latimes--2020-03-19--California hits 17 deaths as L.A. County confirms 46 new coronavirus cases

With nearly 9 million Californians living under orders to stay home as much as possible , state and county leaders are preparing for what could be next in the coronavirus pandemic .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday evening said the state has asked the Department of Defense to deploy the Navy ’ s Mercy hospital ship and two mobile hospitals to California to help care for the expected surge in hospitalizations of residents stricken by the novel coronavirus .
The governor said the state is working to expand the state ’ s available hospital beds by roughly 20,000 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Californians come down with the coronavirus .
“ If you assume for every individual that ’ s contracted the virus that they impact two individuals and we have hospitalization rates as high as — in some instances we model — 20 % , that would require a broader surge capacity of our healthcare delivery system , north of 19,500 additional beds , ” Newsom said .
That ’ s only one of many scenarios — some modest , some more extreme — that state emergency officials are running to increase the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a need for hospitalization rapidly increase in the coming days .
The state estimates that surge capacity in California ’ s existing hospital system could accommodate 10,000 patients .
The state also is in the process of procuring two hospitals that are currently nonoperational , one in Southern California and one in Northern California , along with leasing hotels and motels where coronavirus patients could be housed and treated .
If requests for the military medical assistance are granted , California should be close to reaching the 20,000-bed threshold , Newsom said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the Mercy and another Navy hospital ship will be deployed to help respond to the coronavirus crisis .
The hospital ships , however , will not accept coronavirus patients , he said .
Instead , they will accept patients with other illnesses , freeing up capacity in medical centers .
Esper said military field hospitals also will be provided to states but , again , will not treat coronavirus patients .
Los Angeles County on Wednesday confirmed 46 new cases of the novel coronavirus , including eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The new cases bring the county ’ s total to 190 .
All new patients have been isolated , and their close contacts are being quarantined , said Barbara Ferrer , director of the L.A. County Public Health Department .
The number of those who have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 is expected to increase over the next several weeks , health officials warned .
“ We ’ re going to see an increase in positive cases today , tomorrow and for the foreseeable future , ” Ferrer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of COVID-19 .
All of our strategies are aimed at slowing the spread.
” Ferrer directed anyone feeling overwhelmed by the situation to contact the county ’ s Department of Mental Health at ( 800 ) 854-7771 .
With confirmed coronavirus cases spreading rapidly and reaching all 50 states , almost 9 million Californians are living under shelter-in-place orders .
The extraordinary measures were designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
California has seen the number of confirmed cases continue to rise : at least 836 cases and 17 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases and three deaths the week before .
Nearly 12,000 people in the state are self-monitoring for symptoms .
The jump is largely due to a recent increase in testing capacity , and the numbers are expected to continue rising .
On Tuesday , the U.S. Public Health Service reported that more than 58,778 individuals had been tested throughout the country — almost 32,000 at public health labs and roughly 27,000 at clinical labs .
More than 8,000 of those tests had occurred over the course of a day .
Officials said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done so they have a better sense of how many people have the virus — but that effort remains painfully slow .
In the meantime , they are pushing people to stay home to avoid spreading the virus and overwhelming hospitals .
California counties are continuing to report a rise in individuals who have tested positive .
San Mateo County on Wednesday reported 16 more cases of COVID-19 , bringing the county ’ s total to 81 , including one death .
Santa Clara County reported one more death , bringing the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most in any region of the state .
The latest death was a man in his late 60s .
San Joaquin County reported its first two deaths , and Long Beach confirmed two new cases , bringing the city ’ s total to 10 cases , according to health officials .
That tally does not include a patient at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital who also tested positive , because that person is not a Long Beach resident , a city spokesman said .
The Riverside County Department of Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first case identified in the city of Corona .
The individual is a man in his 70s , health officials said .
Orange County announced 13 more confirmed cases , bringing the total count to 42 .
At least 16 counties , most in the Bay Area , as well as the city of Palm Springs have ordered all residents to stay at home as much as possible .
On Wednesday , Lake , Mendocino , Napa , San Luis Obispo , Solano and Yolo counties joined Sonoma , San Benito , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , San Mateo , Alameda , Contra Costa , Marin and Santa Cruz counties , which previously had given shelter-in-place orders .
“ This is already a painful situation for many families and businesses .
And make no mistake about it , it ’ s going to get worse before it gets better , ” state Sen. Bill Dodd ( D-Napa ) said at a news conference .
“ But this is an opportunity to move in the right direction , to flatten the curve.
” In Ventura County , health officials announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to older residents .
In total , about 20 % of the state ’ s population is under shelter-in-place orders .
Such orders direct the public to stay at home as much as possible , with exceptions such as going out to get food , picking up prescriptions , buying gas , going to the bank or checking on relatives .
Without calling it an official shelter-in-place order , Sacramento County officials recommended that residents stay at home as much as possible .
Southern California authorities similarly stopped short of shelter-in-place orders but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernardino County issued a new order Tuesday that bans all gatherings , a day after Riverside County banned gatherings of 10 or more people and L.A. County prohibited gatherings of 50 or more people .
San Diego County issued a ban Tuesday prohibiting gatherings of 50 or more people .
On Wednesday , Orange County leaders held a news conference to clarify the health order issued Tuesday and calm business owners .
After Tuesday ’ s order was released , many residents and members of the media read it as a shelter-in-place order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rewritten to make it more clear which businesses fell under the mandate .
Local leaders stressed that it was not a shelter-in-place order but rather that residents are asked to avoid large gatherings and practice social distancing and good hand hygiene .
“ There has been confusion about the wording and meaning of yesterday ’ s public health order , but let me make it very clear — Orange County is not on lockdown , and except for businesses directed to close by the state , all businesses can remain open , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michelle Steel said .
Besides the 16 counties imposing a shelter-in-place order , enforceable as a misdemeanor , Los Angeles , Orange , San Bernardino , Ventura and San Diego counties ordered restaurants to end dine-in eating and required them to offer only pickup and delivery service .
Los Angeles , Orange , San Bernardino , Ventura and San Diego counties ordered bars that do not serve food to close ; Orange , Ventura , San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties also ordered gyms and movie theaters to close .
In light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the state have suspended Mass services .
Following decisions from the Los Angeles Archdiocese and the San Jose Diocese , the Diocese of San Bernardino announced Tuesday night that it would do the same , suspending services at all parishes , missions , chapels and hospitals .
Instead , it will turn to online services , as many other churches have done , and regularly livestream Mass celebrations .
California State Parks closed all campgrounds Wednesday because of the coronavirus , but hiking trails and beaches remain open .
Outdoor spaces also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but many services have been suspended .
Newsom confirmed Tuesday that California public schools are likely to be closed for the remainder of the school year in response to the coronavirus .
“ Don ’ t anticipate schools are going to open up in a week .
Please don ’ t anticipate in a few weeks , ” Newsom said during a Sacramento news conference on the state ’ s coronavirus efforts .
“ I would plan , and assume , that it ’ s unlikely that many of these schools — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the summer break.
” Nearly all school districts in the state — 98.8 % — are closed in response to the pandemic , Newsom said .
The state Education Department is assembling detailed guidelines on how schools can attempt to continue teaching 6.1 million students out of their classrooms in the weeks and months ahead .
The school closures present a hardship for children from low-income families in a state where 60 % of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals .
In Los Angeles public schools , the number is even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s 83 % ; and in Pomona , 89 % .
State Supt .
of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said Tuesday night that Newsom ’ s comment offers an assessment of the future school year with closed campuses , but as of now “ there is no declaration that school is over for the year.
” He said school districts need to be prepared to shift their method of instruction .
He added that officials have not yet discussed the potential option of extending the school year into the summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know exactly what we need to do until we have a sense of how this is all going to go , ” Thurmond said .
Newsom acknowledged the challenging road ahead and said that standardized testing will not take place this spring .
“ We think it is totally inappropriate for kids to worry ” about being tested , he said .
Teachers and students “ already have enough anxiety , ” he said .
Universities across the state have moved to online learning , and some are grappling with ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff members have tested positive for the virus .
UCLA officials confirmed Tuesday that a student who lives off-campus tested positive and is receiving care at a hospital .
A university staff member has also tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus .
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block , who was in contact with someone who has the virus , has self-quarantined but is not showing symptoms .
“ As testing for COVID-19 in the United States becomes more widely available , we will see local health centers administer more tests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As a result , we should prepare ourselves to expect the number of self-quarantine cases , like mine , and confirmed cases to increase in the weeks and months ahead — not only across the nation , but also at UCLA.
” To limit the spread of the new coronavirus , UCLA announced Wednesday that its spring commencement ceremonies will be conducted through virtual events .
“ Please remember that , even for an event as momentous as commencement , the day does not define the journey , ” Block said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City Council pushed forward dozens of proposals Tuesday meant to help Angelenos cope with the spread of the coronavirus and protect them from its effects , including plans to boost sick leave , enshrine recall rights for workers who are laid off , and provide financial assistance to struggling businesses and tenants .
“ This pandemic has touched every corner of the world , and it is increasing at a global scale like we ’ ve never seen before , ” City Council President Nury Martinez said at the beginning of a marathon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are in uncharted waters , and it is up to us to make sure we are doing our duty as public servants.
” Martinez asked city staffers to report back on creating an emergency program that would provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave to Angelenos during a public health crisis or major disaster .
Los Angeles already requires sick leave for employees working in the city , ensuring that they can accrue and use up to 48 hours of paid leave — six days — per year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to set up loans and grants for businesses affected by the pandemic and to explore other business assistance , such as easing taxes and fees .
Early in the meeting , restaurant owner Tricia La Belle addressed the council and said the shutdown of dine-in service had put her in financial jeopardy .
On Wednesday , the city of Long Beach announced a moratorium on residential and commercial rent evictions due to lack of payment , as well as the establishment of an emergency loan assistance program to small businesses that have suffered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disability leave processes .
More cities will probably follow suit in the coming days as residents who worked in now-closed establishments grapple with how to maintain a semblance of their pre-pandemic lives .
In his Facebook Live broadcast Wednesday , Newsom provided a striking example of how COVID-19 has already had a significant economic effect on thousands of residents .
Two or three days ago , the state received 40,000 .
On Tuesday , 80,000 applications were filed .
Times staff writers Luke Money , Phil Willon and Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this @ @

Rong-Gong Lin II, Colleen Shalby, Howard Blume, Hannah Fry

With nearly 9 million Californians living under orders to stay home as much as possible, state and county leaders are preparing for what could be next in the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday evening said the state has asked the Department of Defense to deploy the Navy’s Mercy hospital ship and two mobile hospitals to California to help care for the expected surge in hospitalizations of residents stricken by the novel coronavirus.
The governor said the state is working to expand the state’s available hospital beds by roughly 20,000, the number needed if more than half of Californians come down with the coronavirus.
“If you assume for every individual that’s contracted the virus that they impact two individuals and we have hospitalization rates as high as — in some instances we model — 20%, that would require a broader surge capacity of our healthcare delivery system, north of 19,500 additional beds,” Newsom said.
Advertisement
That’s only one of many scenarios — some modest, some more extreme — that state emergency officials are running to increase the number of available beds should COVID-19 cases and a need for hospitalization rapidly increase in the coming days. The state estimates that surge capacity in California’s existing hospital system could accommodate 10,000 patients.
The state also is in the process of procuring two hospitals that are currently nonoperational, one in Southern California and one in Northern California, along with leasing hotels and motels where coronavirus patients could be housed and treated.
If requests for the military medical assistance are granted, California should be close to reaching the 20,000-bed threshold, Newsom said.
During a CNN interview Wednesday night, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the Mercy and another Navy hospital ship will be deployed to help respond to the coronavirus crisis.
The hospital ships, however, will not accept coronavirus patients, he said. Instead, they will accept patients with other illnesses, freeing up capacity in medical centers.
Esper said military field hospitals also will be provided to states but, again, will not treat coronavirus patients.
Los Angeles expects more cases
Los Angeles County on Wednesday confirmed 46 new cases of the novel coronavirus, including eight in Long Beach and two in Pasadena. The new cases bring the county’s total to 190.
All new patients have been isolated, and their close contacts are being quarantined, said Barbara Ferrer, director of the L.A. County Public Health Department.
Advertisement
The number of those who have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 is expected to increase over the next several weeks, health officials warned.
“We’re going to see an increase in positive cases today, tomorrow and for the foreseeable future,” Ferrer said. “We cannot stop the spread of COVID-19. All of our strategies are aimed at slowing the spread.”
Ferrer directed anyone feeling overwhelmed by the situation to contact the county’s Department of Mental Health at (800) 854-7771.
Testing capacity increases
With confirmed coronavirus cases spreading rapidly and reaching all 50 states, almost 9 million Californians are living under shelter-in-place orders.
The extraordinary measures were designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. California has seen the number of confirmed cases continue to rise: at least 836 cases and 17 deaths as of Wednesday, compared with 157 cases and three deaths the week before. Nearly 12,000 people in the state are self-monitoring for symptoms.
The jump is largely due to a recent increase in testing capacity, and the numbers are expected to continue rising. On Tuesday, the U.S. Public Health Service reported that more than 58,778 individuals had been tested throughout the country — almost 32,000 at public health labs and roughly 27,000 at clinical labs. More than 8,000 of those tests had occurred over the course of a day.
Officials said they are racing to get more coronavirus testing done so they have a better sense of how many people have the virus — but that effort remains painfully slow.
In the meantime, they are pushing people to stay home to avoid spreading the virus and overwhelming hospitals.
California counties are continuing to report a rise in individuals who have tested positive.
San Mateo County on Wednesday reported 16 more cases of COVID-19, bringing the county’s total to 81, including one death. Santa Clara County reported one more death, bringing the county’s total to six, the most in any region of the state. The latest death was a man in his late 60s.
San Joaquin County reported its first two deaths, and Long Beach confirmed two new cases, bringing the city’s total to 10 cases, according to health officials. That tally does not include a patient at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital who also tested positive, because that person is not a Long Beach resident, a city spokesman said.
The Riverside County Department of Public Health also confirmed a new COVID-19 patient, the first case identified in the city of Corona. The individual is a man in his 70s, health officials said.
Orange County announced 13 more confirmed cases, bringing the total count to 42.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Extraordinary measures
At least 16 counties, most in the Bay Area, as well as the city of Palm Springs have ordered all residents to stay at home as much as possible.
On Wednesday, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, San Luis Obispo, Solano and Yolo counties joined Sonoma, San Benito, Monterey, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Santa Cruz counties, which previously had given shelter-in-place orders.
“This is already a painful situation for many families and businesses. And make no mistake about it, it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” state Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) said at a news conference. “But this is an opportunity to move in the right direction, to flatten the curve.”
In Ventura County, health officials announced a shelter-in-place order Tuesday that applies only to older residents.
In total, about 20% of the state’s population is under shelter-in-place orders.
Such orders direct the public to stay at home as much as possible, with exceptions such as going out to get food, picking up prescriptions, buying gas, going to the bank or checking on relatives.
Without calling it an official shelter-in-place order, Sacramento County officials recommended that residents stay at home as much as possible.
Southern California authorities similarly stopped short of shelter-in-place orders but have still imposed sweeping restrictions. San Bernardino County issued a new order Tuesday that bans all gatherings, a day after Riverside County banned gatherings of 10 or more people and L.A. County prohibited gatherings of 50 or more people. San Diego County issued a ban Tuesday prohibiting gatherings of 50 or more people.
On Wednesday, Orange County leaders held a news conference to clarify the health order issued Tuesday and calm business owners.
After Tuesday’s order was released, many residents and members of the media read it as a shelter-in-place order. The county reissued its order Wednesday, rewritten to make it more clear which businesses fell under the mandate. Local leaders stressed that it was not a shelter-in-place order but rather that residents are asked to avoid large gatherings and practice social distancing and good hand hygiene.
“There has been confusion about the wording and meaning of yesterday’s public health order, but let me make it very clear — Orange County is not on lockdown, and except for businesses directed to close by the state, all businesses can remain open,” Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel said.
Besides the 16 counties imposing a shelter-in-place order, enforceable as a misdemeanor, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego counties ordered restaurants to end dine-in eating and required them to offer only pickup and delivery service.
Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego counties ordered bars that do not serve food to close; Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties also ordered gyms and movie theaters to close.
In light of public gathering restrictions, Catholic Church officials throughout the state have suspended Mass services. Following decisions from the Los Angeles Archdiocese and the San Jose Diocese, the Diocese of San Bernardino announced Tuesday night that it would do the same, suspending services at all parishes, missions, chapels and hospitals. Instead, it will turn to online services, as many other churches have done, and regularly livestream Mass celebrations.
California State Parks closed all campgrounds Wednesday because of the coronavirus, but hiking trails and beaches remain open. Outdoor spaces also remain open in local and national parks, but many services have been suspended.
Schools remain closed
Newsom confirmed Tuesday that California public schools are likely to be closed for the remainder of the school year in response to the coronavirus.
“Don’t anticipate schools are going to open up in a week. Please don’t anticipate in a few weeks,” Newsom said during a Sacramento news conference on the state’s coronavirus efforts. “I would plan, and assume, that it’s unlikely that many of these schools — few, if any — will open before the summer break.”
Nearly all school districts in the state — 98.8% — are closed in response to the pandemic, Newsom said. The state Education Department is assembling detailed guidelines on how schools can attempt to continue teaching 6.1 million students out of their classrooms in the weeks and months ahead.
The school closures present a hardship for children from low-income families in a state where 60% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. In Los Angeles public schools, the number is even higher: 80%; in Compton, it’s 83%; and in Pomona, 89%.
State Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said Tuesday night that Newsom’s comment offers an assessment of the future school year with closed campuses, but as of now “there is no declaration that school is over for the year.” He said school districts need to be prepared to shift their method of instruction.
He added that officials have not yet discussed the potential option of extending the school year into the summer.
“We’re not going to know exactly what we need to do until we have a sense of how this is all going to go,” Thurmond said.
Newsom acknowledged the challenging road ahead and said that standardized testing will not take place this spring. “We think it is totally inappropriate for kids to worry” about being tested, he said. Teachers and students “already have enough anxiety,” he said.
Universities across the state have moved to online learning, and some are grappling with ways to calm their campus communities after students and staff members have tested positive for the virus.
UCLA officials confirmed Tuesday that a student who lives off-campus tested positive and is receiving care at a hospital. A university staff member has also tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, who was in contact with someone who has the virus, has self-quarantined but is not showing symptoms.
“As testing for COVID-19 in the United States becomes more widely available, we will see local health centers administer more tests,” Block wrote in a news release. “As a result, we should prepare ourselves to expect the number of self-quarantine cases, like mine, and confirmed cases to increase in the weeks and months ahead — not only across the nation, but also at UCLA.”
To limit the spread of the new coronavirus, UCLA announced Wednesday that its spring commencement ceremonies will be conducted through virtual events.
“Please remember that, even for an event as momentous as commencement, the day does not define the journey,” Block said in a statement.
Economic toll
The Los Angeles City Council pushed forward dozens of proposals Tuesday meant to help Angelenos cope with the spread of the coronavirus and protect them from its effects, including plans to boost sick leave, enshrine recall rights for workers who are laid off, and provide financial assistance to struggling businesses and tenants.
“This pandemic has touched every corner of the world, and it is increasing at a global scale like we’ve never seen before,” City Council President Nury Martinez said at the beginning of a marathon meeting that lasted into the early evening. “We are in uncharted waters, and it is up to us to make sure we are doing our duty as public servants.”
Martinez asked city staffers to report back on creating an emergency program that would provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave to Angelenos during a public health crisis or major disaster. Los Angeles already requires sick leave for employees working in the city, ensuring that they can accrue and use up to 48 hours of paid leave — six days — per year.
Council members also introduced new proposals to set up loans and grants for businesses affected by the pandemic and to explore other business assistance, such as easing taxes and fees. Early in the meeting, restaurant owner Tricia La Belle addressed the council and said the shutdown of dine-in service had put her in financial jeopardy.
On Wednesday, the city of Long Beach announced a moratorium on residential and commercial rent evictions due to lack of payment, as well as the establishment of an emergency loan assistance program to small businesses that have suffered losses and a review of sick and disability leave processes.
More cities will probably follow suit in the coming days as residents who worked in now-closed establishments grapple with how to maintain a semblance of their pre-pandemic lives.
In his Facebook Live broadcast Wednesday, Newsom provided a striking example of how COVID-19 has already had a significant economic effect on thousands of residents.
On average, California sees 2,000 unemployment applications a day.
Two or three days ago, the state received 40,000. On Tuesday, 80,000 applications were filed.
Times staff writers Luke Money, Phil Willon and Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-19--What are the coronavirus restrictions in my community? A guide for Southern California

Southern California has taken sweeping measures this week to stop dine-in restaurant service , close gyms and movie theaters , and ban or limit all gatherings to fight the spread of the coronavirus .
The measures , as of Thursday , in most parts of Southern California were not as stringent as those imposed in 17 counties in the Bay Area , North Coast , Sacramento Valley and Central Coast , which asked residents to shelter in place and stay home as much as possible in the coming weeks , and forcing all but essential businesses to close .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , including three people in the Coachella Valley in Riverside County — all over the age of 70 , with two of them having underlying health conditions — and two people in Los Angeles County , a 68-year-old retiree on her way home to Florida from a trip to Asia , and a man between the ages of 30 and 50 with an underlying medical condition .
The virus strikes hardest among older people and those with underlying medical conditions ; a viral infection of the lungs can begin a cascade of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ septic shock and multiple organ failure .
Unlike most of the counties in the Bay Area , each of Southern California ’ s most populous counties has taken different approaches to slowing the spread of the virus .
As of Thursday , none of the counties has the same rules over whether restaurants must serve food only to go ; whether bars , gyms and movie theaters should be required to close ; and how big gatherings must be to be prohibited .
Violations of health orders can be enforceable as a misdemeanor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or both .
Here ’ s a summary of the new restrictions , first by the kind of restriction , and then by geography : • Los Angeles , Orange , San Bernardino , Ventura and San Diego counties required restaurants to offer food by takeout or delivery only .
Also issuing the same order was the city of Palm Springs in Riverside County ’ s Coachella Valley , which imposed a shelter-in-place order modeled on the one issued in the San Francisco Bay Area .
• Los Angeles , Orange , San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Palm Springs ordered bars that do not serve food to close .
• Ventura , Orange , San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties and Palm Springs ordered gyms and movie theaters to close .
• Riverside County banned gatherings of 10 or more people .
• L.A. and San Diego counties have prohibited gatherings of 50 or more people .
Here ’ s a summary of the new restrictions by geography .
Exceptions to the gathering ban can be found in the text of the health orders .
Gatherings : Gatherings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health , which does not include Long Beach , Pasadena or Vernon .
Gatherings of 10 to 49 people in a confined or enclosed space are not banned , but organizers must do the following : • Require attendees present for more than 10 minutes to be separated by at least 6 feet from other attendees .
• Provide access to hand-washing facilities with soap and water or with hand sanitizer with at least 60 % alcohol .
• Post a sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are sick , such as having a fever or cough .
• Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food .
• May offer food only by delivery , pickup or drive-through .
Gatherings : Gatherings of 50 or more people are banned .
Ordered shut : Bars , adult entertainment establishments and other businesses that serve alcohol but not food .
Restaurants : May offer food only by delivery , pickup or drive-through .
• All bars and other establishments that serve alcohol and not food .
Restaurants : May offer food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gatherings : Gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited .
Exceptions : The city of Palm Springs plans to issue a more stringent shelter-in-place order .
The city of Palm Springs issued an emergency order modeled on the “ shelter-in-place ” order in effect in San Francisco .
The order in San Francisco is similar to the one in effect in the eight other Bay Area counties — San Mateo , Santa Clara , Alameda , Contra Costa , Sonoma , Marin , Napa and Solano , as well as Santa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sacramento , Yolo , Mendocino , Lake and San Luis Obispo counties .
Here ’ s what that looks like : Ordered to shelter in place : The public should stay at home as much as possible , with certain exceptions — such as to go to the supermarket , pick up prescriptions or go to the doctor ; exercise , such as walking , running or hiking ; and to check on relatives .
There are exceptions for certain essential government and business functions .
• To do things essential to health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pets , like getting medical supplies , visiting a clinic or hospital , or obtaining supplies to work from home .
• To obtain needed services or supplies , like buying groceries .
• To engage in outdoor activities like walking , hiking , running , and taking the dog for a walk , while keeping 6 feet away from others .
• To do work for essential businesses that are exempted from the order to shut down , as defined below .
• To care for a family member or pet in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a healthcare operation , like a hospital , clinic , dentist ’ s office , pharmacy , pharmaceutical and biotech company , a healthcare facility , healthcare supplier , home healthcare service , mental health provider , veterinary office or other related services .
• To continue working for construction projects needed for essential infrastructure , such as building housing , airport operations , and work on water , sewer , gas , electrical , oil refining , roads and highways , public transportation , solid waste collection , internet and telecom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first responders , emergency management personnel , emergency dispatchers , court personnel and law enforcement .
Anyone needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health , safety and welfare of the public is exempt .
Ordered shut : All businesses , including bars , gyms and movie theaters , must cease operations .
Exceptions to the order to shut down : Essential businesses or firms that perform an essential government function can continue operating .
They include : • Essential infrastructure , including construction of housing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Businesses that provide necessities of life for economically disadvantaged individuals and shelter facilities ; • Hardware stores , plumbers , electricians , pool service , landscape maintenance , exterminators and other service providers necessary to maintain the safety , sanitation and essential operation of residences and other essential businesses ; • Educational institutions , for the purposes of facilitating distance learning ; • Businesses that ship or deliver groceries , food and goods directly to residences ; • Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home , including electronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply stores ; • Airlines , taxis and other transportation providers offering services needed for essential activities ; • Childcare facilities providing services that enable essential employees to go to work , but must be carried out in groups of 12 or fewer , and that children do not mix between groups ; • Roles required for any essential business to “ maintain basic operations , ” which include security , payroll and similar activities .
• Hotels , motels and lawfully permitted vacation rentals and homesharing , provided that they comply with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispensaries and lounges , provided that cannabis products are picked up , or if licensed to do so , taken for delivery ; the lounge areas shall not be used .
Restaurants : May offer food only by delivery , pickup or drive-through .
• Bars , adult entertainment establishments and other businesses that serve alcohol and not food ; • Must offer food only by delivery , pickup or drive-through .
Ordered to shelter in place : Those 75 or older and those 70 or older with underlying medical conditions , except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as for getting medical care or food .
If they need to take a trip outside , they must at all times as reasonably possible keep at least 6 feet away from anyone else .
• Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food ; • May offer food only by delivery , pickup or drive-through .
Long Beach is one of three cities in Los Angeles County with its own public health department .
Gatherings : Gatherings of 50 or more people are banned .
Gatherings of 10 to 49 people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned , but organizers must do the following : • Require attendees present for more than 10 minutes to be separated by at least 6 feet from other attendees ; • Provide access to handwashing facilities with soap and water or with hand sanitizer with at least 60 % alcohol ; • Post a sign that tells people to leave if they are sick , such as with a fever or cough ; • Bars , pubs , cocktail lounges and nightclubs that do not serve food ; • Wineries , distilleries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food or are not licensed to sell bottled or packaged alcohol off the licensed premises .
• May offer food only by delivery , pickup or drive-through .

Surinder Singh, owner of Urban India restaurant in San Diego, with no customers in sight on March 17, a day before San Diego County banned dine-in eating at restaurants.
Southern California has taken sweeping measures this week to stop dine-in restaurant service, close gyms and movie theaters, and ban or limit all gatherings to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
The measures, as of Thursday, in most parts of Southern California were not as stringent as those imposed in 17 counties in the Bay Area, North Coast, Sacramento Valley and Central Coast, which asked residents to shelter in place and stay home as much as possible in the coming weeks, and forcing all but essential businesses to close.
The coronavirus outbreak has killed 19 people across California, including three people in the Coachella Valley in Riverside County — all over the age of 70, with two of them having underlying health conditions — and two people in Los Angeles County, a 68-year-old retiree on her way home to Florida from a trip to Asia, and a man between the ages of 30 and 50 with an underlying medical condition.
The virus strikes hardest among older people and those with underlying medical conditions; a viral infection of the lungs can begin a cascade of problems that results in respiratory failure, septic shock and multiple organ failure.
Advertisement
Unlike most of the counties in the Bay Area, each of Southern California’s most populous counties has taken different approaches to slowing the spread of the virus. As of Thursday, none of the counties has the same rules over whether restaurants must serve food only to go; whether bars, gyms and movie theaters should be required to close; and how big gatherings must be to be prohibited.
California How the San Francisco Bay Area coronavirus ‘shelter in place’ order works Stay at home as much as possible, officials say, but there are exceptions, like to go out and get food, pick up medicine, buy gas, go to the bank and check up on relatives.
Violations of health orders can be enforceable as a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine, imprisonment or both.
Here’s a summary of the new restrictions, first by the kind of restriction, and then by geography:
Ban on dine-in eating
Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego counties required restaurants to offer food by takeout or delivery only. Also issuing the same order was the city of Palm Springs in Riverside County’s Coachella Valley, which imposed a shelter-in-place order modeled on the one issued in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Order to close bars
Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego counties and Palm Springs ordered bars that do not serve food to close.
Order to close gyms and movie theaters
Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties and Palm Springs ordered gyms and movie theaters to close.
Advertisement
Ban on gatherings
Orange and San Bernardino counties and Palm Springs banned gatherings.
Riverside County banned gatherings of 10 or more people.
L.A. and San Diego counties have prohibited gatherings of 50 or more people.
Here’s a summary of the new restrictions by geography. Exceptions to the gathering ban can be found in the text of the health orders.
Los Angeles County
Gatherings: Gatherings of 50 or more people are banned anywhere within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which does not include Long Beach, Pasadena or Vernon.
Gatherings of 10 to 49 people in a confined or enclosed space are not banned, but organizers must do the following:
Require attendees present for more than 10 minutes to be separated by at least 6 feet from other attendees.
Provide access to hand-washing facilities with soap and water or with hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Post a sign that tells people to leave if they are sick, such as having a fever or cough.
Clean and disinfect the site.
Ordered shut:
Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food.
Movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys and arcades.
Gyms and fitness centers.
Wineries, breweries and taprooms that provide tastings.
Restaurants:
May offer food only by delivery, pickup or drive-through.
Effective: Now through March 31.
San Diego County
Gatherings: Gatherings of 50 or more people are banned.
Ordered shut: Bars, adult entertainment establishments and other businesses that serve alcohol but not food.
Restaurants: May offer food only by delivery, pickup or drive-through.
Effective: Now through March 31.
Orange County
Gatherings: Gatherings are prohibited.
Ordered shut:
All bars and other establishments that serve alcohol and not food.
Movie theaters, gyms and health clubs.
Restaurants: May offer food only by delivery, pickup or drive-through.
Effective: Now through March 31.
Riverside County
Gatherings: Gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited.
Effective: Now through April 30.
Exceptions: The city of Palm Springs plans to issue a more stringent shelter-in-place order.
City of Palm Springs
The city of Palm Springs issued an emergency order modeled on the “shelter-in-place” order in effect in San Francisco. The order in San Francisco is similar to the one in effect in the eight other Bay Area counties — San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Solano, as well as Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, Sacramento, Yolo, Mendocino, Lake and San Luis Obispo counties. Here’s what that looks like:
Ordered to shelter in place: The public should stay at home as much as possible, with certain exceptions — such as to go to the supermarket, pick up prescriptions or go to the doctor; exercise, such as walking, running or hiking; and to check on relatives. There are exceptions for certain essential government and business functions.
Exceptions to the stay-at-home order:
To do things essential to health and safety of the household, including pets, like getting medical supplies, visiting a clinic or hospital, or obtaining supplies to work from home.
To obtain needed services or supplies, like buying groceries.
To engage in outdoor activities like walking, hiking, running, and taking the dog for a walk, while keeping 6 feet away from others.
To do work for essential businesses that are exempted from the order to shut down, as defined below.
To care for a family member or pet in another household.
To continue working for a healthcare operation, like a hospital, clinic, dentist’s office, pharmacy, pharmaceutical and biotech company, a healthcare facility, healthcare supplier, home healthcare service, mental health provider, veterinary office or other related services.
To continue working for construction projects needed for essential infrastructure, such as building housing, airport operations, and work on water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection, internet and telecom systems.
To continue working as first responders, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, court personnel and law enforcement. Anyone needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public is exempt.
Gatherings: Gatherings are prohibited.
Ordered shut: All businesses, including bars, gyms and movie theaters, must cease operations.
Exceptions to the order to shut down: Essential businesses or firms that perform an essential government function can continue operating. They include:
Healthcare operations, including home health workers;
Essential infrastructure, including construction of housing and operation of public transportation and utilities;
Grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores;
Businesses that provide necessities of life for economically disadvantaged individuals and shelter facilities;
Pharmacies, healthcare supply stores and healthcare facilities;
Gas stations and auto repair facilities;
Banks;
Garbage collection;
Hardware stores, plumbers, electricians, pool service, landscape maintenance, exterminators and other service providers necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences and other essential businesses;
Educational institutions, for the purposes of facilitating distance learning;
Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers;
Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food and goods directly to residences;
Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home, including electronic stores, mobile phone stores and office supply stores;
Airlines, taxis and other transportation providers offering services needed for essential activities;
Home-based care for seniors, adults or children;
Childcare facilities providing services that enable essential employees to go to work, but must be carried out in groups of 12 or fewer, and that children do not mix between groups;
Roles required for any essential business to “maintain basic operations,” which include security, payroll and similar activities.
Hotels, motels and lawfully permitted vacation rentals and homesharing, provided that they comply with social distancing requirements;
Licensed cannabis dispensaries and lounges, provided that cannabis products are picked up, or if licensed to do so, taken for delivery; the lounge areas shall not be used.
Restaurants: May offer food only by delivery, pickup or drive-through.
Effective: March 18 to April 2.
San Bernardino County
Gatherings: Gatherings are prohibited.
Ordered shut:
Bars, adult entertainment establishments and other businesses that serve alcohol and not food;
Movie theaters, gyms and health clubs.
Restaurants:
Must offer food only by delivery, pickup or drive-through.
Effective: Now through April 6.
Ventura County
Ordered to shelter in place: Those 75 or older and those 70 or older with underlying medical conditions, except for needed trips outside home, such as for getting medical care or food. If they need to take a trip outside, they must at all times as reasonably possible keep at least 6 feet away from anyone else.
Ordered shut:
Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food;
Movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys and arcades;
Gyms, fitness centers and aquatic centers;
Wineries, breweries and tap rooms that provide tastings.
Restaurants:
May offer food only by delivery, pickup or drive-through.
Effective: Now through April 1.
City of Long Beach
Long Beach is one of three cities in Los Angeles County with its own public health department.
Gatherings: Gatherings of 50 or more people are banned. Gatherings of 10 to 49 people in a confined or enclosed space are not banned, but organizers must do the following:
Require attendees present for more than 10 minutes to be separated by at least 6 feet from other attendees;
Provide access to handwashing facilities with soap and water or with hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol;
Post a sign that tells people to leave if they are sick, such as with a fever or cough;
Clean and disinfect the site.
Ordered shut:
Bars, pubs, cocktail lounges and nightclubs that do not serve food;
Movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys and arcades;
Gyms and fitness centers;
Wineries, distilleries, breweries and taprooms that do not serve food or are not licensed to sell bottled or packaged alcohol off the licensed premises.
Restaurants:
May offer food only by delivery, pickup or drive-through.
Effective: Now through March 31.


latimes--2020-03-17--Youths in detention should be released to reduce coronavirus risk, advocates say

Her 16-year-old son was crying , his mother said , when he called Saturday morning from a Los Angeles County juvenile hall .
Family visits were being suspended due to the coronavirus , he told her in a 10-minute conversation .
For more than nine months , Lina , who would only provide her middle name to protect the privacy of her child , had visited her son practically every weekend .
He struggled with depression and their meetings were a bright spot during an otherwise difficult time .
“ He ’ s probably not going to be happy the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in there , ” she said .
“ That hurts me as a parent .
That hurts my heart.
” As coronavirus cases continue to rise and government-ordered restrictions paralyze daily life across the state , juvenile justice advocates are urging officials to protect the mental and physical safety of California ’ s thousands of detained youth .
In recent days , defense attorneys have combed through their caseloads seeking to expedite the release of juveniles in custody .
They point to the virus ’ ability to spread quickly in congested areas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could dangerously isolate children even further .
“ Being in these facilities for these kids is really , really stressfu , l and the only time they have felt any type of letting down of their guard was when they were visiting with their friends and families , ” said Ji Seon Song , president of the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center , an organization that provides guidance to juvenile defense attorneys in California .
“ It seems like a very harsh , counterproductive measure and just a really sad thing for our clients.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local officials , Song ’ s group called for the immediate release of all youth held in county facilities who have not been convicted of their charge and all youth who have been convicted and are being held on technical probation violations .
It also called for the state ’ s Division of Juvenile Justice facilities to release youth who would not pose a serious physical safety risk to the community .
Among a series of recommendations , the letter said that all arresting agencies should move to cite and release certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introducing the virus to juvenile detention facilities .
The demands come as criminal justice officials struggle to balance public safety with health concerns .
On Monday , the L.A. County Sheriff ’ s Department announced it was releasing inmates from its jails and cutting down on how many people it books into custody to protect those housed in close quarters .
Detention operations like the L.A. County Probation Department and the state Division of Juvenile Justice have suspended family visits , and , as of yet , neither has announced confirmed cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Newsom ’ s office did not return requests for comment about calls to release juveniles .
In a statement on Tuesday , the L.A. County Probation Department said that it was currently screening all youth admitted to facilities for risk of infection at the time of admission and would be collaborating with attorneys so that children are not sent back to juvenile hall for first-time probation violations -- a decision that ’ s ultimately at the discretion of the court .
“ The Department is working with the courts and legal partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population housed at Probation facilities through strategies such as holding first time violations in abeyance , ” the statement said .
County officials have said that the prohibition on visits applied to weekend , special and after-court visits from family or community groups , but that it would not stop court-ordered or required legal visits from taking place .
“ The department values visitation as an essential part of family reunification , ” officials wrote in a news release .
“ Youth in juvenile facilities will have extended phone privileges to maintain contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal programming within the facilities will continue .
In addition , the department will explore the feasibility of other options for families to communicate with their youth , such as video conferencing from various community locations.
” The department also said it was taking steps to minimize the risk of the coronavirus by posting additional signs , ensuring restrooms and staff quarters are clean and well stocked and bringing in more staff to regularly clean and disinfect common areas .
But advocates and health experts say that doesn ’ t go far enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has many opportunities to enter detention facilities as staff come and go every day .
“ There ’ s nothing to make us think that a COVID-19 can not spread through a crowded juvenile facility as quickly as it could spread through a cruise ship , ” said Anne Spaulding , a professor of epidemiology and medicine at Emory University .
“ Individuals are very close to each other .
Social distancing is more difficult in a crowded facility.
” The letter by the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center asked that youth in custody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a family member , residential group home or other noncustodial setting .
For youth that remain in detention , the center urged that county and state facilities develop a thorough and public preparation plan that addresses hygiene and safety concerns as well as the emotional needs of youth who are separated from their families .
The issue has become an urgent matter for public defenders in various counties .
Jane Newman , an assistant L.A. County public defender who oversees juvenile operations , said that attorneys have been reviewing their caseloads first for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonviolent offenses , or have been detained on technical violations and may be eligible for release .
She said that her team is continuing to identify cases while court proceedings are suspended for several days due to the virus .
Juvenile delinquency detention hearings will be among a limited number of proceedings continued in courthouses when they re-open on Friday .
Some attorneys are submitting motions that cite the epidemic as grounds for release .
Last Friday , Samantha Buckingham , the director of Loyola Law School ’ s Juvenile Justice Clinic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of known cases of the virus in California and Los Angeles and argued that her 15-year-old client would be at greater risk of contracting the virus and exposing others if he were kept inside a detention facility .
“ The concern is that they ’ re going to lock kids in their cells in order to quarantine them and that ’ s going to be traumatizing , ” said Buckingham , whose client was released that day .
The worries are the same across the state .
In a letter dated March 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked that the city and county ’ s chief juvenile probation officer assess all detained youth for release , clear warrants and place a moratorium on nonviolent violations .
He said he was focusing on seeking the release of youth who are particularly young , suffer from maladies like asthma or are immunocompromised .
In Santa Clara County , Nisreen Younis , a juvenile supervising attorney in the public defender ’ s office , said that her colleagues had been working successfully with the probation department and the district attorney ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pose a public safety risk .
“ Given that the schools have shut down and many families are now home , the public defenders are arguing that many of our youth now have constant supervision at home/community , ” she wrote in a statement .
If juveniles are to remain incarcerated , they will need more access to the outside world , advocates say .
Kim McGill , an organizer with the Youth Justice Coalition , said county officials should provide youth with access to unlimited , free phone calls , Skype , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in touch with their families .
For now , parents can only wait .
Kimberly , who declined to disclose her last name to protect the privacy of her 15-year-old son , said officials at the L.A. County detention facility where he resides gave him just a couple of minutes to call her over the weekend to tell her they were halting family visits .
The weekly visits , she said , have allowed her to update her son on his case and let him know he ’ s not alone .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the county and is worried about his health .
“ I know they ’ re not doing the visiting , but I don ’ t know what else they ’ re doing , ” she said .
“ Are they making sure everyone is washing their hands frequently ?
Are they correctly screening them on their symptoms ?
I have no idea .
”

Erica Montelongo, 26, a member of the Youth Justice Coalition, calls for the release of youths from juvenile detention because of the COVID-19 crisis during a news conference outside the Eastlake Juvenile Court in Los Angeles.
Her 16-year-old son was crying, his mother said, when he called Saturday morning from a Los Angeles County juvenile hall. Family visits were being suspended due to the coronavirus, he told her in a 10-minute conversation.
For more than nine months, Lina, who would only provide her middle name to protect the privacy of her child, had visited her son practically every weekend. He struggled with depression and their meetings were a bright spot during an otherwise difficult time.
“He’s probably not going to be happy the rest of the time he’s in there,” she said. “That hurts me as a parent. That hurts my heart.”
Advertisement
As coronavirus cases continue to rise and government-ordered restrictions paralyze daily life across the state, juvenile justice advocates are urging officials to protect the mental and physical safety of California’s thousands of detained youth.
In recent days, defense attorneys have combed through their caseloads seeking to expedite the release of juveniles in custody. They point to the virus’ ability to spread quickly in congested areas and the risk that suspension of family visits could dangerously isolate children even further.
“Being in these facilities for these kids is really, really stressfu,l and the only time they have felt any type of letting down of their guard was when they were visiting with their friends and families,” said Ji Seon Song, president of the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center, an organization that provides guidance to juvenile defense attorneys in California. “It seems like a very harsh, counterproductive measure and just a really sad thing for our clients.”
In a letter Monday to state and local officials, Song’s group called for the immediate release of all youth held in county facilities who have not been convicted of their charge and all youth who have been convicted and are being held on technical probation violations. It also called for the state’s Division of Juvenile Justice facilities to release youth who would not pose a serious physical safety risk to the community.
Youth advocate Eduardo Chavez, 24, and Estrella TV reporter Alberto Godinez, holding microphone, wear gloves as a precaution against the coronavirus during the news conference. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Among a series of recommendations, the letter said that all arresting agencies should move to cite and release certain youth instead of booking them and potentially introducing the virus to juvenile detention facilities.
The demands come as criminal justice officials struggle to balance public safety with health concerns. On Monday, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department announced it was releasing inmates from its jails and cutting down on how many people it books into custody to protect those housed in close quarters.
Detention operations like the L.A. County Probation Department and the state Division of Juvenile Justice have suspended family visits, and, as of yet, neither has announced confirmed cases of coronavirus at their facilities.
Advertisement
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office did not return requests for comment about calls to release juveniles. In a statement on Tuesday, the L.A. County Probation Department said that it was currently screening all youth admitted to facilities for risk of infection at the time of admission and would be collaborating with attorneys so that children are not sent back to juvenile hall for first-time probation violations -- a decision that’s ultimately at the discretion of the court.
“The Department is working with the courts and legal partners on methods to safely reduce the juvenile population housed at Probation facilities through strategies such as holding first time violations in abeyance,” the statement said.
County officials have said that the prohibition on visits applied to weekend, special and after-court visits from family or community groups, but that it would not stop court-ordered or required legal visits from taking place.
“The department values visitation as an essential part of family reunification,” officials wrote in a news release. “Youth in juvenile facilities will have extended phone privileges to maintain contact with family and loved ones and all internal programming within the facilities will continue. In addition, the department will explore the feasibility of other options for families to communicate with their youth, such as video conferencing from various community locations.”
The department also said it was taking steps to minimize the risk of the coronavirus by posting additional signs, ensuring restrooms and staff quarters are clean and well stocked and bringing in more staff to regularly clean and disinfect common areas.
But advocates and health experts say that doesn’t go far enough. The virus, they argue, has many opportunities to enter detention facilities as staff come and go every day.
“There’s nothing to make us think that a COVID-19 cannot spread through a crowded juvenile facility as quickly as it could spread through a cruise ship,” said Anne Spaulding, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at Emory University. “Individuals are very close to each other. Social distancing is more difficult in a crowded facility.”
Youths march at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar as they are moved between locations. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
The letter by the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center asked that youth in custody awaiting residential placement be immediately released to a family member, residential group home or other noncustodial setting. For youth that remain in detention, the center urged that county and state facilities develop a thorough and public preparation plan that addresses hygiene and safety concerns as well as the emotional needs of youth who are separated from their families.
The issue has become an urgent matter for public defenders in various counties. Jane Newman, an assistant L.A. County public defender who oversees juvenile operations, said that attorneys have been reviewing their caseloads first for clients who are medically fragile, have nonviolent offenses, or have been detained on technical violations and may be eligible for release. She said that her team is continuing to identify cases while court proceedings are suspended for several days due to the virus. Juvenile delinquency detention hearings will be among a limited number of proceedings continued in courthouses when they re-open on Friday.
Some attorneys are submitting motions that cite the epidemic as grounds for release. Last Friday, Samantha Buckingham, the director of Loyola Law School’s Juvenile Justice Clinic, filed a motion that referenced the number of known cases of the virus in California and Los Angeles and argued that her 15-year-old client would be at greater risk of contracting the virus and exposing others if he were kept inside a detention facility.
“The concern is that they’re going to lock kids in their cells in order to quarantine them and that’s going to be traumatizing,” said Buckingham, whose client was released that day.
The worries are the same across the state. In a letter dated March 13, San Francisco public defender Mano Raju asked that the city and county’s chief juvenile probation officer assess all detained youth for release, clear warrants and place a moratorium on nonviolent violations. He said he was focusing on seeking the release of youth who are particularly young, suffer from maladies like asthma or are immunocompromised.
In Santa Clara County, Nisreen Younis, a juvenile supervising attorney in the public defender’s office, said that her colleagues had been working successfully with the probation department and the district attorney’s office to release in-custody youth who do not pose a public safety risk.
“Given that the schools have shut down and many families are now home, the public defenders are arguing that many of our youth now have constant supervision at home/community,” she wrote in a statement.
If juveniles are to remain incarcerated, they will need more access to the outside world, advocates say. Kim McGill, an organizer with the Youth Justice Coalition, said county officials should provide youth with access to unlimited, free phone calls, Skype, FaceTime and teleconferencing so they can remain in touch with their families.
For now, parents can only wait. Kimberly, who declined to disclose her last name to protect the privacy of her 15-year-old son, said officials at the L.A. County detention facility where he resides gave him just a couple of minutes to call her over the weekend to tell her they were halting family visits.
The weekly visits, she said, have allowed her to update her son on his case and let him know he’s not alone. She said she has gotten little information directly from the county and is worried about his health.
“I know they’re not doing the visiting, but I don’t know what else they’re doing,” she said. “Are they making sure everyone is washing their hands frequently? Are they correctly screening them on their symptoms? I have no idea.”


latimes--2020-03-20--For years, California officials warned federal funding cuts would hamper outbreak response

California public health officials have repeatedly warned over the last decade that federal budget cuts were weakening their ability to respond to a widespread health crisis like the current coronavirus pandemic .
Despite the warnings , elected leaders cut millions of dollars in federal grants and other funding to California state and county health agencies , reducing the number of medical workers , including epidemiologists , and jeopardizing the ability to do lab tests and quickly set up mobile hospitals , according to interviews and records reviewed by The Times .
The budget woes have left California desperate for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beds .
A year ago , Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari warned state lawmakers at a public hearing that the staff and budget cuts would be a serious problem in the face of an emergency such as a pandemic .
Now her fears have come to fruition .
The funding cuts , particularly to federal grants meant to bolster local preparations , have left Riverside County with “ fewer trained staff to conduct case investigations and contact tracing , fewer epidemiologists to assist with analysis , fewer lab staff ( public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updated laboratory equipment , ” Saruwatari told The Times .
Budget cuts also played a role in the closure of 11 local public health laboratories over the last 15 years , said Kat DeBurgh , executive director of the Health Officers Assn .
of California .
Local health agencies need more staff to expand testing , operate alternative care sites for infected patients , expand call centers for the anxious public and conduct contact tracing to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 , DeBurgh said .
“ We can definitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drastically shrunk and never recovered , ” DeBurgh said .
“ That really shows at a time like today.
” Heavy cuts began during the 2007-09 recession as governments struggled with budget shortfalls .
Nationwide , local public health agencies cut 55,000 jobs between 2008 and 2017 , according to an estimate by the advocacy group Trust for America ’ s Health .
“ These cuts reduced the capacity for these health departments to prevent illness and loss of life , ” said John Auerbach , the organization ’ s president and chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illuminated in an all too real fashion by the novel coronavirus.
” The two main programs that fund local health preparedness are administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its parent agency , the Department of Health and Human Services .
Both programs also have seen significant reductions .
In California , the annual allocations from those programs to the state and all but one of its 58 counties dropped from $ 81 million in 2010 to $ 65 million last year .
Los Angeles County health officials did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but said cuts left them short-staffed and “ in some cases , activities took longer.
” Still , they said they weren ’ t hampered as much as smaller jurisdictions around the country .
A Health and Human Services spokeswoman declined to address cuts to local health agencies but said in a statement that the Trump administration worked with Congress to boost overall funding for federal agencies involved with pandemic preparedness .
Adriane Casalotti , chief of government and public affairs for the National Assn .
of County and City Health Officials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommended additional cuts but was rebuffed by Congress , though the funding remains far short of what it was a decade ago .
She said local and state health departments across the country have lost nearly a quarter of their workforce since 2008 .
The CDC did not respond to requests for comment .
Dr. Tom Frieden , who was director of the CDC from 2009 to 2017 , said in a statement that the “ U.S .
has under-invested in preparedness.
” “ It ’ s crucial that funding support not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but what health departments do every day to keep people safe , ” said Frieden , now president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives , whose goals include making the world safer from epidemics .
“ Robust systems that can be scaled up in an emergency are the most effective way to reduce risk.
” His statement did not address cuts during his tenure .
A Times review of state legislative hearings shows that warnings about the consequences of the cuts were repeatedly made in Sacramento .
In 2013 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called “ Are We Prepared ?
Assessing the Status of California ’ s Emergency Response Capabilities.
” There , a top California Department of Public Health official told lawmakers that local health budgets had been slashed by 30 % to 40 % in the previous few years .
State Sen. Richard Pan ( D-Sacramento ) , a physician who now chairs the state Senate Health Committee , recalled at the same hearing how his home county had struggled to respond in 2009 to the H1N1 flu pandemic that killed an estimated 12,500 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC .
He said Sacramento County public health officials told him at the time that many of the health workers who deployed to combat the flu crisis did so shortly after they were given pink slips notifying them that they would soon lose their jobs .
State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson ( D-Santa Barbara ) was particularly upset to hear in 2013 that state budget cuts could delay setting up of some of the state ’ s mobile hospitals in the event of an emergency .
“ This to me is a violation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people , ” Jackson told health officials at the hearing .
Last year , Dr. Karen Smith , then California ’ s public health officer , told lawmakers she remained concerned about the years-long reduction in the number of public health nurses , epidemiologists and communicable disease investigators working for public health agencies in California .
“ It ’ s this very infrastructure of trained , skilled people that has been significantly eroded over the past decade , ” Smith told the Senate Health Committee .
“ The loss of our experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually represents a very real threat to the health of California.
” Gov .
Gavin Newsom responded to concerns by allocating $ 40 million last year to assist county public health agencies in fighting infectious disease , which local officials said was a good start .
But the consequences of more than a decade in cuts have become even clearer in recent weeks .
In 2011 , the state eliminated the $ 1.7-million budget for its Mobile Field Hospital Program .
Two mobile shelters have been kept in storage , and a third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency agencies .
The state could still deploy its mobile structures to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic , but officials said they have not yet decided whether to do so .
Pan acknowledged again last week that preparedness in California has suffered .
“ Unfortunately , while the Congress has tried to sustain funding to agencies like the CDC , they have also cut back on funds that get allocated to state and local health departments , and we need to change that , ” Pan said during a legislative hearing March 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for lost time , state officials this week approved an emergency infusion of $ 1 billion in state funds for various programs to fight the coronavirus outbreak .
Federal officials are also dipping into their treasury to get money to the states .
“ We are reassured that resources are not the issue here , ” state Public Health Officer Dr. Sonia Angell said last week .
On Thursday , Newsom told congressional leaders in a letter that $ 1 billion is needed from Washington to help California and its counties deploy mobile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilators , tents , cots and sheltering supplies .
But some public health officials say money was needed sooner to react promptly to the crisis .
Dr. Jonathan Fielding , who led the L.A. County Department of Public Health from 1998 to 2014 , said there was a significant nationwide reduction in staff and resources at health departments during his tenure .
That ’ s making it harder for authorities to respond to the coronavirus outbreak , said Fielding , now a professor at the School of Public Health at UCLA .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of tests for COVID-19 , he said .
But another , less obvious way the manpower shortage could be hampering the response is in tracking the origins of new cases .
“ That was one of the first things we needed to do , and it can make a huge difference , ” Fielding said .
“ It ’ s very disappointing how slow we were in the United States .
”

Travelers wearing masks make their way through the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport this month.
California public health officials have repeatedly warned over the last decade that federal budget cuts were weakening their ability to respond to a widespread health crisis like the current coronavirus pandemic.
Despite the warnings, elected leaders cut millions of dollars in federal grants and other funding to California state and county health agencies, reducing the number of medical workers, including epidemiologists, and jeopardizing the ability to do lab tests and quickly set up mobile hospitals, according to interviews and records reviewed by The Times.
The budget woes have left California desperate for more resources, including test kits and hospital beds.
A year ago, Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari warned state lawmakers at a public hearing that the staff and budget cuts would be a serious problem in the face of an emergency such as a pandemic.
Now her fears have come to fruition.
The funding cuts, particularly to federal grants meant to bolster local preparations, have left Riverside County with “fewer trained staff to conduct case investigations and contact tracing, fewer epidemiologists to assist with analysis, fewer lab staff (public health microbiologists) and less funding for updated laboratory equipment,” Saruwatari told The Times.
Advertisement
Budget cuts also played a role in the closure of 11 local public health laboratories over the last 15 years, said Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Assn. of California.
Local health agencies need more staff to expand testing, operate alternative care sites for infected patients, expand call centers for the anxious public and conduct contact tracing to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, DeBurgh said.
“We can definitely see that the public health workforce has drastically shrunk and never recovered,” DeBurgh said. “That really shows at a time like today.”
Heavy cuts began during the 2007-09 recession as governments struggled with budget shortfalls. Nationwide, local public health agencies cut 55,000 jobs between 2008 and 2017, according to an estimate by the advocacy group Trust for America’s Health.
1 / 44 The City of Santa Monica closed the Santa Monica Pier in an attempt to prevent the further spread of the Coronavirus. Very few people were on the beach in Santa Monica as the epidemic continues. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 2 / 44 Volunteer Nagma Shakur, 16, left, hugs her “Grannie” as she helps senior shoppers with their carts at the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Altadena. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 44 People walk up the ramp, exiting the secure area at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 44 David Barker, 56, is visiting with his friend living in a tent on skidrow in Los Angeles. Barker, who is not homeless, works in the area. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 44 Dr. Dallas Weaver, 79, and his wife, Janet Weaver, 75, of Huntington Beach, walk on the Huntington pier. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 6 / 44 Seniors, including Eileen Oda Leaf, 67, left, and her husband Dave Leaf, 67, right, both wearing protective masks, line up outside Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach early on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) 7 / 44 Roberta Tabor, 66, of Hermosa Beach, has her ID checked by store director Dennis Sullivan at Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday. The store is doing a “seniors shopping hour” where seniors 65+ can go grocery shopping before anybody else. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) 8 / 44 Seniors shop at Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday. The store is doing a “seniors shopping hour” where seniors can go grocery shopping before the store opens to the general public. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) 9 / 44 Dr. Mark V. Morocco oversees testing at UCLA Medical Center where people can drive up and get tested if they have the symptoms. Morocco listens to a female patient’s lungs through the car window. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 10 / 44 HOPICS outreach worker Ralph Gomez tosses a clipboard for a signature to homeless client Davis Soto, right, taking care to stay at least six feet away during outreach in Los Angeles. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) 11 / 44 Medical personnel screen patients outside the emergency room at Loma Linda University Health during the coronavirus pandemic. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 12 / 44 A nurse takes the vital signs of a woman in a medical tent outside the hospital on Catalina. (Francine Orr/Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times) 13 / 44 An employee of the Trader Joe’s store in Monrovia tells customers waiting in line that it would open doors to everyone at 9 a.m., not just seniors, who arrived believing doors would open earlier to older residents, as some of the people were told by employees and it was reported. Some grocery outlets were offering special morning hours of shopping to accommodate older residents. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 14 / 44 Kevin Ezeh, protected with face mask and gloves, addresses the Los Angeles City Council meeting standing under a tent erected outside City Hall. A television livestreamed video of the meeting and the public offered comments remotely. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 15 / 44 Orange County Undersheriff Bob Peterson listens during a board of supervisors discussion on combating the coronavirus in Santa Ana. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 16 / 44 Dr. Mark V. Morocco oversees the testing at UCLA Medical Center. Testing for Covid-19 is going on at UCLA Medical Center, where people can drive up and get tested if they have the symptoms. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 17 / 44 A large tent is installed for public attendance at Tuesday’s Los Angeles City Council meeting. The public was not allowed in the council chamber. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 18 / 44 Shoppers queue up ahead of the Los Feliz Costco opening for business on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 19 / 44 Muhammad Faruq, an Uber driver, picks his ride Sotero Reyes, left, and Cristian Eguia, visitors from Houston, all in protective masks, from downtown Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 20 / 44 Volunteer Rachel Figueroa, serves a free lunch to go to Destiny Mendez, with her mother, Estefany, at the Dream Center in Los Angeles. LAUSD students can get free breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Dream Center, Monday through Friday. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times) 21 / 44 Emma Bradley, left, and her husband, Samuel Bradley, of Palmdale are walking up the ramp to catch the Metrolink in Union Sation in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times) 22 / 44 Medical personnel surround a car that is going through a coronavirus drive-thru test clinic at the San Mateo County Event Center. Drive-thru test clinics for COVID-19 are popping up across the country as more tests become available. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) 23 / 44 From left, Josh Akamine, of Oahu, Hawaii; Madison Shine of Oahu; Matthew Valencia of Los Altos and Dani Ikeda visit L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times) 24 / 44 Normally bustling Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. is open only for take out. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 25 / 44 L.A. has banned restaurants from offering seating at places such as Grand Central Market. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 26 / 44 Carlos Perez, a worker at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles sits in the empty restaurant. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times) 27 / 44 A line at the Martin B. Retting gun store in Culver City on Sunday extends out the door and around the corner. (Francine Orr / The Times) 28 / 44 A guest wears a mask in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland on Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 44 Students hug as they are let out of school at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 13, 2020. The school has 2,623 students who live in 94 different zip codes, some of whom travel upwards of 30 miles to school on 24 different school bus routes. 221 school staff live in 88 zip codes. Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner announced that schools will be closed due to the coronavirus. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 30 / 44 Blake Anderson, left, a freshman, walks with his father Oree Anderson, as school is let out at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles. LAUSD announced that schools will be closed due to the Coronavirus. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 31 / 44 Students leave John C. Fremont High School in Los Angeles at the end of the school day on Friday, Mar. 13, 2020. LAUSD announced it will shut down beginning Monday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times ) 32 / 44 Alexandria Casserly crosses the street while looking for toilet paper in downtown Los Angeles. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 44 A crew member stands on the stern of a cruise ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 34 / 44 Two children look at movie posters in the lobby of the Arclight theater Thursday in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 44 Disneyland guests wearing ponchos pass the Marketplace inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on Thursday. Disneyland and California Adventure will temporarily close in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 44 People shop at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 37 / 44 Disneyland guests take photos in front of the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 44 Airline workers take precautions at Tom Bradley International Terminal in Los Angeles on Thursday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 44 An airport worker cleans a railing at Tom Bradley International Terminal. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 44 Two people arrive at Knott’s Berry Farm on Thursday in Buena Park. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 44 Cab drivers wait for riders at the Long Beach Airport. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 42 / 44 The Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 43 / 44 A woman claims her luggage at he Long Beach Airport. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 44 / 44 The Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
“These cuts reduced the capacity for these health departments to prevent illness and loss of life,” said John Auerbach, the organization’s president and chief executive. “Their impact is being illuminated in an all too real fashion by the novel coronavirus.”
The two main programs that fund local health preparedness are administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services. Both programs also have seen significant reductions.
Advertisement
In California, the annual allocations from those programs to the state and all but one of its 58 counties dropped from $81 million in 2010 to $65 million last year.
Los Angeles County health officials did not say how much funding they have received but said cuts left them short-staffed and “in some cases, activities took longer.” Still, they said they weren’t hampered as much as smaller jurisdictions around the country.
A Health and Human Services spokeswoman declined to address cuts to local health agencies but said in a statement that the Trump administration worked with Congress to boost overall funding for federal agencies involved with pandemic preparedness.
Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs for the National Assn. of County and City Health Officials, said the Trump administration in recent years recommended additional cuts but was rebuffed by Congress, though the funding remains far short of what it was a decade ago. She said local and state health departments across the country have lost nearly a quarter of their workforce since 2008.
The CDC did not respond to requests for comment.
Dr. Tom Frieden, who was director of the CDC from 2009 to 2017, said in a statement that the “U.S. has under-invested in preparedness.”
“It’s crucial that funding support not only what would be done in an emergency, but what health departments do every day to keep people safe,” said Frieden, now president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, whose goals include making the world safer from epidemics. “Robust systems that can be scaled up in an emergency are the most effective way to reduce risk.”
His statement did not address cuts during his tenure.
A Times review of state legislative hearings shows that warnings about the consequences of the cuts were repeatedly made in Sacramento.
In 2013, the Assembly and Senate held a joint hearing called “Are We Prepared? Assessing the Status of California’s Emergency Response Capabilities.”
There, a top California Department of Public Health official told lawmakers that local health budgets had been slashed by 30% to 40% in the previous few years.
State Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a physician who now chairs the state Senate Health Committee, recalled at the same hearing how his home county had struggled to respond in 2009 to the H1N1 flu pandemic that killed an estimated 12,500 people in the United States, according to the CDC.
He said Sacramento County public health officials told him at the time that many of the health workers who deployed to combat the flu crisis did so shortly after they were given pink slips notifying them that they would soon lose their jobs.
State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) was particularly upset to hear in 2013 that state budget cuts could delay setting up of some of the state’s mobile hospitals in the event of an emergency.
“This to me is a violation of our responsibilities as a government to the people,” Jackson told health officials at the hearing.
Last year, Dr. Karen Smith, then California’s public health officer, told lawmakers she remained concerned about the years-long reduction in the number of public health nurses, epidemiologists and communicable disease investigators working for public health agencies in California.
“It’s this very infrastructure of trained, skilled people that has been significantly eroded over the past decade,” Smith told the Senate Health Committee. “The loss of our experienced public health workforce at the local level actually represents a very real threat to the health of California.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to concerns by allocating $40 million last year to assist county public health agencies in fighting infectious disease, which local officials said was a good start.
But the consequences of more than a decade in cuts have become even clearer in recent weeks.
In 2011, the state eliminated the $1.7-million budget for its Mobile Field Hospital Program. Two mobile shelters have been kept in storage, and a third was divided and parceled out to local emergency agencies.
The state could still deploy its mobile structures to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic, but officials said they have not yet decided whether to do so.
Pan acknowledged again last week that preparedness in California has suffered.
“Unfortunately, while the Congress has tried to sustain funding to agencies like the CDC, they have also cut back on funds that get allocated to state and local health departments, and we need to change that,” Pan said during a legislative hearing March 12.
In the scramble to make up for lost time, state officials this week approved an emergency infusion of $1 billion in state funds for various programs to fight the coronavirus outbreak. Federal officials are also dipping into their treasury to get money to the states.
“We are reassured that resources are not the issue here,” state Public Health Officer Dr. Sonia Angell said last week.
On Thursday, Newsom told congressional leaders in a letter that $1 billion is needed from Washington to help California and its counties deploy mobile hospitals and procure more protective equipment, ventilators, tents, cots and sheltering supplies.
But some public health officials say money was needed sooner to react promptly to the crisis.
Dr. Jonathan Fielding, who led the L.A. County Department of Public Health from 1998 to 2014, said there was a significant nationwide reduction in staff and resources at health departments during his tenure.
That’s making it harder for authorities to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, said Fielding, now a professor at the School of Public Health at UCLA.
The biggest obstacle U.S. health officials face is the lack of tests for COVID-19, he said. But another, less obvious way the manpower shortage could be hampering the response is in tracking the origins of new cases.
“That was one of the first things we needed to do, and it can make a huge difference,” Fielding said. “It’s very disappointing how slow we were in the United States.”