latimes--2020-05-02--Newport Beach joins fight against Newsom's Orange County beach closure order

The Newport Beach City Council on Saturday voted to back other Orange County coastal cities trying to block Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s beach closure order and filed an amicus brief in support of the challenge .
Newsom closed the beaches over after last weekend .
He said the closure is designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus and promised easing of some stay-at-home rules next week .
City leaders in Dana Point and Huntington Beach voted during emergency meetings Thursday night to approve filing for an injunction to block Newsom ’ s directive to close their beaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Superior Court Judge Nathan Scott from the two cities seeking a temporary restraining order to keep beaches open .
He set a hearing for May 11 to consider the cities ’ request for an injunction .
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said his department did not plan to cite people simply getting out for beach exercise .
He said most beachgoers have acted responsibly .
“ As long as people are social distancing and doing what they ’ re expected to do , the sheriff does not have interest in criminalizing people enjoying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Braun said .
Newport Beach will increase its police presence on the beach and roll out barricades and electronic signs to make sure people are aware of the closure , officials said .
The Huntington Beach Police Department also said its officers were seeking “ voluntary compliance ” from the public .
Newport Beach released a statement Saturday saying the city “ will continue to work diligently and do everything possible to safely reopen the City ’ s beaches .
”

The Newport Beach City Council on Saturday voted to back other Orange County coastal cities trying to block Gov. Gavin Newsom’s beach closure order and filed an amicus brief in support of the challenge.
Newsom closed the beaches over the objections of Orange County officials after crowds hit the sand last weekend. He said the closure is designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus and promised easing of some stay-at-home rules next week.
City leaders in Dana Point and Huntington Beach voted during emergency meetings Thursday night to approve filing for an injunction to block Newsom’s directive to close their beaches.
On Friday afternoon, Orange County Superior Court Judge Nathan Scott rejected a request from the two cities seeking a temporary restraining order to keep beaches open. He set a hearing for May 11 to consider the cities’ request for an injunction.
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Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said his department did not plan to cite people simply getting out for beach exercise. He said most beachgoers have acted responsibly.
“As long as people are social distancing and doing what they’re expected to do, the sheriff does not have interest in criminalizing people enjoying the beach,” department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said.
Newport Beach will increase its police presence on the beach and roll out barricades and electronic signs to make sure people are aware of the closure, officials said. The Huntington Beach Police Department also said its officers were seeking “voluntary compliance” from the public.
Newport Beach released a statement Saturday saying the city “will continue to work diligently and do everything possible to safely reopen the City’s beaches.”


latimes--2020-05-02--Coronavirus-related deaths in Orange County top 50

Deaths related to the coronavirus topped 50 in Orange County as officials announced two new fatalities Saturday , bringing the death toll to 52 .
The county also reported 99 new cases , bringing the total to 2,636 .
The total number of people hospitalized stood at 202 .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom closed the beaches over after last weekend .
Many local officials have pushed back , saying there has been enough progress in the fight against the coronavirus to allow people at the beach .
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said his department did not plan to cite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said most beachgoers have acted responsibly .
“ As long as people are social distancing and doing what they ’ re expected to do , the sheriff does not have interest in criminalizing people enjoying the beach , ” department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said .
Legal battles in Orange County , where city leaders in Dana Point and Huntington Beach voted during emergency meetings Thursday night to approve filing for an injunction to block Newsom ’ s directive to close their beaches .
On Friday afternoon , Orange County Superior Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking a temporary restraining order to keep beaches open .
He set a hearing for May 11 to consider the cities ’ request for an injunction .

Protesters refuse to practice social distancing while crossing the street at Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach on Friday.
Deaths related to the coronavirus topped 50 in Orange County as officials announced two new fatalities Saturday, bringing the death toll to 52.
The county also reported 99 new cases, bringing the total to 2,636. The total number of people hospitalized stood at 202.
Gov. Gavin Newsom closed the beaches over the objections of Orange County officials after crowds turned out last weekend.
Many local officials have pushed back, saying there has been enough progress in the fight against the coronavirus to allow people at the beach.
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said his department did not plan to cite people simply getting out for beach exercise. He said most beachgoers have acted responsibly.
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“As long as people are social distancing and doing what they’re expected to do, the sheriff does not have interest in criminalizing people enjoying the beach,” department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said.
Legal battles are brewing in Orange County, where city leaders in Dana Point and Huntington Beach voted during emergency meetings Thursday night to approve filing for an injunction to block Newsom’s directive to close their beaches.


latimes--2020-05-02--In beach closure, some in Orange County see overbearing hand of the 'nanny state'

When he called last week for the local beachfront to remain open amid the coronavirus crisis , the Newport Beach mayor argued that his city ’ s infection rate was lower than any of its beach-city counterparts in L.A. County , where the sands have been off-limits from Malibu to Long Beach .
Despite a scolding from the governor chagrined by news photos that seemed to show unsafe clusters of beachgoers the weekend before , many of who had driven in from L.A. , Newport Beach leaders voted 5-2 to keep the beach open .
“ We can truly trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right thing , ” said Mayor Will O ’ Neill .
Then Gov .
Gavin Newsom , a Democrat , ordered beaches closed in Newport Beach and the rest of Orange County .
It has unleashed a torrent of criticism from elected officials , in a county that is no longer a conservative bastion but still tilts heavily Republican along the affluent coastal cities .
“ Without speaking to a single local official in Newport Beach , Governor Newsom has put politics over data , and substituted his will for our judgment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” O ’ Neill tweeted Thursday .
Said Sheriff Don Barnes : “ The governor ’ s decision to single out Orange County by closing our beaches is wrong and fails to recognize the sacrifices made by our 3 million residents.
” Supervisor Don Wagner said news photos had given a misleading impression of densely packed weekend visitors to Newport Beach who , in reality , mostly adhered to social-distancing rules .
“ The telephoto lens distorted what was going on at the beach , ” Wagner said .
“ It is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a couple of photographs out of a local paper.
” In Huntington Beach , the city north of Newport Beach , protesters gathered Friday to denounce the governor ’ s action , and the city has announced it will sue the state to keep its beaches open .
The anger over the Sacramento-mandated beach closures comes amid growing unrest in a county known for years as a bastion of “ cowboy capitalism , ” a political philosophy emphasizing free markets , low taxes and an aversion to big government .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friction , ” said Fred Smoller , an associate professor of political science at Chapman University .
“ Particularly in the wealthier cities , they just don ’ t want liberals or a Democratic legislature telling them what to do.
” Coupled with that is a resentment of perceived “ nanny state ” overreach , the idea that “ we ’ re gon na do what ’ s best for you , whether it ’ s telling you to wear helmets or not smoke cigarettes , ” Smoller said .
Beach city residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , that they live in a travel-poster landscape where others journey many miles just to visit .
And for many in Orange County , Smoller added , it “ is definitely seen as a reward for hard work and a life of sacrifice and accomplishment.
” Orange County was the birthplace of Richard Nixon and a stronghold of the John Birch Society .
It remains the place where a swaggering statue of John Wayne greets visitors at the airport bearing his name , and where a statute of Ronald Reagan waves jovially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front .
In recent years the political makeup of Orange County has shifted , with slightly more registered Democrats than Republicans , but coastal cities like Newport Beach , Huntington Beach and San Clemente remain red .
Smoller said elected officials like Wagner , O ’ Neill and Board Supervisor Michelle Steel , who have denounced the governor ’ s beach closure , speak for “ the old Orange County of rugged individualism and making your own way , ” and added : “ I think they speak for a fraction of Orange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orange County officials can ( and do ) point to relatively low per-capita infection rates to suggest that they know what they ’ re doing , amid a health crises that has prompted unprecedented government intervention worldwide .
Orange County , by Friday ’ s count , had 2,393 coronavirus cases , with 45 deaths , in a population of about 3 million .
The death rate per 100,000 is 1.4 .
By contrast , Los Angeles County had 23,233 cases , with 1,119 deaths , in a population of 10 million .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Adjacent Riverside County , with a smaller population than Orange , had more than three times as many COVID-19 deaths .
In Newport Beach , which has about seven miles of beach , city officials said they received more than 1,000 emails on the question of beach access , with the majority in favor of keeping the beach open .
In arguing to keep the beach open , O ’ Neill , the mayor , pointed to the harmful effects of social isolation , including obesity , anxiety , depression and cognitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused “ an incredible spike ” in calls to suicide hotlines .
He said Hoag Hospital , which has a campus in Newport Beach and another in Irvine , had not seen more than 25 coronavirus cases between its Newport Beach and Irvine campuses at any one time .
He said that once the brakes were put on international travel to the United States , the virus ’ spread seems to have been curtailed in Newport , which sees a substantial number of visitors from abroad .
Newport Beach councilman Jeff Herdman was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s beaches closed .
He said that while the majority of the emails were in favor of open beaches , many seemed to be “ from kids who were out of school and want to go surfing.
” “ Usually in situations like this you don ’ t hear from people who want the beaches closed , because they just assume their city council will do the right thing in terms of protecting them , ” Herdman said .
“ And what happened instead was that ideology entered into the decision-making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Newport beachfront was Joy Brenner , who represents the Corona del Mar segment of the city and describes herself as a moderate conservative .
Brenner said the city council was “ playing politics in a pandemic , ” and that many Newport Beach voters , though conservative Republicans , support the governor ’ s stance .
“ They say , ‘ I don ’ t like Newsom but he ’ s doing a good job , ’ ” she said .
Brenner said that many Newport Beach residents who are sheltering in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are parking in front of their homes and unloading their cars and hanging out on the sidewalk and walking down the sidewalk to get to the beach , so they don ’ t feel lie they can leave their home.
” She added : “ I hate the idea that Newport Beach is portrayed as this elitist community that doesn ’ t want visitors .
[ Residents ] are friendly people .
They know when they live on the beachfront they will have visitors .
But this is a different situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said she worried about the danger to lifeguards .
“ There ’ s no social distancing when you ’ re doing a lifeguard rescue , ” Brenner said .
“ We ’ re putting our lifeguards in danger .
The trash cans are just overflowing , so we ’ re putting our trash-collection personnel in danger .
So we ’ re creating another biohazard.
” State Sen. John Moorlach ( R-Costa Mesa ) , whose district includes Newport Beach and Huntington Beach , said : “ You ’ ve got to trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has relatively low coronavirus numbers compared to L.A. , Moorlach noted that Los Angeles has more public transportation .
“ L.A .
and New York , they ’ re dense , they have public transit .
That might be one of the major factors , ” Moorlach said .
“ In Orange County we chose to build lanes , not trains.
” Moorlach said he has advocated for balance and a more open economy .
“ Treat us like you trust us , ” he said .
“ We ’ ll follow proper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If you are vulnerable , then you ought to stay in place , ” Moorlach added .
“ If not , you ought to understand you ’ re taking a calculated risk .
I take a risk every time I drive , but I ’ m fully cognizant of it .
So I put on my seat belt.
” Fueling some of the discontent in Orange County : inconsistent policies among the beach cities .
The northernmost beach city is Seal Beach , a small city with a population of 24,000 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beachfront closed during the pandemic .
Just to the south , however , Huntington Beach had been open until the governor closed it .
“ People say , ‘ Huntington Beach has decided to have the beach open , well , why can ’ t we ?
’ ” said Seal Beach mayor pro tem Joe Kalmick said .
“ No matter how reasonable you try to make your answer , they don ’ t want to hear that.
” He said that in comparison to their Los Angeles counterparts , Orange County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They have not come out with decisions — you will open or you will close , ” Kalmick said .
“ It ’ s , ‘ We will let the cities decide , ’ and that leaves the door open .
”

Mounted police line up to keep protesters on the sidewalk as thousands of protesters rally at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach.
When he called last week for the local beachfront to remain open amid the coronavirus crisis, the Newport Beach mayor argued that his city’s infection rate was lower than any of its beach-city counterparts in L.A. County, where the sands have been off-limits from Malibu to Long Beach.
Despite a scolding from the governor chagrined by news photos that seemed to show unsafe clusters of beachgoers the weekend before, many of who had driven in from L.A., Newport Beach leaders voted 5-2 to keep the beach open. “We can truly trust the vast majority of people to do the right thing,” said Mayor Will O’Neill.
Then Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, ordered beaches closed in Newport Beach and the rest of Orange County. It has unleashed a torrent of criticism from elected officials, in a county that is no longer a conservative bastion but still tilts heavily Republican along the affluent coastal cities.
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“Without speaking to a single local official in Newport Beach, Governor Newsom has put politics over data, and substituted his will for our judgment from 428 miles away in Sacramento,” O’Neill tweeted Thursday.
Said Sheriff Don Barnes: “The governor’s decision to single out Orange County by closing our beaches is wrong and fails to recognize the sacrifices made by our 3 million residents.”
Please see my statement regarding the Governor's closure of Orange County's beaches: pic.twitter.com/8sJHW4aWLE — OC Sheriff Don Barnes (@OCSheriffBarnes) May 1, 2020
Supervisor Don Wagner said news photos had given a misleading impression of densely packed weekend visitors to Newport Beach who, in reality, mostly adhered to social-distancing rules.
“The telephoto lens distorted what was going on at the beach,” Wagner said. “It is not wise to make policy from Sacramento based on a couple of photographs out of a local paper.”
In Huntington Beach, the city north of Newport Beach, protesters gathered Friday to denounce the governor’s action, and the city has announced it will sue the state to keep its beaches open.
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The anger over the Sacramento-mandated beach closures comes amid growing unrest in a county known for years as a bastion of “cowboy capitalism,” a political philosophy emphasizing free markets, low taxes and an aversion to big government.
“There’s always been an Orange County-Sacramento friction,” said Fred Smoller, an associate professor of political science at Chapman University. “Particularly in the wealthier cities, they just don’t want liberals or a Democratic legislature telling them what to do.”
Coupled with that is a resentment of perceived “nanny state” overreach, the idea that “we’re gonna do what’s best for you, whether it’s telling you to wear helmets or not smoke cigarettes,” Smoller said.
Beach city residents are aware, and like to point out, that they live in a travel-poster landscape where others journey many miles just to visit. And for many in Orange County, Smoller added, it “is definitely seen as a reward for hard work and a life of sacrifice and accomplishment.”
Orange County was the birthplace of Richard Nixon and a stronghold of the John Birch Society. It remains the place where a swaggering statue of John Wayne greets visitors at the airport bearing his name, and where a statute of Ronald Reagan waves jovially to strollers on the Balboa Island bay front.
A statue of President Ronald Reagan adorns a Balboa Island waterfront home in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
In recent years the political makeup of Orange County has shifted, with slightly more registered Democrats than Republicans, but coastal cities like Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and San Clemente remain red.
Smoller said elected officials like Wagner, O’Neill and Board Supervisor Michelle Steel, who have denounced the governor’s beach closure, speak for “the old Orange County of rugged individualism and making your own way,” and added: “I think they speak for a fraction of Orange County that is diminishing in size.”
Orange County officials can (and do) point to relatively low per-capita infection rates to suggest that they know what they’re doing, amid a health crises that has prompted unprecedented government intervention worldwide.
Orange County, by Friday’s count, had 2,393 coronavirus cases, with 45 deaths, in a population of about 3 million. The death rate per 100,000 is 1.4.
By contrast, Los Angeles County had 23,233 cases, with 1,119 deaths, in a population of 10 million. The death rate per 100,000 is 11.1. Adjacent Riverside County, with a smaller population than Orange, had more than three times as many COVID-19 deaths.
In Newport Beach, which has about seven miles of beach, city officials said they received more than 1,000 emails on the question of beach access, with the majority in favor of keeping the beach open.
In arguing to keep the beach open, O’Neill, the mayor, pointed to the harmful effects of social isolation, including obesity, anxiety, depression and cognitive decline, and said the crisis had caused “an incredible spike” in calls to suicide hotlines.
He said Hoag Hospital, which has a campus in Newport Beach and another in Irvine, had not seen more than 25 coronavirus cases between its Newport Beach and Irvine campuses at any one time. He said that once the brakes were put on international travel to the United States, the virus’ spread seems to have been curtailed in Newport, which sees a substantial number of visitors from abroad.
Newport Beach councilman Jeff Herdman was one of two votes to keep the city’s beaches closed. He said that while the majority of the emails were in favor of open beaches, many seemed to be “from kids who were out of school and want to go surfing.”
“Usually in situations like this you don’t hear from people who want the beaches closed, because they just assume their city council will do the right thing in terms of protecting them,” Herdman said. “And what happened instead was that ideology entered into the decision-making process.”
The other vote to close the Newport beachfront was Joy Brenner, who represents the Corona del Mar segment of the city and describes herself as a moderate conservative. Brenner said the city council was “playing politics in a pandemic,” and that many Newport Beach voters, though conservative Republicans, support the governor’s stance. “They say, ‘I don’t like Newsom but he’s doing a good job,’” she said.
Brenner said that many Newport Beach residents who are sheltering in place “are dramatically impacted by the people who are parking in front of their homes and unloading their cars and hanging out on the sidewalk and walking down the sidewalk to get to the beach, so they don’t feel lie they can leave their home.”
She added: “I hate the idea that Newport Beach is portrayed as this elitist community that doesn’t want visitors. [Residents] are friendly people. They know when they live on the beachfront they will have visitors. But this is a different situation, and they’re afraid.”
She said she worried about the danger to lifeguards. “There’s no social distancing when you’re doing a lifeguard rescue,” Brenner said. “We’re putting our lifeguards in danger. The trash cans are just overflowing, so we’re putting our trash-collection personnel in danger. So we’re creating another biohazard.”
State Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa), whose district includes Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, said: “You’ve got to trust the citizenry.” Asked why Orange County has relatively low coronavirus numbers compared to L.A., Moorlach noted that Los Angeles has more public transportation.
“L.A. and New York, they’re dense, they have public transit. That might be one of the major factors,” Moorlach said. “In Orange County we chose to build lanes, not trains.”
Moorlach said he has advocated for balance and a more open economy. “Treat us like you trust us,” he said. “We’ll follow proper protocols, but let us work.”
“If you are vulnerable, then you ought to stay in place,” Moorlach added. “If not, you ought to understand you’re taking a calculated risk. I take a risk every time I drive, but I’m fully cognizant of it. So I put on my seat belt.”
Fueling some of the discontent in Orange County: inconsistent policies among the beach cities. The northernmost beach city is Seal Beach, a small city with a population of 24,000, which has kept its one mile of beachfront closed during the pandemic. Just to the south, however, Huntington Beach had been open until the governor closed it.
“People say, ‘Huntington Beach has decided to have the beach open, well, why can’t we?’” said Seal Beach mayor pro tem Joe Kalmick said. “No matter how reasonable you try to make your answer, they don’t want to hear that.”
He said that in comparison to their Los Angeles counterparts, Orange County political leaders have not issued firm directives. “They have not come out with decisions — you will open or you will close,” Kalmick said. “It’s, ‘We will let the cities decide,’ and that leaves the door open.”


latimes--2020-05-02--First California county reopens despite state's stay-home order; diners rejoice in the 'new normal'

In the far northeast corner of California , “ the new normal ” began to take shape .
Tiny Modoc County on Friday began to reopen , with restaurants again serving food and other retailers swinging their doors open for customers .
Modoc County — which has recorded no coronavirus cases — was the first California county to reopen even as Gov .
Gavin Newsom said his stay-at-home order remains in effect .
He said Friday to expect changes within days but stressed that social distancing is still necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
The Modoc County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bars were allowed to host diners , but only at half the businesses ’ capacity .
People 65 and older and residents with underlying health conditions were still required to stay home except to conduct essential business , and large gatherings where people can not stay six feet apart will still be banned .
After being closed for weeks , Gates Gallery and Trading Post in Alturas made its first sale on Friday .
Owner Gerry Gates told Action News Now it felt good .
“ We are all trying to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the TV station .
“ All the businesses that are open have on their front have a COVID-19 precaution statement and we are all trying to stay safe.
” At the Wagon Wheel restaurant , regulars rejoiced about enjoying a meal there again .
“ Every Sunday we ’ re here .
This is our Sunday breakfast since it ’ s opened , ” Sharon Crabtree told KRCR-TV .
“ It ’ s wonderful , it ’ s great to be able to get out and visit with my sister here , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down and have a meal together.
” Referring to the customers , Wagon Wheel manager Rick Malcolm told the station , “ I call them my brothers .
We ’ re just all kind of a family.
” Just because the county has started to reopen doesn ’ t mean it ’ s back to business as usual , though .
“ We encourage you all to continue to practice social distancing , good hand hygiene and to comply with the other recommendations of our public health department and with the reopening letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , ” Modoc Medical Center Chief Executive Kevin Kramer said in a video statement Friday .
“ If you are elderly or immuno-compromised , please stay at home as much as possible.
” Not every institution that could reopen plans to do so , though .
Schools remained closed , for one thing .
“ It ’ s an unsure thing , ” said Ken Entwistle , senior pastor of GracePoint Church of the Nazarene in Alturas .
“ We , of course , want to open things back up but , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s that unknown.
” Entwistle said the stance of the Nazarene denomination is to follow the state ’ s order — which means he ’ ll continue streaming services and devotionals via Facebook Live .
“ We need to pay attention to the prompting of the spirit and we need to look toward our authorities for some answers or some OKs , ” he said .
“ For us , Jesus Christ is the absolute authority .
”

In the far northeast corner of California, “the new normal” began to take shape.
Tiny Modoc County on Friday began to reopen, with restaurants again serving food and other retailers swinging their doors open for customers.
Modoc County — which has recorded no coronavirus cases — was the first California county to reopen even as Gov. Gavin Newsom said his stay-at-home order remains in effect. He said Friday to expect changes within days but stressed that social distancing is still necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The Modoc County reopening came with health rules. Restaurants and bars were allowed to host diners, but only at half the businesses’ capacity. People 65 and older and residents with underlying health conditions were still required to stay home except to conduct essential business, and large gatherings where people cannot stay six feet apart will still be banned.
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After being closed for weeks, Gates Gallery and Trading Post in Alturas made its first sale on Friday. Owner Gerry Gates told Action News Now it felt good.
“We are all trying to stay safe as possible,” Gates told the TV station. “All the businesses that are open have on their front have a COVID-19 precaution statement and we are all trying to stay safe.”
California Some California businesses reopen in defiance of coronavirus stay-at-home orders From the high desert to the beach enclaves of Orange County, a growing number of California businesses deemed nonessential are choosing to reopen in defiance of orders from local and state authorities.
At the Wagon Wheel restaurant, regulars rejoiced about enjoying a meal there again.
“Every Sunday we’re here. This is our Sunday breakfast since it’s opened,” Sharon Crabtree told KRCR-TV. “It’s wonderful, it’s great to be able to get out and visit with my sister here, and it’s actually nice to sit down and have a meal together.”
Referring to the customers, Wagon Wheel manager Rick Malcolm told the station, “I call them my brothers. We’re just all kind of a family.”
Just because the county has started to reopen doesn’t mean it’s back to business as usual, though.
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“We encourage you all to continue to practice social distancing, good hand hygiene and to comply with the other recommendations of our public health department and with the reopening letter that Modoc County has issued, as well,” Modoc Medical Center Chief Executive Kevin Kramer said in a video statement Friday. “If you are elderly or immuno-compromised, please stay at home as much as possible.”
Not every institution that could reopen plans to do so, though. Schools remained closed, for one thing.
“It’s an unsure thing,” said Ken Entwistle, senior pastor of GracePoint Church of the Nazarene in Alturas. “We, of course, want to open things back up but, at the same point, it’s that unknown.”
Entwistle said the stance of the Nazarene denomination is to follow the state’s order — which means he’ll continue streaming services and devotionals via Facebook Live.
“We need to pay attention to the prompting of the spirit and we need to look toward our authorities for some answers or some OKs,” he said. “For us, Jesus Christ is the absolute authority.”


latimes--2020-05-02--Photos of raucous protests around the state | Demonstrators demand stay-at-home order be lifted

Raucous protests erupted around California this week as demonstrators demanded that Gov .
Gavin Newson ’ s stay-at-home order be @ @ @ @ @ gathered outside the closed state Capitol building in Sacramento on Friday .
Scores more circled @ @ @ @ @ their cars .
Horns blared .
Cow bells rang .
Nary a mask was in @ @ @ @ @ plenty of “ Trump 2020 '' gear .
Overhead a plane circled trailing a banner @ @ @ @ @ and the words , “ End His Tyranny.
” In Southern California , more than @ @ @ @ @ in Huntington Beach to protest beach closures and demand that stay-at-home orders be lifted .
@ @ @ @ @ downtown Los Angeles and in Hermosa Beach .

Raucous protests erupted around California this week as demonstrators demanded that Gov. Gavin Newson’s stay-at-home order be lifted.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the closed state Capitol building in Sacramento on Friday. Scores more circled the block, protesting from their cars.
Horns blared. Cow bells rang. Nary a mask was in sight, though there was plenty of “Trump 2020” gear. Overhead a plane circled trailing a banner with Newsom’s photo and the words, “End His Tyranny.”
In Southern California, more than 500 people crowded an intersection in Huntington Beach to protest beach closures and demand that stay-at-home orders be lifted. Similar demonstrations were held in downtown Los Angeles and in Hermosa Beach.
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Sacramento
More than 1,500 people took part in a protest at the Capitol in Sacramento on Friday seeking a reopening of the California economy. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
California Highway Patrol officers take into custody a woman who refused to follow orders to move off the Capitol grounds during a protest Friday. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)
CHP officers wearing riot gear form a line around the California Capitol grounds after removing protesters. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Huntington Beach
Hundreds of protesters calling for beaches to be reopened rally Friday at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, where they were met by a line of mounted police. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
A protester holds a U.S. flag outside his car during a rally in Huntington Beach calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to reopen beaches and lift stay-at-home orders. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters at Huntington Beach on Friday demand stay-at-home rules be lifted. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Tim)
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A Huntington Beach police officer stands the the foreground while protesters at Huntington Beach demand stay-at-home rules be lifted. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles
A protester calling for the end of stay-at-home restrictions, left, argues with a counterprotester Friday outside L.A. City Hall. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters call for the end of coronavirus stay-at-home orders outside City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A supporter of President Trump protesting stay-at-home orders, right, argues with a counterprotester at L.A. City Hall. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Hundreds of people converged outside L.A. City Hall to call on Gov. Gavin Newsom to immediately lift stay-at-home orders, (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Hermosa Beach
A protester walks into the water in Hermosa Beach following a rally against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s beach closure order Friday. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)
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latimes--2020-05-02--Orange County beach ban results in mostly empty sands on Saturday

Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s decision to close Orange County beaches to slow the spread of the coronavirus appeared Saturday to have the desired effect , as only a few people by early afternoon had ventured onto the sand or into the surf .
Newsom closed the beaches over the objections of Orange County officials after large crowds hit the sands last weekend .
But on Saturday Newport Beach and Huntington Beach , which was jammed with hundreds of rowdy protesters on Friday , were mostly deserted .
Temperatures are cooler this weekend and it remained unclear how aggressively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles County beaches are closed , but many in San Diego and Ventura counties remain open .
Some leaders worried that the Orange County closure would send more beachgoers their way .
Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey expressed concerns that the beach ban in Orange County could affect San Diego .
“ I ’ m definitely pleased that the state isn ’ t taking a heavy-handed approach with our county , ” he said , “ but I am disappointed that they are shutting down beaches in Orange County because that might create some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our beaches.
” Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said his department did not plan to cite people simply getting out for beach exercise on Saturday .
He said most beachgoers have acted responsibly .
“ As long as people are social distancing and doing what they ’ re expected to do , the sheriff does not have interest in criminalizing people enjoying the beach , ” department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said .
Newport Beach will increase its police presence on the beach and roll out barricades and electronic signs to make sure people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The Huntington Beach Police Department also said its officers were seeking “ voluntary compliance ” from the public .
Legal battles in Orange County , where city leaders in Dana Point and Huntington Beach voted during emergency meetings Thursday night to approve filing for an injunction to block Newsom ’ s directive to close their beaches .
The Center for American Liberty , a conservative nonprofit run by attorney and Republican Party official Harmeet Dhillon , on Friday announced a similar legal action filed on behalf of San Clemente Mayor Pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Councilman Joseph Muller and Mission Viejo City Councilman Gregory Raths , who participated in their individual capacities as residents of Orange County .
On Friday afternoon , Orange County Superior Court Judge Nathan Scott from the two cities seeking a temporary restraining order to keep beaches open .
He set a hearing for May 11 to consider the cities ’ request for an injunction .
The Newport Beach City Council on Saturday voted to back the litigation by the other beach cities and approved an amicus brief the city filed Friday in support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement that before Newsom ’ s closure order , its police , fire and lifeguard departments had crafted a plan to keep beaches open safely this weekend .
The governor ’ s office “ had not sought the City ’ s perspective on beach safety or the weekend plan before issuing the directive , ” the statement said .
“ Newport Beach will continue to work diligently and do everything possible to safely reopen the City ’ s beaches , ” the statement said .
Orange County reported 99 additional cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday , bringing its total to 2,636 cases and 52 deaths .
The number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 rose to 202 , with 58 patients in intensive care units .
“ Thank you , San Diegans , for doing the right thing on our beaches , ” San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said Thursday at a press event .
“ You ’ ve been a great example for not only California but the rest of the nation .
Our continued success is in your hands .
This weekend is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the right thing.
” Lifeguards and police officers are expected to cite those in violation .
Face coverings are required in public throughout the county .
San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit urged residents not to get complacent and specifically asked people to stop congregating at Sunset Cliffs , a popular spot to view bioluminescent phytoplankton visible in the surf .
“ You will see quite a robust police presence tonight and throughout the weekend , ” Nisleit said .
If San Diegans don ’ t follow the guidelines , state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beaches again , county Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said .
“ We can not lose our focus , and we can not lose our commitment , ” Fletcher said .
“ Any of the public health modifications that have been made can be dialed back in an instant , and that ’ s what we want to avoid.
” County officials also announced Thursday that families living together will be allowed to resume boating and recreating at local parks .
While parking lots at beaches will remain closed , lots at local parks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oceanside Mayor Peter Weiss said Thursday he wasn ’ t too concerned about people showing up from out of town .
“ The majority of San Diego County is open , so [ beachgoers ] are not likely to overrun any one place , ” Weiss said .
However , Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear was not as optimistic .
She said her city has already seen growing crowds at its recently reopened Moonlight Beach .
“ We are having a problem with compliance day after day , ” she said .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re bringing chairs , trying to hang out on the beaches.
” San Diego had reported 3,711 cases of the coronavirus and 134 deaths , as of Friday .
Beaches remain closed amid growing signs that the reduction in tourism and tax revenue from the closures , as well as a decline in travel and the shutdown of bars , restaurants and other recreational draws , have hit some communities hard .
Santa Monica officials are mulling a plan for restructuring operations as the beach city faces a deficit estimated at $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
The proposal includes cutting staff , eliminating many citywide events and programs , consolidating some departments and reducing the frequency of in-person services , as well as facility access and hours at libraries and public spaces , the city said Friday in a news release .
The City Council will consider the plan at a meeting Tuesday afternoon .
“ The path ahead will be painful , and fraught with shared sacrifices to stop cuts in services and prevent further layoffs , ” Lane Dilg , interim city manager , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s previous city manager , Rick Cole , resigned last month , citing divisions over cuts necessitated by the huge budget shortfall .
Families are also struggling .
An estimated 2 million L.A. County residents experience food insecurity on an ongoing basis , more than any other county in the U.S. , and officials worry the figure could increase in the coming months due to job losses associated with the pandemic , county officials said Saturday in a news release .
The county is allocating $ 3 million to the L.A .
Regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food distribution events throughout the area since mid-March .
Residents can find more information on the county ’ s website .
More than 24,200 cases of the coronavirus and 1,174 related deaths had been recorded in L.A. County as of Friday .
Ventura County and Ventura city beaches are open , with social distancing requirements .
The city of Port Hueneme , experimenting with a “ soft reopening , ” has reopened its beach ( and a parking lot ) to walking , running , biking and solo surfing and paddleboarding , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ stationary presence ” on the sand .
Its pier , restrooms , playground and street parking remain closed .
The county had reported 544 cases of the coronavirus and 18 related deaths , as of Friday .
Meanwhile , some Northern California counties are taking steps toward easing stay-at-home rules , despite Newsom ’ s urging to keep them in place for now .
Modoc County , which has fewer than 9,000 residents and reported zero cases of the coronavirus , was the first to relax restrictions .
The remote county bordering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and churches to reopen starting Friday , as long as people stay six feet apart .
Yuba and Sutter counties announced Friday that they will also loosen some rules starting Monday .
In what officials are calling the initial phase of reopening , some businesses deemed low risk will be permitted to operate provided they make modifications to address infection prevention .
They include restaurants , retail stores , shopping malls , gyms , and hair and nail salons .
Schools , churches , bars , nightclubs , museums , concert venues and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited .
“ COVID-19 is dangerous and scary but it is not the only health issue , ” Dr. Phuong Luu , the Yuba-Sutter health officer , said in a statement .
“ We can not wait for a vaccine without seeing extreme economic damage done to our community.
” People will also be allowed to use athletic fields , playgrounds and libraries , provided they maintain social distancing .
All residents will be required to wear face coverings in public when social distancing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , administrative officers for both counties “ acknowledged the shift in emphasis to a risk-based order conflicts with the Governor ’ s emphasis on ‘ essential vs. non-essential ’ activities.
” They recommended that businesses deemed nonessential by the governor ’ s order seek private legal advice when considering whether to reopen .
“ The intent of the order is to comply with both the Governor ’ s order and President Trump ’ s ‘ Opening up America Again ’ guidelines , ” Luu said .
Yuba County has reported 19 cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County has reported 31 cases and two deaths .

Priscella Vega, Hannah Fry, Luke Money, Alex Wigglesworth, Joshua Emerson Smith

Weekend beach crowds, such as those in Huntington Beach, spurred alarm among some officials. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Beachgoers dot the sand in an aerial view of Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A motorist makes a statement via a back window as pedestrians walk past a store display in Newport Beach that features a mannequin in a mask. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A man in a protective mask walks his dog past a closed park near the pier in Newport Beach on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
On Tuesday, beachgoers pass a statue of Newport Beach lifeguard Ben Carlson, who died while conducting a rescue. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Newport Beach officials said beach visitors followed distancing guidelines over the weekend. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A surfer catches a wave while joining some of the thousands of beachgoers over the weekend in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view shows visitors enjoying the sun and sand near the pier in Newport Beach on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of Huntington Beach after Gov. Newsom announced the “hard close” of all Orange County state and local beaches. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Emergency room nurse Rebecca McFarlane, of Covina, relaxes on her one day off from treating COVID-19 patients, on an open stretch of sand far away from other beach-goers on the last day of open beaches in Huntington Beach. “As a nurse, I have to wear all the PPE and on my one day off, I just want to relax on the beach,” McFarlane said. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Surfers ride the waves on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier Friday, May 1, 2020. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Orange County beaches closed on Thursday despite opposition from local leaders. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Steve Christopher, right, reads a book in the shade of the pier as a beach-goer does flips across the beach on the last day of open beaches in Huntington Beach. “I think it’s what needs to be done,” Christopher said. “I saw it last week and it was packed.” (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Huntington Beach lifeguards patrol with a boat to try to get surfers to stop defying Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “hard close” order. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of a mostly empty Huntington Beach following Gov. Newsom’s “hard close” of Orange County beaches. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters wave a variety of flags, including a Confederate one, along Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Saturday’s beach closure did not keep surfers out of the water in Newport Beach. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Surfers and others ventured to the beach in Newport Beach on Saturday despite the governor’s closure order. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A motorcycle officer watches the bike path near the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. California Gov. Gavin Newson ordered a hard closure of Orange County beaches this weekend. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
A couple walks along the sand while others venture into the surf in Newport Beach even though Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Orange County beaches closed. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Under the watchful eyes of police officers, protesters against beach closures walk along Newport Beach even though a beach closure went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
People enjoy the sun near the pier in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
People walk on the sand in Newport Beach despite the beach closure that went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters against beach closures walk in Newport Beach even though a beach closure went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A Newport Beach lifeguard evacuates the beach as a closure went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Huntington Beach resident Kyle Richardson, 35, holds a sign telling California Gov. Gavin Newson to lift stay-at-home orders and reopen beaches, parks and the California economy, during a protest near the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
A motorcycle officer patrols the bike path near the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Newport Beach lifeguards and police clear the beach during a closure that went into effect Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Police and protesters find a shady spot along Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
A surfer climbs over a barrier meant to keep visitors off the beach in Newport Beach on Saturday morning. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Bill Beukers and his wife, Teresa, claim their constitutional rights as they speak to Newport Beach police officers. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of the Newport Beach pier, where a few surfers and beach-goers enjoy a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Bicyclists and pass the closed Boardwalk Sports store on the boardwalk in Newport Beach, on Monday. The business is only renting bicycles but is hoping to fully open after Gov. Newsom’s announcement that some businesses will be able to reopen. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of a few surfers and beach-goers enjoying a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach on Monday. (Allen J. Schaben/Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of a few surfers and beach-goers enjoying a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
An aerial view of beach-goers playing volleyball on a nice day at the beach despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hard closure, which is still in place in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
People stroll along Laguna’s Main Beach after it reopened its beaches for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Cathie Lawler with her dogs, Milo and Charlie, said “Absolutely fabulous. So good to see the beach” as she walked along Laguna Beach after it reopened for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Mathew Hanna jumps on a skim board at Laguna’s Main Beach on Tuesday morning as city reopened its beaches for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
People stroll along Laguna’s Main Beach after it reopened its beaches for active use only. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to close Orange County beaches to slow the spread of the coronavirus appeared Saturday to have the desired effect, as only a few people by early afternoon had ventured onto the sand or into the surf.
Newsom closed the beaches over the objections of Orange County officials after large crowds hit the sands last weekend. But on Saturday Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, which was jammed with hundreds of rowdy protesters on Friday, were mostly deserted.
Temperatures are cooler this weekend and it remained unclear how aggressively the closure would be enforced.
Los Angeles County beaches are closed, but many in San Diego and Ventura counties remain open. Some leaders worried that the Orange County closure would send more beachgoers their way.
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Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey expressed concerns that the beach ban in Orange County could affect San Diego.
“I’m definitely pleased that the state isn’t taking a heavy-handed approach with our county,” he said, “but I am disappointed that they are shutting down beaches in Orange County because that might create some compression and have a spillover effect on our beaches.”
Orange County
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said his department did not plan to cite people simply getting out for beach exercise on Saturday. He said most beachgoers have acted responsibly.
“As long as people are social distancing and doing what they’re expected to do, the sheriff does not have interest in criminalizing people enjoying the beach,” department spokeswoman Carrie Braun said.
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Newport Beach will increase its police presence on the beach and roll out barricades and electronic signs to make sure people are aware of the closure, officials said. The Huntington Beach Police Department also said its officers were seeking “voluntary compliance” from the public.
Legal battles are brewing in Orange County, where city leaders in Dana Point and Huntington Beach voted during emergency meetings Thursday night to approve filing for an injunction to block Newsom’s directive to close their beaches.
The Center for American Liberty, a conservative nonprofit run by attorney and Republican Party official Harmeet Dhillon, on Friday announced a similar legal action filed on behalf of San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson, Dana Point City Councilman Joseph Muller and Mission Viejo City Councilman Gregory Raths, who participated in their individual capacities as residents of Orange County.
On Friday afternoon, Orange County Superior Court Judge Nathan Scott rejected a request from the two cities seeking a temporary restraining order to keep beaches open. He set a hearing for May 11 to consider the cities’ request for an injunction.
The Newport Beach City Council on Saturday voted to back the litigation by the other beach cities and approved an amicus brief the city filed Friday in support of the action.
Newport Beach said in a statement that before Newsom’s closure order, its police, fire and lifeguard departments had crafted a plan to keep beaches open safely this weekend. The governor’s office “had not sought the City’s perspective on beach safety or the weekend plan before issuing the directive,” the statement said.
“Newport Beach will continue to work diligently and do everything possible to safely reopen the City’s beaches,” the statement said.
Orange County reported 99 additional cases of the coronavirus and two related deaths Saturday, bringing its total to 2,636 cases and 52 deaths. The number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 rose to 202, with 58 patients in intensive care units.
San Diego County
“Thank you, San Diegans, for doing the right thing on our beaches,” San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said Thursday at a press event. “You’ve been a great example for not only California but the rest of the nation. Our continued success is in your hands. This weekend is going to be an important weekend for us to do the right thing.”
Lifeguards and police officers are expected to cite those in violation. Face coverings are required in public throughout the county.
San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit urged residents not to get complacent and specifically asked people to stop congregating at Sunset Cliffs, a popular spot to view bioluminescent phytoplankton visible in the surf.
“You will see quite a robust police presence tonight and throughout the weekend,” Nisleit said.
If San Diegans don’t follow the guidelines, state and county officials have the authority to close the beaches again, county Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said.
“We cannot lose our focus, and we cannot lose our commitment,” Fletcher said. “Any of the public health modifications that have been made can be dialed back in an instant, and that’s what we want to avoid.”
County officials also announced Thursday that families living together will be allowed to resume boating and recreating at local parks. While parking lots at beaches will remain closed, lots at local parks can now reopen at half capacity.
Oceanside Mayor Peter Weiss said Thursday he wasn’t too concerned about people showing up from out of town.
“The majority of San Diego County is open, so [beachgoers] are not likely to overrun any one place,” Weiss said.
However, Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear was not as optimistic. She said her city has already seen growing crowds at its recently reopened Moonlight Beach.
“We are having a problem with compliance day after day,” she said. “People are not following the guidelines. They’re bringing chairs, trying to hang out on the beaches.”
San Diego had reported 3,711 cases of the coronavirus and 134 deaths, as of Friday.
Los Angeles County
Beaches remain closed amid growing signs that the reduction in tourism and tax revenue from the closures, as well as a decline in travel and the shutdown of bars, restaurants and other recreational draws, have hit some communities hard.
Santa Monica officials are mulling a plan for restructuring operations as the beach city faces a deficit estimated at $224 million over the next two fiscal years.
The proposal includes cutting staff, eliminating many citywide events and programs, consolidating some departments and reducing the frequency of in-person services, as well as facility access and hours at libraries and public spaces, the city said Friday in a news release. The City Council will consider the plan at a meeting Tuesday afternoon.
“The path ahead will be painful, and fraught with shared sacrifices to stop cuts in services and prevent further layoffs,” Lane Dilg, interim city manager, said in a statement.
Santa Monica’s previous city manager, Rick Cole, resigned last month, citing divisions over cuts necessitated by the huge budget shortfall.
Families are also struggling. An estimated 2 million L.A. County residents experience food insecurity on an ongoing basis, more than any other county in the U.S., and officials worry the figure could increase in the coming months due to job losses associated with the pandemic, county officials said Saturday in a news release.
The county is allocating $3 million to the L.A. Regional Food Bank, which has been managing food distribution events throughout the area since mid-March. Residents can find more information on the county’s website.
More than 24,200 cases of the coronavirus and 1,174 related deaths had been recorded in L.A. County as of Friday.
Ventura County
Ventura County and Ventura city beaches are open, with social distancing requirements.
The city of Port Hueneme, experimenting with a “soft reopening,” has reopened its beach (and a parking lot) to walking, running, biking and solo surfing and paddleboarding, but said it would discourage sunbathing or any “stationary presence” on the sand. Its pier, restrooms, playground and street parking remain closed.
The county had reported 544 cases of the coronavirus and 18 related deaths, as of Friday.
Northern California
Meanwhile, some Northern California counties are taking steps toward easing stay-at-home rules, despite Newsom’s urging to keep them in place for now.
Modoc County, which has fewer than 9,000 residents and reported zero cases of the coronavirus, was the first to relax restrictions. The remote county bordering Oregon and Nevada permitted businesses, schools and churches to reopen starting Friday, as long as people stay six feet apart.
Yuba and Sutter counties announced Friday that they will also loosen some rules starting Monday.
In what officials are calling the initial phase of reopening, some businesses deemed low risk will be permitted to operate provided they make modifications to address infection prevention. They include restaurants, retail stores, shopping malls, gyms, and hair and nail salons.
Schools, churches, bars, nightclubs, museums, concert venues and theaters will remain closed, and social gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited.
“COVID-19 is dangerous and scary but it is not the only health issue,” Dr. Phuong Luu, the Yuba-Sutter health officer, said in a statement. “We cannot wait for a vaccine without seeing extreme economic damage done to our community.”
People will also be allowed to use athletic fields, playgrounds and libraries, provided they maintain social distancing. All residents will be required to wear face coverings in public when social distancing is not possible.
In a news release, administrative officers for both counties “acknowledged the shift in emphasis to a risk-based order conflicts with the Governor’s emphasis on ‘essential vs. non-essential’ activities.” They recommended that businesses deemed nonessential by the governor’s order seek private legal advice when considering whether to reopen.
“The intent of the order is to comply with both the Governor’s order and President Trump’s ‘Opening up America Again’ guidelines,” Luu said.
Yuba County has reported 19 cases of the coronavirus and one death. Sutter County has reported 31 cases and two deaths.


latimes--2020-05-02--On GoFundMe in the time of coronavirus: pleas in the dark for money for food and rent

They are cries in the dark , on GoFundMe , to strangers .
Pleas for any aid , even $ 1 , to help pay the rent or fill an empty fridge .
Hello , I wanted to start this page to get some funds together for food and water ... this crisis has me without job , anything helps , single mom of 4 I ’ m asking for help to weather this worldwide storm .
One night this week at about 9 , I went on the GoFundMe website and burrowed in with search after search : Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , Los Angeles and lost my job , Los Angeles and desperate .
Past 2 a.m. , I was still there , unable to stop reading — floored all over again by a breadth of hardship I had thought I understood .
I did everything right , I supported myself , I followed the rules , and yet here I am up a creek without a paddle .
I ’ ve tried every way possible and this really is a last resort .
I know everyone else is struggling too .
GoFundMe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surface right now , is a gut punch of unfiltered , raw need .
Children asking for help to bury parents felled by the virus .
Mothers struggling to feed their babies .
Shops and restaurants trying to drum up support for laid-off workers but also rent money to survive long enough to be able to reopen and rehire them .
So many shops and restaurants I ’ ve frequented .
So many people whose means of earning a living don ’ t make sense in the moment .
Dry cleaners who provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t wear when we don ’ t go to work .
Massage therapists who can ’ t knead our muscles without standing too close .
Preschools — as if , at a time like this , we ’ d send our littlest ones out into the world .
People who say they are still awaiting government aid or they ’ ve tried unsuccessfully to get it .
People in distress whose brief , blunt appeals read like private prayers summoning a savior .
On the site are big crowdfunding successes whose organizers receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also many campaigns that ask for little and receive nothing .
So many are asking , after all , at a time when relatively few of us are confident enough in the future to feel we have a lot to spare .
Please , if you are someone of means , help us out !
I know there are probably people who need help more , but we will be in danger of losing everything !
Thank you !
This is some of what Roberta Wall posted in the middle of March , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is 63 .
She sings and dances and has performed on Broadway .
She ’ s on the road at least four months a year in “ Menopause the Musical , ” but that won ’ t happen this year .
For more than 33 years , with breaks for shows , she ’ s been a singing waitress at Miceli ’ s on Cahuenga Boulevard .
Maybe you ’ ve heard her , over pizza and pasta , entertain you with a number from “ Beauty and the Beast ” ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when restaurants went takeout and delivery only .
Her husband teaches theater arts at Los Angeles Valley College — and his pay covers the mortgage of their Alhambra home .
But her money is needed for other bills , and he isn ’ t paid in the summer .
Wall felt “ panic , pure panic , ” she told me when she lost her ability to earn .
Then her daughter and son-in-law — who sing and serve at a bar in New York — found themselves out of work and sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the symptoms of the coronavirus .
Wall has been sick with worry , though they appear to have turned a corner .
She ’ s begun to receive unemployment help now , though money ’ s still very tight .
She got $ 250 from a relief fund for artists .
She ’ s gotten no online donations .
When she posted her campaign on GoFundMe , she told me , she didn ’ t tell a soul .
She was hoping for a random rich patron .
“ Every friend I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be able to give me money ?
” she said .
“ I don ’ t have doctor friends .
I don ’ t have lawyer friends.
” I thought we were gon na have a job to go back to , but I guess not .
That ’ s what Vanessa Cordero posted under the title : # nowork coronavirus .
Until recently , Cordero , 31 , worked at a Regency Theatre in Commerce .
She spent Saturdays at the East L.A .
Skills Center , training to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the L.A. Unified School District .
Then the theater was forced to shut and she got laid off and told she ’ d have to reapply for her job .
Meanwhile , her classes went online and the school district closed , leaving her prospects less promising for an immediate job doing summertime deep cleaning after she gets her certificate in June .
Cordero lives at her dad ’ s house in Boyle Heights , which he ’ s afraid of losing , she says .
He ’ s a welder in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals ( a contract whose details he won ’ t tell her ) , but he ’ s bringing home less money .
Cordero hasn ’ t received federal or state help yet .
She ’ s waiting .
She said she hoped to give the GoFundMe money to her father .
But , like Wall , she got no contributions , probably because she didn ’ t tell anyone she knew .
“ I felt embarrassed in a way , ” she told me about asking for money , “ because no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It happened .
Coronavirus hit hard and I lost all sources of income .
Jake Bender , 24 , is one of the lucky ones .
He asked for $ 500 on GoFundMe last month and received just slightly over that amount .
He wasn ’ t shy about sharing his campaign — and nine people , mostly from his hometown of Conrad , Mont.
, came through .
He arrived here to be an actor after college , two years ago .
He ’ s made ends meet in the gig economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home staging company , driving for Lyft and doing odd jobs for TaskRabbit .
But all his income sources dried up with the shutdown .
The last time he drove for Lyft , he says , he made $ 4 in two hours .
One day in March , he earned $ 40 moving a very heavy dresser .
The GoFundMe money helped him cover his $ 920 share of his Los Feliz apartment ’ s rent last month .
When I spoke to him on Thursday he had $ 920 to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent due Friday .
Early on , his mother sent him a big care package of ramen , Velveeta Shells & Cheese and Tuna Helper .
The other day he found a bargain at the store : $ 4 for three chicken breasts .
Meanwhile , he still has a student loan , a car payment and car insurance to pay .
And he has yet to get his first unemployment money .
Lost my job because of corona .
I need this money to pay parts of bills to stay afloat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning of last month , Ulises Ramirez , 27 , was furloughed from his job managing a shoe store in Commerce .
He had about $ 1,000 in savings at the time .
And even though the company paid out his vacation time , he ’ s now down to $ 400 in savings and about the same in his checking account .
He shares an apartment in Whittier with friends , paying $ 550 a month .
With his roommates all working from home though , he ’ s moved in with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A .
He has credit card debt and loans .
Except for his car payment , he says , he ’ s having trouble getting payments deferred .
He still hasn ’ t heard anything about his unemployment application filed on April 12 and doesn ’ t even know if it went through .
Meanwhile , he ’ s received no GoFundMe donations , even though he shared his campaign on social media .
In his working-class world , he says , everyone is hurting .
“ There ’ s an avalanche of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ And you can ’ t ask your neighbor , you can ’ t ask a friend.
” So you cry out in the dark and hope somebody , somewhere is listening .

Roberta Wall, a performer and a singing waitress at Miceli’s Italian restaurant in Los Angeles, has been out of work since mid-March when the restaurant closed to dine-in customers due to the coronavirus outbreak.
They are cries in the dark, on GoFundMe, to strangers. Pleas for any aid, even $1, to help pay the rent or fill an empty fridge.
Hello, I wanted to start this page to get some funds together for food and water...
this crisis has me without job, anything helps, single mom of 4
Advertisement
I’m asking for help to weather this worldwide storm.
One night this week at about 9, I went on the GoFundMe website and burrowed in with search after search: Los Angeles and coronavirus, Los Angeles and COVID-19, Los Angeles and lost my job, Los Angeles and desperate.
Past 2 a.m., I was still there, unable to stop reading — floored all over again by a breadth of hardship I had thought I understood.
I did everything right, I supported myself, I followed the rules, and yet here I am up a creek without a paddle.
I’ve tried every way possible and this really is a last resort.
I know everyone else is struggling too.
Advertisement
GoFundMe, when you start scratching below the surface right now, is a gut punch of unfiltered, raw need. Children asking for help to bury parents felled by the virus. Mothers struggling to feed their babies. Shops and restaurants trying to drum up support for laid-off workers but also rent money to survive long enough to be able to reopen and rehire them.
So many shops and restaurants I’ve frequented. So many people whose means of earning a living don’t make sense in the moment.
Dry cleaners who provide crisp work clothes that we don’t wear when we don’t go to work. Massage therapists who can’t knead our muscles without standing too close. Preschools — as if, at a time like this, we’d send our littlest ones out into the world.
People who say they are still awaiting government aid or they’ve tried unsuccessfully to get it. People in distress whose brief, blunt appeals read like private prayers summoning a savior.
On the site are big crowdfunding successes whose organizers receive more than they ask for — but also many campaigns that ask for little and receive nothing. So many are asking, after all, at a time when relatively few of us are confident enough in the future to feel we have a lot to spare.
Please, if you are someone of means, help us out! I know there are probably people who need help more, but we will be in danger of losing everything! Thank you!
This is some of what Roberta Wall posted in the middle of March, after she lost both her jobs. She is 63. She sings and dances and has performed on Broadway. She’s on the road at least four months a year in “Menopause the Musical,” but that won’t happen this year. For more than 33 years, with breaks for shows, she’s been a singing waitress at Miceli’s on Cahuenga Boulevard. Maybe you’ve heard her, over pizza and pasta, entertain you with a number from “Beauty and the Beast”? But that job disappeared on March 16 when restaurants went takeout and delivery only.
Her husband teaches theater arts at Los Angeles Valley College — and his pay covers the mortgage of their Alhambra home. But her money is needed for other bills, and he isn’t paid in the summer. Wall felt “panic, pure panic,” she told me when she lost her ability to earn.
Then her daughter and son-in-law — who sing and serve at a bar in New York — found themselves out of work and sick in their tiny apartment, with all the symptoms of the coronavirus. Wall has been sick with worry, though they appear to have turned a corner.
She’s begun to receive unemployment help now, though money’s still very tight. She got $250 from a relief fund for artists. She’s gotten no online donations.
When she posted her campaign on GoFundMe, she told me, she didn’t tell a soul. She was hoping for a random rich patron.
“Every friend I have is in the same boat. Who would be able to give me money?” she said. “I don’t have doctor friends. I don’t have lawyer friends.”
I thought we were gonna have a job to go back to, but I guess not.
That’s what Vanessa Cordero posted under the title: #nowork coronavirus.
Until recently, Cordero, 31, worked at a Regency Theatre in Commerce. She spent Saturdays at the East L.A. Skills Center, training to be a school custodian, hoping for a job with the L.A. Unified School District. Then the theater was forced to shut and she got laid off and told she’d have to reapply for her job. Meanwhile, her classes went online and the school district closed, leaving her prospects less promising for an immediate job doing summertime deep cleaning after she gets her certificate in June.
Cordero lives at her dad’s house in Boyle Heights, which he’s afraid of losing, she says. He’s a welder in construction and is now making parts for hospitals (a contract whose details he won’t tell her), but he’s bringing home less money. Cordero hasn’t received federal or state help yet. She’s waiting. She said she hoped to give the GoFundMe money to her father. But, like Wall, she got no contributions, probably because she didn’t tell anyone she knew.
“I felt embarrassed in a way,” she told me about asking for money, “because no one in my family does that.”
It happened. Coronavirus hit hard and I lost all sources of income.
Jake Bender, 24, is one of the lucky ones. He asked for $500 on GoFundMe last month and received just slightly over that amount. He wasn’t shy about sharing his campaign — and nine people, mostly from his hometown of Conrad, Mont., came through. He arrived here to be an actor after college, two years ago. He’s made ends meet in the gig economy, working now and then for a home staging company, driving for Lyft and doing odd jobs for TaskRabbit. But all his income sources dried up with the shutdown. The last time he drove for Lyft, he says, he made $4 in two hours. One day in March, he earned $40 moving a very heavy dresser.
The GoFundMe money helped him cover his $920 share of his Los Feliz apartment’s rent last month. When I spoke to him on Thursday he had $920 to his name — just enough to pay the rent due Friday. Early on, his mother sent him a big care package of ramen, Velveeta Shells & Cheese and Tuna Helper. The other day he found a bargain at the store: $4 for three chicken breasts. Meanwhile, he still has a student loan, a car payment and car insurance to pay. And he has yet to get his first unemployment money.
Lost my job because of corona. I need this money to pay parts of bills to stay afloat. Anything will help please.
At the beginning of last month, Ulises Ramirez, 27, was furloughed from his job managing a shoe store in Commerce. He had about $1,000 in savings at the time. And even though the company paid out his vacation time, he’s now down to $400 in savings and about the same in his checking account. He shares an apartment in Whittier with friends, paying $550 a month.
With his roommates all working from home though, he’s moved in with his mother and his sister in East L.A. He has credit card debt and loans. Except for his car payment, he says, he’s having trouble getting payments deferred. He still hasn’t heard anything about his unemployment application filed on April 12 and doesn’t even know if it went through.
Meanwhile, he’s received no GoFundMe donations, even though he shared his campaign on social media. In his working-class world, he says, everyone is hurting.
“There’s an avalanche of GoFundMe’s like mine,” he said. “And you can’t ask your neighbor, you can’t ask a friend.”
So you cry out in the dark and hope somebody, somewhere is listening.


latimes--2020-05-02--This nursing home had California's deadliest coronavirus outbreak. 'We weren't prepared'

The toll is grim at the Redwood Springs Healthcare Center in Visalia , site of California ’ s deadliest coronavirus outbreak in a nursing home .
As of Thursday , 115 residents had tested positive for COVID-19 , 61 staff were infected and 26 residents were dead .
At Huntington Valley Healthcare Center in Orange County , 64 patients and 36 staff were ill. Six had died .
At Canyon Springs Post-Acute in Santa Clara County , 69 patients and 30 staff had tested positive , and six residents are dead .
“ We weren ’ t prepared , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive .
“ We lost control of the situation because we weren ’ t talking about it.
” All three facilities share the same parent company : Plum Healthcare Group , a California entity that controls about 50 skilled nursing facilities in the state .
Plum declined to comment on specifics of the outbreak , other than to say it maintains high standards and has been “ meticulous ” with infection control , including adding new protocols in March .
“ The safety and well-being of our clients and their efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caretakers are our highest priorities during this national emergency , ” said Plum spokesman David Oates in an emailed statement .
The coronavirus outbreaks have highlighted problems in the state ’ s nursing home industry : Corporate chains with complex ownership structures , overworked and underpaid employees and a mixed record of complying with infection control requirements , such as workers washing their hands .
Patient advocates say operators may create conditions where infections can quickly spread undetected , with few repercussions because of infrequent state inspections .
Of the 192 skilled nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles Times review of records found at least 13 connected to Plum , accounting for at least 500 cases of COVID-19 and 43 deaths .
Other chains also have multiple outbreaks .
Nationwide , about 380,000 people in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities die each year from infections , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ Nursing homes would like the public to think this just happened to them , but it didn ’ t , ” said UC San Francisco professor emeritus Charlene Harrington , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chains were bad to begin with , and then they were just not prepared for this pandemic.
” The nursing home industry once comprised small operators , locally owned and managed , and often nonprofit .
But the industry has morphed into a network of sophisticated chains , with a strong lobbying presence in Sacramento and Washington , D.C. For weeks , the industry has been pressuring Gov .
Gavin Newsom to shield them from potential liability , arguing they could be forced to close under a wave of lawsuits , taking away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These chains are often owned by investors who obscure their roles through limited liability companies , or LLCs , and amass dozens of properties that draw hundreds of millions in Medicare and Medicaid funds .
The industry brings in more than $ 10 billion in annual revenue in California , mostly from state and federal government payments for about 119,000 beds in about 1,200 facilities .
Harrington said her own research and that of others has found that facilities owned by for-profit chains have lower staffing and more regulatory problems than nonprofits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in basic hygiene .
Nearly 90 % of California ’ s nursing homes are privately owned , and in a 2015 study , Harrington found that about 75 % of California facilities were owned by chains — one of the highest percentages of any state .
Industry officials say there are benefits to chain operation , including better management , the ability to lower costs and higher industry standards .
However , they contend , in the face of the fast-moving coronavirus pandemic , little could be done to mitigate its effects on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s really beyond the worst-case scenarios that I think anyone could reasonably prepare for , ” said Mark Parkinson , president and chief executive of the American Health Care Assn .
and the National Center for Assisted Living , an industry trade group .
Overall , at least 663 residents and 11 staff at California nursing homes have died from COVID-19 — about 31 percent of the deaths in the state — according to health officials , though a Los Angeles Times review has found multiple errors in state data .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,700 staff members and 4,700 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus in skilled nursing facilities .
A 2018 state audit found that California “ has not adequately addressed ongoing deficiencies related to the quality of care that nursing facilities provide , ” and that the California Department of Public Health , charged with inspecting facilities and enforcing regulations , “ in particular has not fulfilled many of its oversight responsibilities , ” including timely inspections .
Tony Chicotel , staff attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform , said the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was terrible at their job , which was no surprise to anybody.
” Kate Folmar , spokeswoman for the California Department of Public Health , said via email that the state and the Newsom administration have “ accelerated efforts to improve nursing home oversight and deliver quality care to the thousands of Californians who need skilled nursing.
” The department declined to say how far behind it remained on inspections of skilled nursing facilities .
Spokesperson Suanne Buggy said in an email Thursday that last year the department “ self-identified a backlog of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it regulates that currently is at about 17,000 , and it had created a plan to reduce the backlog by 2021 .
Non-emergency inspections are on hold while resources are diverted to the coronavirus crisis .
Parkinson , head of the industry trade group , said the current outbreaks have been worsened in part by slow government response in helping facilities secure protective gear like masks , and in ensuring that testing was widely available for staff and patients .
“ If you don ’ t have masks , it ’ s very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ If you don ’ t have tests , there is no way to know who has it.
” But Harrington , Chicotel and others said they believed the greater problem was a lack of enforcement , especially around staffing — an issue that predates the novel coronavirus .
In 2018 , the state legislature raised minimum staffing requirements at skilled nursing facilities , requiring that each patient receive at least 3.5 hours of direct care per day , an increase from 3.2 hours .
But the bill included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities had trouble finding certified nursing assistants , or in other limited circumstances .
More than 500 waivers were approved in the 2019-2020 fiscal year , allowing about 40 % of the skilled nursing facilities in the state to avoid the rules .
Advocates say understaffing , combined with pay that is often little higher than minimum wage , means the certified nursing assistants who provide the bulk of daily care often have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet , and can spend their days rushing from patient to patient .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it on my salary , ” said the Redwood Springs nurse , who asked to remain anonymous because she fears retaliation .
“ My daughter used to work at Claire ’ s , and she made more money than I did , and I need to keep a license.
” Pressure to attend to a heavy load of patients may lead to lapses in basic hygiene such as washing hands between rooms , pointed out Chicotel , a regulatory breach that is common but carries light penalties .
It also means those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus with them from workplace to workplace .
The Redwood Springs nurse tested positive for COVID-19 a few weeks ago and believes she may have contracted it from a worker who came from an infected facility .
“ It ’ s not an accident that these chains have [ the virus ] , because they are the ones with the lowest staffing and the worst quality , ” Harrington said .
Industry critics said one problem they see with chain operations is that ownership is often obscured by layers of LLCs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who they are dealing with and shielding owners from liability .
Sometimes , related companies are created to provide extra revenue streams for owners , who set up separate businesses to sell to the facility goods or services , such as linens , consulting or human resources services .
Many nursing homes also rent their buildings from separate companies controlled by the same owners or close relatives .
Plum , for example , holds each of its facilities as independent companies that share botanical names — Spruce Holdings , Douglas Fir Holdings — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listed as the manager in many .
Recently , Plum received $ 420 million in refinancing for 26 properties through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development .
But Oates , the Plum spokesman , says the company does not run skilled nursing facilities , despite state and federal oversight that considers it the parent company .
“ Plum Healthcare doesn ’ t own any of the facilities but is contracted by the licensed owner of each entity to perform clinical and administrative services , ” Oates said via email .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clients ’ efforts to implement their clinical care , infection control and safety protocols.
” The state audit examined Plum and two other large California chains — Brius Management Co. and Longwood Management Corp. — and found they had combined net income that grew from less than $ 10 million in 2006 to between $ 35 million and $ 54 million by 2015 as the three companies expanded .
Those companies also paid between $ 37 million and $ 65 million each to related companies that shared at least some ownership from 2007 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicotel said he believes that in the current crisis , the state needs to do more to ensure that facilities with outbreaks are acting in the best interests of patients .
He points out that in recent weeks , staffing requirements have been further waived by an executive order from Newsom as facilities struggle with sick and scared workers who are not willing or able to come in .
State and county workers and members of the National Guard have been sent to some facilities to help , but shortages remain .
Chicotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ability to put in the extra infection control measures that are needed .
Dr. Michael Wasserman , president of the California Association of Long Term Care Medicine and a former CEO of a for-profit chain , said the state government should require facilities to have a full-time infection control person present during the crisis .
“ They need a general in the building who is going to go around and make sure everyone is washing their hands , ” Wasserman said .
At the same time that regulations are being pulled back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign an executive order waiving much of their liability around coronavirus , similar to waivers other states have already put in place .
Though Newsom has not yet signed such an order , advocates are troubled by the idea that there ultimately may be little accountability for how skilled nursing facilities handled outbreaks .
Toby Edelman , senior policy attorney for the Washington , D.C.-based Center for Medicare Advocacy , said she believes the liability reductions represent the industry taking advantage of the crisis to protect themselves from a problem of their own @ @

The toll is grim at the Redwood Springs Healthcare Center in Visalia, site of California’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak in a nursing home. As of Thursday, 115 residents had tested positive for COVID-19, 61 staff were infected and 26 residents were dead.
At Huntington Valley Healthcare Center in Orange County, 64 patients and 36 staff were ill. Six had died.
At Canyon Springs Post-Acute in Santa Clara County, 69 patients and 30 staff had tested positive, and six residents are dead.
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“We weren’t prepared,” said a Redwood Springs nurse who has tested positive. “We lost control of the situation because we weren’t talking about it.”
All three facilities share the same parent company: Plum Healthcare Group, a California entity that controls about 50 skilled nursing facilities in the state.
Plum declined to comment on specifics of the outbreak, other than to say it maintains high standards and has been “meticulous” with infection control, including adding new protocols in March.
“The safety and well-being of our clients and their efforts to care as well as protect patients and caretakers are our highest priorities during this national emergency,” said Plum spokesman David Oates in an emailed statement.
The coronavirus outbreaks have highlighted problems in the state’s nursing home industry: Corporate chains with complex ownership structures, overworked and underpaid employees and a mixed record of complying with infection control requirements, such as workers washing their hands.
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Patient advocates say operators may create conditions where infections can quickly spread undetected, with few repercussions because of infrequent state inspections. Of the 192 skilled nursing facilities with outbreaks in California, a Los Angeles Times review of records found at least 13 connected to Plum, accounting for at least 500 cases of COVID-19 and 43 deaths. Other chains also have multiple outbreaks.
CHART: Plum Healthcare facilities with COVID-19 Cases
Nationwide, about 380,000 people in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities die each year from infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Nursing homes would like the public to think this just happened to them, but it didn’t,” said UC San Francisco professor emeritus Charlene Harrington, who studies skilled nursing facilities. “The chains were bad to begin with, and then they were just not prepared for this pandemic.”
The nursing home industry once comprised small operators, locally owned and managed, and often nonprofit. But the industry has morphed into a network of sophisticated chains, with a strong lobbying presence in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. For weeks, the industry has been pressuring Gov. Gavin Newsom to shield them from potential liability, arguing they could be forced to close under a wave of lawsuits, taking away beds needed to relieve pressure on hospitals.
These chains are often owned by investors who obscure their roles through limited liability companies, or LLCs, and amass dozens of properties that draw hundreds of millions in Medicare and Medicaid funds. The industry brings in more than $10 billion in annual revenue in California, mostly from state and federal government payments for about 119,000 beds in about 1,200 facilities.
Harrington said her own research and that of others has found that facilities owned by for-profit chains have lower staffing and more regulatory problems than nonprofits or state-run facilities — often including lapses in basic hygiene. Nearly 90% of California’s nursing homes are privately owned, and in a 2015 study, Harrington found that about 75% of California facilities were owned by chains — one of the highest percentages of any state.
Industry officials say there are benefits to chain operation, including better management, the ability to lower costs and higher industry standards. However, they contend, in the face of the fast-moving coronavirus pandemic, little could be done to mitigate its effects on an elderly and vulnerable population.
“It’s really beyond the worst-case scenarios that I think anyone could reasonably prepare for,” said Mark Parkinson, president and chief executive of the American Health Care Assn. and the National Center for Assisted Living, an industry trade group.
As of Thursday, 115 residents had tested positive for COVID-19, 61 staff were infected and 26 residents were dead at the Redwood Springs Healthcare Center in Visalia. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Overall, at least 663 residents and 11 staff at California nursing homes have died from COVID-19 — about 31 percent of the deaths in the state — according to health officials, though a Los Angeles Times review has found multiple errors in state data. Thursday, the state reported that nearly 2,700 staff members and 4,700 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus in skilled nursing facilities.
A 2018 state audit found that California “has not adequately addressed ongoing deficiencies related to the quality of care that nursing facilities provide,” and that the California Department of Public Health, charged with inspecting facilities and enforcing regulations, “in particular has not fulfilled many of its oversight responsibilities,” including timely inspections.
Tony Chicotel, staff attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, said the main finding of the audit “was DPH was terrible at their job, which was no surprise to anybody.”
Kate Folmar, spokeswoman for the California Department of Public Health, said via email that the state and the Newsom administration have “accelerated efforts to improve nursing home oversight and deliver quality care to the thousands of Californians who need skilled nursing.”
The department declined to say how far behind it remained on inspections of skilled nursing facilities. Spokesperson Suanne Buggy said in an email Thursday that last year the department “self-identified a backlog of complaints” for all types of facilities it regulates that currently is at about 17,000, and it had created a plan to reduce the backlog by 2021. Non-emergency inspections are on hold while resources are diverted to the coronavirus crisis.
Parkinson, head of the industry trade group, said the current outbreaks have been worsened in part by slow government response in helping facilities secure protective gear like masks, and in ensuring that testing was widely available for staff and patients.
“If you don’t have masks, it’s very hard to keep it from spreading,” he said. “If you don’t have tests, there is no way to know who has it.”
But Harrington, Chicotel and others said they believed the greater problem was a lack of enforcement, especially around staffing — an issue that predates the novel coronavirus.
In 2018, the state legislature raised minimum staffing requirements at skilled nursing facilities, requiring that each patient receive at least 3.5 hours of direct care per day, an increase from 3.2 hours. But the bill included a system for waiving those rules if facilities had trouble finding certified nursing assistants, or in other limited circumstances.
More than 500 waivers were approved in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, allowing about 40% of the skilled nursing facilities in the state to avoid the rules.
Advocates say understaffing, combined with pay that is often little higher than minimum wage, means the certified nursing assistants who provide the bulk of daily care often have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, and can spend their days rushing from patient to patient.
“There is no way I can make it on my salary,” said the Redwood Springs nurse, who asked to remain anonymous because she fears retaliation. “My daughter used to work at Claire’s, and she made more money than I did, and I need to keep a license.”
Pressure to attend to a heavy load of patients may lead to lapses in basic hygiene such as washing hands between rooms, pointed out Chicotel, a regulatory breach that is common but carries light penalties. It also means those working multiple jobs may have inadvertently carried the virus with them from workplace to workplace.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Redwood Springs Healthcare Center in Visalia is the largest among nursing homes statewide. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
The Redwood Springs nurse tested positive for COVID-19 a few weeks ago and believes she may have contracted it from a worker who came from an infected facility.
“It’s not an accident that these chains have [the virus], because they are the ones with the lowest staffing and the worst quality,” Harrington said.
Industry critics said one problem they see with chain operations is that ownership is often obscured by layers of LLCs, making it difficult for consumers to know who they are dealing with and shielding owners from liability.
Sometimes, related companies are created to provide extra revenue streams for owners, who set up separate businesses to sell to the facility goods or services, such as linens, consulting or human resources services. Many nursing homes also rent their buildings from separate companies controlled by the same owners or close relatives.
Plum, for example, holds each of its facilities as independent companies that share botanical names — Spruce Holdings, Douglas Fir Holdings — with Plum Chief Financial Officer Naveed Hakim listed as the manager in many. Recently, Plum received $420 million in refinancing for 26 properties through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
California Newsom teases announcement in ‘days, not weeks’ on reopening California The governor has described the next phase of his stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of coronavirus as allowing some lower-risk businesses to reopen in communities across California, including retail locations, manufacturing sites and small businesses.
But Oates, the Plum spokesman, says the company does not run skilled nursing facilities, despite state and federal oversight that considers it the parent company.
“Plum Healthcare doesn’t own any of the facilities but is contracted by the licensed owner of each entity to perform clinical and administrative services,” Oates said via email. “In this regard, we support our clients’ efforts to implement their clinical care, infection control and safety protocols.”
The state audit examined Plum and two other large California chains — Brius Management Co. and Longwood Management Corp. — and found they had combined net income that grew from less than $10 million in 2006 to between $35 million and $54 million by 2015 as the three companies expanded.
Those companies also paid between $37 million and $65 million each to related companies that shared at least some ownership from 2007 through 2015, the audit found.
Chicotel said he believes that in the current crisis, the state needs to do more to ensure that facilities with outbreaks are acting in the best interests of patients.
He points out that in recent weeks, staffing requirements have been further waived by an executive order from Newsom as facilities struggle with sick and scared workers who are not willing or able to come in. State and county workers and members of the National Guard have been sent to some facilities to help, but shortages remain. Chicotel said waiving minimum staffing requirements now reduced the ability to put in the extra infection control measures that are needed.
Dr. Michael Wasserman, president of the California Association of Long Term Care Medicine and a former CEO of a for-profit chain, said the state government should require facilities to have a full-time infection control person present during the crisis.
“They need a general in the building who is going to go around and make sure everyone is washing their hands,” Wasserman said.
At the same time that regulations are being pulled back, the industry has asked Newsom to sign an executive order waiving much of their liability around coronavirus, similar to waivers other states have already put in place. Though Newsom has not yet signed such an order, advocates are troubled by the idea that there ultimately may be little accountability for how skilled nursing facilities handled outbreaks.
Toby Edelman, senior policy attorney for the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Medicare Advocacy, said she believes the liability reductions represent the industry taking advantage of the crisis to protect themselves from a problem of their own making.