latimes--2020-05-07--California to reopen 25 DMV field offices on Friday after they were shut down amid coronavirus

Six weeks after closing field offices to the public because of the coronavirus , the California Department of Motor Vehicles will reopen 25 locations to people with appointments on Friday , including offices in Los Angeles , Inglewood , Glendale and Santa Ana .
The agency , which closed all 170 field offices to the public on March 27 , will open others in the coming weeks in phases and will require customers to wear face coverings and remain six feet apart in line , officials announced Thursday .
The DMV will also limit the number of people allowed inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will send text messages to people waiting outside to let them know when they can enter and be served .
As a result , the DMV is warning of extended wait times .
“ The health and safety of our customers is our priority .
The DMV team members have face coverings , face shields and gloves , ” said DMV Director Steve Gordon .
“ We look forward to serving our customers with these precautions in place.
” Field offices were chosen based on location , size , service capacity and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver license customers , and will be open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm , except on Wednesdays when they open at 9 am .
The reopened offices will still not provide behind-the-wheel driving tests because of concern about the spread of coronavirus with DMV employees being in proximity to customers in cars .
Appointments are being limited to those who require in-person transactions , including reinstating suspended driver licenses , paying fees for cars impounded for lack of registration , applying for a disabled person parking placard and processing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certificates for ambulance drivers and firefighters .
The inability to process a truck driver ’ s license has been a financial hardship for drivers like Rod Moore , who is losing income because he lacks a certificate to haul fuel for Pacific Gas & Electric .
“ It ’ s well overdue that they reopen , ” the Redding resident said .
“ I could have been earning money if they had opened sooner.
” The action is too little , too late , said state Assemblyman Jim Patterson ( R-Fresno ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having difficulty getting essential tests .
“ This isn ’ t near good enough , ” Patterson said .
“ It ’ s one thing to open .
It ’ s another to treat Californians like customers instead of nuisances.
” DMV officials urge people to use online services for transactions such as renewing driver ’ s licenses and vehicle registrations .
Other field offices opening Friday include those in Arleta , Fullerton , Fontana , Lancaster , Montebello , Palm Desert , San Marcos and San Diego .
In addition , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transactions at 10 Industry Business Centers , including one in Covina .

California is opening 25 DMV field offices on Friday but with social distancing rules to avoid the kind of lines seen at the South Los Angeles office in 2018.
Six weeks after closing field offices to the public because of the coronavirus, the California Department of Motor Vehicles will reopen 25 locations to people with appointments on Friday, including offices in Los Angeles, Inglewood, Glendale and Santa Ana.
The agency, which closed all 170 field offices to the public on March 27, will open others in the coming weeks in phases and will require customers to wear face coverings and remain six feet apart in line, officials announced Thursday.
The DMV will also limit the number of people allowed inside the buildings at any given time and will send text messages to people waiting outside to let them know when they can enter and be served. As a result, the DMV is warning of extended wait times.
1 / 20 Christina Dagle and her daughter Eleanor Eades, 4, buy flowers from Devynn’s Garden in Seal Beach. Some businesses began reopening Friday under a relaxation of the state’s stay-at-home order. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 20 Manager Ruben Cortez with online orders ready to be picked up at Lovell’s Records in Whittier. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 20 Davon Artis, owner of Cool Kicks, sits with a bottle of hand sanitizer as he awaits customers Friday at his sports shoe and apparel store on Melrose Avenue. Artis said he had only a few curbside customers. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 20 Jessica Knudsen, a sales associate at Cookies, a street wear clothing store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, gives change and a backpack purchase to customer Jason Green of Tampa, Fla. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 20 Kim Wicker, owner of Monte’s Camera in Whittier, continued to keep his shop closed Friday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 20 A security guard gets some exercise while keeping watch at the still-closed Apple Store on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 20 Katrina Woerner at her family business, Pour Le Bain in Whittier, which reopened Friday for online order pickup. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 20 Ben, Julia, Luke and Ethan Brenier, from left, help ready their family store, the Wishing Well, for reopening in Whittier. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 20 Shopper Enid Koffler, left, talks with clothing store owner Holly Boies at her shop on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. Boies is planning to open her store Friday for curbside pickup.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 20 Ethan Brenier helps his mother prepare to reopen their family store in Whittier.
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 20 Rebecca Barnes prepares bouquets at a florist in Long Beach, set to open two days before Mother’s Day.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angelels Times) 12 / 20 Customers in San Clemente, without wearing masks or abiding by social distancing guidelines, stand in line at a newly reopened restaurant.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 20 Linda McLoughlin Figel, owner of Pages a Bookstore in Manhattan Beach, left, helps customer Michael Leo. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 20 A mural decorates a closed business in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 15 / 20 A closed thrift shop on Main Street in Santa Monica. Some retail businesses will reopen for curbside pickup Friday.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 20 Kay Kabir, 71, walks down a deserted Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 20 Debra Consani prepares the Growing Wild florist for reopening in Manhattan Beach.
(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 18 / 20 Jay Demircift, co-owner of Puzzle Zoo, prepares his shop in Santa Monica, which will be reopening at a later date. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 20 A message board tracks the struggles of a shop owner on Main Street in Santa Monica.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 20 Alice Lefae cleans up a Long Beach shop’s exterior in preparation for Friday’s reopening.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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“The health and safety of our customers is our priority. The DMV team members have face coverings, face shields and gloves,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon. “We look forward to serving our customers with these precautions in place.”
Field offices were chosen based on location, size, service capacity and the ability to offer enhanced service to commercial driver license customers, and will be open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, except on Wednesdays when they open at 9 am.
The reopened offices will still not provide behind-the-wheel driving tests because of concern about the spread of coronavirus with DMV employees being in proximity to customers in cars.
Appointments are being limited to those who require in-person transactions, including reinstating suspended driver licenses, paying fees for cars impounded for lack of registration, applying for a disabled person parking placard and processing commercial driver‘s licenses, and certificates for ambulance drivers and firefighters.
The inability to process a truck driver’s license has been a financial hardship for drivers like Rod Moore, who is losing income because he lacks a certificate to haul fuel for Pacific Gas & Electric.
“It’s well overdue that they reopen,” the Redding resident said. “I could have been earning money if they had opened sooner.”
The action is too little, too late, said state Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno), who added that CalFire drivers are still having difficulty getting essential tests.
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“This isn’t near good enough,” Patterson said. “It’s one thing to open. It’s another to treat Californians like customers instead of nuisances.”
DMV officials urge people to use online services for transactions such as renewing driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations.
Other field offices opening Friday include those in Arleta, Fullerton, Fontana, Lancaster, Montebello, Palm Desert, San Marcos and San Diego.
In addition, the DMV will offer limited services for business-related transactions at 10 Industry Business Centers, including one in Covina.


latimes--2020-05-07--Hand sanitizer company is ordered to stop distribution over questionable claims

The Department of Justice earlier this week ordered an Orange County-based company to stop distributing its hand-sanitizer products until it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval or removed certain claims from its labeling that its products could protect against norovirus , rhinovirus , rotavirus , flu and Ebola .
As of Thursday morning , the product ’ s website was processing orders .
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter of the Central District of California instructed Innovative BioDefense Inc. of Lake Forest , Calif. , on Monday to stop distributing its Zylast products until stipulations were met .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of enforcement against a more well-known company that made similar claims , Purell-maker GOJO Industries .
Purell products have been purchased in droves over the past few months as concerns over the coronavirus have prompted people to seek out ways to protect themselves in addition to washing their hands .
Attorneys for BioDefense Inc. argued that the case was brought at the persistent urging of GOJO Industries .
Zylast owner Hotan Barough refrained from commenting on the matter until consulting a lawyer .
Attorney Kirby Behre , who represents Innovative BioDefense , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comply with Judge Carter ’ s order.
” In a 2018 complaint , the United States alleged that the distributors of Zylast products had violated the Federal Food , Drug , and Cosmetic Act by claiming that its goods — antimicrobial antiseptics , antiseptic lotions and antiseptic foaming soaps — could protect against certain diseases , despite a lack of proof or approval from the FDA .
“ Consumers are entitled to drug labeling that complies with the law , ” said Assistant Atty .
Gen. Jody Hunt of the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Department of Justice works closely with the FDA to ensure that manufacturers lawfully comply with the drug approval process.
” The company made headlines in late 2014 after it won USAID ’ s “ Fighting Ebola Grand Challenge ” and was touted as a product that could help prevent the spread of Ebola .
But in a letter to company Chief Executive Colette Cozean roughly six months later , the FDA warned Zylast to address violations of misbranding and unsubstantiated advertising of an unapproved new drug .
“ Although all three Zylast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antiseptics ’ the product labeling states intended uses that cause the products to be unapproved new drugs , ” the letter states .
In January , the FDA served a similar letter of warning to GOJO , instructing the company of violations pertaining to statements suggesting its Purell hand sanitizers could be effective against diseases such as the Ebola virus , norovirus and influenza .
Samantha Williams , corporate communications senior director for GOJO , said the company took “ immediate action , ” updating its website and other digital content marketing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FDA ’ s action against GOJO should have occurred sooner .
As for Zylast , its original website , which stated it was for “ educational purposes , ” on Thursday morning included the following line : “ The Company does not make , and the FDA does not allow , efficacy claims against specific pathogens or general claims of reducing illness.
” The site linked to a customer portal , which was operating .
A 2-ounce bottle of antiseptic , for example , cost a customer $ 12.45 .
That included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It did not appear that the site currently mentioned its former claims .

Labels on Zylast products claimed the goods could protect against Ebola and other viruses.
The Department of Justice earlier this week ordered an Orange County-based company to stop distributing its hand-sanitizer products until it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval or removed certain claims from its labeling that its products could protect against norovirus, rhinovirus, rotavirus, flu and Ebola.
As of Thursday morning, the product’s website was processing orders.
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter of the Central District of California instructed Innovative BioDefense Inc. of Lake Forest, Calif., on Monday to stop distributing its Zylast products until stipulations were met.
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But Carter also admonished the FDA for a lack of enforcement against a more well-known company that made similar claims, Purell-maker GOJO Industries. Purell products have been purchased in droves over the past few months as concerns over the coronavirus have prompted people to seek out ways to protect themselves in addition to washing their hands.
Attorneys for BioDefense Inc. argued that the case was brought at the persistent urging of GOJO Industries.
Zylast owner Hotan Barough refrained from commenting on the matter until consulting a lawyer. Attorney Kirby Behre, who represents Innovative BioDefense, previously said the company was “happy to comply with Judge Carter’s order.”
In a 2018 complaint, the United States alleged that the distributors of Zylast products had violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by claiming that its goods — antimicrobial antiseptics, antiseptic lotions and antiseptic foaming soaps — could protect against certain diseases, despite a lack of proof or approval from the FDA.
“Consumers are entitled to drug labeling that complies with the law,” said Assistant Atty. Gen. Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice works closely with the FDA to ensure that manufacturers lawfully comply with the drug approval process.”
The company made headlines in late 2014 after it won USAID’s “Fighting Ebola Grand Challenge” and was touted as a product that could help prevent the spread of Ebola.
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But in a letter to company Chief Executive Colette Cozean roughly six months later, the FDA warned Zylast to address violations of misbranding and unsubstantiated advertising of an unapproved new drug.
“Although all three Zylast products have stated purposes as topical ‘antiseptics’ the product labeling states intended uses that cause the products to be unapproved new drugs,” the letter states.
In January, the FDA served a similar letter of warning to GOJO, instructing the company of violations pertaining to statements suggesting its Purell hand sanitizers could be effective against diseases such as the Ebola virus, norovirus and influenza. Samantha Williams, corporate communications senior director for GOJO, said the company took “immediate action,” updating its website and other digital content marketing the product.
But according to Carter, the FDA’s action against GOJO should have occurred sooner.
As for Zylast, its original website, which stated it was for “educational purposes,” on Thursday morning included the following line: “The Company does not make, and the FDA does not allow, efficacy claims against specific pathogens or general claims of reducing illness.”
The site linked to a customer portal, which was operating. A 2-ounce bottle of antiseptic, for example, cost a customer $12.45. That included a $7.50 charge for priority shipping.
It did not appear that the site currently mentioned its former claims.
City News Service contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-07--Drive-through celebrations and car parades nixed in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County residents who thought they could shift their in-person celebrations to the car had a rude awakening this week when officials explicitly prohibited any vehicle gatherings .
That includes the likes of car parades , caravans and drive-through graduations .
County health officials extended the area ’ s shelter-in-place orders through May 31 alongside a handful of other Bay Area communities .
Though some restrictions have been lifted on businesses , officials added explicit prohibitions and clarifications around activities that have previously taken place as the coronavirus has pushed people indoors .
Officials addressed the new rules in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county ’ s website .
“ The order prohibits all public and private gatherings with people who do not live in the same household or living unit , except for the limited purposes allowed in the order .
Parades , ceremonies , and similar gatherings with people outside your household are not allowed , even if everyone stays in their cars , ” the page reads .
The county previously told residents not to visit friends or family members outside their households .
The county also addressed rules about the wearing of masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though the use of face coverings is encouraged elsewhere in public , they are not mandatory , officials stated .
Ahead of Mother ’ s Day , officials also noted that flowers may be purchased from essential retail businesses like grocery stores or from farmers markets , nurseries and online stores , but flower shops will remain closed .
Santa Clara County was an early hotbed of coronavirus cases and remains one of the counties with the highest infection rates in the state .
Nearly 2,300 people in the county have been infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including five reported Tuesday .
As nearby Northern California communities have eased restrictions , and some businesses have gone so far as to defy Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s closure orders , the counties of Santa Clara , Alameda , Contra Costa , Marin , San Francisco , San Mateo and Santa Clara , as well as the city of Berkeley , extended their stay-at-home orders and cautioned against moving too quickly to reverse course .
“ You can still see that it ’ s still gone up pretty significantly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors earlier this week .
“ There ’ s a lot of talk in California about relaxing shelter-in-place [ orders ] .
I just want to point out that we ’ re still , in California , going up dramatically .
So there ’ s no clinical evidence that shelter-in-place [ orders ] should be relaxed at this point.
” Though Newsom has given the green light for counties to start lifting restrictions on certain businesses , he and other public health officials continue to warn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state too quickly .
“ We have to maintain the core construct of our stay-at-home orders , ” Newsom said this week .

Faculty and staff members cheer as seniors drive by after picking up their graduation caps and gowns at Poly High School in Riverside. Such car parades and drive-through celebrations have been banned in Santa Clara County.
Santa Clara County residents who thought they could shift their in-person celebrations to the car had a rude awakening this week when officials explicitly prohibited any vehicle gatherings. That includes the likes of car parades, caravans and drive-through graduations.
County health officials extended the area’s shelter-in-place orders through May 31 alongside a handful of other Bay Area communities. Though some restrictions have been lifted on businesses, officials added explicit prohibitions and clarifications around activities that have previously taken place as the coronavirus has pushed people indoors.
Officials addressed the new rules in a Frequently Asked Questions page on the county’s website.
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1 / 13 Nurse anesthetist Nilu Patel quietly stands with fellow nurses at UC Irvine Medical Center for a candlelight vigil at their shift change to describe conditions and the need for more N95 respirators and protective gear required to safely treat coronavirus patients. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 13 Registered nurses at UC Irvine Medical Center pose for campy selfies following a candlelight vigil at their shift change. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 13 Nurse Maria Louviaux quietly stands with fellow nurses at UC Irvine Medical Center for an hourlong candlelight vigil to highlight conditions and the need for more N95 respirators and protective gear required to safely treat coronavirus patients. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 13 Registered nurse Patty Pinedo takes the temperature of resident Sally Kimani as she enters a West L.A. hotel that has been turned into housing for the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 13 A nurse gets help putting on her personal protective equipment before heading into a negative pressure room to administer care for a COVID-19 patient at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in Chula Vista, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 13 Orange County Fire Authority firefighters and other first responders from Laguna Beach, Santa Ana and Irvine thank healthcare workers for their efforts to combat COVID-19 at Mission Hospital (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 13 Red Cross nurse Edith Fernandez, right, tends to blood donor, Cheri Adams as USC Athletics and the Red Cross host a blood drive to help maintain a stable blood supply during the coronavirus pandemic at USC’s Galen Center. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 8 / 13 Marsha Santini, a nurse at UCLA Medical Center, and fellow nurses and supporters gather to protest the lack of personal protective equipment. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 13 Nurse practitioner Christine Alberto puts on protective gear before she and other health professionals prepare to go outside of the COVID Cabana, the name for the COVID-19 testing tent, to test a patient while they sit in their car parked next to the tent at Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines in San Diego. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 13 Medical personnel from St. Jude Medical Center stand clustered on the sidewalk as Fullerton and Brea Firefighters, EMS and Police join together in a show of support for healthcare workers outside of the St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 13 Healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic at Glendale Adventist Hospital in Glendale gather outside the facility for a tribute to their work by Glendale police and fire personnel. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 13 UC Irvine Medical Center health care workers bang on the windows in a return of gratitude as they watch about 25 Orange County first responders vehicles participate in a drive-by parade of gratitude as they battle COVID-19 at the hospital. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 13 Jennifer Adams, a registered nurse, joins fellow healthcare workers outside UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center to call for further action from the federal government’s in reaction to the Covid 19 outbreak. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“The order prohibits all public and private gatherings with people who do not live in the same household or living unit, except for the limited purposes allowed in the order. Parades, ceremonies, and similar gatherings with people outside your household are not allowed, even if everyone stays in their cars,” the page reads.
The county previously told residents not to visit friends or family members outside their households.
The county also addressed rules about the wearing of masks, which are required at businesses. Though the use of face coverings is encouraged elsewhere in public, they are not mandatory, officials stated.
Ahead of Mother’s Day, officials also noted that flowers may be purchased from essential retail businesses like grocery stores or from farmers markets, nurseries and online stores, but flower shops will remain closed.
Santa Clara County was an early hotbed of coronavirus cases and remains one of the counties with the highest infection rates in the state. Nearly 2,300 people in the county have been infected with the virus and 126 have died, including five reported Tuesday.
As nearby Northern California communities have eased restrictions, and some businesses have gone so far as to defy Gov. Gavin Newsom’s closure orders, the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara, as well as the city of Berkeley, extended their stay-at-home orders and cautioned against moving too quickly to reverse course.
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“You can still see that it’s still gone up pretty significantly in recent times,” Dr. Jeffrey Smith told the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors earlier this week. “There’s a lot of talk in California about relaxing shelter-in-place [orders]. I just want to point out that we’re still, in California, going up dramatically. So there’s no clinical evidence that shelter-in-place [orders] should be relaxed at this point.”
Though Newsom has given the green light for counties to start lifting restrictions on certain businesses, he and other public health officials continue to warn of the dangers of reopening too much of the state too quickly.
“We have to maintain the core construct of our stay-at-home orders,” Newsom said this week.


latimes--2020-05-07--Newsom unveils rules governing how quickly California communities can reopen businesses

Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced new coronavirus safeguards and protocols for retail stores and workplaces eligible to reopen Friday and in the weeks ahead , marking the beginning of California ’ s gradual easing of the stay-at-home order and attempt to rekindle a state economy ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Under the plan , in-restaurant dining , car washes , shopping malls and some office buildings could also be allowed to reopen in coming weeks if public health officials in a county are able to demonstrate that the spread of the coronavirus has stabilized there .
County officials must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adequate testing and hospital capacity and the ability to isolate people with the virus , and trace who they have contacted .
Newsom said earlier this week that bookstores , music stores , toy stores , florists , sporting goods retailers , clothing stores and others can reopen for curbside pickup as early as Friday , unless barred by tougher local restrictions .
Manufacturers and suppliers that provide goods for those businesses also will be allowed to resume operating .
The state is recommending that retailers continue to encourage physical distancing and implement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay .
Manufacturers should close indoor break areas , and warehouses should carry sanitation materials during deliveries and provide employees with personal protective gear , said Dr. Mark Ghaly , the state ’ s secretary of Health and Human Services .
“ We ’ re moving forward but we ’ re doing it , always , with an eye being led by the data , by the science , by public health , ” Newsom said during his daily COVID-19 briefing in Sacramento .
Before reopening , all retail business are required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers , train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19 , have measures in place to screen for employees who may be ill and implement disinfecting and social distancing policies .
To stem the spread of the coronavirus , which has been blamed for more than 70,000 deaths nationwide , including more than 2,500 in California , Newsom on March 19 signed an executive order requiring the state ’ s 40 million residents to remain in their homes unless they were classified as essential workers .
That came after Californians were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ districts began closing .
The economic toll has been devastating .
The state has processed more than 4.2 million unemployment claims since mid-March , when businesses began closing their doors and laying off employees .
Newsom ’ s finance advisors predict the state unemployment rate will hit 18 % in 2020 .
Nationwide , approximately 33.5 million people have applied for jobless assistance since mid-March .
The Newsom administration , which estimated a state budget surplus of $ 6 billion in January , now expects one of the largest budget shortfalls in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forecasts a $ 41.2-billion drop in tax revenue compared to their estimates from just four months ago , with state revenues from personal income taxes , sales taxes and corporate taxes — the state ’ s main sources of revenue — plummeting by roughly 25 % .
The economic impact of the pandemic has put increased pressure on Newsom to begin reopening California and ease his stay-at-home order , and led to some communities in rural Northern California to openly defy the restrictions by allowing businesses to reopen to customers this week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and restaurants .
Newsom last week laid out a four-stage plan to gradually transition the state back to normal .
His plan expands the authority of some county officials to relax restrictions even further and open more businesses , such as restaurant dining rooms , on a case-by-case basis , a decision to be made in part on the prevalence of the virus in a community .
To do so , however , counties must first submit “ containment plans ” that meet certain requirements for hospital beds , testing kits and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their contacts .
Ghaly laid out strict requirements for counties that want to move ahead of the state and into the second phase of the plan .
Before implementing those changes , counties can not have any COVID-19 deaths in the prior two weeks , a high bar that appears to apply equally to counties such as Modoc , with a population of 10,000 , as it would to Los Angeles County , home to roughly 10 million .
Counties are also barred from moving forward if they have more than one coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to prepare for a 35 % surge in patients and adopt plans to protect their workers , Ghaly said .
Among other requirements , counties must have at least 15 contact tracers per 100,000 residents to locate and potentially require people to quarantine if they came into contact with infected residents .
Ghaly described the guidelines at the governor ’ s daily news conference .
They include more directives for auto dealers , the construction industry , hotels and other sectors of the economy .
“ We know that we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can reduce the risk to all Californians from contracting COVID-19 , ” Ghaly said .
Still , the state did not provide a detailed description of the specific businesses and activities allowed to reopen Friday or what may be permitted in the weeks ahead .
Some local officials have pleaded with Newsom to allow them to accelerate efforts to lift the stay-at-home restrictions .
In San Luis Obispo County , for instance , a bipartisan group of mayors and other political representatives asked Newsom in a letter to allow the county to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening of our economy.
” Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham ( R-Templeton ) said the governor ’ s promise to give counties more discretion in easing restrictions appears to be such an onerous process that most areas — including San Luis Obispo , which he represents — will not qualify even if they have seen a stabilization or dramatic decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths .
Cunningham said the state is requiring counties to increase coronavirus testing , which will probably reveal more positive cases .
But that would not improve a county ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open more businesses if more than one out of every 10,000 residents tests positive in a 14-day period , he said .
“ When you go out and test people , you ’ re always going to get more positive cases , ” said Cunningham , who said he supports an aggressive coronavirus testing campaign .
“ The mere act of doing that is going to disqualify you from reopening .
That doesn ’ t make any sense .
I don ’ t think that that ’ s good for public health.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , swap meets and seated dining at restaurants are still ordered closed , but could be eligible to open if a county meets the criteria outlined by the state .
Personal grooming businesses , entertainment venues , live concerts and sports are not included in the second phase of Newsom ’ s reopening plan .
When asked about the future of sporting events in California this year , Newsom said he doubted fans would be filling any stadiums until a vaccine is developed for the coronavirus .
“ It ’ s difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until we have immunity , until we have a vaccine .
It ’ s difficult for me and imagine what the [ National Football League ] , broadly leagues , do , ” Newsom said .
The order to stay home unless venturing out to grocery stores , hospitals , vet appointments and other necessary trips also remains in effect .
John Kabateck , the California director of the National Federation of Independent Business , praised Newsom ’ s reliance on recommendations from his public health advisors to drive his plans to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The financial costs of the statewide restrictions , however , also come with devastating consequences to workers , families and business owners and can not be dismissed , he said .
Small business owners have been critical of Newsom ’ s plan , noting that big-box stores such as Walmart , Target and Costco are allowed to serve customers inside their stores while mom-and-pop stores must stay closed or offer only curbside pickup .
“ Restaurants are crumbling .
Retail stores are devastated .
And the people who work there are struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet , ” said Kabateck , whose organization represents 15,000 small businesses in California .
“ They hope and pray that all small businesses can have a system and structure to turn their lights on very , very soon.
” Kabateck urged Newsom and state lawmakers to avoid burdening small business owners with new laws and workplace requirements that impede their ability to reopen .
For instance , the expanded workers ’ compensation rights Newsom announced on Wednesday probably will drive up costs on small businesses that already are struggling to survive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to curbside pickup and delivery could be limited , especially for small businesses .
Some national retail chains were beginning to introduce pickup options before the pandemic hit , while others have continued to rely on their online presence to bring in sales under the restrictions , said Rachel Michelin , president of the California Retailers Assn .
But small businesses that don ’ t have an online sales system may struggle to modify their model to offer pick up , she said .
“ It really isn ’ t going to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been closed for seven or eight weeks and they don ’ t necessarily have the capital to invest in the infrastructure you need to take advantage of the curbside , ” Michelin said .
“ You have to be able to set up your website , have a payment option and all of that stuff that costs money when people have been closed.
” Michelin commended the governor for making changes to help retailers and said she hopes counties will begin to craft plans to expand beyond the state guidelines and allow stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regardless of Newsom ’ s Thursday announcement , leaders in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area have said they plan to take a cautious approach to reopening because the coronavirus remains a significant public health threat in those metropolitan areas .
“ The numbers are still going up , ” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said .
“ The number of deaths are still going up , and we have not lowered the curve , and we have to be mindful of that.
” Los Angeles County remains the primary COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 1,300 deaths and 28,000 confirmed cases , including about 800 new cases reported on Wednesday alone .
Meanwhile , Yuba and Sutter counties in Northern California decided to allow businesses , including restaurants and hair salons , to reopen on Monday as long as they adhere to certain safeguards and restrictions .
Dr. Ngoc-Phuong Luu , health officer for Yuba and Sutter counties , issued the order in part because the region has not been hit hard by the virus .
Assemblyman James Gallagher ( R-Yuba City ) said the health office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health guidelines , including those issued by Johns Hopkins University , one of the top research institutions tracking the virus .
Instead of criticizing Yuba and Sutter counties , the Newsom administration should explain why it decided to restrict most retailers to providing only curbside pickup instead of allowing customers in stores , as well as why businesses that provide personal services should remain closed , Gallagher said .
“ The question to the state , to the governor and Department of Public Health is what ’ s your authority for saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I mean , is that your own guidance ?
Or is it an evidence-based , peer-reviewed guidance ?
”

Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses his plan for the gradual reopening of California businesses during a news conference in Sacramento earlier this week.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new coronavirus safeguards and protocols for retail stores and workplaces eligible to reopen Friday and in the weeks ahead, marking the beginning of California’s gradual easing of the stay-at-home order and attempt to rekindle a state economy ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the plan, in-restaurant dining, car washes, shopping malls and some office buildings could also be allowed to reopen in coming weeks if public health officials in a county are able to demonstrate that the spread of the coronavirus has stabilized there. County officials must prove to the state that they have adequate testing and hospital capacity and the ability to isolate people with the virus, and trace who they have contacted.
Newsom said earlier this week that bookstores, music stores, toy stores, florists, sporting goods retailers, clothing stores and others can reopen for curbside pickup as early as Friday, unless barred by tougher local restrictions. Manufacturers and suppliers that provide goods for those businesses also will be allowed to resume operating.
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The state is recommending that retailers continue to encourage physical distancing and implement “hands-free” ways for customers to pay. Manufacturers should close indoor break areas, and warehouses should carry sanitation materials during deliveries and provide employees with personal protective gear, said Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s secretary of Health and Human Services.
“We’re moving forward but we’re doing it, always, with an eye being led by the data, by the science, by public health,” Newsom said during his daily COVID-19 briefing in Sacramento.
Before reopening, all retail business are required to create a plan to protect employees and customers, train employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, have measures in place to screen for employees who may be ill and implement disinfecting and social distancing policies.
1 / 20 Christina Dagle and her daughter Eleanor Eades, 4, buy flowers from Devynn’s Garden in Seal Beach. Some businesses began reopening Friday under a relaxation of the state’s stay-at-home order. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 20 Manager Ruben Cortez with online orders ready to be picked up at Lovell’s Records in Whittier. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 20 Davon Artis, owner of Cool Kicks, sits with a bottle of hand sanitizer as he awaits customers Friday at his sports shoe and apparel store on Melrose Avenue. Artis said he had only a few curbside customers. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 20 Jessica Knudsen, a sales associate at Cookies, a street wear clothing store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, gives change and a backpack purchase to customer Jason Green of Tampa, Fla. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 20 Kim Wicker, owner of Monte’s Camera in Whittier, continued to keep his shop closed Friday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 20 A security guard gets some exercise while keeping watch at the still-closed Apple Store on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 20 Katrina Woerner at her family business, Pour Le Bain in Whittier, which reopened Friday for online order pickup. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 20 Ben, Julia, Luke and Ethan Brenier, from left, help ready their family store, the Wishing Well, for reopening in Whittier. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 20 Shopper Enid Koffler, left, talks with clothing store owner Holly Boies at her shop on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. Boies is planning to open her store Friday for curbside pickup.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 20 Ethan Brenier helps his mother prepare to reopen their family store in Whittier.
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 20 Rebecca Barnes prepares bouquets at a florist in Long Beach, set to open two days before Mother’s Day.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angelels Times) 12 / 20 Customers in San Clemente, without wearing masks or abiding by social distancing guidelines, stand in line at a newly reopened restaurant.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 20 Linda McLoughlin Figel, owner of Pages a Bookstore in Manhattan Beach, left, helps customer Michael Leo. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 20 A mural decorates a closed business in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 15 / 20 A closed thrift shop on Main Street in Santa Monica. Some retail businesses will reopen for curbside pickup Friday.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 20 Kay Kabir, 71, walks down a deserted Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 20 Debra Consani prepares the Growing Wild florist for reopening in Manhattan Beach.
(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 18 / 20 Jay Demircift, co-owner of Puzzle Zoo, prepares his shop in Santa Monica, which will be reopening at a later date. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 20 A message board tracks the struggles of a shop owner on Main Street in Santa Monica.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 20 Alice Lefae cleans up a Long Beach shop’s exterior in preparation for Friday’s reopening.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
To stem the spread of the coronavirus, which has been blamed for more than 70,000 deaths nationwide, including more than 2,500 in California, Newsom on March 19 signed an executive order requiring the state’s 40 million residents to remain in their homes unless they were classified as essential workers. That came after Californians were urged to avoid mass gatherings and school districts began closing.
The economic toll has been devastating. The state has processed more than 4.2 million unemployment claims since mid-March, when businesses began closing their doors and laying off employees. Newsom’s finance advisors predict the state unemployment rate will hit 18% in 2020.
Nationwide, approximately 33.5 million people have applied for jobless assistance since mid-March.
The Newsom administration, which estimated a state budget surplus of $6 billion in January, now expects one of the largest budget shortfalls in California history.
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Newsom’s budget team forecasts a $41.2-billion drop in tax revenue compared to their estimates from just four months ago, with state revenues from personal income taxes, sales taxes and corporate taxes — the state’s main sources of revenue — plummeting by roughly 25%.
The economic impact of the pandemic has put increased pressure on Newsom to begin reopening California and ease his stay-at-home order, and led to some communities in rural Northern California to openly defy the restrictions by allowing businesses to reopen to customers this week, including hair salons, barbers, gyms and restaurants.
Newsom last week laid out a four-stage plan to gradually transition the state back to normal.
His plan expands the authority of some county officials to relax restrictions even further and open more businesses, such as restaurant dining rooms, on a case-by-case basis, a decision to be made in part on the prevalence of the virus in a community. To do so, however, counties must first submit “containment plans” that meet certain requirements for hospital beds, testing kits and the ability to track infected people and trace their contacts.
Ghaly laid out strict requirements for counties that want to move ahead of the state and into the second phase of the plan.
Before implementing those changes, counties cannot have any COVID-19 deaths in the prior two weeks, a high bar that appears to apply equally to counties such as Modoc, with a population of 10,000, as it would to Los Angeles County, home to roughly 10 million. Counties are also barred from moving forward if they have more than one coronavirus case per 10,000 residents.
Hospitals will need to prepare for a 35% surge in patients and adopt plans to protect their workers, Ghaly said. Among other requirements, counties must have at least 15 contact tracers per 100,000 residents to locate and potentially require people to quarantine if they came into contact with infected residents.
Ghaly described the guidelines at the governor’s daily news conference. They include more directives for auto dealers, the construction industry, hotels and other sectors of the economy.
“We know that we’re going to gradually reopen California only as we can reduce the risk to all Californians from contracting COVID-19,” Ghaly said.
Still, the state did not provide a detailed description of the specific businesses and activities allowed to reopen Friday or what may be permitted in the weeks ahead.
Some local officials have pleaded with Newsom to allow them to accelerate efforts to lift the stay-at-home restrictions. In San Luis Obispo County, for instance, a bipartisan group of mayors and other political representatives asked Newsom in a letter to allow the county to begin a “science-based, thoughtfully phased reopening of our economy.”
Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-Templeton) said the governor’s promise to give counties more discretion in easing restrictions appears to be such an onerous process that most areas — including San Luis Obispo, which he represents — will not qualify even if they have seen a stabilization or dramatic decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.
Cunningham said the state is requiring counties to increase coronavirus testing, which will probably reveal more positive cases. But that would not improve a county’s ability to qualify for a variance to open more businesses if more than one out of every 10,000 residents tests positive in a 14-day period, he said.
“When you go out and test people, you’re always going to get more positive cases,” said Cunningham, who said he supports an aggressive coronavirus testing campaign. “The mere act of doing that is going to disqualify you from reopening. That doesn’t make any sense. I don’t think that that’s good for public health.”
Offices, shopping malls, pet groomers, swap meets and seated dining at restaurants are still ordered closed, but could be eligible to open if a county meets the criteria outlined by the state.
Personal grooming businesses, entertainment venues, live concerts and sports are not included in the second phase of Newsom’s reopening plan.
When asked about the future of sporting events in California this year, Newsom said he doubted fans would be filling any stadiums until a vaccine is developed for the coronavirus.
“It’s difficult to imagine a stadium that’s filled until we have immunity, until we have a vaccine. It’s difficult for me and imagine what the [National Football League], broadly leagues, do,” Newsom said.
The order to stay home unless venturing out to grocery stores, hospitals, vet appointments and other necessary trips also remains in effect.
John Kabateck, the California director of the National Federation of Independent Business, praised Newsom’s reliance on recommendations from his public health advisors to drive his plans to reopen the economy in the safest way possible.
The financial costs of the statewide restrictions, however, also come with devastating consequences to workers, families and business owners and cannot be dismissed, he said. Small business owners have been critical of Newsom’s plan, noting that big-box stores such as Walmart, Target and Costco are allowed to serve customers inside their stores while mom-and-pop stores must stay closed or offer only curbside pickup.
“Restaurants are crumbling. Retail stores are devastated. And the people who work there are struggling to feed their families and make ends meet,” said Kabateck, whose organization represents 15,000 small businesses in California. “They hope and pray that all small businesses can have a system and structure to turn their lights on very, very soon.”
Kabateck urged Newsom and state lawmakers to avoid burdening small business owners with new laws and workplace requirements that impede their ability to reopen. For instance, the expanded workers’ compensation rights Newsom announced on Wednesday probably will drive up costs on small businesses that already are struggling to survive.
The economic impact of the statewide expansion to curbside pickup and delivery could be limited, especially for small businesses.
Some national retail chains were beginning to introduce pickup options before the pandemic hit, while others have continued to rely on their online presence to bring in sales under the restrictions, said Rachel Michelin, president of the California Retailers Assn.
But small businesses that don’t have an online sales system may struggle to modify their model to offer pick up, she said.
“It really isn’t going to help those small businesses because they’ve been closed for seven or eight weeks and they don’t necessarily have the capital to invest in the infrastructure you need to take advantage of the curbside,” Michelin said. “You have to be able to set up your website, have a payment option and all of that stuff that costs money when people have been closed.”
Michelin commended the governor for making changes to help retailers and said she hopes counties will begin to craft plans to expand beyond the state guidelines and allow stores to safely open for in-person shopping.
Regardless of Newsom’s Thursday announcement, leaders in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area have said they plan to take a cautious approach to reopening because the coronavirus remains a significant public health threat in those metropolitan areas.
“The numbers are still going up,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said. “The number of deaths are still going up, and we have not lowered the curve, and we have to be mindful of that.”
Los Angeles County remains the primary COVID-19 hot spot in California, with more than 1,300 deaths and 28,000 confirmed cases, including about 800 new cases reported on Wednesday alone.
Meanwhile, Yuba and Sutter counties in Northern California decided to allow businesses, including restaurants and hair salons, to reopen on Monday as long as they adhere to certain safeguards and restrictions. Dr. Ngoc-Phuong Luu, health officer for Yuba and Sutter counties, issued the order in part because the region has not been hit hard by the virus.
Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said the health office made the decision after consulting established public health guidelines, including those issued by Johns Hopkins University, one of the top research institutions tracking the virus.
Instead of criticizing Yuba and Sutter counties, the Newsom administration should explain why it decided to restrict most retailers to providing only curbside pickup instead of allowing customers in stores, as well as why businesses that provide personal services should remain closed, Gallagher said.
“The question to the state, to the governor and Department of Public Health is what’s your authority for saying that they can’t,” Gallagher said. “I mean, is that your own guidance? Or is it an evidence-based, peer-reviewed guidance?”


latimes--2020-05-07--Coronavirus torpedoes 50th L.A. Pride parade; online celebration planned

The 50th-anniversary L.A .
Pride celebration , one of the state ’ s largest gay and lesbian rights festivals , has been postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
The event , held annually in West Hollywood , is shifting this year to an online celebration , according to nonprofit organizer Christopher Street West .
Information about the digital events will be announced later .
“ Our community has always adapted , changed and become more resilient in the face of uncertain times , ” Estevan Montemayor , president of the CSW ’ s board of directors , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrate Pride with a festival or parade , CSW will make sure that the spirit of Pride is not forgotten .
We are in this together , and we are here for you as we continue to navigate through this situation.
” In West Hollywood , thousands flock to the city — historically an oasis for the LGBTQ community — every June to watch the parade along Santa Monica Boulevard that features colorful floats and people dancing and singing .
The parade also serves as a political movement and memorial , commemorating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade .
Festival organizers urged attendees to see the silver lining of this year ’ s decision , saying it was made in the best interest of the community .
“ Pride is more than just one weekend in a year .
Or even a month , ” organizers said on their website .
“ Pride is something that we live and breathe every day .
Whether we celebrate LA Pride in mid-June ( as we ’ ve done for the last 49 years ) or , for this one specific year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our celebration , our voices , our struggles , our triumphs , and our never-ending message for equality never stops.
” West Hollywood ’ s Pride parade is just the latest event to be canceled or postponed because of the pandemic .
In April , San Diego Pride canceled its annual July event , which draws up to 350,000 people over a three-day celebration .
San Francisco also announced it was scrapping its annual Pride festival .
The California State Fair and Food Festival , held in Sacramento and dating back 166 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Orange and San Diego also canceled their annual summertime fairs over coronavirus concerns .

Revelers enjoy the festivities at the 49th L.A. Pride parade in West Hollywood in 2019.
The 50th-anniversary L.A. Pride celebration, one of the state’s largest gay and lesbian rights festivals, has been postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event, held annually in West Hollywood, is shifting this year to an online celebration, according to nonprofit organizer Christopher Street West. Information about the digital events will be announced later.
“Our community has always adapted, changed and become more resilient in the face of uncertain times,” Estevan Montemayor, president of the CSW’s board of directors, said in a statement. “Although we cannot celebrate Pride with a festival or parade, CSW will make sure that the spirit of Pride is not forgotten. We are in this together, and we are here for you as we continue to navigate through this situation.”
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In West Hollywood, thousands flock to the city — historically an oasis for the LGBTQ community — every June to watch the parade along Santa Monica Boulevard that features colorful floats and people dancing and singing. The parade also serves as a political movement and memorial, commemorating the Stonewall uprising in New York once every decade.
Festival organizers urged attendees to see the silver lining of this year’s decision, saying it was made in the best interest of the community.
“Pride is more than just one weekend in a year. Or even a month,” organizers said on their website. “Pride is something that we live and breathe every day. Whether we celebrate LA Pride in mid-June (as we’ve done for the last 49 years) or, for this one specific year, decide to move it to another weekend, our celebration, our voices, our struggles, our triumphs, and our never-ending message for equality never stops.”
West Hollywood’s Pride parade is just the latest event to be canceled or postponed because of the pandemic.
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In April, San Diego Pride canceled its annual July event, which draws up to 350,000 people over a three-day celebration. San Francisco also announced it was scrapping its annual Pride festival.
The California State Fair and Food Festival, held in Sacramento and dating back 166 years, and the counties of Ventura, Orange and San Diego also canceled their annual summertime fairs over coronavirus concerns.


latimes--2020-05-07--California tops 2,500 coronavirus deaths as fears of second wave temper reopening efforts

The majority of those — 1,418 — have been in L.A. County , California ’ s largest and the hotbed of COVID-19 infections in the state .
These numbers “ represent people who live in our community , and they have families and friends who are suffering as they mourn their loved ones , ” the director of the county Department of Public Health , Barbara Ferrer , said .
“ I ask you to join with us and keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
” Ferrer also announced 815 new coronavirus cases since Wednesday , boosting the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the case count and death toll continued to climb , some businesses in L.A. County and elsewhere around the state were readying to reopen Friday .
The dichotomy is at the heart of the delicate balancing act that Gov .
Gavin Newsom and other officials must perform as they seek to restart certain sectors of the state ’ s battered economy while avoiding a potential second wave of coronavirus infections .
“ There is a lot at stake as we relax Safer-at-Home .
Reopening our county — even slowly — only works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to being careful , ” Ferrer said , adding that residents still need to observe basic safety measures such as physical distancing , washing hands frequently and wearing face coverings .
In Los Angeles County , car dealers and other types of brick-and-mortar stores — including florists and those that sell toys , music , books , clothing and sporting goods — will be allowed to open for curbside pickup only starting Friday .
In-store shopping will not be permitted .
“ I ’ m cautiously optimistic , but we can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hilda Solis said Thursday .
“ Simply put , the virus does not get any less dangerous during this time we ’ re staying at home , so we need to be careful and we need to be deliberate.
” Given L.A. County ’ s size , even relaxing a few provisions of the local health order could significantly increase how many people are coming into contact with one another , Ferrer said .
That , she added , is why “ we ’ re going to go extraordinarily slow , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to be doing this at the expense of people ’ s lives.
” “ We reserve the right to be mindful that , if the data looks like we ’ re moving in the wrong direction , we ’ ll need to take a different set of actions , ” she said .
Newsom announced earlier this week that the state will ease some of its strict stay-at-home rules , allowing bookstores , music stores , toy stores , florists , sporting goods stores , clothing stores and others to reopen for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those businesses would also be allowed to resume operating .
It will be far from business as usual , though .
Offices , shopping malls and dine-in restaurants are still ordered closed , and the second phase of Newsom ’ s reopening plan also excludes personal grooming businesses , entertainment venues , live concerts and sports .
Following the state ’ s lead , some municipalities announced plans to reopen certain businesses in the coming days .
In Ventura County , curbside pickup will soon also be available at bookstores , clothing stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , officials there said .
The Bay Area is taking a more conservative stance , with officials saying stay-at-home orders will continue to be enforced and most stores will remain closed even as statewide guidelines are relaxed .
Riverside County , on the other hand , is considering whether to rescind its health orders — which are among the strictest in the state .
That county ’ s Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to delay a decision until Friday , pending further guidance from Newsom .
With California entering its eighth week under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to relax those restrictions and allow some businesses to reopen have grown increasingly loud .
Hundreds of California Highway Patrol officers surrounded the State Capitol on Thursday , blocking out a few hundred protesters — mostly from Southern California — who returned to Sacramento after staging a rally last week where about 30 people were arrested .
Those arrests sparked anger among the protesters , many of whom said they consider themselves strong supporters of law enforcement .
On Thursday , they came bearing a small olive tree they described as a token @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not stand with them .
Some carried signs reading , ” God forgives you .
Join we the people , ” while others in the crowd yelled at officers to disobey their orders .
Speakers said they understood that the officers were not the enemy , but rather directed their anger at what they called Newsom ’ s “ overreach.
” “ I want everyone here to know that our fight is not with the California Highway Patrol , ” said Pastor Tim Thompson of Riverside as he stood at the barricade , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break ranks and come forward to accept the tree .
“ It ’ s pretty disappointing that they wouldn ’ t accept , ” said Stefanie Fetzer , a protester from Orange County .
“ It ’ s pretty shocking .
... Gavin Newsom has met some new milestones with overreach and tyranny.
” Its shuttered economy has plunged California ’ s finances into dire straits .
Because of a crash in anticipated revenues and an explosion of unanticipated spending , the state now projects a record $ 54.3-billion budget deficit through next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a crisis that is global in its scope and impact and , clearly , California is not immune from those impacts , ” Newsom said Thursday .
And it ’ s not just California that ’ s suffering .
Nearly 3.2 million laid-off U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week , meaning roughly 33.5 million people have lost their jobs in the seven weeks since the coronavirus began forcing millions of companies to close their doors and slash their workforces .
Despite the magnitude of the expected budget crunch , Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the challenge — so long as the federal government provides desperately needed support .
“ We punch above our weight in this state , ” he said .
“ And we ’ ll come back stronger , more resilient and more vibrant than ever.
” Amid the economic crisis , some counties — such as Yuba , Sutter and Modoc in Northern California — have allowed businesses to reopen despite the state health orders .
The state hasn ’ t taken the counties ’ rebellion lying down .
The California Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yuba and Sutter counties this week and warned restaurants that had opened their dining rooms that they could lose their state alcohol licenses if they didn ’ t close them .
Defiance of the statewide order , the agency said , “ endangers public health and safety.
” The state ’ s stance could shift soon , however , after Newsom said Thursday that California was working to implement guidelines that would allow counties to further relax restrictions after they meet criteria related to disease activity , worker safety , testing , contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would trigger either a slowdown or a rollback .
“ We are very , very cognizant of the fact that when we modify , we anticipate more engagement and , obviously , more engagement [ means ] more mixing of individuals , puts people potentially at risk of contracting this disease , ” he said .
“ That ’ s why it ’ s so important that all the monitoring and all the guidelines under the new playbook that was put out today are enacted and enforced.
” Times staff writers Hannah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rong-Gong Lin II , Priscella Vega , Kailyn Brown , Phil Willon , John Myers , Taryn Luna , Emily Alpert Reyes and the Associated Press contributed to this report .

Andrew Wagner works on a tattoo for Jordan Curiel at Heart & Soul Tattoo in Yuba City. The shop is one of dozens of businesses in the area defying Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statewide stay-at-home orders.
Los Angeles County health officials on Thursday announced 51 news coronavirus-linked fatalities, pushing California’s death toll past 2,500.
The majority of those — 1,418 — have been in L.A. County, California’s largest and the hotbed of COVID-19 infections in the state.
These numbers “represent people who live in our community, and they have families and friends who are suffering as they mourn their loved ones,” the director of the county Department of Public Health, Barbara Ferrer, said. “I ask you to join with us and keep them in our thoughts and prayers.”
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1 / 20 Christina Dagle and her daughter Eleanor Eades, 4, buy flowers from Devynn’s Garden in Seal Beach. Some businesses began reopening Friday under a relaxation of the state’s stay-at-home order. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 20 Manager Ruben Cortez with online orders ready to be picked up at Lovell’s Records in Whittier. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 20 Davon Artis, owner of Cool Kicks, sits with a bottle of hand sanitizer as he awaits customers Friday at his sports shoe and apparel store on Melrose Avenue. Artis said he had only a few curbside customers. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 20 Jessica Knudsen, a sales associate at Cookies, a street wear clothing store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, gives change and a backpack purchase to customer Jason Green of Tampa, Fla. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 20 Kim Wicker, owner of Monte’s Camera in Whittier, continued to keep his shop closed Friday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 20 A security guard gets some exercise while keeping watch at the still-closed Apple Store on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 20 Katrina Woerner at her family business, Pour Le Bain in Whittier, which reopened Friday for online order pickup. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 20 Ben, Julia, Luke and Ethan Brenier, from left, help ready their family store, the Wishing Well, for reopening in Whittier. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 20 Shopper Enid Koffler, left, talks with clothing store owner Holly Boies at her shop on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. Boies is planning to open her store Friday for curbside pickup.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 20 Ethan Brenier helps his mother prepare to reopen their family store in Whittier.
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 20 Rebecca Barnes prepares bouquets at a florist in Long Beach, set to open two days before Mother’s Day.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angelels Times) 12 / 20 Customers in San Clemente, without wearing masks or abiding by social distancing guidelines, stand in line at a newly reopened restaurant.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 20 Linda McLoughlin Figel, owner of Pages a Bookstore in Manhattan Beach, left, helps customer Michael Leo. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 20 A mural decorates a closed business in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 15 / 20 A closed thrift shop on Main Street in Santa Monica. Some retail businesses will reopen for curbside pickup Friday.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 20 Kay Kabir, 71, walks down a deserted Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 20 Debra Consani prepares the Growing Wild florist for reopening in Manhattan Beach.
(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 18 / 20 Jay Demircift, co-owner of Puzzle Zoo, prepares his shop in Santa Monica, which will be reopening at a later date. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 20 A message board tracks the struggles of a shop owner on Main Street in Santa Monica.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 20 Alice Lefae cleans up a Long Beach shop’s exterior in preparation for Friday’s reopening.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Ferrer also announced 815 new coronavirus cases since Wednesday, boosting the county’s total to 29,427.
Even as the case count and death toll continued to climb, some businesses in L.A. County and elsewhere around the state were readying to reopen Friday.
The dichotomy is at the heart of the delicate balancing act that Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials must perform as they seek to restart certain sectors of the state’s battered economy while avoiding a potential second wave of coronavirus infections.
“There is a lot at stake as we relax Safer-at-Home. Reopening our county — even slowly — only works if we’re all really committed to being careful,” Ferrer said, adding that residents still need to observe basic safety measures such as physical distancing, washing hands frequently and wearing face coverings.
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In Los Angeles County, car dealers and other types of brick-and-mortar stores — including florists and those that sell toys, music, books, clothing and sporting goods — will be allowed to open for curbside pickup only starting Friday. In-store shopping will not be permitted.
“I’m cautiously optimistic, but we can’t move too quickly,” county Supervisor Hilda Solis said Thursday. “Simply put, the virus does not get any less dangerous during this time we’re staying at home, so we need to be careful and we need to be deliberate.”
Given L.A. County’s size, even relaxing a few provisions of the local health order could significantly increase how many people are coming into contact with one another, Ferrer said.
That, she added, is why “we’re going to go extraordinarily slow, and the reason why is we don’t want to be doing this at the expense of people’s lives.”
“We reserve the right to be mindful that, if the data looks like we’re moving in the wrong direction, we’ll need to take a different set of actions,” she said.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti urged residents to shop locally at reopened stores. But he cautioned people against assuming that the measures signal a return to the past.
“We’re not stepping into a brand new place,” he said Thursday. “This isn’t the flipping on of a switch where everything goes back to normal. We’re not going to go back to normal for a long time.”
Newsom announced earlier this week that the state will ease some of its strict stay-at-home rules, allowing bookstores, music stores, toy stores, florists, sporting goods stores, clothing stores and others to reopen for curbside pickup Friday.
Factories that supply those businesses would also be allowed to resume operating.
It will be far from business as usual, though. Offices, shopping malls and dine-in restaurants are still ordered closed, and the second phase of Newsom’s reopening plan also excludes personal grooming businesses, entertainment venues, live concerts and sports.
Newsom said Thursday that the first person in California to contract coronavirus through community spread caught it in a nail salon. He cited the case when asked why personal services like nail salons have to stay closed as the state reopens other businesses.
Garcetti said the detail reinforced to him that personal services are “tougher spaces” to reopen.
“Same thing with religious institutions. I’d love to get back to services,” he said. “But we know how many stories started in a church gathering or a funeral.”
Following the state’s lead, some municipalities announced plans to reopen certain businesses in the coming days.
In Ventura County, curbside pickup will soon also be available at bookstores, clothing stores, florists and sporting goods stores, officials there said.
Meanwhile, San Francisco is taking a more moderate approach, with officials there delaying similar moves until May 18.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Riverside County, on the other hand, is considering whether to rescind its health orders — which are among the strictest in the state. That county’s Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to delay a decision until Friday, pending further guidance from Newsom.
With California entering its eighth week under Newsom’s stay-at-home order, calls to relax those restrictions and allow some businesses to reopen have grown increasingly loud.
Hundreds of California Highway Patrol officers surrounded the State Capitol on Thursday, blocking out a few hundred protesters — mostly from Southern California — who returned to Sacramento after staging a rally last week where about 30 people were arrested.
Those arrests sparked anger among the protesters, many of whom said they consider themselves strong supporters of law enforcement. On Thursday, they came bearing a small olive tree they described as a token of their forgiveness that the officers did not stand with them.
Some carried signs reading, ”God forgives you. Join we the people,” while others in the crowd yelled at officers to disobey their orders.
Speakers said they understood that the officers were not the enemy, but rather directed their anger at what they called Newsom’s “overreach.”
“I want everyone here to know that our fight is not with the California Highway Patrol,” said Pastor Tim Thompson of Riverside as he stood at the barricade, begging for one of the officers to break ranks and come forward to accept the tree.
None did.
“It’s pretty disappointing that they wouldn’t accept,” said Stefanie Fetzer, a protester from Orange County. “It’s pretty shocking. ... Gavin Newsom has met some new milestones with overreach and tyranny.”
Its shuttered economy has plunged California’s finances into dire straits. Because of a crash in anticipated revenues and an explosion of unanticipated spending, the state now projects a record $54.3-billion budget deficit through next summer.
“We are certainly dealing with a crisis that is global in its scope and impact and, clearly, California is not immune from those impacts,” Newsom said Thursday.
And it’s not just California that’s suffering. Nearly 3.2 million laid-off U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, meaning roughly 33.5 million people have lost their jobs in the seven weeks since the coronavirus began forcing millions of companies to close their doors and slash their workforces.
Despite the magnitude of the expected budget crunch, Newsom expressed optimism that the state would rise to the challenge — so long as the federal government provides desperately needed support.
“We punch above our weight in this state,” he said. “And we’ll come back stronger, more resilient and more vibrant than ever.”
Amid the economic crisis, some counties — such as Yuba, Sutter and Modoc in Northern California — have allowed businesses to reopen despite the state health orders.
The state hasn’t taken the counties’ rebellion lying down. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control visited multiple locations in Yuba and Sutter counties this week and warned restaurants that had opened their dining rooms that they could lose their state alcohol licenses if they didn’t close them.
Defiance of the statewide order, the agency said, “endangers public health and safety.”
The state’s stance could shift soon, however, after Newsom announced that California was working to implement guidelines that would allow counties to further relax restrictions after they meet criteria related to disease activity, worker safety, testing, contact tracing, hospital capacity and identifying metrics that would trigger either a slowdown or a rollback.
“We are very, very cognizant of the fact that when we modify, we anticipate more engagement and, obviously, more engagement [means] more mixing of individuals, puts people potentially at risk of contracting this disease,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important that all the monitoring and all the guidelines under the new playbook that was put out today are enacted and enforced.”
Times staff writers Hannah Fry, Marisa Gerber, Maura Dolan, Rong-Gong Lin II, Priscella Vega, Kailyn Brown, Phil Willon, John Myers, Taryn Luna, Emily Alpert Reyes and the Associated Press contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-07--Face masks will be an even bigger part of L.A. life as reopening begins

Los Angeles will inch toward reopening itself and its economy Friday , and it ’ s become clear that face coverings will be an even bigger part of post-pandemic life .
Here is where masks are currently required , as well as proposals that would dramatically increase face-covering requirements to the spread of the coronavirus : Beginning Monday , anyone traveling through Los Angeles International Airport must wear a mask or face covering .
On top of the LAX mask rule — a move that Mayor Eric Garcetti said aligns with requirements by many major airlines — the mayor announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a city bus will be required to wear a face covering .
There is also a push to require masks on all buses and trains in Los Angeles County during the coronavirus outbreak .
Allowing passengers without face coverings to ride on Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses “ threatens to compound the spread ” of the coronavirus because many workers at grocery stores , restaurants and other essential businesses rely on public transportation , County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a letter Monday .
Hahn , who is also a Metro director , noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear face coverings while visiting essential businesses .
Transportation is an essential service too , she said , and should have the same requirements .
Hahn ’ s letter to Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington cited who said they feared for their health because many riders were not wearing masks and bus yards faced periodic shortages of masks , hand sanitizer and other protective gear .
“ If I come to work , am I going to catch it today ?
Will I catch it tomorrow ?
Will I catch it next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heights .
“ It ’ s always in the back of my head.
” Rules already require both shoppers and store employees to wear face covering inside essential businesses like supermarkets .
Face coverings are also a big part of the modest reopening planned in L.A. County on Friday .
This is what is affected : Nonessential business reopening for curbside pickup with adherence to distancing and infection-control protocols • Car dealership showrooms ( open for sales with adherence to distancing and infection control protocols ) Outdoor parks and recreational facilities are open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and infection-control protocols • Wear a face covering while on trails and when running errands • Stay six feet away from people who don ’ t live with you What could be next Los Angeles leaders are exploring whether to require Angelenos to have masks or other facial coverings whenever they leave their homes , a proposal championed by City Councilman Paul Koretz as a way to prevent new infections .
“ The last thing we need is another spike in cases to set us back as we ’ re trying to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council has not yet decided to draft such a law , but voted Wednesday to ask city staffers to report back on health guidelines for wearing masks , what requirements have been imposed by other cities , and how such rules might be enforced .
“ People still walk dogs .
They still ride bicycles .
They still may stop and chat with their neighbors , ” Koretz said in an interview .
“ This would reduce the spread.
” Koretz said that , under such an ordinance , people would be required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their faces or close at hand so they could put them on quickly whenever they approached someone from outside their household .
The councilman argued that mandating that masks would help keep people who are infected but asymptomatic from unknowingly transmitting the virus .
He pointed to the Czech Republic , which imposed a similar requirement , as an example of how the mandate could reduce new infections .
At Wednesday ’ s meeting , some council members remained uncertain : Councilman Gil Cedillo raised concerns about racially discriminatory enforcement of mask rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also expressed reluctance , saying that in his district , people seemed to be behaving responsibly to maintain social distancing and “ already feel confined as it is.
” • Wash your cloth face covering frequently , ideally after each use , or at least daily .
• Have a separate bag or bin to keep used cloth face coverings in until they can be laundered with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle .
• If you must rewear your cloth face covering before washing , wash your hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid touching your face .
• Discard cloth face coverings that no longer cover the nose and mouth , have stretched out or have damaged ties or straps , can not stay on the face , or have holes or tears in the fabric Health experts have also suggested routinely washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer before and after touching your face or face coverings .
Once surgical masks get moist , experts said their effectiveness diminishes .
If a makeshift mask gets moist or is visibly soiled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a clean one .
To clean them , run masks through the laundry or hand wash them with soap and water .
More tips can be found here .

Hannah Fry, Emily Alpert Reyes, Priscella Vega, Marisa Gerber

Los Angeles will inch toward reopening itself and its economy Friday, and it’s become clear that face coverings will be an even bigger part of post-pandemic life.
Here is where masks are currently required, as well as proposals that would dramatically increase face-covering requirements to the spread of the coronavirus:
Airports and buses
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Beginning Monday, anyone traveling through Los Angeles International Airport must wear a mask or face covering.
On top of the LAX mask rule — a move that Mayor Eric Garcetti said aligns with requirements by many major airlines — the mayor announced that, starting Monday, anyone riding a city bus will be required to wear a face covering.
There is also a push to require masks on all buses and trains in Los Angeles County during the coronavirus outbreak.
Allowing passengers without face coverings to ride on Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses “threatens to compound the spread” of the coronavirus because many workers at grocery stores, restaurants and other essential businesses rely on public transportation, County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a letter Monday.
Hahn, who is also a Metro director, noted that the county is requiring customers to wear face coverings while visiting essential businesses. Transportation is an essential service too, she said, and should have the same requirements.
Hahn’s letter to Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington cited a Times report about bus drivers who said they feared for their health because many riders were not wearing masks and bus yards faced periodic shortages of masks, hand sanitizer and other protective gear.
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“If I come to work, am I going to catch it today? Will I catch it tomorrow? Will I catch it next week?” said a driver in Boyle Heights. “It’s always in the back of my head.”
Businesses and beyond
Rules already require both shoppers and store employees to wear face covering inside essential businesses like supermarkets.
Face coverings are also a big part of the modest reopening planned in L.A. County on Friday. This is what is affected:
Nonessential business reopening for curbside pickup with adherence to distancing and infection-control protocols
Bookstores
Clothing stores
Florists
Music stores
Sporting goods stores
Toy stores
Car dealership showrooms (open for sales with adherence to distancing and infection control protocols)
Outdoor parks and recreational facilities are open provided all activities adhere to social distancing and infection-control protocols
Golf courses (not including pro-shops or dine-in restaurants)
Trails and trailheads
Parks
These rules remain:
Wear a face covering while on trails and when running errands
Wash hands throughout the day
Stay six feet away from people who don’t live with you
California L.A. weighs requiring masks when people leave their homes L.A. leaders are exploring whether to require residents to wear masks or other facial coverings whenever they leave their homesto prevent new coronavirus infections.
What could be next
Los Angeles leaders are exploring whether to require Angelenos to have masks or other facial coverings whenever they leave their homes, a proposal championed by City Councilman Paul Koretz as a way to prevent new infections.
“The last thing we need is another spike in cases to set us back as we’re trying to move forward,” Koretz said.
The council has not yet decided to draft such a law, but voted Wednesday to ask city staffers to report back on health guidelines for wearing masks, what requirements have been imposed by other cities, and how such rules might be enforced.
“People still walk dogs. They still ride bicycles. They still may stop and chat with their neighbors,” Koretz said in an interview. “This would reduce the spread.”
Koretz said that, under such an ordinance, people would be required to have the masks either already on their faces or close at hand so they could put them on quickly whenever they approached someone from outside their household.
The councilman argued that mandating that masks would help keep people who are infected but asymptomatic from unknowingly transmitting the virus. He pointed to the Czech Republic, which imposed a similar requirement, as an example of how the mandate could reduce new infections.
At Wednesday’s meeting, some council members remained uncertain: Councilman Gil Cedillo raised concerns about racially discriminatory enforcement of mask rules against African Americans.
Councilman John Lee also expressed reluctance, saying that in his district, people seemed to be behaving responsibly to maintain social distancing and “already feel confined as it is.”
Face covering guidance
Here’s some advice from California health officials:
Wash your cloth face covering frequently, ideally after each use, or at least daily.
Have a separate bag or bin to keep used cloth face coverings in until they can be laundered with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle.
If you must rewear your cloth face covering before washing, wash your hands immediately after putting it back on and avoid touching your face.
Discard cloth face coverings that no longer cover the nose and mouth, have stretched out or have damaged ties or straps, cannot stay on the face, or have holes or tears in the fabric
Health experts have also suggested routinely washing your hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer before and after touching your face or face coverings.
Once surgical masks get moist, experts said their effectiveness diminishes. If a makeshift mask gets moist or is visibly soiled, it’s time to switch to a clean one.
To clean them, run masks through the laundry or hand wash them with soap and water.
More tips can be found here.