latimes--2020-12-29--Stay-at-home order for much of California extended amid COVID-19 overload at hospitals

Southern California will remain under a stay-at-home order for the foreseeable future , state officials said Tuesday , meaning the region will enter 2021 with significant restrictions on the struggling economy as hospitals face unprecedented struggles with a flood of COVID-19 patients .
While not unexpected , Tuesday ’ s extension of the stay-at-home order for both Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley is yet another cold splash of reality that the pandemic will upend life well into the new year , despite the promise of the new vaccines .
The stay-at-home order was increasingly unpopular among residents as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave , especially the ban on outdoor restaurant dining , before the severity of the hospital crisis became clear .
But even as the coronavirus has rapidly spread over the last two months and there has been an alarming rise in daily deaths , there are signs that the rules are finally offering some relief .
While total cases and hospitalizations continue to set new daily records , the pace of the growth has slowed in recent weeks .
The average daily number of cases reported over a weeklong period has fallen slightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45,000 a day for the seven-day period ending Dec. 22 .
By Monday night , the average daily number of new coronavirus cases was about 38,000 .
Southern California and the Central Valley remain the California COVID red zone .
But in the Bay Area , officials believe the restrictions have saved lives .
Following the stay-at-home order that went into effect on Dec. 6 , San Francisco ’ s public health department estimated more than 500 deaths were prevented and hundreds of hospitalizations were avoided .
But that might be short-lived , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear a new wave of infections from gatherings and travel around Christmas .
Such a spike would not become clear for another week .
There ’ s no timetable for when the restrictions could be relaxed .
Dr. Mark Ghaly , California ’ s health and human services secretary said that they are in effect “ for the time being ” and that the decision to lift them hinges on ICU projections four weeks into the future .
California on Monday again recorded its highest number of new coronavirus infections in a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tally included a backlog from the long Christmas weekend , during which many counties did not issue reports , officials have said they expect that in the coming weeks there will be another surge in new infections stemming from gatherings and travel over the winter holidays .
Any significant spikes in coronavirus cases , experts warn , will invariably trigger a corresponding increase in the number of people needing to be hospitalized two to three weeks later .
Hospitals statewide are already caring for more than 20,000 coronavirus-positive patients , the greatest number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many of the hospital leaders that I ’ ve talked to in Southern California are bracing for exactly that : a significant surge , a significant need to not only deal with what we ’ ve seen up until now , but an even more extreme condition in the middle and second part of January , ” Ghaly said .
The state-defined Southern California and San Joaquin Valley regions have been under the latest stay-at-home order since Dec. 6 .
Those regions cover a combined 23 counties that are home to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Imperial , Inyo , Los Angeles , Mono , Orange , Riverside , San Bernardino , San Diego , San Luis Obispo , Santa Barbara , Ventura , Calaveras , Fresno , Kern , Kings , Madera , Mariposa , Merced , San Benito , San Joaquin , Stanislaus , Tulare and Tuolumne .
Officials have said the most recent round of restrictions — which include reduced capacity at retail stores ; the closure of some businesses , including hair salons , nail salons , card rooms , museums , zoos and aquariums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hotel stays for tourism and outdoor restaurant dining — are aimed at armoring hospitals against a torrent of COVID-19 patients .
The orders are put into place when a region ’ s intensive care unit bed availability falls below 15 % , as has now happened in four of the state ’ s five defined regions : Southern California , San Joaquin Valley , the Bay Area and Greater Sacramento .
Only rural Northern California is currently not subject to the additional rules .
Once implemented , the restrictions have a mandatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after that , depending on a region ’ s expected hospital conditions in the near future .
The state ’ s assessment is based on four factors : ICU capacity , the rate of ICU admission , the seven-day average coronavirus case rate and the transmission rate .
Projections are made on a daily basis .
If a region ’ s projected ICU availability reaches or exceeds 15 % , it is released from the stay-at-home order .
If not , the order remains in place .
However , that ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again for at least another three weeks , ” Ghaly said of the extensions .
“ It could be shorter than that , depending on how these four factors come together on a day-over-day basis.
” Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley hit their initial three-week minimum Monday .
But both regions have languished at 0 % availability in their ICUs for more than a week .
Despite the startling percentage , that doesn ’ t mean there are no ICU beds ; the state uses a weighted formula to ensure some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have COVID-19 .
“ Whether or not we can eventually increase our ICU capacity to an adequate level is up to the behaviors of Los Angeles County residents — and the residents of all Southern California , ” Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said Tuesday in a statement .
“ COVID-19 cases are not limited to the borders of one county.
” However , even as hospitals stagger from COVID-19 overload and brace for more cases , a small ray of hope dawned Monday , indicating the stay-at-home order is starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely be some weeks before this flattening of new coronavirus cases results in a slight easing of new hospitalizations — a small reprieve ahead of what officials and experts expect will be another surge in new infections stemming from gatherings and travel over the winter holidays .
California ’ s hospitals are in crisis already .
Statewide , 20,390 coronavirus-positive patients were hospitalized as of Monday , and 4,308 of them were in the ICU .
Both those figures are highs and represent increases of 43 % and 40 % , respectively , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County , hospitals are so overcrowded that some have had to convert conference rooms and gift shops into patient care areas .
Others report such high demand for oxygen by COVID-19 patients that they ’ re having trouble maintaining air pressure in the pipes or experiencing shortages in supply .
Ghaly compared the situation facing hospitals to a rubber band .
It can be stretched , but eventually there ’ s a breaking point .
“ If you stretch far enough , certainly the ability to address all of a patient ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new patients , becomes harder , ” he said .
“ And certainly care can — and is — suffering because of the level of overwhelm some of these facilities have taken on.
” Ghaly said the plateau in average new daily coronavirus cases could offer a slight respite .
However , officials have said they fully expect that hospitals will get hit by a mid-January wave of patients who were infected at Christmas and New Year ’ s gatherings , underscoring the importance of even a small dip in infections now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little bit of a plateau , ” he said .
Without this flattening , “ the impact that we anticipate coming from Christmas [ and ] New Year ’ s would be even worse.
” That ’ s all the more reason to show that many new coronavirus infections , hospitalizations and deaths can easily be prevented if people stay home and forgo gatherings outside their household for New Year ’ s , he added .
“ Much of what we ’ re dealing with is avoidable , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be stopped , if we collectively make decisions to stop it.
” The average daily number of new coronavirus cases has also begun to flatten in L.A. County , generally hovering around 14,000 a day over the last 12 days .
County officials warn , however , that for hospitals to become safer , the caseload needs to level off at a significantly lower point .
A tally of 14,000 to 15,000 cases a day “ is way too high for us to take any solace in , ” L.A. County Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ d have to level off at a much lower rate for us to protect our hospitals .
”

Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II, Ryan Murphy

Southern California will remain under a stay-at-home order for the foreseeable future, state officials said Tuesday, meaning the region will enter 2021 with significant restrictions on its struggling economy as hundreds of Californians die every day and hospitals face unprecedented pressures from a flood of COVID-19 patients.
While not unexpected, Tuesday’s extension of the stay-at-home order for both Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley is yet another cold splash of reality that the pandemic will upend life into the new year, despite the promise of the new vaccines.
Restrictions on businesses, especially the ban on outdoor restaurant dining, were increasingly unpopular among some as the pandemic dragged into its third wave, before the severity of the hospital crisis became clear.
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As the coronavirus has rapidly spread over the last two months — sparking an alarming rise in deaths, which are now occurring in California once every six minutes — there are finally signs that the rules that went into effect three weeks ago are offering some relief.
While total cases and hospitalizations continue to set new daily records, the pace of growth has slowed. The average number of cases reported statewide has fallen slightly from a peak of about 45,000 a day for the weeklong period that ended Dec. 22 to about 38,000 a day by Monday night.
California’s hospitals remain in crisis, but the daily increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations has also eased recently. Net hospitalizations rose by an average of 113 every day for the weeklong period that ended Dec. 19. For the most recent comparable period, the net increase in hospitalizations was 79 a day.
The crisis is striking some areas of the state harder than others.
Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley remain in the COVID-19 red zone, with 0% available capacity in their intensive care units. But in the Bay Area, officials believe pandemic-related restrictions have stabilized the region’s remaining supply of available ICU capacity, which has been hovering around 10%.
The Greater Sacramento region is even better off, with ICU availability stable at 19%.
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As a result of the stay-at-home order that went into effect on Dec. 6, San Francisco’s public health department estimates that more than 500 deaths have been prevented, along with an even greater number of hospitalizations.
But these gains might be short-lived, as officials throughout California fear the state will have to wrestle with a new wave of infections stemming from gatherings and travel around Christmas and New Year’s. The ramifications of choices Californians make for those holidays will not become clear for another week or two.
The regional stay-at-home restrictions in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley will be relaxed as soon as the available ICU capacity in a region, forecast four weeks out, meets or exceeds 15%, said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s health and human services secretary. There are four factors that go into the calculation: available ICU capacity, the rate of ICU admissions, the seven-day average coronavirus case rate and the virus transmission rate.
California on Monday again recorded its highest number of new coronavirus infections in a single day, 66,811. Though that tally included a backlog from the long Christmas weekend, during which many counties did not issue reports, officials have said they expect that in the coming weeks there will be another surge in new infections stemming from gatherings and travel over the winter holidays.
Any significant spikes in coronavirus cases, experts warn, will invariably trigger a corresponding increase in the number of people needing to be hospitalized two to three weeks later. Hospitals statewide are already caring for more than 20,000 coronavirus-positive patients, the greatest number since the pandemic began. About 12% of people with diagnosed coronavirus infections will need to be hospitalized, and 12% of those patients will need ICU care.
“Frankly, many of the hospital leaders that I’ve talked to in Southern California are bracing for exactly that: a significant surge, a significant need to not only deal with what we’ve seen up until now, but an even more extreme condition in the middle and second part of January,” Ghaly said.
The state-defined Southern California and San Joaquin Valley regions have been under the latest stay-at-home order since Dec. 6. The orders are put into place when a region’s intensive care unit bed availability falls below 15%.
Those regions cover a combined 23 counties that are home to the bulk of California’s population: Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne.
San Francisco and four other Bay Area counties also decided to implement the regional stay-at-home order around the same time. The state imposed the restrictions in the Greater Sacramento region on Dec. 10, and the holdout Bay Area counties were required to implement the order on Dec. 17.
Officials have said the most recent round of restrictions — which include reduced capacity at retail stores; the closure of some businesses, including hair salons, nail salons, card rooms, museums, zoos and aquariums; and a prohibition on most gatherings, hotel stays for tourism and outdoor restaurant dining — are aimed at armoring hospitals against a torrent of COVID-19 patients.
Only rural Northern California, with 28% available ICU capacity, is not subject to the additional rules.
In L.A. County, hospitals are so overcrowded that some have had to convert conference rooms and gift shops into patient care areas. Others report such high demand for oxygen by COVID-19 patients that they’re having trouble maintaining air pressure in the pipes or experiencing shortages in supply.
“Whether or not we can eventually increase our ICU capacity to an adequate level is up to the behaviors of Los Angeles County residents — and the residents of all Southern California,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said in a statement Tuesday. “COVID-19 cases are not limited to the borders of one county.”
Ghaly compared the situation facing hospitals to a rubber band: It can be stretched, but eventually there’s a breaking point.
“If you stretch far enough, certainly the ability to address all of a patient’s needs — to address the demands of new patients — becomes harder,” he said. The quality of healthcare provided has suffered because of how much hospitals have been overwhelmed, he added.
Ghaly said the plateau in average new daily coronavirus cases could offer a slight respite. But officials have said they fully expect that hospitals will get hit by a mid-January wave of patients who were infected at Christmas and New Year’s gatherings, underscoring the importance of even a small dip in infections now.
“We’re pleased to see a little bit of a plateau,” he said. Without this flattening, “the impact that we anticipate coming from Christmas [and] New Year’s would be even worse.”
That’s all the more reason to show that many new coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and deaths can easily be prevented if people stay home and forgo gatherings outside their household for New Year’s, he added.
“Much of what we’re dealing with is avoidable,” he said. “Much of what we are seeing can be stopped, if we collectively make decisions to stop it.”
L.A. County health officials last week urged the film industry to pause its work and refrain from traveling because of the COVID-19 surge. CBS Studios is delaying the resumption of production on a few of its shows that are on winter hiatus by a week, to Jan. 11, according to a person familiar with the matter who declined to be named.
The average daily number of new coronavirus cases has also begun to flatten in L.A. County, generally hovering near 14,000 a day over the last 12 days.
County officials warn, however, that for hospitals to become safer, the caseload needs to level off at a significantly lower point.
A tally of 14,000 to 15,000 cases a day “is way too high for us to take any solace in,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said last week. “We’d have to level off at a much lower rate for us to protect our hospitals.”
Times staff writer Wendy Lee contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-29--Amigo Bob Cantisano, a towering figure in the West Coast's organic farming movement, dies at 69

Amigo Bob Cantisano , a ninth-generation Californian , put his life ’ s work into the state ’ s very soil — beginning , fittingly enough , on the first Earth Day in 1970 .
At an event in Berkeley , he listened to a speaker decry what pesticides introduced after World War II were doing to the environment , farmworkers and food .
His course was set .
Cantisano , a Bay Area native , joined a generation of largely urban youth who moved back to the land and began farming as a way to reform the food industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California organic farming , ” said Tom Willey , a Madera farmer and another elder of the organic movement .
“ He had such knowledge and authority that he was responsible for taking organics beyond small farmers like ourselves .
He was determined to remove as much toxins as he could.
” Cantisano , who battled cancer for several years , died Saturday at his North San Juan farm , Heaven and Earth , which he revered as both .
He was 69 .
His legacy lives in the state ’ s rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rescued heirloom fruit and nut trees in the Sierra foothills .
His was a mission to revolutionize farming — including large-scale agriculture — by cutting the use of toxic chemicals .
Alice Waters , the owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley and a fellow food activist , said that the movement Cantisano helped create is key to the future of California ’ s agriculture .
“ It took someone rare like him to get people ’ s attention , ” she said .
“ What he inspired led to the silver lining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be able to create in this state.
” Cantisano started California ’ s first natural foods distribution company and its first organic farm supply company , as well as the state ’ s first — and for many years only — organic crop consulting agency .
In 1973 , he helped found California Certified Organic Farmers , setting organic standards .
He was also one of the founders of the Committee for Sustainable Agriculture , which sponsors the EcoFarm Conference .
The event , held every January in Pacific Grove , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world of sustainable agriculture .
Bestselling author Michael Pollan , who writes about the socio-cultural impacts of food , said Cantisano carried in him the sum total of organic practices .
“ Organic agriculture was not developed in a laboratory or at the university or a land grant , but willy-nilly by hundreds of pioneering farmers .
He was one of those people , ” Pollan said .
“ But even more than that , he was the way that the knowledge any individual farmer was developing would spread to other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of knowledge.
” When Cantisano ’ s farming days began , the early organic communal farms were called radical and considered a communist threat to California .
Later , his work bridging the divide between small , organic farms and conventional , commercial agriculture sometimes drew the criticism of small farmers who then had to compete with large enterprises for the organic market share .
It also created unlikely partnerships .
Sam Earnshaw , whose specialty is increasing bio-diversity on farms , recalls accompanying Cantisano to the palatial headquarters of one large Salinas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of shorts , sandals and rainbow-colored tie-dye who went by the nickname “ Amigo ” since his teen years , spoke to a boardroom full of no-nonsense farm managers about organic techniques .
“ They treated him with the utmost respect .
He had encyclopedic knowledge .
He listened to their problems .
He never went in saying , ‘ You ’ re diabolical.
’ He always offered alternatives , ” Earnshaw said .
In 2003 , Cantisano and his wife , Jenifer Bliss , founded the Felix Gillet Institute with partner Adam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the French nurseryman who first brought the trees and vines planted at stagecoach stops and homesteads throughout the California foothills in the late 1800s .
The hope was that cataloguing and propagating those heirloom varieties could help develop food sources more able to survive a warmer , drier planet than single-variety crops .
Near the end of his life , Cantisano expressed frustration that organic farming was still only a small slice of agriculture — even as environmental threats increased .
But he was never consumed by the disappointment .
He liked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Sierra and dance .
“ Amigo was about adding life , whether it was microbes in the soil or turning up the music , ” Earnshaw said .
“ He always said perseverance and diligence are the key to getting things to change .
And lately I ’ ve been thinking he was talking about more than farming.
” Bliss said that the morning after her husband died , she was awakened by a small earthquake .
“ Maybe this sounds strange , ” she said .
“ But it felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a man who had worked all his life to protect it .
”

Amigo Bob Cantisano, a ninth-generation Californian, put his life’s work into the state’s very soil — beginning, fittingly enough, on the first Earth Day in 1970.
At an event at San Francisco State he listened to a speaker decry what pesticides introduced after World War II were doing to the environment, farmworkers and food.
His course was set. Cantisano, a Bay Area native, joined a generation of largely urban youth who moved back to the land and began farming as a way to reform the food industry.
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“He was the godfather of California organic farming,” said Tom Willey, a Madera farmer and another elder of the organic movement. “He had such knowledge and authority that he was responsible for taking organics beyond small farmers like ourselves. He was determined to remove as much toxins as he could.”
Cantisano, who battled cancer for several years, died Saturday at his North San Juan farm, Heaven and Earth, which he revered as both. He was 69.
His legacy lives in the state’s rich landscape, from pesticide-free vineyards in Napa to rescued heirloom fruit and nut trees in the Sierra foothills. His was a mission to revolutionize farming — including large-scale agriculture — by cutting the use of toxic chemicals.
Food Growers Reap Benefits of Move to Organic Farming Bob Cantisano is an organic farmer with a ponytail that reaches the small of his back.
Alice Waters, the owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley and a fellow food activist, said the movement Cantisano helped create is key to the future of California’s agriculture.
“It took someone rare like him to get people’s attention,” she said. “What he inspired led to the silver lining of the better food system that we might be able to create in this state.”
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Cantisano started California’s first natural foods distribution company and its first organic farm supply company, as well as one of the state’s first — and for many years only — organic crop consulting agency.
In 1973, he helped found California Certified Organic Farmers, setting organic standards. He was also one of the founders of the Committee for Sustainable Agriculture, which sponsors the EcoFarm Conference. The event, held every January in Pacific Grove, is still one of the most influential events in the world of sustainable agriculture.
Bestselling author Michael Pollan, who writes about the socio-cultural impacts of food, said Cantisano carried in him the sum total of organic practices.
“Organic agriculture was not developed in a laboratory or at the university or a land grant, but willy-nilly by hundreds of pioneering farmers. He was one of those people,” Pollan said.
“But even more than that, he was the way that the knowledge any individual farmer was developing would spread to other farmers. He was a pollinating honeybee of knowledge.”
Cantisano was born in San Francisco in June 1951. His father was a jazz disc jockey who also announced games for the Golden State Warriors. Family lore had it that his mother, then a homemaker, was related to Karl Marx. He spent summers at his paternal grandmother’s, where he first learned to garden.
The early organic communal farms he joined were called radical and considered a communist threat to California.
Later, his work bridging the divide between small, organic farms and conventional, commercial agriculture sometimes drew the criticism of small farmers who then had to compete with large enterprises for organic market share. It also created unlikely partnerships.
Sam Earnshaw, whose specialty is increasing biodiversity on farms, recalls accompanying Cantisano to the palatial headquarters of one large Salinas business. Cantisano, an unwavering aficionado of shorts, sandals and rainbow-colored tie-dye who went by the nickname “Amigo” since his teen years, spoke to a boardroom full of no-nonsense farm managers about organic techniques.
“They treated him with the utmost respect. He had encyclopedic knowledge. He listened to their problems. He never went in saying, ‘You’re diabolical.’ He always offered alternatives,” Earnshaw said.
In 2003, Cantisano and his future wife, Jenifer Bliss, founded the Felix Gillet Institute with partner Adam Nuber. The institute was named after the French nurseryman who first brought the trees and vines planted at stagecoach stops and homesteads throughout the California foothills in the late 1800s. The hope was that cataloguing and propagating those heirloom varieties could help develop food sources more able to survive a warmer, drier planet than single-variety crops.
Near the end of his life, Cantisano expressed frustration that organic farming was still only a small slice of agriculture — even as environmental threats increased.
But he was never consumed by the disappointment. He liked to swim in lakes and rivers and hike in the Sierra and dance.
“Amigo was about adding life, whether it was microbes in the soil or turning up the music,” Earnshaw said.
“He always said perseverance and diligence are the key to getting things to change. And lately I’ve been thinking he was talking about more than farming.”
He is survived by his father, Martin; his second wife, Jenifer Bliss; sister Nancy Cantisano; four children, Brook Cantisano, Cirra Mason, Amber Stegner and Tierra Kampas; their mother, Kalita Todd; and five grandchildren.
Bliss said that the morning after her husband died, she was awakened by a small earthquake.
“Maybe this sounds strange,” she said. “But it felt like the Earth was giving a send-off to a man who had worked all his life to protect it.”


latimes--2020-12-29--Column: California's battle over mask wearing began 102 years ago. Stupid then, stupid now

The petition to the City Council was straightforward : Enact a mandatory mask policy to combat the pandemic , or “ the disease will come back again , and will exact a heavier toll than ever.
” Seven hundred residents , doctors and concerned citizens alike , signed the document .
But the council members who heard their pleas wouldn ’ t have it .
One said masks left the wearer “ breathing in the foul air which they exhale.
” Another cracked he might be more sympathetic to the issue “ if the doctors would come through and agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of them could agree at all.
” Still another said he would “ not propose to take the advice of a lot of outsiders.
” And so the petition failed — even as five of nine council members who mulled it over either suffered from the virus or had to quarantine because their family members had it .
For over a century , historians and health officials have marveled at how Los Angeles weathered the so-called Spanish flu better than most major American cities .
Most of the credit goes to City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered business and school shutdowns early on to flatten the curve while other metro areas didn ’ t .
But Powers never implemented a mask ordinance , despite having the power and multiple opportunities to do so .
The non-move might serve as vindication to today ’ s pandejos and maskholes , who use a lot of the same whines that their counterparts did a century ago .
But a look back at the face-off between maskers and anti-maskers during the height of the Spanish flu actually offers a cautionary tale that should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official had a chance to help save even more lives , and blew it .
“ There are a variety of variables ” to explain why Los Angeles suffered less than other towns , said J. Alexander Navarro .
He ’ s a medical historian at the University of Michigan who helps edit the school ’ s online Influenza Encyclopedia , the nation ’ s most comprehensive public archive of the 1918 flu .
But if Powers had required everyone to wear masks in public , that “ would ’ ve had an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Assn .
that found that cities which instituted multiple “ non-pharmaceutical interventions ” — quarantines , social distancing , masks and the like — suffered less than those that went with one or none .
He compared the strategies to , of all things , slices of Swiss cheese .
“ They all have holes , ” Navarro said .
“ Alone , they ’ re not effective .
But if you stack them together , you start to layer up those slices , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t go the whole way.
” This is how Powers dealt Los Angeles a metaphorical bag of shredded cheddar .
The widespread use of masks in Los Angeles seemed imminent when the Spanish flu slammed California in the fall of 1918 .
San Francisco issued a citywide order for anyone outside their homes ; San Diego required them for anyone serving the public , like restaurant employees or bank tellers .
Gov .
William D. Stephens , running for reelection , urged Californians to wear masks , opining that the practice offers “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rendered to our fellow-men and to our country.
” This quick mainstreaming had an immediate impact on the public .
The Times reported on Oct. 23 that masks around Los Angeles “ were quite common in large offices ... where the general public is coming and going all day in numbers.
” The following day , L.A. Mayor Frederick Woodman brought a resolution to the City Council to enforce mask wearing , and even donned one in support of the cause .
But the measure went nowhere , mostly because of Powers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ once the mass of the people as to how to use the masks properly is obvious , ” he told the council .
“ When care is not exercised , the masks are useless.
” The council went on to pass a resolution that merely advised the public to use masks , instead of making them obligatory .
The matter came back two weeks later and was rejected again .
By then , Powers had penned a bulletin published in the city ’ s dailies that asked Angelenos “ respectfully ” to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by willingly entering into this public duty without being forced.
” This time , the council was now hostile to the idea , with President Bert Farmer stating , “ All this talk about making the wearing of masks compulsory sounds to me like bunk.
” Cases and deaths were dropping at the time , so that lulled a public and press once receptive to a mask ordinance to now ignore them altogether , if not outright ridicule their use .
“ In going the distance six or seven masks might be encountered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thanksgiving Eve scene that year in downtown L.A. , “ while from fifty to seventy-five people without masks were sneezing and coughing as they hurried along , apparently unmindful of other people ’ s germs and not stingy with their own.
” By then , this paper openly referred to masks as “ muzzles , ” published editorial cartoons mocking their advocates , and opined “ it is might hard for a man to look like statesman when he goes forth on the thoroughfares with his mush embedded in a gauze nosebag.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editorial titled “ Adios ‘ Flu ’ Scare !
” the paper ’ s editorial board wrote there was no proof that any preventive measure “ averted a single case of the disease or saved a single life .
The real sufferers are the men and women whose incomes have been stopped , whose businesses have been all but ruined.
” The Times spoke too soon : The city was just about to get walloped by a second wave .
By January , as Los Angeles weathered yet another wave , Powers finally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold a public hearing on the matter .
That ’ s when a group calling itself the Citizens League to Aid the Suppression of Influenza presented the petition signed by more than 700 .
But just before the meeting , the California State Board of Health issued a memo that said mask policies have “ no effect whatever ” in stopping the flu yet recommended their use due to the “ theoretical possibilities ” of preventing the spread .
L.A. Police Chief John Butler said he thought it would be hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police department would do the Health Department ’ s bidding at any and all times.
” At the end , the council — though skeptical — deferred to Powers .
“ I shall not recommend the passage of a flu mask ordinance today , ” he said .
The myth that masks did nothing to stop the flu burrowed itself into the Angeleno ego .
The Times published charts that showed how cities that enacted face-cover policies suffered far worse than L.A. And , in a particularly cruel volley in the eternal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this paper labeled the latter “ City of Masks ” in a Jan. 21 story boasting that their “ flu toll is far above ours.
” A week later , The Times ’ editorial board pilloried the “ many physicians ” who had asked for a mask ban , proclaiming that the State Board of Health found “ conclusively that the compulsory wearing of masks does not affect the progress of the epidemic.
” “ Again the people of Southern California , ” this paper concluded , “ can give thanks that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powers never fully explained his opposition to mask decrees despite his personal belief that everyone should wear one .
But one thing is certain : The debate featured none of the rancor about tyranny and liberties that dominates the conversation right now .
“ The big difference , today it ’ s much more partisan and politicized , ” Navarro said .
“ It might ’ ve come down to personal ideology [ during the Spanish flu ] , but that didn ’ t translate into national politics in the way it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report to the City Council that addressed the Spanish flu , Powers admitted that his team “ was ill prepared to take on any extra work , much less the control of such a severe and rapid epidemic.
” He did not mention the debate over face coverings but did say any spikes happened “ to a great extent upon the holidays and increased or diminished by contacts or exposure.
” Now , imagine if he had mandated masks .

The petition to the City Council was straightforward: Enact a mandatory mask policy to combat the pandemic, or “the disease will come back again, and will exact a heavier toll than ever.”
Seven hundred residents, doctors and concerned citizens alike, signed the document. But the council members who heard their pleas wouldn’t have it.
One said masks left the wearer “breathing in the foul air which they exhale.” Another cracked he might be more sympathetic to the issue “if the doctors would come through and agree on some one thing, or if any of them could agree at all.” Still another said he would “not propose to take the advice of a lot of outsiders.”
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And so the petition failed — even as five of nine council members who mulled it over either suffered from the virus or had to quarantine because their family members had it.
Huntington Beach, 2020? Try Los Angeles, 1919.
For over a century, historians and health officials have marveled at how Los Angeles weathered the so-called Spanish flu better than most major American cities. Most of the credit goes to City Health Commissioner Dr. Luther Powers, who ordered business and school shutdowns early on to flatten the curve while other metro areas didn’t.
But Powers never implemented a mask ordinance, despite having the power and multiple opportunities to do so.
The non-move might serve as vindication to today’s pandejos and maskholes, who use a lot of the same whines that their counterparts did a century ago. But a look back at the face-off between maskers and anti-maskers during the height of the Spanish flu actually offers a cautionary tale that should haunt us today:
A public health official had a chance to help save even more lives, and blew it.
“There are a variety of variables” to explain why Los Angeles suffered less than other towns, said J. Alexander Navarro. He’s a medical historian at the University of Michigan who helps edit the school’s online Influenza Encyclopedia, the nation’s most comprehensive public archive of the 1918 flu. But if Powers had required everyone to wear masks in public, that “would’ve had an impact.”
In 2007, Navarro coauthored a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. that found that cities which instituted multiple “non-pharmaceutical interventions” — quarantines, social distancing, masks and the like — suffered less than those that went with one or none. He compared the strategies to, of all things, slices of Swiss cheese.
“They all have holes,” Navarro said. “Alone, they’re not effective. But if you stack them together, you start to layer up those slices, and one of those holes don’t go the whole way.”
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This is how Powers dealt Los Angeles a metaphorical bag of shredded cheddar.
***
The widespread use of masks in Los Angeles seemed imminent when the Spanish flu slammed California in the fall of 1918. San Francisco issued a citywide order for anyone outside their homes; San Diego required them for anyone serving the public, like restaurant employees or bank tellers. Gov. William D. Stephens, running for reelection, urged Californians to wear masks, opining that the practice offers “but little discomfort and means a service rendered to our fellow-men and to our country.”
This quick mainstreaming had an immediate impact on the public. The Times reported on Oct. 23 that masks around Los Angeles “were quite common in large offices ... where the general public is coming and going all day in numbers.”
Oct. 24, 1918, photo in Los Angeles Times of the city’s draft board during a desertion hearing. (Los Angeles Times archives)
The following day, L.A. Mayor Frederick Woodman brought a resolution to the City Council to enforce mask wearing, and even donned one in support of the cause.
But the measure went nowhere, mostly because of Powers.
“The impossibility of educating all at once the mass of the people as to how to use the masks properly is obvious,” he told the council. “When care is not exercised, the masks are useless.”
The council went on to pass a resolution that merely advised the public to use masks, instead of making them obligatory.
The matter came back two weeks later and was rejected again. By then, Powers had penned a bulletin published in the city’s dailies that asked Angelenos “respectfully” to wear a mask so everyone could “benefit by willingly entering into this public duty without being forced.”
Nov. 7, 1918, bulletin by Los Angeles City Health Officer published in Los Angeles Times that urged Angelenos to wear masks in public. (Los Angeles Times archives)
This time, the council was now hostile to the idea, with President Bert Farmer stating, “All this talk about making the wearing of masks compulsory sounds to me like bunk.”
Cases and deaths were dropping at the time, so that lulled a public and press once receptive to a mask ordinance to now ignore them altogether, if not outright ridicule their use.
“In going the distance six or seven masks might be encountered,” The Times wrote about the Thanksgiving Eve scene that year in downtown L.A., “while from fifty to seventy-five people without masks were sneezing and coughing as they hurried along, apparently unmindful of other people’s germs and not stingy with their own.”
By then, this paper openly referred to masks as “muzzles,” published editorial cartoons mocking their advocates, and opined “it is might hard for a man to look like statesman when he goes forth on the thoroughfares with his mush embedded in a gauze nosebag.”
In a Dec. 1, 1918, editorial titled “Adios ‘Flu’ Scare!” the paper’s editorial board wrote there was no proof that any preventive measure “averted a single case of the disease or saved a single life. The real sufferers are the men and women whose incomes have been stopped, whose businesses have been all but ruined.”
Nov. 9, 1918, L.A. Times editorial cartoon mocking a pro-mask advocate. The paper increasingly ridiculed the use of masks to combat the Spanish flu. (Los Angeles Times archives)
The Times spoke too soon: The city was just about to get walloped by a second wave.
By January, as Los Angeles weathered yet another wave, Powers finally wrote up a mask mandate but decided to hold a public hearing on the matter. That’s when a group calling itself the Citizens League to Aid the Suppression of Influenza presented the petition signed by more than 700.
But just before the meeting, the California State Board of Health issued a memo that said mask policies have “no effect whatever” in stopping the flu yet recommended their use due to the “theoretical possibilities” of preventing the spread.
L.A. Police Chief John Butler said he thought it would be hard to enforce any measure “but asserted that the police department would do the Health Department’s bidding at any and all times.”
At the end, the council — though skeptical — deferred to Powers.
“I shall not recommend the passage of a flu mask ordinance today,” he said.
The myth that masks did nothing to stop the flu burrowed itself into the Angeleno ego. The Times published charts that showed how cities that enacted face-cover policies suffered far worse than L.A. And, in a particularly cruel volley in the eternal rivalry between us and San Francisco, this paper labeled the latter “City of Masks” in a Jan. 21 story boasting that their “flu toll is far above ours.”
Jan. 21, 1919, Los Angeles Times headline. (Los Angeles Times archives)
A week later, The Times’ editorial board pilloried the “many physicians” who had asked for a mask ban, proclaiming that the State Board of Health found “conclusively that the compulsory wearing of masks does not affect the progress of the epidemic.”
“Again the people of Southern California,” this paper concluded, “can give thanks that they live in an exceptionally favored land.”
Powers never fully explained his opposition to mask decrees despite his personal belief that everyone should wear one. But one thing is certain: The debate featured none of the rancor about tyranny and liberties that dominates the conversation right now.
“The big difference, today it’s much more partisan and politicized,” Navarro said. “It might’ve come down to personal ideology [during the Spanish flu], but that didn’t translate into national politics in the way it has today.”
In a Department of Health report to the City Council that addressed the Spanish flu, Powers admitted that his team “was ill prepared to take on any extra work, much less the control of such a severe and rapid epidemic.”
He did not mention the debate over face coverings but did say any spikes happened “to a great extent upon the holidays and increased or diminished by contacts or exposure.”
Now, imagine if he had mandated masks.


latimes--2020-12-29--L.A. County hospitals turn away ambulances, put patients in gift shop: 'I've never seen anything lik

L.A. County hospitals turn away ambulances, put patients in gift shop: 'I've never seen anything like this'

At Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center , the breaking point came Sunday night .
There was not one available bed for at least 30 patients who needed intensive or intermediate levels of care , and the hospital had to shut its doors to all ambulance traffic for 12 hours .
Some patients , including the very sick who required intensive oxygen , experienced wait times as long as 18 hours to get into the intensive care unit .
The front entrance of Community Hospital of Huntington Park was closed to the public Monday ; the back of the building saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend , with one security guard saying the vehicles arrived as frequently as every half hour .
And Memorial Hospital of Gardena on Monday was running at 140 % capacity , forcing officials to ask for a four-hour suspension of new ambulance calls so it could move patients .
The hospital is struggling to keep enough oxygen and supplies on hand amid the crunch of COVID-19 patients who need it .
“ It ’ s a crisis — there ’ s no doubt about it , ” said Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Kevan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming.
” The crisis at Los Angeles County hospitals hit new levels as patients continued to stream in during the holiday weekend , and the medical system is bracing for a new wave of coronavirus spread arising from Christmas travel and gatherings .
L.A. County ’ s cumulative COVID-19 death toll is expected to climb past 10,000 this week .
Hospitals are so inundated that they ’ ve resorted to placing patients in conference rooms and gift shops .
But even so , many facilities are running out of space .
Virtually all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to divert ambulances with certain types of patients elsewhere during most hours .
On Sunday , 94 % of L.A. County hospitals that take in patients stemming from 911 calls were diverting some ambulances away .
“ But soon , there won ’ t be any places for these ambulances to go , ” said Dr. Christina Ghaly , the L.A. County health services director .
“ If every hospital is on diversion , then no hospital is on diversion.
” The number of people with COVID-19 inside L.A. County ’ s ICUs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rising to 1,449 on Sunday , the most recent data available .
Every day over the last week , there has been a net daily increase of 35 COVID-19 patients in ICUs — down slightly from 44 in mid-December but at a pace that ’ s packing even more critically ill patients into crowded facilities .
As of Monday morning , there were 54 available ICU beds across L.A. County , and half were for pediatric patients .
Two-thirds of staffed ICU beds in L.A. County are filled with COVID-19 patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it ’ s especially more pronounced and more serious for some of the smaller hospitals , ” Ghaly said .
“ Many hospitals have reached a crisis point and are having to make many tough decisions about patient care.
” There was evidence of this Monday in Huntington Park .
With Community Hospital closed to visitors , East 58th Street became a waiting room .
Cars waited outside the packed hospital parking lot , headlights on in the rain , as passengers waited for loved ones inside .
Occasionally , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to approach the hospital ’ s new main entrance , the “ ambulance entrance.
” A Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance arrived , sirens blaring , and the driver unloaded a patient on a gurney .
A single blanket hung off the side of the gurney , not fully covering the patient from the rain .
Hospital staff took the patient ’ s temperature and gave him a wrist tag .
After checking him in , the firefighters wheeled the patient back out to the parking lot and into one of two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covering that served as the tent ’ s door , the patient could be seen shuffling to a seat as a hospital staff member , holding a clipboard , spoke to him .
At Gardena Memorial , officials used the four-hour suspension of ambulance deliveries to move some patients home — or at least out of the hospital ’ s 10-bed ICU and into an expansion area previously reserved for postoperative patients — to make room for 18 others in need of intensive care .
“ You have to be very resourceful and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways that you haven ’ t before , ” Metcalfe , the hospital CEO , said .
It ’ s a task that is proving increasingly difficult , as those resources are dwindling .
COVID-19 patients require “ triple the amount of oxygen , ” Metcalfe said , so supplies that might typically last a week now last three days .
Even oxygen storage tanks on the hospital grounds are draining quickly because of increased demand , he said .
If a hospital were to run out of oxygen completely , it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Metcalfe said .
“ Patients that are on these respirators that have high-flow oxygen , they could die , ” he said .
“ You would try to use a [ manual oxygen ] bag , but if you ’ ve got 40 or 50 people , you don ’ t have enough staff that you can do that.
” The hospital is triaging new arrivals and sending home people who aren ’ t very sick , or those who can receive outpatient care , in order to keep numbers down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the business 40 years , ” Metcalfe said , “ and I ’ ve never seen anything like this.
” Larger hospitals are doing what they can to keep accepting patients .
Kaiser Permanente is postponing nonurgent and elective surgeries and procedures at its facilities throughout California .
The pause will remain in effect through Jan. 10 in Kaiser ’ s Southern California region and through Jan. 4 in Northern California , according to statements from the healthcare consortium .
In Southern California , Kaiser is not scheduling any new elective surgeries through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could — with doctors no longer pulling out all the stops to save a life and instead strategizing about where to most effectively use resources and equipment .
“ We ’ re at a turning point .
If it continues to get worse , many hospitals will begin rationing care , ” said Dr. Elaine Batchlor , CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Willowbrook , a 131-bed facility that had 215 patients Monday .
Huntington Hospital in Pasadena also warned of that possibility for patients and their families .
Should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our hospital faces a shortage that will affect our ability to care for all patients , ” officials wrote , then a clinical committee consisting of doctors , a community member , a bioethicist , a spiritual care provider and other experts “ will review the cases of all patients who are critically ill ” and “ make necessary decisions about allocating limited medical resources based on the best medical information possible.
” “ This unburdens bedside staff from making any decisions about triaging care when resources are scarce , ” the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flagship county public hospital on the Eastside , officials are trying to improvise , but as they saw Sunday night , the steady flood of patients makes that difficult .
“ We were just completely overwhelmed , ” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brad Spellberg , adding that the hospital is trying to “ daily , hourly , cobble together solutions to get us through this crisis.
” Conditions at the county hospital — one of the largest trauma centers in the western United States — have been steadily worsening since Thanksgiving , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arriving each day .
On Monday , there were about 240 COVID-19 patients in all areas of the hospital , according to Spellberg , nearly twice the amount it was seeing during the surge in July .
In an effort to free up some beds in the ICU , the hospital on Monday opened a space previously reserved for postoperative recovery to accommodate intermediate-level COVID-19 patients , since operating rooms are now closed to all but emergency cases .
Like many other hospitals in the region , L.A. County-USC has constructed field hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with intake outside the ER .
But it ’ s not just the influx of patients contributing to bed shortages , Spellberg said .
Many COVID-19 patients stay in the hospital far longer than average ICU patients , with some on mechanical ventilators occupying beds for six , eight or even 12 weeks .
And the anticipated “ Christmas bump ” hasn ’ t even begun .
“ If there is a Christmas surge , we probably have not experienced it yet , ” Spellberg said , noting that cases arising from that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week or two .
He added : “ If that happens , Los Angeles County will turn into what New York was in April.
” Times staff writers Jaclyn Cosgrove and Harriet Ryan contributed to this report .

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Hayley Smith, Rong-Gong Lin II, Luke Money

At Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, the breaking point came Sunday night.
There was not one available bed for at least 30 patients who needed intensive or intermediate levels of care, and the hospital had to shut its doors to all ambulance traffic for 12 hours. Some patients, including the very sick who required intensive oxygen, experienced wait times as long as 18 hours to get into the intensive care unit.
The front entrance of Community Hospital of Huntington Park was closed to the public Monday; the back of the building saw a steady stream of ambulances over the weekend, with one security guard saying the vehicles arrived as frequently as every half hour.
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And Memorial Hospital of Gardena on Monday was running at 140% capacity, forcing officials to ask for a four-hour suspension of new ambulance calls so it could move patients. The hospital is struggling to keep enough oxygen and supplies on hand amid the crunch of COVID-19 patients who need it.
“It’s a crisis — there’s no doubt about it,” said Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Kevan Metcalfe. “And they just keep coming.”
The crisis at Los Angeles County hospitals hit new levels as patients continued to stream in during the holiday weekend, and the medical system is bracing for a new wave of coronavirus spread arising from Christmas travel and gatherings. L.A. County’s cumulative COVID-19 death toll is expected to climb past 10,000 this week.
Hospitals are so inundated that they’ve resorted to placing patients in conference rooms and gift shops. But even so, many facilities are running out of space. Virtually all hospitals in L.A. County are being forced to divert ambulances with certain types of patients elsewhere during most hours. On Sunday, 94% of L.A. County hospitals that take in patients stemming from 911 calls were diverting some ambulances away.
“But soon, there won’t be any places for these ambulances to go,” said Dr. Christina Ghaly, the L.A. County health services director. “If every hospital is on diversion, then no hospital is on diversion.”
Advertisement
The number of people with COVID-19 inside L.A. County’s ICUs has broken records for 16 consecutive days, rising to 1,449 on Sunday, the most recent data available. Every day over the last week, there has been a net daily increase of 35 COVID-19 patients in ICUs — down slightly from 44 in mid-December but at a pace that’s packing even more critically ill patients into crowded facilities.
As of Monday morning, there were 54 available ICU beds across L.A. County, and half were for pediatric patients. Two-thirds of staffed ICU beds in L.A. County are filled with COVID-19 patients.
“All hospitals are experiencing this strain, but it’s especially more pronounced and more serious for some of the smaller hospitals,” Ghaly said. “Many hospitals have reached a crisis point and are having to make many tough decisions about patient care.”
There was evidence of this Monday in Huntington Park. With Community Hospital closed to visitors, East 58th Street became a waiting room. Cars waited outside the packed hospital parking lot, headlights on in the rain, as passengers waited for loved ones inside. Occasionally, a passenger exited a vehicle, umbrella out, to approach the hospital’s new main entrance, the “ambulance entrance.”
A Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance arrived, sirens blaring, and the driver unloaded a patient on a gurney. A single blanket hung off the side of the gurney, not fully covering the patient from the rain.
Hospital staff took the patient’s temperature and gave him a wrist tag. After checking him in, the firefighters wheeled the patient back out to the parking lot and into one of two makeshift white tents. Behind the thin covering that served as the tent’s door, the patient could be seen shuffling to a seat as a hospital staff member, holding a clipboard, spoke to him.
At Gardena Memorial, officials used the four-hour suspension of ambulance deliveries to move some patients home — or at least out of the hospital’s 10-bed ICU and into an expansion area previously reserved for postoperative patients — to make room for 18 others in need of intensive care.
“You have to be very resourceful and creative and utilize your resources maybe in ways that you haven’t before,” Metcalfe, the hospital CEO, said.
It’s a task that is proving increasingly difficult, as those resources are dwindling. COVID-19 patients require “triple the amount of oxygen,” Metcalfe said, so supplies that might typically last a week now last three days.
Even oxygen storage tanks on the hospital grounds are draining quickly because of increased demand, he said. If a hospital were to run out of oxygen completely, it would be in “deep, deep trouble,” Metcalfe said.
“Patients that are on these respirators that have high-flow oxygen, they could die,” he said. “You would try to use a [manual oxygen] bag, but if you’ve got 40 or 50 people, you don’t have enough staff that you can do that.”
The hospital is triaging new arrivals and sending home people who aren’t very sick, or those who can receive outpatient care, in order to keep numbers down.
“I’ve been in the business 40 years,” Metcalfe said, “and I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Larger hospitals are doing what they can to keep accepting patients.
Kaiser Permanente is postponing nonurgent and elective surgeries and procedures at its facilities throughout California. The pause will remain in effect through Jan. 10 in Kaiser’s Southern California region and through Jan. 4 in Northern California, according to statements from the healthcare consortium. In Southern California, Kaiser is not scheduling any new elective surgeries through January.
In extreme circumstances, hospitals could become forced to ration care — with doctors no longer pulling out all the stops to save a life and instead strategizing about where to most effectively use resources and equipment.
“We’re at a turning point. If it continues to get worse, many hospitals will begin rationing care,” said Dr. Elaine Batchlor, CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Willowbrook, a 131-bed facility that had 215 patients Monday.
Huntington Hospital in Pasadena also warned of that possibility in an information sheet for patients and their families.
Should the situation “reach a point where our hospital faces a shortage that will affect our ability to care for all patients,” officials wrote, then a clinical committee consisting of doctors, a community member, a bioethicist, a spiritual care provider and other experts “will review the cases of all patients who are critically ill” and “make necessary decisions about allocating limited medical resources based on the best medical information possible.”
“This unburdens bedside staff from making any decisions about triaging care when resources are scarce,” the hospital said.
At L.A. County-USC, the flagship county public hospital on the Eastside, officials are trying to improvise, but as they saw Sunday night, the steady flood of patients makes that difficult.
“We were just completely overwhelmed,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brad Spellberg, adding that the hospital is trying to “daily, hourly, cobble together solutions to get us through this crisis.”
Conditions at the county hospital — one of the largest trauma centers in the western United States — have been steadily worsening since Thanksgiving, with an average of 10 COVID-19 patients arriving each day. On Monday, there were about 240 COVID-19 patients in all areas of the hospital, according to Spellberg, nearly twice the amount it was seeing during the surge in July.
In an effort to free up some beds in the ICU, the hospital on Monday opened a space previously reserved for postoperative recovery to accommodate intermediate-level COVID-19 patients, since operating rooms are now closed to all but emergency cases. Like many other hospitals in the region, L.A. County-USC has constructed field hospitals, or medical tents, to help with intake outside the ER.
But it’s not just the influx of patients contributing to bed shortages, Spellberg said. Many COVID-19 patients stay in the hospital far longer than average ICU patients, with some on mechanical ventilators occupying beds for six, eight or even 12 weeks.
And the anticipated “Christmas bump” hasn’t even begun.
“If there is a Christmas surge, we probably have not experienced it yet,” Spellberg said, noting that cases arising from that holiday may not show up for another week or two.
He added: “If that happens, Los Angeles County will turn into what New York was in April.”
Times staff writers Jaclyn Cosgrove and Harriet Ryan contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-12-29--Powerful storm slams Southland

Powerful storm slams Southland

Los Angeles ’ first significant storm of the season arrived Sunday night , bringing with it intense lightning , rolling @ @ @ @ @ increased potential for road hazards and debris flows .
The storm pummeled Southern California , @ @ @ @ @ inches of snow in high-elevation mountain areas and half an inch of rain in downtown @ @ @ @ @ to the National Weather Service .

Los Angeles’ first significant storm of the season arrived Sunday night, bringing with it intense lightning, rolling thunder, hail and the increased potential for road hazards and debris flows.
Southern California mountain resorts came alive this after the storms on Sunday and Monday dropped as much as 2 feet of snow on local slopes. The new powder enticed skiers and snowboarders but added risk and delays on mountain roads, with waits of two hours or more reported Tuesday on the route to Mt. Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains.
San Bernardino Mountains
With the local ski area sold out and the parking lot full, Dorian Ashmore, 20, of Vista, snowboards Tuesday in the backcountry with friends in some fresh snow near Big Bear Lake. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Store owner Adam Hurlbut shovels snow Tuesday in front of the Sugar Mountain gift store in Running Springs, Calif., after nearly a foot of snow fell in the San Bernardino Mountains. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
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Tina Lewis, of Fullerton, sleds Tuesday with friends in fresh snow in the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear Lake. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
A car parked along Highway 18 in Running Springs, Calif., is covered in snow Tuesday after nearly a foot of snow fell in the San Bernardino Mountains. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Long Beach
Snow-covered mountains are seen Tuesday from the Peninsula in Long Beach. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Traffic is light in downtown Long Beach on a rainy Monday night. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Motorists navigate a flooded section of Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach on a rainy Monday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
San Pedro
A rainbow glows above Ft. MacArthur between bands of rain on Monday in San Pedro. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Raindrops capture reflections of palm trees in San Pedro on Monday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Santa Monica
A pathway near the beach in Santa Monica. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Gerardo Molina of Los Angeles shields himself from the rain while walking at Palisades Park in Santa Monica.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Redondo Beach
Antonio Sanchez continues fishing. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Antonio Sanchez, 33, of Torrance fishes in the rain at Redondo Beach Pier on Monday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Parting shot
Clouds drift over the L.A. Basin as rain falls during the last storm of the year in a view from the Griffith Observatory. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-12-30--COVID-19 'superspreader' event feared in L.A. as Christian singer defies health order for concerts

A conservative evangelical Christian singer with a history of defying COVID-19 health mandates plans three days of New Year ’ s gatherings in the Los Angeles area , including stops on skid row and at a tent city in Echo Park , raising fears that the events will be viral “ super-spreaders.
” Skid row activists plan a car blockade to stop Sean Feucht — a Redding , Calif. , volunteer pastor and failed Republican congressional candidate — and his followers from staging what is billed as a “ massive outreach ” Wednesday evening on skid row , at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic crisis .
Feucht ’ s plans come as California , facing record case counts and a severe shortage of intensive care hospital beds , has extended its stay-at-home order .
Feucht began hosting “ Let Us Worship ” open-air concerts nationwide to push back against government restrictions on religious gatherings , then broadened his focus to cities that erupted in protest after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Feucht ’ s events have featured hundreds of maskless worshipers tightly packed together and singing and dancing .
He has another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake , site of nearly 100 homeless tents , followed by a New Year ’ s Eve party and concert at a church parking lot in Valencia .
In a YouTube video —part of an extensive social media campaign to promote the L.A. dates — Feucht said a couple of thousand glow sticks had been ordered for a bash he predicted could rival his worship service this year on the National Mall , which drew hundreds of people .
Charles Karuku , a Feucht associate who travels with the singer , said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ but we are not law enforcement .
It ’ s up to the people how they choose to come.
” But Stephen “ Cue ” Jn-Marie , pastor of Church Without Walls , a skid row congregation , said , “ We know based on his track record whatever he ’ s going to do is going to be maskless.
” Jn-Marie is organizing the car blockade with Los Angeles Community Action Network , a skid row anti-poverty activist group .
“ The problem we ’ re facing is even prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the community and say they ’ re bringing resources but what they ’ re bringing is the disease , ” said Jn-Marie , adding that the outreach event could undo the self-help measures the skid row community took , including distributing masks and street wash stations and sponsoring testing events .
“ It doesn ’ t take thousands to start an outbreak.
” The homeless population in Los Angeles has generally avoided serious COVID outbreaks throughout most of the pandemic , although it has seen a significant uptick in recent weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections nationwide .
The California Poor People ’ s Campaign wrote a letter calling for city and county officials to quash Feucht ’ s events .
The campaign offered a legal justification for enforcement of county health orders , but Los Angeles has not generally used police powers on individuals to back up pandemic restrictions , and homeless outreach events do not require permits .
“ Police know how to show up and issue orders to disperse an illegal gathering , ” said Nell Myhand , co-chair of the California Poor People ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the enforcement question , mayoral spokesman Alex Comisar said Mayor Eric Garcetti implored everyone to wear masks and practice social distancing .
L.A. Councilman Kevin de León , who represents skid row , said his office and the mayor ’ s staff will be on skid row Wednesday morning distributing personal protective equipment and sanitation kits to homeless people , but did not comment on possible enforcement of county COVID-19 health orders .
“ Our expectation is that those attending the scheduled outreach event take steps to care for our community and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing masks and honoring social distancing guidelines , ” de Leon said in a statement .
Feucht has upcoming events scheduled in Orange County and San Diego , according to his website .
Tom Grode , a skid row resident and activist who began petitioning the city a month ago to stop the skid row event , called Feucht ’ s plan to come to Los Angeles “ incredibly foolish ... divisive and dangerous.
” “ The problem is any of these events could get weird in different ways , ” Grode said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following Feucht ’ s career online with dismay , spent two hours Tuesday calling the Los Angeles Police Department , the mayor ’ s office , county health officials and the state attorney general , asking if they were going to shut the New Year ’ s events down .
She said she was bounced from office to office without receiving an answer .
” If not , why is California issuing lockdowns or stay-at-home orders ?
” Callahan asked .

A conservative evangelical Christian singer with a history of defying COVID-19 health mandates plans three days of New Year’s gatherings in the Los Angeles area, including stops on skid row and at a tent city in Echo Park, raising fears that the events will be viral “super-spreaders.”
Skid row activists plan a car blockade to stop Sean Feucht — a Redding, Calif., volunteer pastor and failed Republican congressional candidate — and his followers from staging what is billed as a “massive outreach” Wednesday evening on skid row, at the height of Los Angeles County’s pandemic crisis. Feucht’s plans come as California, facing record case counts and a severe shortage of intensive care hospital beds, has extended its stay-at-home order.
Feucht began hosting “Let Us Worship” open-air concerts nationwide to push back against government restrictions on religious gatherings, then broadened his focus to cities that erupted in protest after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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Feucht’s events have featured hundreds of maskless worshipers tightly packed together and singing and dancing. He has another homeless outreach planned Thursday at Echo Park Lake, site of nearly 100 homeless tents, followed by a New Year’s Eve party and concert at a church parking lot in Valencia.
In a YouTube video —part of an extensive social media campaign to promote the L.A. dates — Feucht said a couple of thousand glow sticks had been ordered for a bash he predicted could rival his worship service this year on the National Mall, which drew hundreds of people.
Charles Karuku, a Feucht associate who travels with the singer, said they tell followers to heed government health guidelines, “but we are not law enforcement. It’s up to the people how they choose to come.”
But Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie, pastor of Church Without Walls, a skid row congregation, said, “We know based on his track record whatever he’s going to do is going to be maskless.” Jn-Marie is organizing the car blockade with Los Angeles Community Action Network, a skid row anti-poverty activist group.
“The problem we’re facing is even prior to the stay-at-home order, people come into the community and say they’re bringing resources but what they’re bringing is the disease,” said Jn-Marie, adding that the outreach event could undo the self-help measures the skid row community took, including distributing masks and street wash stations and sponsoring testing events. “It doesn’t take thousands to start an outbreak.”
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The homeless population in Los Angeles has generally avoided serious COVID outbreaks throughout most of the pandemic, although it has seen a significant uptick in recent weeks, in keeping with the wider surge in infections nationwide.
The California Poor People’s Campaign wrote a letter calling for city and county officials to quash Feucht’s events. The campaign offered a legal justification for enforcement of county health orders, but Los Angeles has not generally used police powers on individuals to back up pandemic restrictions, and homeless outreach events do not require permits.
“Police know how to show up and issue orders to disperse an illegal gathering,” said Nell Myhand, co-chair of the California Poor People’s Campaign.
Asked for a response to the enforcement question, mayoral spokesman Alex Comisar said Mayor Eric Garcetti implored everyone to wear masks and practice social distancing.
L.A. Councilman Kevin de León, who represents skid row, said his office and the mayor’s staff will be on skid row Wednesday morning distributing personal protective equipment and sanitation kits to homeless people, but did not comment on possible enforcement of county COVID-19 health orders.
“Our expectation is that those attending the scheduled outreach event take steps to care for our community and protect vulnerable Angelenos on skid row by wearing masks and honoring social distancing guidelines,” de Leon said in a statement.
Feucht has upcoming events scheduled in Orange County and San Diego, according to his website. Tom Grode, a skid row resident and activist who began petitioning the city a month ago to stop the skid row event , called Feucht’s plan to come to Los Angeles “incredibly foolish ... divisive and dangerous.”
“The problem is any of these events could get weird in different ways,” Grode said.
Cathy Callahan, who has been following Feucht’s career online with dismay, spent two hours Tuesday calling the Los Angeles Police Department, the mayor’s office, county health officials and the state attorney general, asking if they were going to shut the New Year’s events down. She said she was bounced from office to office without receiving an answer.
”If not, why is California issuing lockdowns or stay-at-home orders?” Callahan asked.


latimes--2020-12-30--Facing a spike in Fs, winter break isn't a vacation for many teachers and students

During her winter break , English teacher Keara Williams has hit the phone , making call after call determinedly trying to make contact with her students and their parents .
She needs to reach 28 students , including 11 seniors , who received an “ incomplete ” grade at the end of the fall semester .
She tells them they will fail her class if they don ’ t complete make-up work to raise their grade to at least a D by the end of January .
There is still time to get the work done , do not give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lets them know that she is here for them — all winter vacation if that ’ s what it takes to avoid an F. She has reached 13 students and left messages and emails with the others .
But when she last checked her computer , only one had signed in online to look at the make-up work .
Williams , like so many teachers in the Los Angeles school district , is grappling with wrenching grading decisions amid the hardships of the raging pandemic that has shuttered campuses for nine months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would delay or deny a high school diploma , require a make-up class and could ruin a GPA during the college admissions cycle .
How do they balance compassion and empathy with the low grade points in their record books ?
How do they find and engage their lost students before it ’ s too late ?
The magnitude of work ahead for both teachers and students feels overwhelming , many said .
“ For me , it ’ s personal .
I want to know what ’ s going on , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams said .
Even when she ’ s not sitting behind her computer , she ’ s doing mental gymnastics to figure out ways to help them : “ How do I be the most effective teacher ?
” The report card crisis came to a head on Dec. 14 , four days before the end of the fall semester , when L.A. Unified sent a directive to school administrators about grading .
Because grades had so dramatically deteriorated amid pandemic hardships , no students would receive a failing grade until Jan. 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to complete work .
said the decision was made with “ an equity and empathy lens.
” L.A. Unified officials have been struggling since March on how to balance student accountability and engagement with family trauma and inadequate learning conditions at home .
Last spring , during the first semester of the pandemic , officials did away with all failing grades .
When schools resumed in the fall , the district urged teachers to grade on end-of-course knowledge — and not to penalize students on the basis of attendance , attitude or participation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of failing grades — a trend mirrored in school systems across the nation — L.A. Unified tried to enhance outreach through counseling and tutoring .
But by the 15-week semester mark , the percentage of failed classes among Latino high school students was 24.9 % ; for Black high school students , it was 23.2 % .
This compares with 12.9 % for white students and 7.6 % for Asian students .
The number of failing grades for students learning English already was high , but it increased by nearly 15 percentage points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers agree with the intent to give students a second chance .
But in interviews , some said their students are facing pandemic pressures greater than a course grade — and the 11th-hour policy change is particularly difficult to carry out during winter vacation .
Some students are experiencing homelessness , taking on jobs to help their families , becoming their sibling ’ s caretaker .
They face circumstances beyond their control , such as becoming infected with COVID-19 or losing a family member to the virus .
Many lack a space to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depression — and the challenges of distance learning are not going away soon .
It is uncertain when , or even if , in-person classes will resume this academic year .
Cecily Myart-Cruz , president of the United Teachers of Los Angeles , criticized the “ top-down decision ” on grading made without the union ’ s input .
“ It ’ s all the more frustrating because educators support empathy and compassion for students in this unprecedented time .
But this is not the way to do it , and it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a pandemic , ” Myart-Cruz said .
Some education experts say the lack of clear and early guidance on grading this fall is yet another indicator of how difficult it is to navigate schooling during the pandemic , which has exacerbated inequities in schools .
“ We don ’ t know whether the student ’ s performance is a product of their actions or the results of system failures , ” said John Rogers , a professor of education at UCLA ’ s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” For each incomplete , Los Angeles teachers must document several attempts to reach parents , compile an individualized assignment plan for each student and work with a counselor to help advance the student ’ s progress .
“ I have to consciously and constantly think of my caseload of students and what I need to do to support them , ” said Williams , who teaches at the Responsible Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship school at the Hawkins High School campus in South Los Angeles .
Casey Jagusch , who teaches seventh grade history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three times as many failing grades as she typically sees .
On the last day of the fall semester , she completed 67 forms to send home to students who failed her class .
“ The solution of giving kids more time doesn ’ t necessarily address the cause of having too many Fs , ” she said .
Her students need motivation , not time .
They show up to class , but they aren ’ t turning in work , she said .
She has been merciful with students who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is torn when dealing with students whose grades dip lower .
“ You really want to see kids be successful , but I also can ’ t do the work for you , ” Jagusch said .
She struggled to describe the feeling , knowing that the pandemic has created extra barriers for her students .
She asks them what they need and what would help in their situations — but doesn ’ t always hear back .
“ There is a feeling of… I don ’ t want to say hopelessness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always a way to problem-solve .
But it does feel like that sometimes .
Especially for the kids who aren ’ t reaching out.
” She is trying to remain optimistic : “ If you can help students see why doing their work — and trying their best on their work — is important to them , then they ’ ll find that motivation inside themselves.
” Jessica Garcia , a 16-year-old Lincoln High School junior , began to feel sick the week after Thanksgiving with a fever and coughing fits .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 .
Her body ached ; it was difficult to get out of bed .
School assignments piled up , and her stress mounted .
By the end of the semester , the student who had maintained mostly As and a few Bs , was now confronting Bs and Cs , and an F in AP English Language and Composition .
She worried about her college dreams .
“ I knew that it was important for me to catch up , ” she said , determined to make up work over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tweak ” by Nic Sheff , which tells of how a teen became an addict and how he recovered , for make-up assignments .
“ I know some kids don ’ t like to do work over break .
I know we do need breaks , ” she said .
But she needed to improve her grades so that they don ’ t hurt her chances of going to college .
“ That ’ s one of my biggest goals , ” she said .
Maintaining such drive amid the dragging months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts said .
“ What we have to worry about now is kids just giving up , altogether , ” said Pedro Noguera , dean of the USC Rossier School of Education .
Marisa Crabtree , who teaches English at Lincoln High School , worries that some students have already done just that .
Across all her classes , which include Advanced Placement students and English learners , she has seen a rise in Ds and failing grades .
Some , like Garcia , have committed to making up the work , Crabtree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the small group of students who will likely fail .
She has adjusted her grading scale during the pandemic and is checking her email over the break in case students reach out .
But for those who need the most help , distance learning isn ’ t working , she said .
The gap between her students who are failing and passing is wider than before .
“ Probably the majority of them were never logging in , never turning in work consistently , and not in Zoom , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have hope.
” As friends and family became infected with COVID-19 , Tristan Gamboa , also a junior at Lincoln High School , struggled to pay attention in online classes .
It was so easy , she said , to just shut her laptop and make her assignments disappear .
“ Little by little , it became easier to just ignore it , ” said Gamboa , whose aunt was hospitalized for COVID-19 .
Gamboa ended up receiving incompletes in three classes : AP English Language and Composition , chemistry and algebra .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ her second chance , completing work before school starts again and scheduling Zoom meetings over the break with her chemistry teacher .
Her friends are pushing her to do better , as is her mother .
“ I just want to get a good education and go to college and get a good job , so she doesn ’ t have to worry , ” she said .

Keara Williams, a teacher at Hawkins High School in South Los Angeles, is spending time on winter break reaching out to students in danger of failing her class if they don’t make up assignments.
During her winter break, English teacher Keara Williams has hit the phone, making call after call determinedly trying to make contact with her students and their parents.
She needs to reach 28 students, including 11 seniors, who received an “incomplete” grade at the end of the fall semester. She tells them they will fail her class if they don’t complete make-up work to raise their grade to at least a D by the end of January. There is still time to get the work done, do not give up, Williams says. And she lets them know that she is here for them — all winter vacation if that’s what it takes to avoid an F.
She has reached 13 students and left messages and emails with the others. But when she last checked her computer, only one had signed in online to look at the make-up work.
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Williams, like so many teachers in the Los Angeles school district, is grappling with wrenching grading decisions amid the hardships of the raging pandemic that has shuttered campuses for nine months. An F grade in a required class would delay or deny a high school diploma, require a make-up class and could ruin a GPA during the college admissions cycle. How do they balance compassion and empathy with the low grade points in their record books? How do they find and engage their lost students before it’s too late? The magnitude of work ahead for both teachers and students feels overwhelming, many said.
“For me, it’s personal. I want to know what’s going on, but they’re not answering,” Williams said. Even when she’s not sitting behind her computer, she’s doing mental gymnastics to figure out ways to help them: “How do I be the most effective teacher?”
The report card crisis came to a head on Dec. 14, four days before the end of the fall semester, when L.A. Unified sent a directive to school administrators about grading. Because grades had so dramatically deteriorated amid pandemic hardships, no students would receive a failing grade until Jan. 29, so they would have more time to complete work. The directive said the decision was made with “an equity and empathy lens.”
L.A. Unified officials have been struggling since March on how to balance student accountability and engagement with family trauma and inadequate learning conditions at home. Last spring, during the first semester of the pandemic, officials did away with all failing grades. When schools resumed in the fall, the district urged teachers to grade on end-of-course knowledge — and not to penalize students on the basis of attendance, attitude or participation. When 10-week reports showed an explosion of failing grades — a trend mirrored in school systems across the nation — L.A. Unified tried to enhance outreach through counseling and tutoring.
But by the 15-week semester mark, the percentage of failed classes among Latino high school students was 24.9%; for Black high school students, it was 23.2%. This compares with 12.9% for white students and 7.6% for Asian students. The number of failing grades for students learning English already was high, but it increased by nearly 15 percentage points, rising to 35%.
Many teachers agree with the intent to give students a second chance. But in interviews, some said their students are facing pandemic pressures greater than a course grade — and the 11th-hour policy change is particularly difficult to carry out during winter vacation.
Some students are experiencing homelessness, taking on jobs to help their families, becoming their sibling’s caretaker. They face circumstances beyond their control, such as becoming infected with COVID-19 or losing a family member to the virus. Many lack a space to study and are coping with isolation and depression — and the challenges of distance learning are not going away soon.
It is uncertain when, or even if, in-person classes will resume this academic year.
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Cecily Myart-Cruz, president of the United Teachers of Los Angeles, criticized the “top-down decision” on grading made without the union’s input.
“It’s all the more frustrating because educators support empathy and compassion for students in this unprecedented time. But this is not the way to do it, and it does not resolve the complicated issues of grading during a pandemic,” Myart-Cruz said.
Some education experts say the lack of clear and early guidance on grading this fall is yet another indicator of how difficult it is to navigate schooling during the pandemic, which has exacerbated inequities in schools.
“We don’t know whether the student’s performance is a product of their actions or the results of system failures,” said John Rogers, a professor of education at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. “It’s important to provide flexibility.”
For each incomplete, Los Angeles teachers must document several attempts to reach parents, compile an individualized assignment plan for each student and work with a counselor to help advance the student’s progress.
“I have to consciously and constantly think of my caseload of students and what I need to do to support them,” said Williams, who teaches at the Responsible Indigenous Social Entrepreneurship school at the Hawkins High School campus in South Los Angeles.
Casey Jagusch, who teaches seventh grade history at Olive Vista Middle School, has three times as many failing grades as she typically sees.
Seventh grade history teacher Casey Jagusch, who has 67 students in danger of failing, teaches remotely on Dec. 18. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
On the last day of the fall semester, she completed 67 forms to send home to students who failed her class.
“The solution of giving kids more time doesn’t necessarily address the cause of having too many Fs,” she said. Her students need motivation, not time.
They show up to class, but they aren’t turning in work, she said. She has been merciful with students who are near the passing threshold, but she is torn when dealing with students whose grades dip lower.
“You really want to see kids be successful, but I also can’t do the work for you,” Jagusch said. She struggled to describe the feeling, knowing that the pandemic has created extra barriers for her students. She asks them what they need and what would help in their situations — but doesn’t always hear back.
“There is a feeling of… I don’t want to say hopelessness, because I feel like there’s always a way to problem-solve. But it does feel like that sometimes. Especially for the kids who aren’t reaching out.”
She is trying to remain optimistic: “If you can help students see why doing their work — and trying their best on their work — is important to them, then they’ll find that motivation inside themselves.”
Jessica Garcia, a 16-year-old Lincoln High School junior, began to feel sick the week after Thanksgiving with a fever and coughing fits. She, her two brothers and father tested positive for COVID-19.
Her body ached; it was difficult to get out of bed. School assignments piled up, and her stress mounted. By the end of the semester, the student who had maintained mostly As and a few Bs, was now confronting Bs and Cs, and an F in AP English Language and Composition.
She worried about her college dreams. “I knew that it was important for me to catch up,” she said, determined to make up work over vacation. She chose the book “Tweak” by Nic Sheff, which tells of how a teen became an addict and how he recovered, for make-up assignments.
“I know some kids don’t like to do work over break. I know we do need breaks,” she said. But she needed to improve her grades so that they don’t hurt her chances of going to college.
“That’s one of my biggest goals,” she said.
Maintaining such drive amid the dragging months of distance learning is difficult, teachers and experts said.
“What we have to worry about now is kids just giving up, altogether,” said Pedro Noguera, dean of the USC Rossier School of Education.
Marisa Crabtree, who teaches English at Lincoln High School, worries that some students have already done just that. Across all her classes, which include Advanced Placement students and English learners, she has seen a rise in Ds and failing grades.
Some, like Garcia, have committed to making up the work, Crabtree said. But she is most worried about the small group of students who will likely fail. She has adjusted her grading scale during the pandemic and is checking her email over the break in case students reach out. But for those who need the most help, distance learning isn’t working, she said. The gap between her students who are failing and passing is wider than before.
“Probably the majority of them were never logging in, never turning in work consistently, and not in Zoom,” she said. “Of course, we always have hope.”
As friends and family became infected with COVID-19, Tristan Gamboa, also a junior at Lincoln High School, struggled to pay attention in online classes. It was so easy, she said, to just shut her laptop and make her assignments disappear.
“Little by little, it became easier to just ignore it,” said Gamboa, whose aunt was hospitalized for COVID-19. Gamboa ended up receiving incompletes in three classes: AP English Language and Composition, chemistry and algebra.
But she intends to take advantage of her second chance, completing work before school starts again and scheduling Zoom meetings over the break with her chemistry teacher. Her friends are pushing her to do better, as is her mother.
“I just want to get a good education and go to college and get a good job, so she doesn’t have to worry,” she said.