latimes--2020-03-04--Sanders' campaign asks judge to keep L.A. County polling centers open because of long lines and glit

Sanders' campaign asks judge to keep L.A. County polling centers open because of long lines and glitches

Bernie Sanders ’ campaign is asking a judge to force polling locations in Los Angeles County to stay open until 10 p.m. after voters reported long wait times and glitches at a number of the county ’ s newly designed vote centers .
“ Multiple polling locations in the county have experienced extreme wait times for individuals to vote , including wait times up to four hours to cast a ballot , ” the campaign wrote in the request filed Tuesday night .
“ If an emergency [ temporary restraining order ] is not granted to keep the polls open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters ’ right to participate in our democracy will be immediately and irreparably harmed.
” Dean Logan , the registrar of voters in Los Angeles County , apologized to voters for the long wait times and told reporters late Tuesday that polling centers would not stay open late , Fox 11 reported .
But anyone who was in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote .
In the filing , Sanders ’ campaign cited examples of problems reported at 17 polling stations across the county .
At Logan Elementary School in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wait was an hour at 12:20 p.m. because about half of the check-in stations were not working .
At UCLA ’ s Ackerman Union , the only voting center on campus , as many as 300 students were waiting in line at various points in the afternoon , the filing said .
Because of Wi-Fi problems , it said , only nine of 39 voting machines were being used .
The filing said polling centers should offer provisional ballots to any voters who arrive after 8 p.m. Those provisional ballots should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day , the filing said .

Bernie Sanders’ campaign is asking a judge to force polling locations in Los Angeles County to stay open until 10 p.m. after voters reported long wait times and glitches at a number of the county’s newly designed vote centers.
“Multiple polling locations in the county have experienced extreme wait times for individuals to vote, including wait times up to four hours to cast a ballot,” the campaign wrote in the request filed Tuesday night. “If an emergency [temporary restraining order] is not granted to keep the polls open for an additional two hours, county voters’ right to participate in our democracy will be immediately and irreparably harmed.”
Dean Logan, the registrar of voters in Los Angeles County, apologized to voters for the long wait times and told reporters late Tuesday that polling centers would not stay open late, Fox 11 reported. But anyone who was in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Advertisement
Politics 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primary: What you missed, who dropped out On the biggest day of the Democratic presidential primary calendar, 14 states — from Maine to California — held primaries on Super Tuesday. There were1,357 delegates at stake, just over a third of the votes at this summer’s nominating convention.The balloting shaped up as a battle between Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden.Former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg dropped out Wednesday morning after a disappointing showing, considering the hundreds of millions he’s spent on his campaign. Sen. Elizabeth Warren also fell well short of expectations. Our reporters in California and other key Super Tuesday states followed the day’s developments and will keep you up to date on the aftermath.Live Super Tuesday results Photos: Super Tuesday | 14 states hold primaries with 1,357 delegates at stake
In the filing, Sanders’ campaign cited examples of problems reported at 17 polling stations across the county.
At Logan Elementary School in Echo Park, the filing said, the wait was an hour at 12:20 p.m. because about half of the check-in stations were not working.
At UCLA’s Ackerman Union, the only voting center on campus, as many as 300 students were waiting in line at various points in the afternoon, the filing said. Because of Wi-Fi problems, it said, only nine of 39 voting machines were being used.
The filing said polling centers should offer provisional ballots to any voters who arrive after 8 p.m. Those provisional ballots should be segregated from provisional ballots cast earlier in the day, the filing said.


latimes--2020-03-04--Jackie Lacey leads contentious Los Angeles D.A.'s race after early returns

As polls closed Tuesday night , voters in Los Angeles County came one step closer to determining if a nationwide push to elect progressive prosecutors would claim a big win or suffer a setback in a contest for control of the nation ’ s largest district attorney ’ s office .
Los Angeles County Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey jumped out to an early lead over challengers , former San Francisco Dist .
Atty .
George Gascón and public defender Rachel Rossi , after partial returns late Tuesday .
The top two vote-getters will continue on to November unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the returns and wins outright .
Lacey held on to a slight majority of votes as of midnight .
The race has been defined by a stark ideological divide between Lacey and her two challengers .
While all three are registered Democrats , Lacey ’ s broad support among law enforcement and track record of not prosecuting officers in controversial use-of-force cases has drawn her scorn from progressive groups and criminal justice reform activists .
Those tensions boiled over Monday morning , when Lacey ’ s husband pointed a gun at Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the couple ’ s Granada Hills home .
Gascón and Rossi are both emblematic of a nationwide reform movement that has vaulted restorative justice minded candidates into office in such cities as Chicago , Philadelphia and San Francisco .
A former assistant chief in the Los Angeles Police Department , Gascón became a progressive policymaker after being appointed as San Francisco ’ s district attorney in 2011 .
He coauthored Proposition 47 and enacted a number of policies aimed at reducing California ’ s prison population , including cutting back dramatically on prosecution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surges in property crime there have led critics to label him as soft on crime .
Speaking to supporters at Union Station , Gascón acknowledged the early results but said he expected mail ballots to favor Lacey and expected his standing to improve as reports from polling stations came in .
But with long lines and delays marking a problematic roll out of L.A. County ’ s new voting system , it was unclear when full returns might come in .
Rossi has painted herself as the only true alternative in the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement experience into a net positive that allows her to understand the courtroom from both sides of the aisle .
As legal counsel to Sen. Richard Durbin ( D-Ill. ) in Washington , she helped frame the First Step Act , which reduced some mandatory minimum sentences at the federal level .
Opponents have challenged her relative inexperience compared with Gascón and Lacey , however .
Whereas the two law enforcement lions have served a combined six decades as a policeman or prosecutor , Rossi , 36 , has never run an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for only about eight years .
During an event in Echo Park Tuesday night , Rossi thanked her supporters for believing in “ the crazy idea of a public defender running for prosecutor.
” “ It ’ s exciting to see we ’ re very closely tied right now , ” she said .
“ I ’ m looking forward to seeing how the numbers continue to come in.
” In a statement , Lacey acknowledged it would be a long time until the final tally was known but praised voters who trusted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice system .
“ I am deeply grateful to the hundreds of thousands of voters who cast their ballots to advance policies that protect victims , prioritize mental health treatment and keep L.A. County safe , ” she said .
The race has attracted millions of dollars in funding from outside committees and been marked by pointed attacks .
Many of Gascón ’ s former fellow LAPD officers have turned their back on him , with the union representing rank-and-file officers spending $ 1 million to oppose his candidacy and release advertisements describing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meanwhile , has been dogged by protesters at several events .
At a news conference Monday , she claimed her office had received numerous threats during the race , including a death threat that was referred to an outside police agency .
After demonstrators disrupted portions of a January debate , she refused to appear at any other candidate forums before the end of the primary .
Following the gun incident , she canceled a public event for supporters to watch results Tuesday night , Mac Zilber , a consultant on her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day meeting with constituents around downtown L.A. and Boyle Heights , while Gascón held a campaign event at the Grand Central Market .
Lacey stayed out of the public eye , but Zilber said she spent much of the day on the phone with supporters .
The image of Lacey ’ s husband pointing a gun at unarmed protesters seemed to weigh heavy on the minds of voters Tuesday .
While walking to a polling station in Mid-City , 30-year-old Julia Markas said footage of the confrontation led her to research the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me investigate where did she stand on things , who are the other people running against her , because it was a really shocking video , ” Markas said .

James Queally, Leila Miller, Matthew Ormseth

In a race that could serve as a litmus test of Southern California’s appetite for criminal justice reform, Los Angeles County’s Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey held a sizable lead over her two progressive challengers, though it was unclear if she would avoid a November runoff in the contest to lead the nation’s largest county prosecutor’s office.
With just under 1 million ballots tallied as of 6 a.m., Lacey had garnered about 50.7% of the vote, according to the L.A. County Registrar. The two-term incumbent jumped out to a significant lead after early returns that largely consisted of mail-in ballots, but saw her lead slip as results from polling centers came in.
Her challengers — former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascón and public defender Rachel Rossi — had been tied in distant second place. But as more votes trickled in, Gascon’s vote tally climbed to 27% while Rossi remained in the low-20s.
Advertisement
The next update was expected Wednesday afternoon.
The top two vote-getters will continue on to November unless one candidate finishes with more than 50% of the vote and wins outright.
The race has been defined by a stark ideological divide between Lacey and her two challengers. While all three are registered Democrats, Lacey’s broad support among law enforcement and track record of not prosecuting officers in controversial use-of-force cases has drawn her scorn from progressive groups and criminal justice reform activists.
Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey is seen as a more traditional prosecutor than her election opponents George Gascón and Rachel Rossi. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Those tensions boiled over Monday morning, when Lacey’s husband pointed a gun at Black Lives Matter protesters who had gathered outside the couple’s Granada Hills home.
Gascón and Rossi are both emblematic of a nationwide reform movement that has vaulted restorative justice minded candidates into office in such cities as Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
A former assistant chief in the Los Angeles Police Department, Gascón became a progressive policymaker after being appointed as San Francisco’s district attorney in 2011. He coauthored Proposition 47 and enacted a number of policies aimed at reducing California’s prison population, including cutting back dramatically on prosecution of low-level and nonviolent offenders. But surges in property crime there have led critics to label him as soft on crime.
Advertisement
Speaking to supporters at Union Station on Tuesday night, Gascón acknowledged the early results and said he had expected mail-in ballots to favor Lacey, but predicted his standing would improve as results from election day voting came in. However, with long lines and delays marking a problematic roll out of L.A. County’s new voting system, it was unclear when full results might be available.
Rachel Rossi, center, chats with supporters shortly before announcing her entry into the Los Angeles County district attorney’s race. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Rossi has painted herself as the only true alternative in the race, portraying her lack of law enforcement experience as a positive that would allow her to understand the courtroom from both sides of the aisle. As legal counsel to Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) in Washington, she helped frame the First Step Act, which reduced some mandatory minimum sentences at the federal level.
Opponents have also made an issue of her relative inexperience. Whereas Gascón and Lacey have served a combined six decades as a police officer or prosecutor, Rossi, 36, has never run an agency and served as a public defender for only about eight years.
During an event in Echo Park on Tuesday night, Rossi thanked her supporters for believing in “the crazy idea of a public defender running for prosecutor.”
“It’s exciting to see we’re very closely tied right now,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the numbers continue to come in.”
In a statement, Lacey acknowledged it would be a long time until the final tally was known but praised voters who trusted her to guide the county’s justice system.
“I am deeply grateful to the hundreds of thousands of voters who cast their ballots to advance policies that protect victims, prioritize mental health treatment and keep L.A. County safe,” she said.
The race has attracted millions of dollars in funding from outside committees and been marked by pointed attacks. Many of Gascón’s former fellow LAPD officers have turned their back on him, with the union representing rank-and-file officers spending $1 million to oppose his candidacy and release advertisements describing him as a con man.
Lacey, meanwhile, has been dogged by protesters at several events. At a news conference Monday, she claimed her office had received numerous threats during the race, including a death threat that was referred to an outside police agency. After demonstrators disrupted portions of a January debate, she refused to appear at any other candidate forums before the primary.
Politics 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primary: Live updates On the biggest day of the Democratic presidential primary calendar, 14 states — from Maine to California — held primaries on Super Tuesday. There were1,357 delegates at stake, just over a third of the votes at this summer’s nominating convention.The balloting shaped up as a battle between Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden.Former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg dropped out Wednesday morning after a disappointing showing, considering the hundreds of millions he’s spent on his campaign. Sen. Elizabeth Warren also fell well short of expectations. Our reporters in California and other key Super Tuesday states followed the day’s developments and will keep you up to date on the aftermath.Live Super Tuesday results Photos: Super Tuesday | 14 states hold primaries with 1,357 delegates at stake
Following the gun incident involving her husband, she canceled a public watch party for supporters Tuesday night, Mac Zilber, a consultant on her campaign, said.
Rossi spent election day meeting with constituents around downtown L.A. and Boyle Heights, while Gascón held a campaign event at the Grand Central Market. Lacey stayed out of the public eye, but Zilber said she spent much of the day on the phone with supporters.
The image of Lacey’s husband pointing a gun at unarmed protesters seemed to weigh heavily on the minds of voters Tuesday. While walking to a polling station in Mid-City, 30-year-old Julia Markas said footage of the confrontation led her to research the other candidates.
“It really did make me investigate where did she stand on things, who are the other people running against her, because it was a really shocking video,” Markas said.


latimes--2020-03-03--Mother of San Bernardino terrorist will plead guilty to destroying evidence on day of attack

The mother of Syed Rizwan Farook , who carried out the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack that left 14 people dead , has agreed to plead guilty to shredding evidence in her home that connected her son and his wife to the massacre , federal prosecutors announced Tuesday .
Rafia Shareef , 66 , will plead guilty to one count of altering records with the intent of impeding a federal investigation , a charge that carries up to 20 years in federal prison .
The U.S. attorney ’ s office in Los Angeles said the plea agreement called for no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shareef was living with her son and his wife , Tashfeen Malik , in Redlands at the time of the Dec. 2 , 2015 attack .
That day , the couple left their infant child with Shareef , falsely telling her they were going to a medical appointment , according to the plea agreement .
Over the next hours , Malik and Farook stormed the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino , killing 14 people at a holiday party and wounding 22 .
The couple then died in a firefight with police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities had linked her son to the rampage .
Prosecutors noted in the plea agreement that there is no allegation she had prior knowledge about the attack .
But when family members arrived at the home later in the afternoon , Shareef expressed her belief that Malik and Farook were the perpetrators , according to a court filing .
Before leaving home , Shareef walked into her son ’ s bedroom and shredded at least one document , a map .
In her plea agreement , Shareef acknowledged that she knew her son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ directly related to Farook and Malik ’ s planning of the attack.
” Authorities did not elaborate further on what the map depicted .
Shareef , a resident of Corona , signed the plea agreement on Feb. 26 and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Riverside on March 16 .
Her attorney , Charles Swift of the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America , did not respond to messages seeking comment .
The case is the latest in a handful of prosecutions of the wider Farook family that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly attack .
Enrique Marquez Jr. , a former neighbor accused of buying the rifles that Farook and Malik used in the killings , has sought to withdraw his 2017 guilty plea to providing material support to terrorists .
Shareef ’ s son Syed Raheel Farook ; his wife , Tatiana Farook ; and her sister , Mariya Chernykh , have all pleaded guilty to immigration fraud charges in connection with Chernykh ’ s sham marriage to Marquez .
All three are scheduled to be sentenced later this year .

The mother of Syed Rizwan Farook, who carried out the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack that left 14 people dead, has agreed to plead guilty to shredding evidence in her home that connected her son and his wife to the massacre, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Rafia Shareef, 66, will plead guilty to one count of altering records with the intent of impeding a federal investigation, a charge that carries up to 20 years in federal prison. The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles said the plea agreement called for no more than 18 months behind bars.
Shareef was living with her son and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, in Redlands at the time of the Dec. 2, 2015 attack. That day, the couple left their infant child with Shareef, falsely telling her they were going to a medical appointment, according to the plea agreement.
Advertisement
Over the next hours, Malik and Farook stormed the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, killing 14 people at a holiday party and wounding 22. The couple then died in a firefight with police.
Shortly before noon, Shareef learned that authorities had linked her son to the rampage. Prosecutors noted in the plea agreement that there is no allegation she had prior knowledge about the attack.
But when family members arrived at the home later in the afternoon, Shareef expressed her belief that Malik and Farook were the perpetrators, according to a court filing.
Before leaving home, Shareef walked into her son’s bedroom and shredded at least one document, a map. In her plea agreement, Shareef acknowledged that she knew her son had produced the map and that it was “directly related to Farook and Malik’s planning of the attack.” Authorities did not elaborate further on what the map depicted.
Shareef, a resident of Corona, signed the plea agreement on Feb. 26 and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Riverside on March 16. Her attorney, Charles Swift of the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, did not respond to messages seeking comment.
The case is the latest in a handful of prosecutions of the wider Farook family that continue more than four years after the deadly attack.
Advertisement
Enrique Marquez Jr., a former neighbor accused of buying the rifles that Farook and Malik used in the killings, has sought to withdraw his 2017 guilty plea to providing material support to terrorists.
Shareef’s son Syed Raheel Farook; his wife, Tatiana Farook; and her sister, Mariya Chernykh, have all pleaded guilty to immigration fraud charges in connection with Chernykh’s sham marriage to Marquez. All three are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.


latimes--2020-03-03--Orange County announces two presumptive coronavirus cases

Orange County officials on Tuesday announced two presumptive coronavirus cases , both of whom had recently been in countries where the virus has spread .
“ While the risk of infection remains low , the expanded presence of the virus in our community is a reality we should all prepare for , ” said Berkeley Public Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez .
“ There are steps that all of us in the community can take now to improve basic hygiene and also prepare for a wider spread in the future.
” Robert R. Redfield , director of the Centers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message to the American public , reiterated that point .
“ I want them to be prepared for the reality that ... there are going to be more cases in the community , ” he said .
“ But I want them to continue their daily lives .
I want them to be mindful of the opportunity again to prepare themselves and their families.
” Redfield said scientists do not have the data to predict the disease ’ s future spread .
“ What we do know for sure , that in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential to move quickly , ” he said .
“ When you think that just a couple of weeks ago there were less than three cases in Korea , now there ’ s 2,500.
” Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are now looking to confirm those results .
At least five Northern California counties reported new cases of COVID-19 on Monday .
On Tuesday , the city of Berkeley reported its first case after an individual visited a country with an outbreak .
That individual has remained at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the California Department of Public Health received approval from the CDC and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to dip into its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N-95 face masks for medical workers on the front lines .
“ The more you look for something , the more likely you are to find it , ” said Dr. Nichole Quick , Orange County health officer .
“ Now that our public health laboratory is able to perform COVID-19 testing , we expect to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our residents should take everyday precautions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like covering your coughs and sneezes , avoiding touching your face , and washing your hands frequently .
”

Colleen Shalby, Noah Bierman, Rong-Gong Lin II

Orange County officials on Tuesday announced two presumptive coronavirus cases, both of whom had recently been in countries where the virus has spread.
Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are now looking to confirm those results. At least five Northern California counties reported new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. On Tuesday, the city of Berkeley reported its first case after an individual visited a country with an outbreak. That individual has remained at home in a self-imposed quarantine since returning.
“While the risk of infection remains low, the expanded presence of the virus in our community is a reality we should all prepare for,” said Berkeley Public Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez. “There are steps that all of us in the community can take now to improve basic hygiene and also prepare for a wider spread in the future.”
CDC director Robert R. Redfield, delivering a message to the American public, reiterated that point.
“I want them to be prepared for the reality that ... there are going to be more cases in the community,” he said. “But I want them to continue their daily lives. I want them to be mindful of the opportunity again to prepare themselves and their families.”
Advertisement
Redfield said scientists do not have the data to predict the disease’s future spread.
“What we do know for sure, that in the right setting, it does have the potential to move quickly,” he said. “When you think that just a couple of weeks ago there were less than three cases in Korea, now there’s 2,500.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the California Department of Public Health received approval from the CDC and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to dip into its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N-95 face masks for medical workers on the front lines.
“The more you look for something, the more likely you are to find it,” said Dr. Nichole Quick, Orange County health officer. “Now that our public health laboratory is able to perform COVID-19 testing, we expect to see more cases here in Orange County. Our residents should take everyday precautions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like covering your coughs and sneezes, avoiding touching your face, and washing your hands frequently.”


latimes--2020-03-03--Santa Clara advises seniors to avoid large gatherings as two new coronavirus cases confirmed

Santa Clara County public health officials are advising seniors and those who are medically vulnerable to avoid large gatherings after two new cases of coronavirus were identified , raising its total to 11 — the most of any California county .
The source of infection for the latest two cases , reported Tuesday , is still under investigation .
Of the other confirmed cases in the county , two were transmitted in the community , four were travel-related and three stemmed from close contact with known cases , officials said .
“ It is important to remember that , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this disease will be mild .
While many persons in our community may get sick , the vast majority will recover .
The added measures are being used to protect those in our community who are likely at greatest risk for having severe disease , ” said George Han , the county ’ s deputy health officer .
Santa Clara officials said the risk of severe illness starts to increase at age 50 and grows with age .
The highest risk group comprises persons age 80 and older .
Individuals with cardiovascular disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases such as COPD are also at a higher risk , officials said .
Public health officials advised those at higher risk to avoid large gatherings such as parades , sporting events and concerts .
That does not include typical office environments , grocery stores or shopping centers .
People should also be extra vigilant in cleaning surfaces such as counters , tabletops , doorknobs , phones and keyboards .

Santa Clara County has identified two new cases of coronavirus, raising its total to 11 — the most of any California county.
Santa Clara County public health officials are advising seniors and those who are medically vulnerable to avoid large gatherings after two new cases of coronavirus were identified, raising its total to 11 — the most of any California county.
The source of infection for the latest two cases, reported Tuesday, is still under investigation. Of the other confirmed cases in the county, two were transmitted in the community, four were travel-related and three stemmed from close contact with known cases, officials said.
“It is important to remember that, for about 80% of the population, this disease will be mild. While many persons in our community may get sick, the vast majority will recover. The added measures are being used to protect those in our community who are likely at greatest risk for having severe disease,” said George Han, the county’s deputy health officer.
Santa Clara officials said the risk of severe illness starts to increase at age 50 and grows with age. The highest risk group comprises persons age 80 and older. Individuals with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer or chronic lung diseases such as COPD are also at a higher risk, officials said.
Advertisement
Public health officials advised those at higher risk to avoid large gatherings such as parades, sporting events and concerts. That does not include typical office environments, grocery stores or shopping centers. People should also be extra vigilant in cleaning surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, phones and keyboards.


latimes--2020-03-03--Golden State Killer suspect would plead guilty if death penalty is off the table, lawyers say

Attorneys for the man accused of being the Golden State Killer said Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. would be willing to plead guilty if prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty , according to new court papers .
The statement from the public defenders representing DeAngelo appears as a footnote in a 41-page dismissal motion filed in Sacramento County Circuit Court late Monday night and obtained by the Times on Tuesday .
“ Mr .
DeAngelo is 74 years old .
He has offered to plead to the charges with a lifetime sentence , ” the statement says .
Assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a request to clarify the statement .
Nor did Sacramento County prosecutor Anne Marie Schubert respond to a request for comment .
But victims in the case told The Times they had received a letter from the public defender asking them to tell an independent mediator what they think about resolving the case without trial .
“ I would be OK with that , ” said Kris Pedretti , who was 15 when she was raped in 1976 .
“ But in exchange we want answers .
Where he was .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us answers ... real answers.
” A second victim voiced a similar opinion .
Victor Hayes , who was held captive and threatened with death while his girlfriend was raped , said he is more interested in knowing details of how the crimes would have been committed by DeAngelo , a patrol duty police officer for the small northern California town of Auburn .
DeAngelo faces charges for 13 murders and 13 rape-related kidnappings in six counties .
Beyond that , he is accused of some 50 rapes and scores of ransackings attributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , men and children across a large swath of California in the 1970s and 1980s .
He was arrested in April 2018 based on genetic DNA tracing through his relatives .
Prosecutors allege that DNA retrieved from DeAngelo the day of his arrest matches that from eight of the crime scenes , but they have so far been stymied in collecting additional DNA samples from DeAngelo so that crime labs in those counties can run their own tests .

Attorneys for the man accused of being the Golden State Killer said Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. would be willing to plead guilty if prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty, according to new court papers.
The statement from the public defenders representing DeAngelo appears as a footnote in a 41-page dismissal motion filed in Sacramento County Circuit Court late Monday night and obtained by The Times on Tuesday.
“Mr. DeAngelo is 74 years old. He has offered to plead to the charges with a lifetime sentence,” the statement says.
Advertisement
Assistant public defender Joe Cress did not respond to a request to clarify the statement. Nor did Sacramento County prosecutor Anne Marie Schubert respond to a request for comment. But victims in the case told The Times they had received a letter from the public defender asking them to tell an independent mediator what they think about resolving the case without trial.
“I would be OK with that,” said Kris Pedretti, who was 15 when she was raped in 1976. “But in exchange we want answers. Where he was. What he was doing. ... He owes us answers ... real answers.”
A second victim voiced a similar opinion. Victor Hayes, who was held captive and threatened with death while his girlfriend was raped, said he is more interested in knowing details of how the crimes would have been committed by DeAngelo, a patrol duty police officer for the small Northern California town of Auburn.
DeAngelo faces charges in 13 murders and 13 rape-related kidnappings in six counties. Beyond that, he is accused of some 50 rapes and scores of ransackings attributed to a serial predator who attacked women, men and children across a large swath of California in the 1970s and 1980s.
He was arrested in April 2018 based on genetic DNA tracing through his relatives. Prosecutors allege that DNA retrieved from DeAngelo the day of his arrest matches that from eight of the crime scenes, but they have so far been stymied in collecting additional DNA samples from DeAngelo so that crime labs in those counties can run their own tests.
A spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney, among those seeking the death penalty, called the public defenders’ efforts to talk to victim families about a plea deal “completely inappropriate.”
Advertisement
Such discussions are the purview of the prosecutor’s office, said Kimberly Edds, spokeswoman for District Atty. Todd Spitzer. She said Spitzer’s office is still in the process of meeting with family members of murder victims “to discuss how to proceed.”
Edds said some of those meetings are planned over the next few weeks.
Phyllis Henneman, whose 1976 attack is considered the first documented rape in the East Area Rapist crime series, said she would be satisfied with a guilty plea and life sentence — if victims who had questions about their attacks could get answers.
“I am not so sure there is anything I would ask for myself,” she said. “He would probably not be truthful anyway.”
She said her own desire is that DeAngelo would end up dealing with the dangers of life in the general prison population “and not housed away in solitary confinement.”


latimes--2020-03-03--Judge orders USC to disclose sensitive admissions records, in victory for parent accused in scandal

A judge on Tuesday ordered USC to turn over sensitive internal documents to Robert Zangrillo , a Miami investor charged with securing his daughter ’ s admission to the school through fraud and bribery .
The ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge Page Kelley was a victory for Zangrillo , whose defense hinges on the theory that USC routinely shunts the children of donors and prospective donors into a “ VIP ” pool of applicants , who are more likely to be admitted than students who apply through the standard process .
Kelley ’ s order offered a glimpse of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in secret , litigated in sealed court papers and at closed-door hearings .
At issue , according to the judge ’ s 19-page order , are spreadsheets that tracked VIP applicants and 20 emails between university officials discussing admissions decisions and the lobbying that went into them by donors , trustees and other influential figures within the USC community .
For Zangrillo and other parents charged with defrauding USC , the contested documents could play a central role in a defense their attorneys have already begun floating : that USC could not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to university coffers and , in exchange , expected their children would be admitted , if this was precisely the practice endorsed by the school ’ s administration .
Kelley ordered USC to turn over the spreadsheets and emails , without redactions , to Zangrillo ’ s legal team .
USC said in a statement it is “ reviewing the decision in detail and deciding next steps , including whether to appeal.
” The university has cooperated with prosecutors and the courts , a spokeswoman said , and made “ every effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The documents were redacted to protect privacy , “ not to withhold any pertinent information , ” she added .
Zangrillo ’ s daughter , Amber , was endorsed as a “ VIP ” by Donna Heinel , a former administrator in USC ’ s athletics department , despite not being an elite athlete , prosecutors allege .
Zangrillo , in turn , paid $ 200,000 to William “ Rick ” Singer , the Newport Beach consultant who arranged the deal , and $ 50,000 to a USC account overseen by Heinel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was fired after her arrest last March , has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering , fraud and bribery .
Singer has pleaded guilty to four felonies and is cooperating with the government .
Zangrillo ’ s attorney , Martin G. Weinberg , acknowledged at a hearing in November that despite Heinel ’ s imprimatur , Amber Zangrillo was not a gifted athlete .
In fact , Weinberg said , her “ entire application was saturated with information that would demonstrate to any admissions department this is not a world-class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it may seem , he said , USC ’ s athletics department often “ advocates for many students through the VIP process , knowing that these are not athletes.
” In August , Weinberg made public documents and emails he had received from the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Boston , showing USC employees took into account donations , pledges of donations and the occupations of applicants ’ parents when flagging them as “ VIP ” or “ special interest.
” Kelley , the judge , said at a status conference last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen , it was “ a viable assertion ” to say USC admitted students as athletic walk-ons in exchange for donations .
Prosecutors say that despite the fact Amber Zangrillo was ultimately admitted as a “ VIP , ” not a recruited athlete , her father believed she was being fraudulently presented to the school as a gifted rower and her application said as much .
They pointed to a phone call , intercepted on a wiretap , in which Singer tells Robert and Amber Zangrillo he was putting the girl forward “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rowing.
” Zangrillo ’ s $ 50,000 payment to Heinel may have gone to a university account and not her own pocket , prosecutors say , but the money was nevertheless a bribe that induced her to support an applicant who otherwise would not have been admitted .
Zangrillo , Singer and Heinel conspired , their argument goes , to rob USC of Heinel ’ s honest employment .
Kelley said at last week ’ s status conference “ that ’ s going to be something for the jury to decide.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bribe , ” she continued .
“ The school has to be ignorant of that , and one might well ask , how could the school have been ignorant of that ?
” USC had previously provided Zangrillo copies of the documents that Kelley ordered disclosed on Tuesday , but with redactions , citing laws that shield student privacy and proprietary information .
Weinberg insisted he needed to know the names of certain VIP applicants and the people who had advocated for their admission to show “ many other students were admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to [ Zangrillo ’ s ] daughter , ” he wrote in a filing quoted in Kelley ’ s order .
“ They don ’ t get to argue , well , this might embarrass , you know , a sponsor or donor , ” Weinberg said at the November hearing .
He also indicated he wants to interview some of the people referenced in the documents .
“ If I could find witnesses whose experience matches Mr. Zangrillo ’ s experience , ” he said , “ I at least could , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness and have them testify .
”

A judge on Tuesday ordered USC to turn over sensitive internal documents to Robert Zangrillo, a Miami investor charged with securing his daughter’s admission to the school through fraud and bribery.
The ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge Page Kelley was a victory for Zangrillo, whose defense hinges on the theory that USC routinely shunts the children of donors and prospective donors into a “VIP” pool of applicants, who are more likely to be admitted than students who apply through the standard process.
Kelley’s order offered a glimpse of a legal duel that has played out largely in secret, litigated in sealed court papers and at closed-door hearings. At issue, according to the judge’s 19-page order, are spreadsheets that tracked VIP applicants and 20 emails between university officials discussing admissions decisions and the lobbying that went into them by donors, trustees and other influential figures within the USC community.
Advertisement
For Zangrillo and other parents charged with defrauding USC, the contested documents could play a central role in a defense their attorneys have already begun floating: that USC could not have been swindled by parents who routed money to university coffers and, in exchange, expected their children would be admitted, if this was precisely the practice endorsed by the school’s administration.
Kelley ordered USC to turn over the spreadsheets and emails, without redactions, to Zangrillo’s legal team.
USC said in a statement it is “reviewing the decision in detail and deciding next steps, including whether to appeal.”
The university has cooperated with prosecutors and the courts, a spokeswoman said, and made “every effort to provide information, including to the defendants.” The documents were redacted to protect privacy, “not to withhold any pertinent information,” she added.
Zangrillo’s daughter, Amber, was endorsed as a “VIP” by Donna Heinel, a former administrator in USC’s athletics department, despite not being an elite athlete, prosecutors allege. Zangrillo, in turn, paid $200,000 to William “Rick” Singer, the Newport Beach consultant who arranged the deal, and $50,000 to a USC account overseen by Heinel, according to prosecutors.
Heinel, who was fired after her arrest last March, has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering, fraud and bribery. Singer has pleaded guilty to four felonies and is cooperating with the government.
Advertisement
Zangrillo’s attorney, Martin G. Weinberg, acknowledged at a hearing in November that despite Heinel’s imprimatur, Amber Zangrillo was not a gifted athlete. In fact, Weinberg said, her “entire application was saturated with information that would demonstrate to any admissions department this is not a world-class athlete.”
But “counterintuitive” as it may seem, he said, USC’s athletics department often “advocates for many students through the VIP process, knowing that these are not athletes.” In August, Weinberg made public documents and emails he had received from the U.S. attorney’s office in Boston, showing USC employees took into account donations, pledges of donations and the occupations of applicants’ parents when flagging them as “VIP” or “special interest.”
Kelley, the judge, said at a status conference last week that based on documents she has seen, it was “a viable assertion” to say USC admitted students as athletic walk-ons in exchange for donations.
Prosecutors say that despite the fact Amber Zangrillo was ultimately admitted as a “VIP,” not a recruited athlete, her father believed she was being fraudulently presented to the school as a gifted rower and her application said as much. They pointed to a phone call, intercepted on a wiretap, in which Singer tells Robert and Amber Zangrillo he was putting the girl forward “as though she’s been sculling and rowing.”
Zangrillo’s $50,000 payment to Heinel may have gone to a university account and not her own pocket, prosecutors say, but the money was nevertheless a bribe that induced her to support an applicant who otherwise would not have been admitted. Zangrillo, Singer and Heinel conspired, their argument goes, to rob USC of Heinel’s honest employment.
Kelley said at last week’s status conference “that’s going to be something for the jury to decide.”
“It’s not de facto a bribe,” she continued. “The school has to be ignorant of that, and one might well ask, how could the school have been ignorant of that?”
USC had previously provided Zangrillo copies of the documents that Kelley ordered disclosed on Tuesday, but with redactions, citing laws that shield student privacy and proprietary information. Weinberg insisted he needed to know the names of certain VIP applicants and the people who had advocated for their admission to show “many other students were admitted in similar or even nearly identical circumstances to [Zangrillo’s] daughter,” he wrote in a filing quoted in Kelley’s order.
“They don’t get to argue, well, this might embarrass, you know, a sponsor or donor,” Weinberg said at the November hearing. He also indicated he wants to interview some of the people referenced in the documents.
“If I could find witnesses whose experience matches Mr. Zangrillo’s experience,” he said, “I at least could, you know, attempt to produce that witness and have them testify.”


latimes--2020-03-03--Battling coronavirus, California distributing millions of face masks to healthcare providers

California announced that it is going to start distributing to healthcare providers struggling under the strain of the coronavirus millions of N95 face masks that had been stockpiled in emergency reserves .
The move is considered a key step is getting needed equipment to California hospitals , which are already under strain as possible coronavirus cases increase .
Health officials stressed that they are not recommending healthy people wear masks , which are in short supply .
“ However , masks are recommended to limit the spread of disease for people who are exhibiting respiratory symptoms , ” the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be overwhelmed as coronavirus cases increase and that health workers could be placed at risk .
They said the masks will provide key protection .
“ California is working hard to ensure our healthcare system is in the strongest possible position to respond to this evolving situation , ” said Gov .
Gavin Newsom in a statement .
“ Critical to that effort is making sure healthcare workers have the medical masks and protective equipment they need to protect themselves while caring for patients .
Our state is extremely grateful for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers in this time of expanded need.
” California is also speeding up testing of possible coronavirus patients .
This more aggressive testing “ may lead to a more rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases reported .
That is not necessarily a sign that the rate of infection is increasing , but that our ability to test more people more rapidly is leading to better detection.
” The West Coast continues to bear the brunt of the illnesses in the U.S. , with the focus on Northern California and Washington .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases of COVID-19 on Monday .
On Tuesday , the city of Berkeley reported its first case of coronavirus after an individual visited a country with an outbreak .
That individual has remained at home in a self-imposed quarantine since returning .
“ While the risk of infection remains low , the expanded presence of the virus in our community is a reality we should all prepare for , ” said Berkeley Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez .
“ There are steps that all of us in the community can take now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a wider spread in the future .
Several areas in California have declared local emergencies amid the outbreak .
Sonoma County on Monday issued a declaration after announcing two people had been diagnosed with the virus .
One infected person returned from a cruise to Mexico 10 days ago and was hospitalized , but the case “ is a cause for concern , ” said county health officer Dr. Celeste Philip .
Declaring a state of emergency will allow the county to respond properly to the outbreak as well as “ work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providers to ensure we are prepared to combat an outbreak of COVID-19 in our communities , ” Philip said in a statement .
Meanwhile , two new COVID-19 cases were reported in Santa Clara County , bringing its total to nine , the most of any California county .
Both individuals are under home isolation , officials said .

Phil Willon, Soumya Karlamangla, Colleen Shalby

California announced that it is going to start distributing to healthcare providers struggling under the strain of the coronavirus millions of N95 face masks that had been stockpiled in emergency reserves.
The move is considered a key step is getting needed equipment to California hospitals, which are already under strain as possible coronavirus cases increase.
Health officials stressed that they are not recommending healthy people wear masks, which are in short supply. “However, masks are recommended to limit the spread of disease for people who are exhibiting respiratory symptoms,” the state said.
Advertisement
Officials are worried that hospitals could be overwhelmed as coronavirus cases increase and that health workers could be placed at risk. They said the masks will provide key protection.
“California is working hard to ensure our healthcare system is in the strongest possible position to respond to this evolving situation,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in a statement. “Critical to that effort is making sure healthcare workers have the medical masks and protective equipment they need to protect themselves while caring for patients. Our state is extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication of our healthcare workers in this time of expanded need.”
California is also speeding up testing of possible coronavirus patients. This more aggressive testing “may lead to a more rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases reported. That is not necessarily a sign that the rate of infection is increasing, but that our ability to test more people more rapidly is leading to better detection.”
The West Coast continues to bear the brunt of the illnesses in the U.S., with the focus on Northern California and Washington.
At least five Northern California counties reported new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. On Tuesday, the city of Berkeley reported its first case of coronavirus after an individual visited a country with an outbreak. That individual has remained at home in a self-imposed quarantine since returning.
“While the risk of infection remains low, the expanded presence of the virus in our community is a reality we should all prepare for,” said Berkeley Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez. “There are steps that all of us in the community can take now to improve basic hygiene and also prepare for a wider spread in the future.
Advertisement
Several areas in California have declared local emergencies amid the outbreak. Sonoma County on Monday issued a declaration after announcing two people had been diagnosed with the virus. One infected person returned from a cruise to Mexico 10 days ago and was hospitalized, but the case “is a cause for concern,” said county health officer Dr. Celeste Philip.
Declaring a state of emergency will allow the county to respond properly to the outbreak as well as “work in tandem with our cities and healthcare providers to ensure we are prepared to combat an outbreak of COVID-19 in our communities,” Philip said in a statement.
Meanwhile, two new COVID-19 cases were reported in Santa Clara County, bringing its total to nine, the most of any California county. Both individuals are under home isolation, officials said.


latimes--2020-03-04--L.A. County voters encounter hours-long waits and glitches with brand-new system

Los Angeles voters who showed up to cast ballots in person on Tuesday reported long wait times and operational errors at a number of the county ’ s newly designed vote centers , experiences that suggested an inauspicious beginning for L.A. 's first fully redesigned election system in more than half a century .
While some Angelenos gave high marks to the new voting machines and applauded the extended hours of operation , a number of the in-person locations were overwhelmed by the throngs of voters looking to participate in the most talked-about California presidential primary in at least a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardly ebbed by the official end of voting at 8 p.m. Those in line at that time were allowed to stay there until they had a chance to vote .
“ This is absurd , ” said Jefferson Stewart , a software designer who left the vote center at the Westchester Family YMCA frustrated after waiting 90 minutes to cast his ballot .
“ If the idea is to make this simpler , it ’ s gotten much worse.
” Brentwood resident Myles Berkowitz found himself in a state of perpetual motion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Museum around 4 p.m. but left after being told that it would be a three-hour wait .
Three more locations , three more long lines .
He ended up at the Felicia Mahood Multipurpose Center in West L.A. “ They ’ re telling me , after waiting here for another hour and a half , that it ’ s another two hours , ” Berkowitz said Tuesday evening as he stood in line .
“ This is like gridlock on the 405 , ” he said .
At Northridge Academy High School , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steve Gold and Dina Blandón , who emerged at 11 p.m. after waiting for almost two hours — they were able to join the line around 9 p.m. despite polls closing an hour earlier .
Gold said he hadn ’ t been aware of the 11-day voting window in L.A. County .
He ’ d been sick with the flu and was worried about standing in a cold gym for an extended period .
“ I was terrified we weren ’ t gon na vote , ” he said .
Local voting officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high turnout and glitches affecting the new election equipment .
But they couldn ’ t provide information on how many of the county ’ s 978 vote centers were affected .
Official returns trickled in as the night wore on .
“ This was a challenging day for a lot of voters in L.A. County and I certainly apologize for that , ” said Dean Logan , the county ’ s registrar of voters .
“ That ’ s something that has to be better.
” Voters were quick to sound off on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that didn ’ t open on time or were hard to find ; ballot-marking devices that jammed or otherwise failed to operate ; and electronic voter registration devices that didn ’ t work , requiring them to cast provisional ballots to be counted after eligibility is confirmed by election workers .
By the time Arcadia resident Omar Noureldin left the vote center at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday morning , the queue of people waiting to cast ballots stretched out the door .
“ Those people that are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be there for three hours — if they wait , ” he said .
Noureldin used an election shortcut offered under the new system : Ballot selections could be filled out on a smartphone ahead of time and transferred to the touchscreen machines with a QR code .
The biggest issue he experienced , he said , was the lack of staff and voting machines at the center .
At Castlebay Lane Charter School in Porter Ranch , scores of people remained in a line when polls statewide closed at 8 p.m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to cast their ballots .
“ There was never a line the last several years , ” said Craig Meier , a Porter Ranch resident who works as an executive assistant .
At his old polling place at a church “ we were in and out within 10 minutes.
” Election day ended up as the ultimate stress test for the county ’ s new $ 300-million voting system .
L.A. officials spent months trying to raise awareness about two big changes : the elimination of neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touchscreen devices in regional vote centers , available to everyone and spread throughout the county .
The task was daunting .
With 5.5 million voters , L.A. County is the largest voting bloc in California and larger than the electorate in all but 11 states .
Voters seemed to like the ballot-marking devices when they worked .
The machine allows choices to be made on a touchscreen and then prints a paper ballot .
Once the selections are reviewed , a voter feeds the paper ballot back into the machine where it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some 22,000 machines were deployed across L.A. County .
Elections officials did not say how many machines failed and were taken out of operation .
Representatives of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ presidential campaign attempted to get a federal court to intervene to force L.A. 's vote centers to stay open until 10 p.m .
Voters reported machines out of service at vote centers in Arcadia , L.A. 's Carthay Square , Los Feliz and Rancho Palos Verdes .
A full day of problems plagued voting inside the Hammer Museum .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second floor as voters fiddled with phones , read books and propped up computers to do homework .
By around 8:30 p.m. , the last person in line had been told the wait would be up to 3½ hours .
“ I always go to a place late on election day , ” Sandra Kielgass said as she waited .
“ I guess it ’ s a good thing it ’ s so crowded .
People are voting.
” Waits of nearly two hours were reported on USC ’ s campus .
Sarah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrated that poll workers didn ’ t tell her about nearby voting centers that had shorter waits until she was at the front of the line .
“ You ’ d hope that voting would be a quick and easy experience to encourage young people to vote , ” Wagner said .
USC researchers queried L.A. voters last month about the new voting system : Only 38 % of respondents even knew of its existence .
Among those who didn ’ t know were Antonieta Espinoza , who stood outside a Catholic church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had just cast her vote .
“ Más trabajo y bien complicado , ” the 80-year-old Palmdale resident said , explaining that she wasn ’ t a fan of the new voting system , which she found harder and more complicated to use .
Espinoza said she and her husband arrived at the elementary school near their home — their traditional go-to polling place — and found closed doors .
They then headed to St. Mary ’ s Catholic Church , where after more than an hour of adjusting to the new system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters reported paper jams in the new machines and confusion over the need to press the “ more ” button on the screen to view additional candidates in certain races .
Ken Proctor , a retired teacher , said election workers at his Northridge polling place over the weekend couldn ’ t tell him what to do with his paper ballot after the machine printed it — even though it needed to be reinserted into the machine .
“ When it printed out , I was looking for a ballot box to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have one and they didn ’ t know what else to do with it , ” he said .
“ And they said just to keep it , so I did and brought it home.
” Proctor said his wife later shredded the document .
“ I think we both were kind of disenfranchised , ” he said .
Not that all of the challenges in California ’ s closely watched election were confined to Los Angeles .
State elections officials reported that 15 counties had experienced problems in the morning with connecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even with all of its problems , Los Angeles was not reported to be one of the counties .
The lack of online connectivity at polling places and vote centers would pose a problem for one of California ’ s most talked-about election changes : election day registration , designed to ensure that any eligible citizen can still vote before polls closed .
Some L.A. voters reported general satisfaction with the county ’ s new system .
Mary Wood , who responded to The Times ’ online request for voters to share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was such a breeze ” when she cast her ballot last week at the Pan Pacific Senior Activity Center in Los Angeles .
“ The new system was easy to use , ” she said .
“ I loved that you could review your ballot before submitting it.
” But few voters had actually cast ballots by the time election day arrived .
L.A. County elections officials reported a total of almost 249,000 ballots were cast at vote centers in the 11 days leading up to Tuesday .
By comparison , there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ballot and can only participate in the primary by voting in person .
Robert Little , a Beverly Hills attorney , tried to vote Tuesday afternoon at Beverly Hills City Hall when , seeing a long line , he then searched for an alternative .
He found the Beverly Hilton and it , too , looked like a long wait , so he decided to put it off until later .
“ It was not unlike the Southern California experience of trying to get on Space Mountain at Disneyland on the Fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times staff writers Marisa Gerber , Emily Alpert Reyes , Dakota Smith , Benjamin Oreskes and Andrea Castillo contributed to this report .

John Myers , Luke Money, Liam Dillon, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, arrive to vote in the Vermont primary near his home in Burlington. (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren walks from her home to a nearby polling location with husband Bruce Mann in Cambridge, Mass., on Tuesday morning. (Steven Senne/Associated Press)
A German shepherd named Dust waits patiently as Enrique Davalos navigates the electronic voting machine at a polling station set up in Iglesia Bautista Una Iglesia Familiar in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
A lone voter casts his ballot at a vote center at the Boys & Girls Club of Ramona Gardens in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
People make their way to the polls at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday morning. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti waits with other voters before casting his ballot at Wilshire Park Elementary School. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
A voter in a mask at Wilshire Park Elementary School serves as a reminder of the coronavirus outbreak. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Voters use the new voting machines at a polling station inside Wilshire Park Elementary School in Los Angeles. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Sophia Criswell waits for her partner in the second floor elevator lobby after casting her ballot at the Ace Hotel on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
A broken touchscreen is set aside at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
The line extends out the door at the UCLA Hammer Museum polling place. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Election official Zahra Katimi, left, answers questions about filling out provisional ballots from voters as Matthew Tetreault, right, looks over his ballot before turning it in at the polling place at Santa Monica Place Mall. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Men linger on the sidewalk outside the polling place at the Union Rescue Mission on skid row in Los Angeles. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Voters at Second AME Church in Los Angeles look for other voting locations in the area as the wait time reaches over an hour. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
Sarah Woodard, center, waits to vote as the line builds at the UCLA Hammer Museum. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Election official Zahra Katimi, second from right, directs a voter to another polling place due to long lines at the polling place at Santa Monica Place Mall. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
The line outside the Ace Hotel vote center in downtown L.A. stacked up at certain times on Super Tuesday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Voters wait in line to cast their ballots inside the Ace Hotel, on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Alicia Tamstorf holds her 5-month-old while casting her ballot at the UCLA Hammer Museum, where the line to vote was long. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Ramona Tolliver joins elated supporters of former Vice President Joe Biden at a rally at the Baldwin Hills Recreation Center after news that Biden won in North Carolina and Virginia. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Mia Lim, 3, accompanied her grandmother Bertha Leon to vote at the Community Resource Center in south Whittier. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
A mariachi band is on hand near the polling station at the Community Resource Center in south Whittier. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
Carrying signs that say “Voting for the first time,” women make their way to a Whittier voting location. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
Sarah Woodard, center, is almost to the check-in desk as the line of voters grows on Super Tuesday at the UCLA Hammer Museum. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles voters who showed up to cast ballots in person on Tuesday reported long wait times and operational errors at a number of the county’s newly designed vote centers, experiences that suggested an inauspicious beginning for L.A.’s first fully redesigned election system in more than half a century.
While some Angelenos gave high marks to the new voting machines and applauded the extended hours of operation, a number of the in-person locations were overwhelmed by the throngs of voters looking to participate in the most talked-about California presidential primary in at least a generation. The flow of voters had hardly ebbed by the official end of voting at 8 p.m. Those in line at that time were allowed to stay there until they had a chance to vote.
“This is absurd,” said Jefferson Stewart, a software designer who left the vote center at the Westchester Family YMCA frustrated after waiting 90 minutes to cast his ballot. “If the idea is to make this simpler, it’s gotten much worse.”
Advertisement
Brentwood resident Myles Berkowitz found himself in a state of perpetual motion. He stopped by UCLA’s Hammer Museum around 4 p.m. but left after being told that it would be a three-hour wait. Three more locations, three more long lines. He ended up at the Felicia Mahood Multipurpose Center in West L.A.
“They’re telling me, after waiting here for another hour and a half, that it’s another two hours,” Berkowitz said Tuesday evening as he stood in line. “This is like gridlock on the 405,” he said.
At Northridge Academy High School, the last voters of the night were Steve Gold and Dina Blandón, who emerged at 11 p.m. after waiting for almost two hours — they were able to join the line around 9 p.m. despite polls closing an hour earlier.
Gold said he hadn’t been aware of the 11-day voting window in L.A. County. He’d been sick with the flu and was worried about standing in a cold gym for an extended period.
“I was terrified we weren’t gonna vote,” he said.
Local voting officials blamed the delays on a combination of high turnout and glitches affecting the new election equipment. But they couldn’t provide information on how many of the county’s 978 vote centers were affected. Official returns trickled in as the night wore on.
“This was a challenging day for a lot of voters in L.A. County and I certainly apologize for that,” said Dean Logan, the county’s registrar of voters. “That’s something that has to be better.”
Voters were quick to sound off on social media about the blunders: locations that didn’t open on time or were hard to find; ballot-marking devices that jammed or otherwise failed to operate; and electronic voter registration devices that didn’t work, requiring them to cast provisional ballots to be counted after eligibility is confirmed by election workers.
By the time Arcadia resident Omar Noureldin left the vote center at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, the queue of people waiting to cast ballots stretched out the door.
“Those people that are in line around the corner are probably going to be there for three hours — if they wait,” he said.
Advertisement
Noureldin used an election shortcut offered under the new system: Ballot selections could be filled out on a smartphone ahead of time and transferred to the touchscreen machines with a QR code. The biggest issue he experienced, he said, was the lack of staff and voting machines at the center.
At Castlebay Lane Charter School in Porter Ranch, scores of people remained in a line when polls statewide closed at 8 p.m. Elections workers estimated they would wait anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to cast their ballots.
“There was never a line the last several years,” said Craig Meier, a Porter Ranch resident who works as an executive assistant. At his old polling place at a church “we were in and out within 10 minutes.”
Election day ended up as the ultimate stress test for the county’s new $300-million voting system. L.A. officials spent months trying to raise awareness about two big changes: the elimination of neighborhood polling places and the debut of ballot-marking touchscreen devices in regional vote centers, available to everyone and spread throughout the county.
The task was daunting. With 5.5 million voters, L.A. County is the largest voting bloc in California and larger than the electorate in all but 11 states.
Voters seemed to like the ballot-marking devices when they worked. The machine allows choices to be made on a touchscreen and then prints a paper ballot. Once the selections are reviewed, a voter feeds the paper ballot back into the machine where it’s deposited in a sealed ballot box.
Some 22,000 machines were deployed across L.A. County. Elections officials did not say how many machines failed and were taken out of operation.
Representatives of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign attempted to get a federal court to intervene to force L.A.’s vote centers to stay open until 10 p.m.
Voters reported machines out of service at vote centers in Arcadia, L.A.’s Carthay Square , Los Feliz and Rancho Palos Verdes.
A full day of problems plagued voting inside the Hammer Museum. By nightfall, a line snaked around the second floor as voters fiddled with phones, read books and propped up computers to do homework. By around 8:30 p.m., the last person in line had been told the wait would be up to 3½ hours.
“I always go to a place late on election day,” Sandra Kielgass said as she waited. “I guess it’s a good thing it’s so crowded. People are voting.”
Photos: Super Tuesday | 14 states hold primaries with 1,357 delegates at stake
Waits of nearly two hours were reported on USC’s campus. Sarah Wagner, a 21-year-old student, was frustrated that poll workers didn’t tell her about nearby voting centers that had shorter waits until she was at the front of the line.
“You’d hope that voting would be a quick and easy experience to encourage young people to vote,” Wagner said.
USC researchers queried L.A. voters last month about the new voting system: Only 38% of respondents even knew of its existence.
Among those who didn’t know were Antonieta Espinoza, who stood outside a Catholic church in Palmdale on Tuesday, where she had just cast her vote.
“Más trabajo y bien complicado,” the 80-year-old Palmdale resident said, explaining that she wasn’t a fan of the new voting system, which she found harder and more complicated to use.
Espinoza said she and her husband arrived at the elementary school near their home — their traditional go-to polling place — and found closed doors. They then headed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where after more than an hour of adjusting to the new system, Espinoza finally finished voting.
Other voters reported paper jams in the new machines and confusion over the need to press the “more” button on the screen to view additional candidates in certain races.
Ken Proctor, a retired teacher, said election workers at his Northridge polling place over the weekend couldn’t tell him what to do with his paper ballot after the machine printed it — even though it needed to be reinserted into the machine.
“When it printed out, I was looking for a ballot box to put it in and they didn’t have one and they didn’t know what else to do with it,” he said. “And they said just to keep it, so I did and brought it home.” Proctor said his wife later shredded the document.
“I think we both were kind of disenfranchised,” he said.
Not that all of the challenges in California’s closely watched election were confined to Los Angeles. State elections officials reported that 15 counties had experienced problems in the morning with connecting to California’s statewide voter database. Even with all of its problems, Los Angeles was not reported to be one of the counties.
The lack of online connectivity at polling places and vote centers would pose a problem for one of California’s most talked-about election changes: election day registration, designed to ensure that any eligible citizen can still vote before polls closed.
Some L.A. voters reported general satisfaction with the county’s new system.
Mary Wood, who responded to The Times’ online request for voters to share their stories, said the experience “was such a breeze” when she cast her ballot last week at the Pan Pacific Senior Activity Center in Los Angeles.
“The new system was easy to use,” she said. “I loved that you could review your ballot before submitting it.”
But few voters had actually cast ballots by the time election day arrived. L.A. County elections officials reported a total of almost 249,000 ballots were cast at vote centers in the 11 days leading up to Tuesday. By comparison, there were 2 million people who were not mailed a ballot and can only participate in the primary by voting in person.
Robert Little, a Beverly Hills attorney, tried to vote Tuesday afternoon at Beverly Hills City Hall when, seeing a long line, he then searched for an alternative. He found the Beverly Hilton and it, too, looked like a long wait, so he decided to put it off until later.
“It was not unlike the Southern California experience of trying to get on Space Mountain at Disneyland on the Fourth of July,” Little said.
Times staff writers Marisa Gerber, Emily Alpert Reyes, Dakota Smith, Benjamin Oreskes and Andrea Castillo contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-04--Coronavirus deaths in U.S. increase; official warns of many more cases

As three more deaths in the United States were linked to the coronavirus Tuesday , World Health Organization officials warned the virus could be far more dangerous than the flu , with a mortality rate of 3.4 % .
During an off-camera news conference at the White House with the task force charged with overseeing the federal government ’ s response , Robert Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , delivered a message to the American public : “ I want them to be prepared for the reality that ... there are going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ But I want them to continue their daily lives .
I want them to be mindful of the opportunity again to prepare themselves and their families.
” Redfield said scientists did not have the data to predict the future spread .
“ What we do know for sure is that in the right setting , it does have the potential to move quickly , ” Redfield said .
“ When you think that just a couple of weeks ago there were less than three cases in Korea , now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials confirmed a nursing home patient in Washington state was admitted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Feb. 24 and died two days later .
The patient , a 54-year-old man who had underlying medical conditions , was transported from Life Care Center of Kirkland and died days before several other patients at the nursing home were linked to the coronavirus , hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg said .
The Seattle and King County Public Health Department on Tuesday reported two additional deaths from COVID-19 , bringing the King County total to eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Snohomish County , health officials said .
A North Carolina resident who visited the Kirkland facility has since tested positive for the virus , becoming that state ’ s first case of COVID-19 , Gov .
Roy Cooper announced Tuesday .
Health department officials in North Carolina are working to identify anyone else who may have come in contact with the individual .
“ I know that people are worried about this virus and I want to assure North Carolinians our state is prepared , ” Cooper said in a statement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
New York City confirmed its first case of “ community spread ” coronavirus — the second case of the virus in the state .
The individual is a man in his 50s who lives in Westchester County but works at a law firm in Manhattan .
The man is hospitalized and in severe condition .
The global mortality rate — which includes more than 3,000 deaths — is many times higher than the mortality rate of the flu , which is less than 1 % .
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 is a new disease , and no one has built up an immunity to it .
Still , Tedros reiterated the WHO ’ s belief that containment was still within reach .
“ We don ’ t even talk about containment for seasonal flu , ” Tedros said .
“ It ’ s just not possible , but it ’ s possible for COVID-19.
” Officials say they have learned the coronavirus is less transmissible than the flu , which is often spread by people who are infected yet don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem to be the case for COVID-19 , he said .
“ There are not yet any vaccines or therapeutics , which is why we must do everything we can to contain it.
” Mike Ryan , who runs the agency ’ s emergencies program , pushed back against officials who wanted to “ wave the white flag ” and surrender to the disease ’ s hold .
China took drastic steps to fight the virus , he said , and case numbers are now on the decline there .
Countries such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , very strong measures that have affected their own economies and their own societies , ” Ryan said .
“ It ’ s really a duty of others to use the time that has been bought .
“ That is not a reverse you can achieve with influenza .
If that is a failure , we ’ ll have slowed down the virus.
” There can be a big benefit in slowing the virus ’ arrival in a country for a few months , Ryan said .
Many countries , including the U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , so large numbers of coronavirus cases would overwhelm the health system .
In Italy , COVID-19 patients and flu patients are already stretching hospitals and healthcare facilities , he said .
Tedros said he ’ s concerned by shortages of masks , gowns and other equipment needed by healthcare workers to stop the spread of disease “ caused by rising demands and hoarding and misuse.
” “ We can ’ t stop COVID-19 without protecting our health workers , ” said Tedros , noting that prices of surgical masks have increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 cases are mild , said Dr. Nancy Messonnier , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases .
According to a report out of China , the most serious illnesses occur in 16 % of cases , she said , and older people and those with underlying health conditions are twice as likely to develop serious outcomes .
Speaking during a media briefing Tuesday , Messonnier said that cases similar to those reported abroad were now appearing in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health clinicians to determine testing needs .
In addition to CDC test kits , commercial manufacturers overseen by the Food and Drug Administration are providing tests directly to states .
These types of tests are typically what are on the front lines in the United States , Messonnier said .
Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday that 77 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in the U.S. That number excludes the 45 people who were passengers aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan and were repatriated to America , which brings the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that a task force will issue new guidance from the CDC to make it clear that any American can be tested for the virus and no restrictions subject to doctor ’ s orders .
Commercial laboratories are expected to have 2,500 test kits available to provide 1.5 million tests .
And the Office of Management and Budget will direct all federal government agencies to review internal travel and adhere to State Department guidance .
“ The threat of the coronavirus to the American pubic remains low , ” Pence said .
Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major airlines are expected to meet at the White House Wednesday to discuss contact tracing data for the coronavirus .
The West Coast continues to bear the brunt of the illnesses in the U.S. , with the focus on Northern California and Washington .
At least five Northern California counties reported new cases of COVID-19 on Monday .
On Tuesday , the city of Berkeley reported its first case after an individual visited a country with an outbreak .
That individual has remained at home in a self-imposed quarantine since returning .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the expanded presence of the virus in our community is a reality we should all prepare for , ” said Berkeley Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez .
“ There are steps that all of us in the community can take now to improve basic hygiene and also prepare for a wider spread in the future.
” Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the California Department of Public Health received approval from the CDC and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to dip into its emergency planning reserves of 21 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the front lines .
Though the flurry of positive test results in recent days does signal that the virus is circulating within the U.S. , experts advised the public to avoid reading too much into those numbers .
Until late last week , federal officials were not allowing widespread testing for the virus , so many people who were already sick are only now being diagnosed , said Harvard epidemiology professor Marc Lipsitch .
“ Some of the numbers are changing because new things are happening , but a lot of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovering things that have already happened , ” Lipsitch said in a forum Monday hosted by Harvard ’ s public health school .
“ It ’ s really important to distinguish ‘ Oh , goodness , there ’ s a new cluster ’ from ‘ Oh , goodness , we just discovered that there ’ s a cluster that ’ s been there for some time.
’ ” As the virus spreads , officials are trying to push back against Asian American bias and misinformation surrounding the outbreak .
Amid signs that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities in the U.S. , Sen. Dianne Feinstein ( D-Calif. ) sharply criticized the xenophobia that had been displayed toward ethnic communities .
“ We ’ ve also seen a rise in racism toward Asian Americans because the virus is associated with China , ” she said .
“ This is unconscionable , and it ’ s not the American way .
People of all ages , races and ethnicities are susceptible to this disease .
Bigotry toward any one group for a virus they have nothing to do with makes no sense.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ local emergencies amid the outbreak .
Sonoma County on Monday issued a declaration after announcing two people had been diagnosed with the virus .
One infected person returned from a cruise to Mexico 10 days ago and was hospitalized , but the case “ is a cause for concern , ” said county health officer Dr. Celeste Philip .
Declaring a state of emergency will allow the county to respond properly to the outbreak as well as “ work in tandem with our cities and healthcare providers to ensure we are prepared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities , ” Philip said in a statement .
Meanwhile , more COVID-19 cases were reported in Santa Clara County , bringing its total to 11 — the most of any California county .
The source of infection for the latest two cases , reported Tuesday , is still under investigation .
Many initial reports of COVID-19 have been among healthcare workers , who are likely to encounter sick patients .
Hundreds of healthcare workers in California have already been asked to stay home due to contact with patients diagnosed with the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , Placer County reported a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a healthcare worker at NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville , where a COVID-19 patient had been admitted .
County spokeswoman Katie Combs Prichard said the medical worker , who lives in Placer County , came into contact with that patient and was likely infected by her .
Conferences in the state and elsewhere are being canceled or scaled back amid fears of the virus , but the WHO ’ s Ryan said decisions to cancel mass gatherings , including sporting events , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s leadership , based on how severe the outbreak is in their region .
Officials recently had a call with the International Olympic Committee to discuss the Summer Olympics scheduled in Tokyo and decided to continue monitoring the situation , with three months given before a decision must be made .
“ I have confidence in Japan that there will hopefully be progress , ” Tedros said .
“ Deciding now could be too early.
” President Trump said Tuesday during a speech to the National Assn .
of Counties ’ legislative conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass a special funding bill providing $ 8.5 billion — far more than he requested — to fight the spread of the illness in the United States .
“ It just shows you what can happen — six weeks ago , eight weeks ago , you never heard of this .
All of a sudden , it ’ s got the world aflutter , ” Trump said , noting later while leaving the White House to visit the National Institutes of Health that he is looking at further international travel restrictions involving Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not limit domestic travel .
Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said there remained many unknowns about the virus , including the degree to which people who do not express symptoms can transmit it to others .
He said doctors know that it happens but have not yet gauged the extent , a key piece of data that will help determine decisions on how to contain it .
Fauci said that Chinese data are believed to be accurate and that the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draconian ” methods that would never occur in the United States , including stringent travel and public gathering restrictions .
“ They have taken social distancing to its furthest extreme , ” he said .
Bierman reported from Washington , D.C. , Read from Kirkland , Wash. , and Shalby and Karlamangla from Los Angeles .

Richard Read, Soumya Karlamangla, Colleen Shalby, Noah Bierman

Santa Clara County has confirmed 11 cases of the novel coronavirus. Sara Cody, county director of public health, speaks at a news conference last week.
As three more deaths in the United States were linked to the coronavirus Tuesday, World Health Organization officials warned the virus could be far more dangerous than the flu, with a mortality rate of 3.4%.
During an off-camera news conference at the White House with the task force charged with overseeing the federal government’s response, Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, delivered a message to the American public:
“I want them to be prepared for the reality that ... there are going to be more cases in the community,” he said. “But I want them to continue their daily lives. I want them to be mindful of the opportunity again to prepare themselves and their families.”
Advertisement
Redfield said scientists did not have the data to predict the future spread.
“What we do know for sure is that in the right setting, it does have the potential to move quickly,” Redfield said. “When you think that just a couple of weeks ago there were less than three cases in Korea, now there’s 2,500.”
Public health officials confirmed a nursing home patient in Washington state was admitted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Feb. 24 and died two days later. The patient, a 54-year-old man who had underlying medical conditions, was transported from Life Care Center of Kirkland and died days before several other patients at the nursing home were linked to the coronavirus, hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg said.
The Seattle and King County Public Health Department on Tuesday reported two additional deaths from COVID-19, bringing the King County total to eight. The other person who died was from Snohomish County, health officials said.
A North Carolina resident who visited the Kirkland facility has since tested positive for the virus, becoming that state’s first case of COVID-19, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday. Health department officials in North Carolina are working to identify anyone else who may have come in contact with the individual.
“I know that people are worried about this virus and I want to assure North Carolinians our state is prepared,” Cooper said in a statement, noting that the person represents an isolated case.
Advertisement
New York City confirmed its first case of “community spread” coronavirus — the second case of the virus in the state. The individual is a man in his 50s who lives in Westchester County but works at a law firm in Manhattan. The man is hospitalized and in severe condition.
The global mortality rate — which includes more than 3,000 deaths — is many times higher than the mortality rate of the flu, which is less than 1%. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that is at least partly because COVID-19 is a new disease, and no one has built up an immunity to it.
Still, Tedros reiterated the WHO’s belief that containment was still within reach.
“We don’t even talk about containment for seasonal flu,” Tedros said. “It’s just not possible, but it’s possible for COVID-19.”
Officials say they have learned the coronavirus is less transmissible than the flu, which is often spread by people who are infected yet don’t have symptoms. That doesn’t seem to be the case for COVID-19, he said.
“There are not yet any vaccines or therapeutics, which is why we must do everything we can to contain it.”
Mike Ryan, who runs the agency’s emergencies program, pushed back against officials who wanted to “wave the white flag” and surrender to the disease’s hold. China took drastic steps to fight the virus, he said, and case numbers are now on the decline there.
Countries such as China and South Korea “implemented very, very strong measures that have affected their own economies and their own societies,” Ryan said. “It’s really a duty of others to use the time that has been bought.
“That is not a reverse you can achieve with influenza. If that is a failure, we’ll have slowed down the virus.”
Science & Medicine Where is the coronavirus? The vast majority of confirmed coronavirus cases — nearly 94% — have occurred in mainland China. But illnesses have been confirmed on all six continents.
There can be a big benefit in slowing the virus’ arrival in a country for a few months, Ryan said. Many countries, including the U.S, are in the middle of flu season, so large numbers of coronavirus cases would overwhelm the health system.
In Italy, COVID-19 patients and flu patients are already stretching hospitals and healthcare facilities, he said.
Tedros said he’s concerned by shortages of masks, gowns and other equipment needed by healthcare workers to stop the spread of disease “caused by rising demands and hoarding and misuse.”
“We can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting our health workers,” said Tedros, noting that prices of surgical masks have increased sixfold.
Current information suggests that most COVID-19 cases are mild, said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. According to a report out of China, the most serious illnesses occur in 16% of cases, she said, and older people and those with underlying health conditions are twice as likely to develop serious outcomes.
Speaking during a media briefing Tuesday, Messonnier said that cases similar to those reported abroad were now appearing in the United States.
The CDC is relying on local health clinicians to determine testing needs. In addition to CDC test kits, commercial manufacturers overseen by the Food and Drug Administration are providing tests directly to states. These types of tests are typically what are on the front lines in the United States, Messonnier said.
Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday that 77 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in the U.S. That number excludes the 45 people who were passengers aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan and were repatriated to America, which brings the total to more than 120.
Pence said that a task force will issue new guidance from the CDC to make it clear that any American can be tested for the virus and no restrictions subject to doctor’s orders.
Commercial laboratories are expected to have 2,500 test kits available to provide 1.5 million tests. And the Office of Management and Budget will direct all federal government agencies to review internal travel and adhere to State Department guidance.
“The threat of the coronavirus to the American pubic remains low,” Pence said.
Pence also said that chief executives of all major airlines are expected to meet at the White House Wednesday to discuss contact tracing data for the coronavirus.
The West Coast continues to bear the brunt of the illnesses in the U.S., with the focus on Northern California and Washington.
At least five Northern California counties reported new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. On Tuesday, the city of Berkeley reported its first case after an individual visited a country with an outbreak. That individual has remained at home in a self-imposed quarantine since returning.
“While the risk of infection remains low, the expanded presence of the virus in our community is a reality we should all prepare for,” said Berkeley Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez. “There are steps that all of us in the community can take now to improve basic hygiene and also prepare for a wider spread in the future.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the California Department of Public Health received approval from the CDC and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to dip into its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N-95 face masks for medical workers on the front lines.
Though the flurry of positive test results in recent days does signal that the virus is circulating within the U.S., experts advised the public to avoid reading too much into those numbers.
Until late last week, federal officials were not allowing widespread testing for the virus, so many people who were already sick are only now being diagnosed, said Harvard epidemiology professor Marc Lipsitch.
“Some of the numbers are changing because new things are happening, but a lot of the numbers are changing because we’re discovering things that have already happened,” Lipsitch said in a forum Monday hosted by Harvard’s public health school. “It’s really important to distinguish ‘Oh, goodness, there’s a new cluster’ from ‘Oh, goodness, we just discovered that there’s a cluster that’s been there for some time.’ ”
As the virus spreads, officials are trying to push back against Asian American bias and misinformation surrounding the outbreak.
Amid signs that some are staying away from Chinatowns and other Asian communities in the U.S., Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) sharply criticized the xenophobia that had been displayed toward ethnic communities.
“We’ve also seen a rise in racism toward Asian Americans because the virus is associated with China,” she said. “This is unconscionable, and it’s not the American way. People of all ages, races and ethnicities are susceptible to this disease. Bigotry toward any one group for a virus they have nothing to do with makes no sense.”
Several areas in California have declared local emergencies amid the outbreak. Sonoma County on Monday issued a declaration after announcing two people had been diagnosed with the virus. One infected person returned from a cruise to Mexico 10 days ago and was hospitalized, but the case “is a cause for concern,” said county health officer Dr. Celeste Philip.
Declaring a state of emergency will allow the county to respond properly to the outbreak as well as “work in tandem with our cities and healthcare providers to ensure we are prepared to combat an outbreak of COVID-19 in our communities,” Philip said in a statement.
Meanwhile, more COVID-19 cases were reported in Santa Clara County, bringing its total to 11 — the most of any California county. The source of infection for the latest two cases, reported Tuesday, is still under investigation.
Many initial reports of COVID-19 have been among healthcare workers, who are likely to encounter sick patients. Hundreds of healthcare workers in California have already been asked to stay home due to contact with patients diagnosed with the disease over the last few weeks.
On Monday, Placer County reported a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a healthcare worker at NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville, where a COVID-19 patient had been admitted. County spokeswoman Katie Combs Prichard said the medical worker, who lives in Placer County, came into contact with that patient and was likely infected by her.
Conferences in the state and elsewhere are being canceled or scaled back amid fears of the virus, but the WHO’s Ryan said decisions to cancel mass gatherings, including sporting events, should be determined by a country’s leadership, based on how severe the outbreak is in their region.
Officials recently had a call with the International Olympic Committee to discuss the Summer Olympics scheduled in Tokyo and decided to continue monitoring the situation, with three months given before a decision must be made.
“I have confidence in Japan that there will hopefully be progress,” Tedros said. “Deciding now could be too early.”
President Trump said Tuesday during a speech to the National Assn. of Counties’ legislative conference in Washington that he expected Congress would pass a special funding bill providing $8.5 billion — far more than he requested — to fight the spread of the illness in the United States.
“It just shows you what can happen — six weeks ago, eight weeks ago, you never heard of this. All of a sudden, it’s got the world aflutter,” Trump said, noting later while leaving the White House to visit the National Institutes of Health that he is looking at further international travel restrictions involving Italy, Japan and South Korea, but will not limit domestic travel.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there remained many unknowns about the virus, including the degree to which people who do not express symptoms can transmit it to others. He said doctors know that it happens but have not yet gauged the extent, a key piece of data that will help determine decisions on how to contain it.
Fauci said that Chinese data are believed to be accurate and that the spread of the virus there is slowing thanks to “draconian” methods that would never occur in the United States, including stringent travel and public gathering restrictions.
“They have taken social distancing to its furthest extreme,” he said.
Bierman reported from Washington, D.C., Read from Kirkland, Wash., and Shalby and Karlamangla from Los Angeles.