive south from the Oregon border on Monday morning, sightings of sasquatch statues were frequent — and almost all were adorned with face masks.
According to county officials and residents, the city, and Del Norte County as a whole, often feels like an island — isolated from the concerns and hubbub of the rest of the state.
Fishermen move crab pots on the docks in Crescent City marina. Ody Richcreek, left, and Nathan Hoffman will head out in the middle of the night, one of the few boats still operating. The Richcreek family was one of the original families that build the Crescent City marina, which had to be rebuilt after the 2011 tsunami. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
“When the rest of California has a drought, we look around and think, ‘What? Where?’” said Apperson. “While we’re physically in California, we often don’t feel the impact of things happening elsewhere.”
As of Tuesday, the county had reported only two recorded cases of coronavirus infection and no deaths. None of the people the Los Angeles Times interviewed Monday personally knew anyone who had it.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
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“I heard that one of the people wasn’t from here,” said Richard Warner, 33, a commercial crab fisherman, who was cleaning empty crab pots on a dock at Crescent City’s harbor.
Health and enforcement officials are also wary of outsiders.
Bill Steven, a spokesman for both the county Sheriff’s Department and its emergency operations, said he couldn’t confirm or deny the residence status of that case, nor the other case. But he is concerned that although the county has made it through the pandemic relatively unscathed, when the state reopens, that bubble could burst.
Del Norte County Sheriff Erik Apperson says, “For people living here, we kind of naturally social distance already.” (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
“It takes just one person,” he said.
Like the rest of California, restaurants and taverns are temporarily closed here, as are many nonessential businesses, such as tattoo and massage parlors. The county has also ordered all campgrounds, RV parks and hotels to either close down or shut their doors to guests — unless those visitors plan to stay for 30 days.
The thousands of California sea lions congregating around the city’s harbor and picturesque lighthouse don’t seem to mind the shutdown. Their chatter and barks can be heard throughout the downtown area all day and through the night.
So far, the restrictions on businesses seem to have worked, said Apperson.
“People get upset when they see out-of-state license plates, like, from Oregon, driving around here,” he said. “They trust one another in this community to do the right thing. But it’s the people who come from outside. That’s a different story.”
At the same time, he’s concerned about government overreach, and the definition of what makes a business essential versus nonessential.
While gun stores have been shuttered in cities such as Los Angeles, Pasadena and San Jose, Apperson and others see them as vital to maintaining calm and a sense of well-being in the region.
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“Lots of us hunt, here,” said Leslee Cates, who is waiting from the state to get final approval to sell guns. She is the owner of PRO2Arms, which is currently based out of her house on the outskirts of town.
Leslee Cates hopes to get her license to sell guns in Crescent City, Calif. “Most people who live here are familiar with guns. We see them as essential: for hunting game and for protecting ourselves and our homes.” (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
“Most people who live here are familiar with guns. We see them as essential: for hunting game and for protecting ourselves and our homes,” she said. “The problem is when people who aren’t familiar with them start buying them in a panic. But, that’s not the case here.”
Down at the docks, people are also concerned the government could restrict their right to fish recreationally.
Pandemonium transpired on a recent teleconference call with state fishery regulators, who were discussing the possibility of a coronavirus-spurred limited ban on sportfishing.
Tony Moell, 63, spends most of his time fishing now that his Airbnb business can’t operate due to the coronavirus pandemic. He has already lost one month of customers and will likely lose two more. He fishes for surf perch off the shore in front of his house. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
“That was craziness,” said Chris Hegles, the manager of Crescent City’s Englund Marine, who was on the call. He said people were concerned the government was going to prohibit them from getting on their own boats and heading out to the ocean.
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Signs around the marina urge boaters to go out on the water only with immediate family members.
And for now, everybody seems to be respecting the public health orders. But Apperson worries that if people feel their way of life is being taken away, that could be a problem.
“I think we’ve responded well and the precautions we have taken are necessary,” he said. “But if you start doing things that go against the data that we have, well, I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
The beaches haven’t been closed in Crescent City, Calif., but many nearby state and national parks are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles Times reporter Susanne Rust and photographer Carolyn Cole are embarking on a road journey throughout California. They aim to give voice to those in remote parts of California as they grapple with the worst health and economic calamity of our lifetimes.


latimes--2020-04-14--Disney animator's coronavirus-related death is third at motion picture retirement home

A famed Disney animator has become the third resident of the Motion Picture and Television Fund skilled-nursing facility in Woodland Hills to die from complications related to the coronavirus .
As of Tuesday , 16 residents and eight staff have tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Ann Sullivan , 91 , a veteran Disney artist , died Monday .
Her death follows those of actor Allen Garfield , 80 , and John Breier , 64 , both of whom died last week after being hospitalized , according to MPTF officials .
Ten residents who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a special isolation unit within the retirement village and medical facility .
The facility first reported a resident had tested positive March 31 and then six more on April 3 .
According to officials , eight of the staff who are primary caregivers have also tested positive on the Wasserman campus , where about 250 retirees from the entertainment industry live .
Barbara Ferrer , Los Angeles County public health director , went so far last week as to suggest it would be “ perfectly appropriate ” to move loved ones out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Woodland Hills facility , which provides both independent living and long-term care , had already been under shelter-in-place orders for nearly a month .
Hospitality staff have been delivering meals directly to residents ’ doors , communal gatherings have been canceled , and essential employees are receiving daily temperature checks .
Older people and those with underlying health conditions for contracting the disease caused by the coronavirus , and more than 120 nursing and communal-living facilities in Los Angeles County are already dealing with infections .
Last week , Bob Beitcher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a blunt message to residents via their closed-circuit TV channel told them to “ stay the ... home ” after learning that one had gone to CVS to get a prescription and another to a bank .
After studying at the Art Center in Pasadena , Sullivan , of Fargo , N.D. , landed a job at Walt Disney in the animation paint lab in the early 1950s .
After a work hiatus — Sullivan was starting a family of four children — in 1973 she joined Filmation Hanna-Barbera before going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ painted and inked such Disney classics as “ The Little Mermaid , ” “ The Lion King ” and “ Lilo & Stitch.
” The veteran animator made the switch to computerized animated production at Disney before her retirement in the early 2000s .
“ We called her Giggles at MPTF .
You couldn ’ t help but fall in love with her laugh , ” Chaplain Dina Kuperstock said .
“ She had the best laugh of any person I ’ ve ever known .
Ann didn ’ t just laugh with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her whole body would shake and light up with joy , and it was contagious for everyone in the room.
” In a statement , the MPTF said Sullivan enjoyed frequent walks .
Her daughter Shannon described her in a statement as a “ beach ” mom .
She took her children , grandchildren and friends to the beach at every opportunity .
Sullivan loved the sun .
Friday was Sullivan ’ s 91st birthday , and staff connected her with family and friends through FaceTime so they could express their love and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ My mom had a great sense of humor , was extremely positive , and touched everyone who was lucky enough to meet her .
She loved to have a good time .
”

A famed Disney animator has become the third resident of the Motion Picture and Television Fund skilled-nursing facility in Woodland Hills to die from complications related to the coronavirus.
As of Tuesday, 16 residents and eight staff have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Ann Sullivan, 91, a veteran Disney artist, died Monday. Her death follows those of actor Allen Garfield, 80, and John Breier, 64, both of whom died last week after being hospitalized, according to MPTF officials.
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Ten residents who tested positive for COVID-19 were being treated in a special isolation unit within the retirement village and medical facility. The facility first reported a resident had tested positive March 31 and then six more on April 3. According to officials, eight of the staff who are primary caregivers have also tested positive on the Wasserman campus, where about 250 retirees from the entertainment industry live.
Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County public health director, went so far last week as to suggest it would be “perfectly appropriate” to move loved ones out of such locations to protect their health.
The Woodland Hills facility, which provides both independent living and long-term care, had already been under shelter-in-place orders for nearly a month. Hospitality staff have been delivering meals directly to residents’ doors, communal gatherings have been canceled, and essential employees are receiving daily temperature checks.
Older people and those with underlying health conditions are at greater risk for contracting the disease caused by the coronavirus, and more than 120 nursing and communal-living facilities in Los Angeles County are already dealing with infections.
Last week, Bob Beitcher, chief executive of the MPTF, in a blunt message to residents via their closed-circuit TV channel told them to “stay the ... home” after learning that one had gone to CVS to get a prescription and another to a bank.
After studying at the Art Center in Pasadena, Sullivan, of Fargo, N.D., landed a job at Walt Disney in the animation paint lab in the early 1950s. After a work hiatus — Sullivan was starting a family of four children — in 1973 she joined Filmation Hanna-Barbera before going to the Walt Disney Studios. There she painted and inked such Disney classics as “The Little Mermaid,” “The Lion King” and “Lilo & Stitch.” The veteran animator made the switch to computerized animated production at Disney before her retirement in the early 2000s.
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“We called her Giggles at MPTF. You couldn’t help but fall in love with her laugh,” Chaplain Dina Kuperstock said. “She had the best laugh of any person I’ve ever known. Ann didn’t just laugh with a sound. When she giggled, her whole body would shake and light up with joy, and it was contagious for everyone in the room.”
In a statement, the MPTF said Sullivan enjoyed frequent walks. Her daughter Shannon described her in a statement as a “beach” mom. She took her children, grandchildren and friends to the beach at every opportunity. Sullivan loved the sun.
Friday was Sullivan’s 91st birthday, and staff connected her with family and friends through FaceTime so they could express their love and admiration. Shannon said of her: “My mom had a great sense of humor, was extremely positive, and touched everyone who was lucky enough to meet her. She loved to have a good time.”
Times staff writer Amy Kaufman contributed to this story.


latimes--2020-04-14--Coronavirus kills annual 4/20 marijuana holiday: 'Do not come to San Francisco,' mayor warns

Golden Gate Park ’ s Hippie Hill , known for its pungent and pervading aroma of marijuana , won ’ t be nearly as green this 4/20 .
The cannabis holiday — which falls on Monday — is an exalted day for pot enthusiasts .
But this year , the coronavirus has upended traditional celebrations that typically draw thousands of smoky revelers to the famous San Francisco knoll .
In response to the city ’ s stay-at-home orders , the organizers of the 420 Hippie Hill festival announced last week they were canceling the event .
In past years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams Meadow to pay homage to the cannabis plant with music , merchandise and food , a tradition organizers say dates back to the 1970s .
“ We take the health and safety of the public , our staff , vendors and sponsors very seriously , ” organizers wrote on their website in announcing the cancellation .
“ We feel it ’ s all of our responsibility to do our part to minimize social gathering and potential spread of this virus in the community.
” During a news conference Monday , San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to others hoping to get baked in the City by the Bay : “ We will not tolerate anyone coming to San Francisco for 4/20 this year.
” Although some laws — including the ban on smoking in parks — haven ’ t been strictly enforced in years past , officials say this year officers will be vigilant about the city ’ s shelter-in-place order .
Robin Williams Meadow will be fenced off , and officers will patrol the area , citing and , if necessary , making arrests , Breed said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ event to occur this year , especially in the height of a pandemic , ” she said .
The coronavirus , which can cause the respiratory illness COVID-19 , has already infected over 24,000 people and resulted in more than 700 deaths across California .
San Francisco County has reported more than 900 infections and 15 deaths as of Tuesday .
Officials in San Francisco and across the state , which began implementing social distancing measures roughly a month ago , have implored the public to continue staying at home as much as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential in slowing the spread of the virus and preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed with seriously ill patients .
In a Facebook post , Breed offered celebrants another option for 4/20 : “ Order food .
Watch Netflix .
Stay home and stay safe .
”

Golden Gate Park’s Hippie Hill, known for its pungent and pervading aroma of marijuana, won’t be nearly as green this 4/20.
The cannabis holiday — which falls on Monday — is an exalted day for pot enthusiasts. But this year, the coronavirus has upended traditional celebrations that typically draw thousands of smoky revelers to the famous San Francisco knoll.
In response to the city’s stay-at-home orders, the organizers of the 420 Hippie Hill festival announced last week they were canceling the event. In past years, tens of thousands of people packed Robin Williams Meadow to pay homage to the cannabis plant with music, merchandise and food, a tradition organizers say dates back to the 1970s.
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“We take the health and safety of the public, our staff, vendors and sponsors very seriously,” organizers wrote on their website in announcing the cancellation. “We feel it’s all of our responsibility to do our part to minimize social gathering and potential spread of this virus in the community.”
During a news conference Monday, San Francisco Mayor London Breed issued a stern warning to others hoping to get baked in the City by the Bay: “We will not tolerate anyone coming to San Francisco for 4/20 this year.”
Although some laws — including the ban on smoking in parks — haven’t been strictly enforced in years past, officials say this year officers will be vigilant about the city’s shelter-in-place order. Robin Williams Meadow will be fenced off, and officers will patrol the area, citing and, if necessary, making arrests, Breed said.
“We will not allow this unsanctioned event to occur this year, especially in the height of a pandemic,” she said.
California Here are events canceled or postponed due to coronavirus Conferences, shows, concerts, ceremonies and sporting events here and around the world have been canceled or postponed. Here is a list of many.
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The coronavirus, which can cause the respiratory illness COVID-19, has already infected over 24,000 people and resulted in more than 700 deaths across California. San Francisco County has reported more than 900 infections and 15 deaths as of Tuesday.
Officials in San Francisco and across the state, which began implementing social distancing measures roughly a month ago, have implored the public to continue staying at home as much as possible. Officials say social distancing is essential in slowing the spread of the virus and preventing hospitals from becoming overwhelmed with seriously ill patients.
In a Facebook post, Breed offered celebrants another option for 4/20: “Order food. Watch Netflix. Stay home and stay safe.”


latimes--2020-04-14--A 2020 timeline: This is how California could reopen, from restaurants and schools to offices and sp

A 2020 timeline: This is how California could reopen, from restaurants and schools to offices and sports

The number of people hospitalized for the coronavirus in California will need to decline in the next couple of weeks before officials can start to discuss easing stay-at-home rules , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Tuesday .
Newsom declined to offer a more specific timeline .
But what might it look like ?
We spoke with Dr. Robert Kim-Farley , a UCLA medical epidemiologist and infectious disease expert , to see what a possible timeline for reopening the state might look like .
Kim-Farley has been in the shoes of public health officials before .
He headed the Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Division of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention from 2004 to 2018 and previously worked as a career epidemiology field officer for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Based on what ’ s known now , here is a likely scenario of what may be to come : April to May : Numbers of new cases flatten In areas where physical distancing measures have been effectively implemented , Kim-Farley says he suspects that by late April into the middle of May , the number of new cases will be flattening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ end date , but Los Angeles County ’ s has been extended through May 15 , and the San Francisco Bay Area ’ s has been lengthened to May 3 .
Officials in both regions have warned that stay-at-home measures could be extended again .
Hospitals in California so far have not been overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients .
On Saturday , UC San Francisco dispatched 12 doctors and eight nurses to New York City to help with patients there .
May to June : The start of a decline in new cases Around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kim-Farley suspects that places that have effectively maintained physical distancing measures will see significant reductions in the numbers of cases .
In the nation ’ s worst-hit areas , hospitals may start to see relief .
Also at this time , Kim-Farley suspects there will be enough capacity to offer tests for the virus and antibodies — to determine whether people are immune — to meet the demand .
Kim-Farley says he could see stay-at-home orders persisting toward the end of May or into mid-June .
It ’ s conceivable local and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine how stay-at-home measures can begin to be eased .
Also by this point , the first studies pointing to effective drug therapies might be completed .
In the early summer , perhaps in the middle of June to the end of July , Kim-Farley said , there may be some nuanced , tailored approaches for getting people back to work and easing stay-at-home orders .
This may not be a one-size-fits-all approach .
It also depends on how prepared local public health departments are for containing potential new outbreaks , and whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and identify them before they grow out of control .
Older people and those with preexisting conditions may still need to practice physical distancing In an early stage of relaxed or dismissed stay-at-home orders , the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions may still need to practice social distancing .
Immune people may start to go back to work first It ’ s possible that those who test positive for the coronavirus antibody — because they were infected and recovered — may get the green light to go back to physical workplaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were infected and didn ’ t know it , perhaps because testing was limited or because they were among the people to become infected without getting seriously ill. Reopening stores and restaurants — but limiting patrons and wearing masks It ’ s even possible , Kim-Farley said , restaurants might reopen by summer — but it wouldn ’ t be business as usual .
Restaurants might be required to separate tables by more distance than ordinary to reduce the risk of spreading disease .
Retail stores that reopen may need to implement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implemented : limiting the number of customers in the store at a time and customers and staffers wearing cloth face coverings .
“ I think you ’ d still see encouraging telecommuting where possible , substituting video conferencing for business meetings or business trips , ” Kim-Farley said , “ so you can reduce levels of congregating to the degree that you can.
” Late summer : Will schools and universities reopen by fall ?
Probably Already , the Los Angeles Unified School District has said that its campuses will remain closed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So what might happen for the fall ?
Measures will need to be in place to detect any resurgence , Kim-Farley said .
And selective physical distancing efforts may be needed , depending on the situation .
But if there ’ s a sudden resurgence in cases , schools may need to send students home and have classes taught remotely , Kim-Farley said .
There may not be a need to return to statewide or countywide closures of schools and colleges , however ; they could potentially be done on a case-by-case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be large numbers of coronavirus cases by the end of summer , it would not be wise to reopen schools , he said .
When might a vaccine be ready ?
A safe , effective vaccine would dramatically transform our ability to curb the spread of the coronavirus , but it will take 12 to 18 months for that to be ready , even in the most optimistic scenario .
What are other factors that may alter this timeline ?
Besides fewer coronavirus cases , improved testing capability and robust staffing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are other factors that would help accelerate a timeline for getting back to normal .
New drugs : Kim-Farley said he suspects within the next month or two , there should be some answers about promising medications that can treat severe diseases and mild cases so they don ’ t get worse , or even using them prophylactically in special settings , such as a nursing home , to prevent people from getting sick .
Virus susceptibility to warmer weather : If the virus transmits less efficiently in warmer weather , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation heads into the summer .
But whether it does so is not really clear .
The virus has been spreading in Australia , where summer has transitioned into autumn .
Virus mutation : It ’ s not clear how fast the virus will mutate .
Evolutionarily speaking , it ’ s to the virus ’ benefit to mutate where it ’ s even more contagious but less deadly “ because it doesn ’ t do the virus any good to kill its human host to be able to transmit , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t plan what virus mutation is going to happen , or where it ’ s going to go — but that is another factor that could ultimately play in.
” If coronavirus spreads more in winter , are we in for sheltering-in-place next winter ?
Health officials are hoping it won ’ t come to that .
Authorities would rather keep the coronavirus contained to certain hot spots , where those infected can be isolated and their close contacts can be identified and told to quarantine to determine whether they get sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the community .
“ But in a particular area , if there ’ s so much transmission occurring in the community — asymptomatic transmission occurring — that you just can ’ t identify the cases ... then you may have to go ahead and reinstitute , progressively , some of these physical distancing measures , ” Kim-Farley said .
This is so distressing .
How do we cope with so much uncertainty ?
Some perspective may be helpful : This is the worst pandemic seen around the world since the 1918 Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why measures not taken in more than 100 years are now being undertaken in this country .
“ I think this is the most significant public health pandemic of our lifetimes .
That is something to recognize , ” Kim-Farley said .
“ And I tell that to my public health students ... ‘ You are witnessing something that you may never see again in your lifetime.
’ ” That said , American society seems to be headed in the right direction in dealing with the current wave of coronavirus cases .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he might say this : “ We survived the first wave and the physical distancing , so we ’ ve learned things , and we will survive the second if necessary .
”

Stuart Reyes, 19, left, and his 16-year-old sister, Stephanie Reyes, sell masks for $5 each along West Century Boulevard in Inglewood. The mask sales are to help their mother pay rent.
The number of people hospitalized for the coronavirus in California will need to decline in the next couple of weeks before officials can start to discuss easing stay-at-home rules, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday.
Newsom declined to offer a more specific timeline. But what might it look like? We spoke with Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, a UCLA medical epidemiologist and infectious disease expert, to see what a possible timeline for reopening the state might look like.
Kim-Farley has been in the shoes of public health officials before. He headed the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Division of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention from 2004 to 2018 and previously worked as a career epidemiology field officer for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Based on what’s known now, here is a likely scenario of what may be to come:
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A machine to test for the coronavirus is demonstrated at UC Davis. (Wayne Tilcock / UC Davis Health)
April to May: Numbers of new cases flatten
In areas where physical distancing measures have been effectively implemented, Kim-Farley says he suspects that by late April into the middle of May, the number of new cases will be flattening.
California’s statewide stay-at-home has no end date, but Los Angeles County’s has been extended through May 15, and the San Francisco Bay Area’s has been lengthened to May 3. Officials in both regions have warned that stay-at-home measures could be extended again.
Hospitals in California so far have not been overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. On Saturday, UC San Francisco dispatched 12 doctors and eight nurses to New York City to help with patients there.
May to June: The start of a decline in new cases
Around the end of May or into mid-June, Kim-Farley suspects that places that have effectively maintained physical distancing measures will see significant reductions in the numbers of cases. In the nation’s worst-hit areas, hospitals may start to see relief.
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Also at this time, Kim-Farley suspects there will be enough capacity to offer tests for the virus and antibodies — to determine whether people are immune — to meet the demand.
Kim-Farley says he could see stay-at-home orders persisting toward the end of May or into mid-June.
It’s conceivable local and state health officials would be able to determine how stay-at-home measures can begin to be eased.
Also by this point, the first studies pointing to effective drug therapies might be completed.
The Regal theater at LA Live is lit up and empty on March 21. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
June to July: Easing stay-at-home policies
In the early summer, perhaps in the middle of June to the end of July, Kim-Farley said, there may be some nuanced, tailored approaches for getting people back to work and easing stay-at-home orders.
This may not be a one-size-fits-all approach. It also depends on how prepared local public health departments are for containing potential new outbreaks, and whether they have the staffing to aggressively investigate and identify them before they grow out of control.
Older people and those with preexisting conditions may still need to practice physical distancing
In an early stage of relaxed or dismissed stay-at-home orders, the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions may still need to practice social distancing.
Immune people may start to go back to work first
It’s possible that those who test positive for the coronavirus antibody — because they were infected and recovered — may get the green light to go back to physical workplaces first. There might be some people who were infected and didn’t know it, perhaps because testing was limited or because they were among the people to become infected without getting seriously ill.
Victoria Perry walks her dog Cleo past a boarded-up Pottery Barn on April 2 in Beverly Hills. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Reopening stores and restaurants — but limiting patrons and wearing masks
It’s even possible, Kim-Farley said, restaurants might reopen by summer — but it wouldn’t be business as usual. Restaurants might be required to separate tables by more distance than ordinary to reduce the risk of spreading disease.
Retail stores that reopen may need to implement the social distancing measures that supermarkets have implemented: limiting the number of customers in the store at a time and customers and staffers wearing cloth face coverings.
Still encouraging telecommuting and avoiding business trips
“I think you’d still see encouraging telecommuting where possible, substituting video conferencing for business meetings or business trips,” Kim-Farley said, “so you can reduce levels of congregating to the degree that you can.”
A teacher works from home April 1 in Arlington, Va. (Olivier Douliery / AFP/Getty Images)
Late summer: Will schools and universities reopen by fall? Probably
Already, the Los Angeles Unified School District has said that its campuses will remain closed for the summer because of the coronavirus pandemic. So what might happen for the fall?
Measures will need to be in place to detect any resurgence, Kim-Farley said. And selective physical distancing efforts may be needed, depending on the situation.
But if there’s a sudden resurgence in cases, schools may need to send students home and have classes taught remotely, Kim-Farley said. There may not be a need to return to statewide or countywide closures of schools and colleges, however; they could potentially be done on a case-by-case basis.
Still, if there continue to be large numbers of coronavirus cases by the end of summer, it would not be wise to reopen schools, he said.
When might a vaccine be ready?
A safe, effective vaccine would dramatically transform our ability to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but it will take 12 to 18 months for that to be ready, even in the most optimistic scenario.
What are other factors that may alter this timeline?
Besides fewer coronavirus cases, improved testing capability and robust staffing in local health departments to investigate new outbreaks, there are other factors that would help accelerate a timeline for getting back to normal.
New drugs: Kim-Farley said he suspects within the next month or two, there should be some answers about promising medications that can treat severe diseases and mild cases so they don’t get worse, or even using them prophylactically in special settings, such as a nursing home, to prevent people from getting sick.
Virus susceptibility to warmer weather: If the virus transmits less efficiently in warmer weather, that could help offer some relief as the nation heads into the summer. But whether it does so is not really clear. The virus has been spreading in Australia, where summer has transitioned into autumn.
Virus mutation: It’s not clear how fast the virus will mutate. Evolutionarily speaking, it’s to the virus’ benefit to mutate where it’s even more contagious but less deadly “because it doesn’t do the virus any good to kill its human host to be able to transmit,” Kim-Farley said. “We just can’t plan what virus mutation is going to happen, or where it’s going to go — but that is another factor that could ultimately play in.”
Snow on the San Gabriel Mountains in 2016. (Eugene Garcia / EPA/Shutterstock)
If coronavirus spreads more in winter, are we in for sheltering-in-place next winter?
Health officials are hoping it won’t come to that. Authorities would rather keep the coronavirus contained to certain hot spots, where those infected can be isolated and their close contacts can be identified and told to quarantine to determine whether they get sick, avoiding widespread transmission of the virus in the community.
“But in a particular area, if there’s so much transmission occurring in the community — asymptomatic transmission occurring — that you just can’t identify the cases ... then you may have to go ahead and reinstitute, progressively, some of these physical distancing measures,” Kim-Farley said.
This is so distressing. How do we cope with so much uncertainty?
Some perspective may be helpful: This is the worst pandemic seen around the world since the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic — and that’s why measures not taken in more than 100 years are now being undertaken in this country.
“I think this is the most significant public health pandemic of our lifetimes. That is something to recognize,” Kim-Farley said. “And I tell that to my public health students ... ‘You are witnessing something that you may never see again in your lifetime.’ ”
That said, American society seems to be headed in the right direction in dealing with the current wave of coronavirus cases.
If there is a second wave, Kim-Farley said he might say this: “We survived the first wave and the physical distancing, so we’ve learned things, and we will survive the second if necessary.”


latimes--2020-04-14--L.A. County confirms 40 new coronavirus deaths, the highest toll in a single day

Los Angeles County health officials Tuesday confirmed 40 more deaths linked to the coronavirus , the highest number reported in a single day .
The county ’ s death toll now stands at 360 , Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said , noting that the mortality rate has increased to 3.6 % .
Ferrer confirmed 670 additional COVID-19 cases , bringing the county ’ s total to more than 10,000 .
Officials have previously said the case count includes people who have recovered , but there is no way to track those numbers .
Of more than 63,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 11 % were positive .
Ferrer said that percentage could indicate that of Los Angeles County ’ s 10 million residents , “ we could have as many as 1 million people at some point in time ” who are infected .
Of course , not every individual will obtain testing for COVID-19 .
Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Tuesday that , thanks to increased testing capacity , anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can now book a same- or next-day appointment .
“ Great news for anybody who ’ s feeling under the weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at a news briefing .
Coronavirus cases in California have surpassed 25,000 as the state enters a new phase of the crisis : figuring out how and when to lift social distancing rules that have been credited with keeping deaths in the state relatively low .
California has seen more than 760 COVID-19 deaths , a fraction of the toll in hot spots such as New York and New Jersey .
Whereas New York has seen more than 195,000 confirmed cases , a rate of almost 1,000 cases per 100,000 people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to 62 cases per 100,000 people .
In New Jersey , the rate of cases was 727 cases per 100,000 people , as of Monday .
Although state officials say California won ’ t hit a peak until May — and Los Angeles County has already extended its safer-at-home order until May 15 , with the possibility of a further extension — officials are beginning to talk about how the economy could be restarted .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom outlined the plan at his news briefing Tuesday .
Before the stay-at-home order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to increase testing , protect high-risk residents and expand hospital capacity , he said .
“ I want you to know it ’ s not , it will not be a permanent state , ” Newsom said of the restrictions put in place to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus .
“ We recognize the consequences of the stay-at-home orders have a profound impact on the economy , your personal household budget , your personal prospects around your future.
” The framework was developed in partnership with the governor ’ s counterparts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new coronavirus cases reported daily across California shows signs of flattening .
In , 25 additional deaths were reported Monday but only 239 new cases , the lowest daily case count since March 26 .
But the numbers jumped again Tuesday .
Like Newsom , Ferrer said the county is considering modification scenarios but is not ready to implement a change in its restrictive measures .
“ We will not ease restrictions until everything is in place , ” she said .
Chief Executive Sachi A. Hamai sent a letter to all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cloth face coverings when interacting with one another and the public , effective Wednesday .
Starting at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday , the public will be required to wear face coverings at essential businesses in L.A. County , including shopping at grocery stores and visiting a doctor .
“ You can make your own mask or use a scarf , bandana or old shirt , ” Supervisor Kathryn Barger tweeted .
“ Thanks for keeping yourself and your community safe !
” Garcetti announced a similar order last week , requiring all residents to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of essential businesses , in hopes that it will protect workers and slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Barger said deputies will give warnings and may carry extra masks to encourage compliance .
“ If it escalates , a deputy may opt to issue a citation , and a store can refuse service to someone not taking precautions , ” she tweeted .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva , however , said Tuesday that deputies will not cite people for mask violations .
“ We are looking for voluntary compliance .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the county , ” Villanueva said .
“ We aren ’ t talking enforcement here.
” As of Monday , sheriff ’ s officials had issued 19 coronavirus-related citations , including to owners of nonessential businesses who have stayed open in violation of the county ’ s stay-at-home order .
“ They tend to run a gamut , but the one I think we ’ ve seen more than once are typically bars , ” Villanueva has said .
L.A. City Atty .
Mike Feuer said Tuesday that his office has charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after they were warned to close , bringing the total to 14 .
He said they included a print shop , a spa , a beauty supply store and smoke shops .
Mark Ghaly , secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency , said Monday that the state ’ s stay-at-home order and social distancing had slowed the spread of the virus , resulting in fewer hospitalizations than estimates predicted .
Under a worst-case scenario and without any mitigation efforts , state models predicted a peak of nearly 700,000 hospitalizations from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But he noted that adherence to the stay-at-home order , which Newsom announced nearly a month ago , now suggested that “ the difference between what we ’ re seeing today in our hospitals may not be that much different than where we are going to peak in the many weeks to come.
” The governor said Monday that 3,015 people had been hospitalized in the state , including 1,178 who were receiving intensive care .
Nearly half of those hospitalized are in L.A. County , according to public health officials .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in L.A. County , including almost 500 people who are in ICU beds , according to data collected from several hospitals by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services .
About 22 % of COVID-19 patients in ICU are on ventilators , according to the agency .
Although high for California , those numbers are still a fraction of what New York continues to see , where 1,600 additional COVID-19 cases were reported Monday , according to state officials .
“ Lives lost yesterday , 778 , ” New York Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ That number is up .
To me that ’ s the most painful number and it has been the most painful number every day , and those New Yorkers are in our thoughts and prayers .
You look at the past few days and the number of lives lost , it ’ s basically flat at a devastating level of pain and grief but evidence is , everything else we ’ re seeing is basically a flattening at this level.
” Although life is still a long way from returning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the economy could return to normal in the coming months under the right circumstances .
“ Is it wearing masks ?
Probably .
Is it continuing to restrict large gatherings ?
Yeah , probably , ” said Dr. George Rutherford , an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco .
“ When we return to work , do we all go back on the same day , or do we stagger that ?
Is it continuing to have older people stay home more than they would otherwise ?
Yeah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UCLA medical epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert , said by summertime , perhaps in the middle of June to the end of July , there may be a nuanced , tailored approach for getting people back to work and easing stay-at-home orders .
But those may not be a one-size-fits-all approach .
“ I think this is the most significant public health pandemic of our lifetimes , ” he said .
“ That is something to recognize .
”

Colleen Shalby, Taryn Luna, Rong-Gong Lin II, Alene Tchekmedyian, Jaclyn Cosgrove

Two couples socially distance themselves while walking through Elysian Park on a cloudy Monday.
Los Angeles County health officials Tuesday confirmed 40 more deaths linked to the coronavirus, the highest number reported in a single day.
The county’s death toll now stands at 360, Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said, noting that the mortality rate has increased to 3.6%.
Ferrer confirmed 670 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the county’s total to more than 10,000. Officials have previously said the case count includes people who have recovered, but there is no way to track those numbers.
Of more than 63,000 people who have been tested in the county, 11% were positive. Ferrer said that percentage could indicate that of Los Angeles County’s 10 million residents, “we could have as many as 1 million people at some point in time” who are infected. Of course, not every individual will obtain testing for COVID-19.
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Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Tuesday that, thanks to increased testing capacity, anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can now book a same- or next-day appointment.
“Great news for anybody who’s feeling under the weather and has the symptoms,” he said at a news briefing.
Coronavirus cases in California have surpassed 25,000 as the state enters a new phase of the crisis: figuring out how and when to lift social distancing rules that have been credited with keeping deaths in the state relatively low.
California has seen more than 760 COVID-19 deaths, a fraction of the toll in hot spots such as New York and New Jersey.
Whereas New York has seen more than 195,000 confirmed cases, a rate of almost 1,000 cases per 100,000 people, California’s rate of cases remains closer to 62 cases per 100,000 people. In New Jersey, the rate of cases was 727 cases per 100,000 people, as of Monday.
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Although state officials say California won’t hit a peak until May — and Los Angeles County has already extended its safer-at-home order until May 15, with the possibility of a further extension — officials are beginning to talk about how the economy could be restarted.
Gov. Gavin Newsom outlined the plan at his news briefing Tuesday. Before the stay-at-home order can be modified, California will need to increase testing, protect high-risk residents and expand hospital capacity, he said.
“I want you to know it’s not, it will not be a permanent state,” Newsom said of the restrictions put in place to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus. “We recognize the consequences of the stay-at-home orders have a profound impact on the economy, your personal household budget, your personal prospects around your future.”
The framework was developed in partnership with the governor’s counterparts in Washington and Oregon.
The number of new coronavirus cases reported daily across California shows signs of flattening. In hard-hit Los Angeles County , 25 additional deaths were reported Monday but only 239 new cases, the lowest daily case count since March 26.
“That’s a good thing,” Ferrer said.
But the numbers jumped again Tuesday.
Like Newsom, Ferrer said the county is considering modification scenarios but is not ready to implement a change in its restrictive measures.
“We will not ease restrictions until everything is in place,” she said.
Chief Executive Sachi A. Hamai sent a letter to all county employees announcing that they must wear cloth face coverings when interacting with one another and the public, effective Wednesday.
Starting at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, the public will be required to wear face coverings at essential businesses in L.A. County, including shopping at grocery stores and visiting a doctor.
“You can make your own mask or use a scarf, bandana or old shirt,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger tweeted. “Thanks for keeping yourself and your community safe!”
Starting tomorrow, it’s mandatory to wear a face covering when you go to an essential business, including grocery shopping or going to a medical appointment. You can make your own mask or use a scarf, bandana, or old shirt. Thanks for keeping yourself and your community safe! pic.twitter.com/05j3cRgyZv — Supervisor Kathryn Barger (@kathrynbarger) April 14, 2020
Garcetti announced a similar order last week, requiring all residents to wear a face covering when visiting the majority of essential businesses, in hopes that it will protect workers and slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Barger said deputies will give warnings and may carry extra masks to encourage compliance.
“If it escalates, a deputy may opt to issue a citation, and a store can refuse service to someone not taking precautions,” she tweeted.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva, however, said Tuesday that deputies will not cite people for mask violations.
“We are looking for voluntary compliance. We have discussed it with all the police chiefs in the county,” Villanueva said. “We aren’t talking enforcement here.”
As of Monday, sheriff’s officials had issued 19 coronavirus-related citations, including to owners of nonessential businesses who have stayed open in violation of the county’s stay-at-home order.
“They tend to run a gamut, but the one I think we’ve seen more than once are typically bars,” Villanueva has said.
L.A. City Atty. Mike Feuer said Tuesday that his office has charged 10 more nonessential businesses for staying open after they were warned to close, bringing the total to 14. He said they included a print shop, a spa, a beauty supply store and smoke shops.
Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, said Monday that the state’s stay-at-home order and social distancing had slowed the spread of the virus, resulting in fewer hospitalizations than estimates predicted.
Under a worst-case scenario and without any mitigation efforts, state models predicted a peak of nearly 700,000 hospitalizations from COVID-19, Ghaly said last week. But he noted that adherence to the stay-at-home order, which Newsom announced nearly a month ago, now suggested that “the difference between what we’re seeing today in our hospitals may not be that much different than where we are going to peak in the many weeks to come.”
The governor said Monday that 3,015 people had been hospitalized in the state, including 1,178 who were receiving intensive care.
Nearly half of those hospitalized are in L.A. County, according to public health officials.
At least 1,334 residents are hospitalized with COVID-19 in L.A. County, including almost 500 people who are in ICU beds, according to data collected from several hospitals by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.
About 22% of COVID-19 patients in ICU are on ventilators, according to the agency.
Although high for California, those numbers are still a fraction of what New York continues to see, where 1,600 additional COVID-19 cases were reported Monday, according to state officials.
“Lives lost yesterday, 778,” New York Gov. Andrew Guomo said during a briefing Tuesday. “That number is up. To me that’s the most painful number and it has been the most painful number every day, and those New Yorkers are in our thoughts and prayers. You look at the past few days and the number of lives lost, it’s basically flat at a devastating level of pain and grief but evidence is, everything else we’re seeing is basically a flattening at this level.”
Although life is still a long way from returning to pre-pandemic norms, some scientists believe parts of the economy could return to normal in the coming months under the right circumstances.
“Is it wearing masks? Probably. Is it continuing to restrict large gatherings? Yeah, probably,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco. “When we return to work, do we all go back on the same day, or do we stagger that? Is it continuing to have older people stay home more than they would otherwise? Yeah, probably.”
Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, a UCLA medical epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert, said by summertime, perhaps in the middle of June to the end of July, there may be a nuanced, tailored approach for getting people back to work and easing stay-at-home orders. But those may not be a one-size-fits-all approach.
“I think this is the most significant public health pandemic of our lifetimes,” he said. “That is something to recognize.”
Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.