latimes--2020-03-10--USC, UCLA and other UC campuses announce transition to online learning to protect against coronaviru

USC, UCLA and other UC campuses announce transition to online learning to protect against coronavirus

UCLA and USC announced Tuesday they would cancel most in-person classes , joining the rising number of colleges and universities to limit classes , campus gatherings and travel to fight the global spread of the novel coronavirus .
Four UC campuses in Irvine , Riverside , Santa Barbara and Davis also announced similar measures Tuesday , as eight of nine University of California undergraduate campuses have rapidly aligned plans to transition to online final exams and instruction into spring quarter .
Berkeley , San Diego and Santa Cruz campuses announced earlier this week that they would suspend in-person classes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 8,800 students , has not yet canceled in-person classes .
But faculty were “ strongly ” encouraged to move to remote learning , beginning with their largest classes , in a campus message Tuesday by Provost Gregg Camfield and Academic Senate Chair Tom Hansford .
The rapid succession of announcements by major California campuses Tuesday came as higher education faces one of its most pressing challenges in decades .
Universities and colleges throughout the nation are launching sweeping changes throughout the core of their operations , including instruction , admissions and finances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USC , which moved to online teaching and learning Wednesday in what was initially a test run of the technology , said the campus would continue remote instruction even after spring break concludes on March 29 .
“ We believe the risk to our students , faculty , and staff remains low , but it is our responsibility to you and our greater community to be proactive in our efforts to encourage social distancing as a means of preventing the spread of illness , ” Provost Charles F. Zukoski wrote in a campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system ’ s largest campus , with 44,300 students — will continue remote instruction until April 10 and then reassess .
No UC campus has reported any cases of coronavirus , and students tested for the virus at UC Davis , UCLA and UC Irvine had negative results .
But officials said they wanted to take proactive measures to protect public health and safety .
“ I believe that it is important for communities to look out for one another and to do what is best for our global and UCLA communities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message to the campus community Tuesday .
UCLA , Riverside , Irvine and Santa Barbara campuses said they would aim to hold winter quarter final exams remotely and transition to online platforms for most classes after spring break .
Instructors are being given flexibility about courses that may be difficult to hold remotely , such as science labs or performing arts .
Students at UCLA reacted with a mix of anxiety and relief after the Tuesday afternoon announcement .
Noor Bouzidi , a UCLA senior , said she had “ no idea ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she is supposed to take in person — including one for her Arabic class Wednesday .
“ None of my professors have talked to me or discussed in depth in case classes get canceled what the plan is , ” Bouzidi , 21 , said .
“ Most people are really confused.
” Bouzidi said some professors may hold final exams over Zoom , but “ it ’ s a very short amount of time to figure out a whole new system for taking finals.
” And next quarter , when she plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , could also be challenging since all the courses “ seem to require a lot of in-class effort.
” Most campuses also are postponing or canceling gatherings of more than 100 people , holding closed athletic competitions and strongly recommending against international travel .
But campus offices , housing and dining facilities will remain open .
UC Santa Barbara students who are traveling during spring break should be prepared to stay away from campus through the end of April , Chancellor Henry Yang said in a message to the campus community .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be challenging to implement , but it is important that we take the necessary steps now to respond to the rapidly evolving situation , despite the fact that no cases have been reported on campus or in Santa Barbara County , ” Yang wrote .
UC Riverside has told students they need not return to campus for the rest of winter quarter , which ends Thursday .
Final exams will be held remotely and the campus will transition to online learning for spring quarter until April 3 , said spokesman John Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , San Jose State , San Francisco State and Cal State East Bay announced similar measures , as has the private Santa Clara University .
Dozens of other universities and colleges across the nation have announced since Monday that they , too , would shift to online classes , including Harvard , Princeton , Amherst and New York University .
The restrictions to campus life and turn to online learning disappointed some .
UCLA student Raylene Factora , 19 , wondered whether remote learning compared to classes rich with interaction with teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price .
“ There is a big difference between that type of education compared to being actually present in class with the teacher right there , ” she said .
She ’ s also saddened that she may miss out on the social aspects of college .
She was looking forward to a dance showcase , Korean cultural night and Filipino cultural night during spring quarter , which may now be delayed or difficult to plan .
And plans to take a class on contemporary Asian societies with friends are also up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also relieved to go to her family ’ s home in Santa Clarita , leaving her dorm building of 100 people and a room she shares with two others .
“ I ’ m kind of glad they ’ re taking action now so it doesn ’ t turn into a huge problem , ” Factora said .
It would be hard to avoid coronavirus if it reached UCLA , she said — when one roommate gets sick , they all do .
Zak Fisher , a third-year law student at UCLA and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported the decision .
But he worried about students who have limited internet access or those who are homeless .
“ As a public university there are a lot of people from different income backgrounds , ” he said .
“ If you ’ re expected to go to school online and you don ’ t have access to the internet , what do you do ?
” He said that the switch to online learning will be a “ rough road , at least at first.
” Some graduate-student instructors feel unprepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ People are worried that they simply won ’ t know how to operate the classes , ” he said .
UCLA faculty members had questions about how to bring classes alive remotely .
Education professor Tyrone Howard will teach a 200-person undergraduate class on race , class , gender and school inequality next quarter , which will be online at least for its first two meetings .
He expects to learn techniques with online training , which UCLA already has set up .
“ It ’ s very different for me as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courses , ” he said .
“ Maybe this is a challenge for folks like me to adapt.
” Another UCLA faculty member , Pirouz Kavehpour , said he ’ ll have to figure out how to teach an engineering course next quarter for up to 150 people .
He said the move online will be inconvenient and take away some of the interactive elements of his course , but “ we ’ re going to make the best of it.
” “ The situation calls for getting creative , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Teresa Watanabe, Nina Agrawal, Sarah Parvini, Sonali Kohli

USC and UCLA will cancel in-person classes through at least early April and move to online learning to guard against coronavirus.
UCLA and USC announced Tuesday they would cancel most in-person classes, joining the rising number of colleges and universities to limit classes, campus gatherings and travel to fight the global spread of the novel coronavirus.
Four UC campuses in Irvine, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Davis also announced similar measures Tuesday, as eight of nine University of California undergraduate campuses have rapidly aligned plans to transition to online final exams and instruction into spring quarter. Berkeley, San Diego and Santa Cruz campuses announced earlier this week that they would suspend in-person classes.
UC Merced, the smallest UC campus of 8,800 students, has not yet canceled in-person classes. But faculty were “strongly” encouraged to move to remote learning, beginning with their largest classes, in a campus message Tuesday by Provost Gregg Camfield and Academic Senate Chair Tom Hansford.
Advertisement
The rapid succession of announcements by major California campuses Tuesday came as higher education faces one of its most pressing challenges in decades. Universities and colleges throughout the nation are launching sweeping changes throughout the core of their operations, including instruction, admissions and finances, to combat the fast-moving contagion.
USC, which moved to online teaching and learning Wednesday in what was initially a test run of the technology, said the campus would continue remote instruction even after spring break concludes on March 29.
“We believe the risk to our students, faculty, and staff remains low, but it is our responsibility to you and our greater community to be proactive in our efforts to encourage social distancing as a means of preventing the spread of illness,” Provost Charles F. Zukoski wrote in a campus message Tuesday.
UCLA — the UC system’s largest campus, with 44,300 students — will continue remote instruction until April 10 and then reassess. No UC campus has reported any cases of coronavirus, and students tested for the virus at UC Davis, UCLA and UC Irvine had negative results. But officials said they wanted to take proactive measures to protect public health and safety.
“I believe that it is important for communities to look out for one another and to do what is best for our global and UCLA communities,” Chancellor Gene Block said in a message to the campus community Tuesday.
UCLA, Riverside, Irvine and Santa Barbara campuses said they would aim to hold winter quarter final exams remotely and transition to online platforms for most classes after spring break. Instructors are being given flexibility about courses that may be difficult to hold remotely, such as science labs or performing arts.
Advertisement
Students at UCLA reacted with a mix of anxiety and relief after the Tuesday afternoon announcement.
Noor Bouzidi, a UCLA senior, said she had “no idea” what would happen with the three finals she is supposed to take in person — including one for her Arabic class Wednesday.
“None of my professors have talked to me or discussed in depth in case classes get canceled what the plan is,” Bouzidi, 21, said. “Most people are really confused.”
Bouzidi said some professors may hold final exams over Zoom, but “it’s a very short amount of time to figure out a whole new system for taking finals.”
And next quarter, when she plans to take communications, anthopology and Arabic, could also be challenging since all the courses “seem to require a lot of in-class effort.”
Most campuses also are postponing or canceling gatherings of more than 100 people, holding closed athletic competitions and strongly recommending against international travel. But campus offices, housing and dining facilities will remain open.
UC Santa Barbara students who are traveling during spring break should be prepared to stay away from campus through the end of April, Chancellor Henry Yang said in a message to the campus community.
“We know that many of these recommendations will be challenging to implement, but it is important that we take the necessary steps now to respond to the rapidly evolving situation, despite the fact that no cases have been reported on campus or in Santa Barbara County,” Yang wrote.
UC Riverside has told students they need not return to campus for the rest of winter quarter, which ends Thursday. Final exams will be held remotely and the campus will transition to online learning for spring quarter until April 3, said spokesman John Warren.
In the 23-campus California State University system, San Jose State, San Francisco State and Cal State East Bay announced similar measures, as has the private Santa Clara University. Dozens of other universities and colleges across the nation have announced since Monday that they, too, would shift to online classes, including Harvard, Princeton, Amherst and New York University.
The restrictions to campus life and turn to online learning disappointed some.
UCLA student Raylene Factora, 19, wondered whether remote learning compared to classes rich with interaction with teachers and fellow students would be worth the price. “There is a big difference between that type of education compared to being actually present in class with the teacher right there,” she said.
She’s also saddened that she may miss out on the social aspects of college. She was looking forward to a dance showcase, Korean cultural night and Filipino cultural night during spring quarter, which may now be delayed or difficult to plan. And plans to take a class on contemporary Asian societies with friends are also up in the air.
But she’s also relieved to go to her family’s home in Santa Clarita, leaving her dorm building of 100 people and a room she shares with two others.
“I’m kind of glad they’re taking action now so it doesn’t turn into a huge problem,” Factora said. It would be hard to avoid coronavirus if it reached UCLA, she said — when one roommate gets sick, they all do.
Zak Fisher, a third-year law student at UCLA and president of the Graduate Students Assn., supported the decision. But he worried about students who have limited internet access or those who are homeless.
“As a public university there are a lot of people from different income backgrounds,” he said. “If you’re expected to go to school online and you don’t have access to the internet, what do you do?”
He said that the switch to online learning will be a “rough road, at least at first.” Some graduate-student instructors feel unprepared to make the switch so suddenly. “People are worried that they simply won’t know how to operate the classes,” he said.
UCLA faculty members had questions about how to bring classes alive remotely. Education professor Tyrone Howard will teach a 200-person undergraduate class on race, class, gender and school inequality next quarter, which will be online at least for its first two meetings. He expects to learn techniques with online training, which UCLA already has set up.
“It’s very different for me as someone who hasn’t done online courses,” he said. “Maybe this is a challenge for folks like me to adapt.”
Another UCLA faculty member, Pirouz Kavehpour, said he’ll have to figure out how to teach an engineering course next quarter for up to 150 people. He said the move online will be inconvenient and take away some of the interactive elements of his course, but “we’re going to make the best of it.”
“The situation calls for getting creative,” he said. “That’s our job.”


latimes--2020-03-10--L.A. school district declares state of emergency to prepare for coronavirus response

The Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday declared a state of emergency , giving Supt .
Austin Beutner the authority to take actions needed to close schools if necessary in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
The action is seen as a precaution that would allow Beutner to act quickly as the need arises in the nation ’ s second-largest school district .
As of Tuesday night , there were no plans to close schools and no individual diagnosed with COVID-19 had a connection to an L.A. Unified school , according to the district .
“ What we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Beutner told the Board of Education before their unanimous vote .
“ That does not necessarily mean that there will be emergency action today , tomorrow or a week from now .
This will allow us to take all appropriate action as the facts and circumstances could change quickly.
” Some schools and school systems , mainly in Northern California , have gone well beyond planning .
After a Catholic school student and a custodian tested positive for COVID-19 , the Archdiocese of San Francisco shuttered all 90 of its schools in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties from Wednesday until March 25 , the archdiocese announced Tuesday .
The Elk Grove Unified district , the largest in Northern California , closed schools for the entire week after an elementary school student was diagnosed with the virus .
One problem , said Beutner , is that there are no standard protocols for when to close a school or specific guidance on how long a school should remain closed .
“ We look at the range of alternatives : isolated community , isolated individual , diagnosed to a specific place — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set of actions , ” he said after the meeting .
Then there ’ s consideration for schools like Hamilton High School : 2,623 students from 94 zip codes — some as far as 30 miles away .
And 221 employees from 88 zip codes .
“ So we ’ re planning for different scenarios .
We don ’ t know which one ’ s going to happen or if any will happen , ” Beutner said .
What does an emergency declaration mean ?
The declaration gives Beutner the authority to relocate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrangements and approve alternative educational options .
It also gives him authority to provide paid leaves of absence for employees due to quarantine or illness , assignstaff to serve as disaster-service workers , and order necessary alterations , repairs or improvements to district property .
The declaration also allows Beutner to pay for these measures without going through the usual contracting process .
L.A. Unified is responsible for the education and safety of more than half a million district and charter-school students .
If adult education and early education numbers are included , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There also are about 78,000 full- and part-time workers .
How would instruction be provided ?
The district has been developing contingency plans but has released limited details .
Deputy Supt .
Megan Reilly , who is overseeing the response planning , said the district already has two online learning tools that would be expanded .
One platform allows students to receive and turn in assignments online .
A separate system allows students to take self-contained online courses .
That system has been used for students who need to pass courses quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are three serious limitations : There aren ’ t enough devices for students to take home ; not all families have internet at home , and many teachers and students are not trained to manage instruction online .
The district has no perfect solution for any of these challenges , but Beutner asked the state on Monday for $ 50 million to purchase devices .
The superintendent also sent letters to all the major internet providers , asking them to supply free emergency broadband access .
Beutner also is asking the state for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside of the normal , more time-consuming process .
And he wants the state to stockpile emergency supplies that schools might need .
How about the hardships faced by families and employees ?
Officials in L.A. Unified and other school districts throughout the state understand the hardship that school closures would bring to families , especially in a district such as L.A. Unified , where about four in five students are members of a low-income household , and where both parents work and have limited childcare options .
“ We know that those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation like this are the most vulnerable , whom we serve in a large percentage in our schools , ” said school board member Kelly Gonez in an interview .
The campus frequently becomes a locus for medical services and family counseling .
And some families also depend on L.A. Unified for food — about 17,000 students are homeless .
“ We have a very large number of students who eat breakfast , lunch and dinner at school , ” said school board member Jackie Goldberg .
“ I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
... Are there ways to distribute food that don ’ t include passing the virus along with it ?
” The federal government has loosened rules to allow students to be fed outside of normal school operations , if a school is closed due to coronavirus .
And California Gov .
Gavin Newsom also has indicated he will support this goal .
Locations that serve students food in the summer through the Summer Food Service and the Seamless Summer Option can also be approved “ to provide meals during unanticipated school closures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Margo Minecki , a spokeswoman for the L.A. County Office of Education .
In L.A. County , sites approved for summer meal service include campuses , city parks , churches and local nonprofit centers .
To avoid the gathering of groups , families could pick up meals and take them home .
More than two-thirds of L.A. County public school students qualify for free or reduced-price meals and about 80 % in LAUSD .
The district ’ s Reilly said employees still would be paid if schools are closed , and that no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staying home when they are sick .
“ If you are sick we are being very liberal ” in allowing for sick time , she said .

Los Angeles schools chief Austin Beutner, center, now has emergency powers to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.
The Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday declared a state of emergency, giving Supt. Austin Beutner the authority to take actions needed to close schools if necessary in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The action is seen as a precaution that would allow Beutner to act quickly as the need arises in the nation’s second-largest school district. As of Tuesday night, there were no plans to close schools and no individual diagnosed with COVID-19 had a connection to an L.A. Unified school, according to the district.
“What we’re asking for is emergency authority,” Beutner told the Board of Education before their unanimous vote. “That does not necessarily mean that there will be emergency action today, tomorrow or a week from now. This will allow us to take all appropriate action as the facts and circumstances could change quickly.”
Advertisement
Some schools and school systems, mainly in Northern California, have gone well beyond planning.
After a Catholic school student and a custodian tested positive for COVID-19, the Archdiocese of San Francisco shuttered all 90 of its schools in Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties from Wednesday until March 25, the archdiocese announced Tuesday. The Elk Grove Unified district, the largest in Northern California, closed schools for the entire week after an elementary school student was diagnosed with the virus.
One problem, said Beutner, is that there are no standard protocols for when to close a school or specific guidance on how long a school should remain closed.
“We look at the range of alternatives: isolated community, isolated individual, diagnosed to a specific place — that might cause us to take one set of actions,” he said after the meeting.
Then there’s consideration for schools like Hamilton High School: 2,623 students from 94 zip codes — some as far as 30 miles away. And 221 employees from 88 zip codes.
“So we’re planning for different scenarios. We don’t know which one’s going to happen or if any will happen,” Beutner said.
Advertisement
What does an emergency declaration mean?
The declaration gives Beutner the authority to relocate students and staff, revise student transportation arrangements and approve alternative educational options. It also gives him authority to provide paid leaves of absence for employees due to quarantine or illness, assignstaff to serve as disaster-service workers, and order necessary alterations, repairs or improvements to district property.
The declaration also allows Beutner to pay for these measures without going through the usual contracting process.
L.A. Unified is responsible for the education and safety of more than half a million district and charter-school students. If adult education and early education numbers are included, that total rises to more than 670,000. There also are about 78,000 full- and part-time workers.
How would instruction be provided?
The district has been developing contingency plans but has released limited details.
Deputy Supt. Megan Reilly, who is overseeing the response planning, said the district already has two online learning tools that would be expanded. One platform allows students to receive and turn in assignments online. A separate system allows students to take self-contained online courses. That system has been used for students who need to pass courses quickly in order to graduate.
But there are three serious limitations: There aren’t enough devices for students to take home; not all families have internet at home, and many teachers and students are not trained to manage instruction online.
The district has no perfect solution for any of these challenges, but Beutner asked the state on Monday for $50 million to purchase devices. The superintendent also sent letters to all the major internet providers, asking them to supply free emergency broadband access.
Beutner also is asking the state for authority to assign students to independent study outside of the normal, more time-consuming process. And he wants the state to stockpile emergency supplies that schools might need.
How about the hardships faced by families and employees?
Officials in L.A. Unified and other school districts throughout the state understand the hardship that school closures would bring to families, especially in a district such as L.A. Unified, where about four in five students are members of a low-income household, and where both parents work and have limited childcare options.
“We know that those who will be hardest hit in a situation like this are the most vulnerable, whom we serve in a large percentage in our schools,” said school board member Kelly Gonez in an interview.
The campus frequently becomes a locus for medical services and family counseling. And some families also depend on L.A. Unified for food — about 17,000 students are homeless.
“We have a very large number of students who eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at school,” said school board member Jackie Goldberg. “I don’t think we have an answer for that yet. ... Are there ways to distribute food that don’t include passing the virus along with it?”
The federal government has loosened rules to allow students to be fed outside of normal school operations, if a school is closed due to coronavirus. And California Gov. Gavin Newsom also has indicated he will support this goal.
Locations that serve students food in the summer through the Summer Food Service and the Seamless Summer Option can also be approved “to provide meals during unanticipated school closures” at schools and elsewhere, said Margo Minecki, a spokeswoman for the L.A. County Office of Education.
In L.A. County, sites approved for summer meal service include campuses, city parks, churches and local nonprofit centers. To avoid the gathering of groups, families could pick up meals and take them home. More than two-thirds of L.A. County public school students qualify for free or reduced-price meals and about 80% in LAUSD.
The district’s Reilly said employees still would be paid if schools are closed, and that no one should worry about facing repercussions for staying home when they are sick.
“If you are sick we are being very liberal” in allowing for sick time, she said.


latimes--2020-03-12--Coronavirus cases keep rising in Silicon Valley after county bans mass gatherings

With Silicon Valley reporting a rapidly rising number of confirmed coronavirus cases , the health officer for Santa Clara County issued a rare legal order banning mass gatherings of 1,000 or more people .
Santa Clara County , with 48 confirmed coronavirus cases and one death , as of Wednesday , has California ’ s largest number of confirmed infections .
After declining an earlier recommendation to halt mass gatherings late last week , the San Jose Sharks said the team would abide by the county ’ s new order at SAP Center in downtown San Jose , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police agencies .
“ We are clearly facing a historic public health challenge , ” the Santa Clara County health officer , Dr. Sara Cody , said at a news conference Monday night .
“ The number and type of cases to date indicate that the risk of exposure to this virus in our community is increasing.
” There has been a rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases in Santa Clara County , rising from 11 cases on Thursday to 43 on Monday and 48 Wednesday .
Of the total , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected by someone unknown in the community , and not by getting infected by traveling to an area where the virus is circulating , nor by having been infected by someone with a confirmed infection case .
“ Because our emerging data tells that we have more extensive community spread than was apparent to us even five days ago , we must take more actions to slow the spread of disease and to protect the public , ” Cody said .
Cody acted Monday night just hours after she announced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that of a woman in her 60s with underlying medical conditions .
The patient was the first in Santa Clara County to be identified as being infected by the virus through an unknown source , meaning it was the first sign that the virus had begun spreading in the community .
It ’ s not clear why Santa Clara County is seeing a particularly fast rise in cases over other counties .
Coronavirus cases could be on the sharp rise elsewhere , but a lack of testing capability is thwarting officials ’ ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More testing recently became available in Santa Clara County , and , “ as we ’ ve tested more people , we ’ ve found more cases .
And we anticipate many more cases as commercial laboratories come online to test for this illness , ” Cody said .
Older adults and those with underlying health conditions , such as diabetes , obesity , asthma , disease of the heart , lung or kidney , and those with weakened immune systems , are at much greater risk for severe illness and death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving from the throat , nose and sinuses into the lungs and airways , where it hijacks those cells , destroying them and spreading more copies of the virus throughout the body .
About 19 % of those infected with the virus can suffer severe or critical symptoms , according to an analysis of nearly 45,000 patients in China .
About 5 % show critical symptoms , and half result in death .
Health officials have expressed strong worry about the virus getting into more nursing homes or long-term care facilities like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where 19 people associated with a single nursing home , Life Care Center of Kirkland , have died from the coronavirus .
That ’ s out of 22 deaths in all of Washington state .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said it ’ s imperative nursing homes get up to speed with regard to infection control .
“ You saw what happened in the Seattle area — that ’ s not the last time that ’ s going to happen , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Journal of the American Medical Assn .
Now that authorities have lost the ability to contain the virus to limited numbers of people in California , social distancing , or asking people to avoid crowds and keep people away from each other by six feet , is now one of the only tools public health officials have to slow the spread of the virus .
“ It ’ s easier for a hospital to take care of one new infection per day for two weeks than to have 14 infections all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Sudden increases in infection can exceed the surge capacity of hospitals and healthcare systems.
” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo urged the public to comply with the public health directives and recommendations , like encouraging those who are sick to stay at home .
“ These are trying days .
And the weeks ahead are going to be difficult for everyone in our community , ” Liccardo said .
“ And I am confident that if we take care of each other and we work together , we are collectively stronger @ @ @ @ @

With Silicon Valley reporting a rapidly rising number of confirmed coronavirus cases, the health officer for Santa Clara County issued a rare legal order banning mass gatherings of 1,000 or more people.
Santa Clara County, with 48 confirmed coronavirus cases and one death, as of Wednesday, has California’s largest number of confirmed infections. After declining an earlier recommendation to halt mass gatherings late last week, the San Jose Sharks said the team would abide by the county’s new order at SAP Center in downtown San Jose, which is enforceable by the county sheriff and city police agencies.
“We are clearly facing a historic public health challenge,” the Santa Clara County health officer, Dr. Sara Cody, said at a news conference Monday night. “The number and type of cases to date indicate that the risk of exposure to this virus in our community is increasing.”
Advertisement
There has been a rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases in Santa Clara County, rising from 11 cases on Thursday to 43 on Monday and 48 Wednesday. Of the total, 21 in Silicon Valley are believed to have been infected by someone unknown in the community, and not by getting infected by traveling to an area where the virus is circulating, nor by having been infected by someone with a confirmed infection case.
“Because our emerging data tells that we have more extensive community spread than was apparent to us even five days ago, we must take more actions to slow the spread of disease and to protect the public,” Cody said.
Cody acted Monday night just hours after she announced the first death in Santa Clara County, that of a woman in her 60s with underlying medical conditions. The patient was the first in Santa Clara County to be identified as being infected by the virus through an unknown source, meaning it was the first sign that the virus had begun spreading in the community.
It’s not clear why Santa Clara County is seeing a particularly fast rise in cases over other counties. Coronavirus cases could be on the sharp rise elsewhere, but a lack of testing capability is thwarting officials’ ability to track the spread of disease. More testing recently became available in Santa Clara County, and, “as we’ve tested more people, we’ve found more cases. And we anticipate many more cases as commercial laboratories come online to test for this illness,” Cody said.
Older adults and those with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, asthma, disease of the heart, lung or kidney, and those with weakened immune systems, are at much greater risk for severe illness and death. The virus can cause severe illness by moving from the throat, nose and sinuses into the lungs and airways, where it hijacks those cells, destroying them and spreading more copies of the virus throughout the body.
About 19% of those infected with the virus can suffer severe or critical symptoms, according to an analysis of nearly 45,000 patients in China. About 5% show critical symptoms, and half result in death.
Health officials have expressed strong worry about the virus getting into more nursing homes or long-term care facilities like the one in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, where 19 people associated with a single nursing home, Life Care Center of Kirkland, have died from the coronavirus. That’s out of 22 deaths in all of Washington state.
Advertisement
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it’s imperative nursing homes get up to speed with regard to infection control. “You saw what happened in the Seattle area — that’s not the last time that’s going to happen,” Fauci said in a video interview Friday with the Journal of the American Medical Assn.
Now that authorities have lost the ability to contain the virus to limited numbers of people in California, social distancing, or asking people to avoid crowds and keep people away from each other by six feet, is now one of the only tools public health officials have to slow the spread of the virus.
“It’s easier for a hospital to take care of one new infection per day for two weeks than to have 14 infections all in one day,” Cody said. “Sudden increases in infection can exceed the surge capacity of hospitals and healthcare systems.”
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo urged the public to comply with the public health directives and recommendations, like encouraging those who are sick to stay at home.
“These are trying days. And the weeks ahead are going to be difficult for everyone in our community,” Liccardo said. “And I am confident that if we take care of each other and we work together, we are collectively stronger than this virus.”


latimes--2020-03-11--Coronavirus cases spread across California as events are canceled and warnings become more urgent

As the coronavirus continues to spread deeper into California communities — with multiple cases reported from Sacramento to San Diego and a third confirmed death — officials say they are expecting the state ’ s total cases to rise well beyond the current 157 as more testing is done in the coming days .
The state ’ s latest count does not include passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship currently docked in Oakland .
On Tuesday , Sacramento County health officials announced that a patient in her 90s at an Elk Grove nursing home had died from COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from COVID-19 in California , and she is the state ’ s first known case of infection with the coronavirus in a nursing home .
Health officials said all patients in the nursing home would be tested for the virus , but that effort was delayed by a lack of test kits .
Other residents of the facility are receiving special protective measures , including having meals delivered to rooms and being barred from gatherings .
Elsewhere , the number of cases continues to rise .
On Tuesday evening , the Transportation Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who work at Mineta San Jose International Airport tested positive for COVID-19 .
“ The officers are receiving medical care and all TSA employees they have come in contact with over the past 14 days are quarantined at home , ” the agency said in a statement .
“ Screening checkpoints remain open , and the agency is working with the CDC , as well as the California Department of Public Health and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department to monitor the situation as well as the health and safety of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will update as more information becomes available.
” Los Angeles County reported the first instance of the virus spreading in the community on Monday .
A new case was reported Tuesday — the county ’ s 20th — by health officials who said a traveler returning from Iran tested positive after flying into Los Angeles International Airport .
The individual is currently isolated at home .
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management also reported one new case Tuesday , bringing the county ’ s total to 14 .
The patient , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive , is hospitalized , officials said .
Orange County also reported two new cases of the virus , pending confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , bringing that county ’ s total to five .
Officials confirmed a new coronavirus case in Alameda County – an older individual who left the Grand Princess cruise ship in February .
There are now at least four cases of coronavirus in Alameda County , including one individual in Berkeley , which has a separate health officer .
The new case is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Public Health Services confirmed its first case of the coronavirus .
The individual was a passenger on the Grand Princess cruise ship , but was not on the cruise that most recently disembarked in Oakland .
The individual has been symptomatic and was hospitalized several days ago .
And Tuesday evening , Calaveras County confirmed an adult and child in a family in Copperopolis tested positive for coronavirus .
Their exposure occurred outside the county .
The family has remained isolated at home since public health workers launched their investigation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family identified in the investigation will be quarantined .
Meanwhile , in Washington state , Seattle and King County health officials reported two more deaths , bringing the total deaths linked to the virus in the state to 22 .
The individuals were not residents of the Life Care Center of Kirkland , a nursing home where 19 patients have died .
Both people had previously tested positive .
Beyond health concerns , the effects of the virus have stirred ongoing financial fears that have affected U.S. and global markets .
On Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stocks and oil markets appeared to stabilize after U.S. and international governments vowed to push more aid into a coronavirus-weakened global economy .
In keeping with new guidance from California health officials , Los Angeles County health officials and local organizers are trying to curtail massive public events .
Dr. Barbara Ferrer , L.A. County public health director , advised the public to take extra precautions as the number of cases continued to rise .
“ It ’ s time to start thinking about limiting activities anywhere you have a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said Tuesday , stressing the fact that pregnant women , elderly individuals and those with underlying health conditions are most at risk for developing serious effects from the virus .
Ferrer said starting Wednesday , teams will visit all nursing homes and long-term-care facilities in Los Angeles County — roughly 300 — to ensure they are adequately prepared to enforce infectious disease protocols and help with preventive measures against coronavirus .
Teams include health inspectors with the Department of Public Health .
Teams also will assess 330 homeless shelters throughout L.A. County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unsheltered population , the department has a three-pronged strategy : Ensure that shelters take precautions to separate the sick from the healthy ; ensure that people on the street have the proper information they need to stay healthy ; and identify places where sick individuals may be quarantined .
Officials are looking at sites that would allow them to isolate homeless people who might have COVID-19 from healthy people inside shelters .
San Francisco also is developing quarantine locations for people who have tested positive for the virus , have been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and are either homeless or living in shared quarters .
Contra Costa County joined other Bay Area counties Tuesday in urging residents to avoid crowds .
As of Tuesday evening , the county had 10 confirmed cases of coronavirus — four people with known contact with people who previously tested positive , and six people who had no recent history of travel outside the U.S. or known contact with a confirmed case .
Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna , deputy health officer , said he recommended all large community events be postponed or canceled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people at higher risk — those 50 or older and people with underlying medical problems like heart and lung disease , diabetes , cancer or weak immune systems — should not go to mass gatherings such as religious services , celebrations , concerts , sporting events or parades .
Radhakrishna also said employers should suspend nonessential travel , including canceling conferences ; allowing employees to telecommute ; staggering schedules to reduce the number of workers in the office at the same time ; and not requiring doctor ’ s notes for employees who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now know the novel coronavirus is spreading in our county , this is critical time , perhaps the best and only time for each of us to do our part to protect the community and decrease the spread of this virus , ” Radhakrishna said .
In Santa Clara County — where public health officials face the largest number of confirmed cases in California — local leaders issued a banning mass gatherings of 1,000 or more people , effective Wednesday through the rest of March .
The order includes sporting events .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s new order , which is enforceable by the county sheriff and police , after declining an earlier recommendation to halt mass gatherings late last week .
The San Jose Earthquakes are scheduled to play Sporting Kansas City on March 21 , but it remains unclear whether the game will be postponed .
Santa Clara County reported two new coronavirus cases Tuesday , bringing the county ’ s total to 45 confirmed cases and one death .
“ We are clearly facing a historic public health challenge , ” Santa Clara County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at a Monday night .
“ The number and type of cases to date indicate that the risk of exposure to this virus in our community is increasing.
” Across the state , public schools and universities have closed or moved classes online , large gatherings have been canceled , and health officials are urging “ social distancing ” — reducing chances of contact with an infected person — to mitigate the growing outbreak .
UCLA , USC , UC Santa Cruz , UC Berkeley , UC San Diego , San Jose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clara , Princeton , Ohio State and Vanderbilt universities became the latest institutions to announce they would suspend all or most in-person classes .
More than 25 universities in the U.S. , the Mideast , Asia and Italy have announced moves to online learning .
Rancho Mirage announced it was shuttering its library and observatory until March 23 , and the Los Angeles Times postponed its annual Festival of Books and Food Bowl .
Times staffers also have been given the option to work from home and have been instructed to avoid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel .
And Tuesday afternoon , after much speculation , concert promoter Goldenvoice announced the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival would be postponed until October .
But not all gathering places are shutting down .
Universal Studios and Disneyland Resort are not closing and are instead monitoring the growing outbreak and regularly communicating with health officials , park officials said .
Hand-sanitizing stations have been placed throughout Disneyland , and employees have been instructed to stay home when sick .
For passengers aboard the Grand Princess , Monday brought relief as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , providing the comfort of land , but no clear answers about their individual futures .
After days of being forced to idle off the coast of Northern California , the ship docked with about 3,500 passengers and crew , including at least 21 who had tested positive for the new coronavirus .
“ We ’ re trying to stay calm , and we ’ re trying to stay positive , but it ’ s getting harder and harder .
They can ’ t make up their minds how to keep us safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 77 , of Santa Fe , N.M. Late in the afternoon , after hours of waiting , a handful of passengers wearing masks headed toward tan medical tents that had been erected earlier .
State officials said Sunday the 3,000 travelers stuck in limbo since Wednesday would be screened for symptoms before being sent by ambulance for medical treatment , if necessary , or would board waiting tour buses headed for military bases for a 14-day quarantine .
The operation represented a controversial and high-risk move for federal , state and local officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade-offs of keeping passengers on board or allowing them to disembark — though more than 1,000 crew members , mostly foreign nationals , will remain quarantined on board .
Passengers wearing masks trickled out of the Grand Princess and walked to the bottom of a ramp , where masked officials in yellow protective gear and blue plastic gloves took their temperature and led them to a tent for more screening before they lined up to board a bus .
By Tuesday afternoon , more than 540 people had been offloaded from the ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Canada , and 171 Californians were taken to Travis Air Force Base .
At least 26 individuals were sick and being treated for the coronavirus or some other illness , officials said .
Thousands more were still waiting Tuesday to be released .
Authorities said foreigners from more than 50 countries would be flown home , while U.S. passengers would be flown or bused to military bases in California , Texas and Georgia .
Elsewhere , cruise ship agencies have canceled upcoming stops in Monterey Bay after the city asked companies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The Royal Princess has canceled its March 31 , April 14 and April 28 visits to Monterey , and the Maasdam–Holland America cruise ship has canceled its April 29 visit .
“ The city of Monterey has an obligation to ensure the public health of our residents , employees and visitors , and we appreciate the cruise ship companies taking action on behalf of our request , ” City Manager Hans Uslar said in a statement .
The city of Santa Barbara also announced the cancellation of a Grand Princess cruise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
City officials plan to contact other cruise lines to cancel upcoming visits to Santa Barbara until the CDC removes its travel advisory for cruise ships .
There are 10 cruise stops planned for Santa Barbara through June .
“ I appreciate Princess Cruises taking action and protecting the safety of the community and passengers .
We are asking other cruise lines to follow their lead and take a cautious approach , ” Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo said .
As of Tuesday afternoon , there were more than 118,000 total virus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
Nationwide , more than 800 people were confirmed to be infected with the virus .
In California , the second person to die from the virus was a woman in Santa Clara County Officials said she was in her 60s and had been hospitalized for several weeks .
Last week , Placer County public health officials announced that a 71-year-old Rocklin resident who had tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a cruise to Mexico last month died .
In Long Beach , three people are believed to have contracted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday afternoon .
Riverside University Health System-Public Health also announced three new cases in Coachella Valley .
The individuals are believed to have traveled to an area with a known outbreak , or had contact with a known case , Riverside County public health officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said .
Two of the individuals have been isolated at home .
The third is at a Coachella Valley hospital .
The county also confirmed its second case from the Diamond Princess cruise ship , bringing the number of COVID-19 cases in the county to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s capital also took a hit as six lawmakers , in rapid succession , announced their self-quarantine following exposure to someone with the virus .
Several lawmakers were exposed to a single person with coronavirus at a conservative political conference late last month .
U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley ( D-Westlake Village ) met in Washington last week with someone later diagnosed with the virus .
All of them said they would self-quarantine even though they felt fine .
Brownley shuttered her Washington office for the week .
She and her staff would work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff writers Richard Read , Jaclyn Cosgrove , Sarah Parvini , Thomas Curwen and Anita Chabria contributed to this report .

Anita Chabria, Colleen Shalby, Maura Dolan, John Myers, Rong-Gong Lin II

As the coronavirus continues to spread deeper into California communities — with multiple cases reported from Sacramento to San Diego and a third confirmed death — officials say they are expecting the state’s total cases to rise well beyond the current 157 as more testing is done in the coming days.
The state’s latest count does not include passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship currently docked in Oakland.
On Tuesday, Sacramento County health officials announced that a patient in her 90s at an Elk Grove nursing home had died from COVID-19. The woman is the third confirmed death from COVID-19 in California, and she is the state’s first known case of infection with the coronavirus in a nursing home. Health officials said all patients in the nursing home would be tested for the virus, but that effort was delayed by a lack of test kits.
Advertisement
Other residents of the facility are receiving special protective measures, including having meals delivered to rooms and being barred from gatherings.
Elsewhere, the number of cases continues to rise.
On Tuesday evening, the Transportation Security Administration confirmed that three of its officers who work at Mineta San Jose International Airport tested positive for COVID-19.
“The officers are receiving medical care and all TSA employees they have come in contact with over the past 14 days are quarantined at home,” the agency said in a statement. “Screening checkpoints remain open, and the agency is working with the CDC, as well as the California Department of Public Health and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department to monitor the situation as well as the health and safety of our employees and the traveling public. We will update as more information becomes available.”
Los Angeles County reported the first instance of the virus spreading in the community on Monday. A new case was reported Tuesday — the county’s 20th — by health officials who said a traveler returning from Iran tested positive after flying into Los Angeles International Airport. The individual is currently isolated at home.
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management also reported one new case Tuesday, bringing the county’s total to 14. The patient, who had known contact with another person who tested positive, is hospitalized, officials said.
Advertisement
Orange County also reported two new cases of the virus, pending confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bringing that county’s total to five.
Officials confirmed a new coronavirus case in Alameda County – an older individual who left the Grand Princess cruise ship in February. There are now at least four cases of coronavirus in Alameda County, including one individual in Berkeley, which has a separate health officer. The new case is under isolation at home.
San Joaquin County Public Health Services confirmed its first case of the coronavirus. The individual was a passenger on the Grand Princess cruise ship, but was not on the cruise that most recently disembarked in Oakland. The individual has been symptomatic and was hospitalized several days ago.
And Tuesday evening, Calaveras County confirmed an adult and child in a family in Copperopolis tested positive for coronavirus. Their exposure occurred outside the county. The family has remained isolated at home since public health workers launched their investigation of the cases. Close personal contacts of the family identified in the investigation will be quarantined.
Meanwhile, in Washington state, Seattle and King County health officials reported two more deaths, bringing the total deaths linked to the virus in the state to 22. The individuals were not residents of the Life Care Center of Kirkland, a nursing home where 19 patients have died. Both people had previously tested positive.
Beyond health concerns, the effects of the virus have stirred ongoing financial fears that have affected U.S. and global markets. On Tuesday, a day after a global meltdown, stocks and oil markets appeared to stabilize after U.S. and international governments vowed to push more aid into a coronavirus-weakened global economy.
In keeping with new guidance from California health officials, Los Angeles County health officials and local organizers are trying to curtail massive public events. Dr. Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County public health director, advised the public to take extra precautions as the number of cases continued to rise.
“It’s time to start thinking about limiting activities anywhere you have a lot of exposure to the general public,” she said Tuesday, stressing the fact that pregnant women, elderly individuals and those with underlying health conditions are most at risk for developing serious effects from the virus.
Ferrer said starting Wednesday, teams will visit all nursing homes and long-term-care facilities in Los Angeles County — roughly 300 — to ensure they are adequately prepared to enforce infectious disease protocols and help with preventive measures against coronavirus. Teams include health inspectors with the Department of Public Health.
Teams also will assess 330 homeless shelters throughout L.A. County, she said. In dealing with the unsheltered population, the department has a three-pronged strategy: Ensure that shelters take precautions to separate the sick from the healthy; ensure that people on the street have the proper information they need to stay healthy; and identify places where sick individuals may be quarantined.
Officials are looking at sites that would allow them to isolate homeless people who might have COVID-19 from healthy people inside shelters. San Francisco also is developing quarantine locations for people who have tested positive for the virus, have been in contact with an individual with known exposure, and are either homeless or living in shared quarters.
Contra Costa County joined other Bay Area counties Tuesday in urging residents to avoid crowds. As of Tuesday evening, the county had 10 confirmed cases of coronavirus — four people with known contact with people who previously tested positive, and six people who had no recent history of travel outside the U.S. or known contact with a confirmed case.
Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna, deputy health officer, said he recommended all large community events be postponed or canceled. In particular, he said, people at higher risk — those 50 or older and people with underlying medical problems like heart and lung disease, diabetes, cancer or weak immune systems — should not go to mass gatherings such as religious services, celebrations, concerts, sporting events or parades.
Radhakrishna also said employers should suspend nonessential travel, including canceling conferences; allowing employees to telecommute; staggering schedules to reduce the number of workers in the office at the same time; and not requiring doctor’s notes for employees who are feeling ill.
“Given that we now know the novel coronavirus is spreading in our county, this is critical time, perhaps the best and only time for each of us to do our part to protect the community and decrease the spread of this virus,” Radhakrishna said.
In Santa Clara County — where public health officials face the largest number of confirmed cases in California — local leaders issued a rare legal order banning mass gatherings of 1,000 or more people, effective Wednesday through the rest of March.
The order includes sporting events. The San Jose Sharks said the hockey team would abide by the county’s new order, which is enforceable by the county sheriff and police, after declining an earlier recommendation to halt mass gatherings late last week. The San Jose Earthquakes are scheduled to play Sporting Kansas City on March 21, but it remains unclear whether the game will be postponed.
Santa Clara County reported two new coronavirus cases Tuesday, bringing the county’s total to 45 confirmed cases and one death.
“We are clearly facing a historic public health challenge,” Santa Clara County’s health officer Dr. Sara Cody said at a news conference Monday night. “The number and type of cases to date indicate that the risk of exposure to this virus in our community is increasing.”
Across the state, public schools and universities have closed or moved classes online, large gatherings have been canceled, and health officials are urging “social distancing” — reducing chances of contact with an infected person — to mitigate the growing outbreak.
UCLA, USC, UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, San Jose State, San Francisco State, Santa Clara, Princeton, Ohio State and Vanderbilt universities became the latest institutions to announce they would suspend all or most in-person classes. More than 25 universities in the U.S., the Mideast, Asia and Italy have announced moves to online learning.
Rancho Mirage announced it was shuttering its library and observatory until March 23, and the Los Angeles Times postponed its annual Festival of Books and Food Bowl. Times staffers also have been given the option to work from home and have been instructed to avoid the workplace for 14 days following any air travel. And Tuesday afternoon, after much speculation, concert promoter Goldenvoice announced the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival would be postponed until October.
But not all gathering places are shutting down. Universal Studios and Disneyland Resort are not closing and are instead monitoring the growing outbreak and regularly communicating with health officials, park officials said. Hand-sanitizing stations have been placed throughout Disneyland, and employees have been instructed to stay home when sick.
A satellite image shows the Grand Princess arriving at the Port of Oakland on Monday with support services nearby. (Satellite image 2020 Maxar Technologies/ Lorena Elebee)
For passengers aboard the Grand Princess, Monday brought relief as the cruise ship reached the Port of Oakland, providing the comfort of land, but no clear answers about their individual futures. After days of being forced to idle off the coast of Northern California, the ship docked with about 3,500 passengers and crew, including at least 21 who had tested positive for the new coronavirus.
“We’re trying to stay calm, and we’re trying to stay positive, but it’s getting harder and harder. They can’t make up their minds how to keep us safe,” said passenger Beryl Ward, 77, of Santa Fe, N.M.
Late in the afternoon, after hours of waiting, a handful of passengers wearing masks headed toward tan medical tents that had been erected earlier. State officials said Sunday the 3,000 travelers stuck in limbo since Wednesday would be screened for symptoms before being sent by ambulance for medical treatment, if necessary, or would board waiting tour buses headed for military bases for a 14-day quarantine.
The operation represented a controversial and high-risk move for federal, state and local officials. They had spent days debating the trade-offs of keeping passengers on board or allowing them to disembark — though more than 1,000 crew members, mostly foreign nationals, will remain quarantined on board.
Passengers wearing masks trickled out of the Grand Princess and walked to the bottom of a ramp, where masked officials in yellow protective gear and blue plastic gloves took their temperature and led them to a tent for more screening before they lined up to board a bus.
By Tuesday afternoon, more than 540 people had been offloaded from the ship. Roughly 228 Canadians were sent back to Canada, and 171 Californians were taken to Travis Air Force Base. At least 26 individuals were sick and being treated for the coronavirus or some other illness, officials said.
Thousands more were still waiting Tuesday to be released. Authorities said foreigners from more than 50 countries would be flown home, while U.S. passengers would be flown or bused to military bases in California, Texas and Georgia.
Elsewhere, cruise ship agencies have canceled upcoming stops in Monterey Bay after the city asked companies to alter their impending trips, city officials said. The Royal Princess has canceled its March 31, April 14 and April 28 visits to Monterey, and the Maasdam–Holland America cruise ship has canceled its April 29 visit.
“The city of Monterey has an obligation to ensure the public health of our residents, employees and visitors, and we appreciate the cruise ship companies taking action on behalf of our request,” City Manager Hans Uslar said in a statement.
The city of Santa Barbara also announced the cancellation of a Grand Princess cruise scheduled to visit the area March 24. City officials plan to contact other cruise lines to cancel upcoming visits to Santa Barbara until the CDC removes its travel advisory for cruise ships. There are 10 cruise stops planned for Santa Barbara through June.
“I appreciate Princess Cruises taking action and protecting the safety of the community and passengers. We are asking other cruise lines to follow their lead and take a cautious approach,” Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were more than 118,000 total virus cases worldwide, and more than 4,200 total deaths. Nationwide, more than 800 people were confirmed to be infected with the virus.
In California, the second person to die from the virus was a woman in Santa Clara County Officials said she was in her 60s and had been hospitalized for several weeks. Last week, Placer County public health officials announced that a 71-year-old Rocklin resident who had tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a cruise to Mexico last month died.
In Long Beach, three people are believed to have contracted the coronavirus after preliminary testing, officials announced Monday afternoon.
Riverside University Health System-Public Health also announced three new cases in Coachella Valley. The individuals are believed to have traveled to an area with a known outbreak, or had contact with a known case, Riverside County public health officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said. Two of the individuals have been isolated at home. The third is at a Coachella Valley hospital.
The county also confirmed its second case from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, bringing the number of COVID-19 cases in the county to at least six.
The nation’s capital also took a hit as six lawmakers, in rapid succession, announced their self-quarantine following exposure to someone with the virus.
Several lawmakers were exposed to a single person with coronavirus at a conservative political conference late last month. U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) met in Washington last week with someone later diagnosed with the virus.
All of them said they would self-quarantine even though they felt fine. Brownley shuttered her Washington office for the week. She and her staff would work from home, she said.
Medical personnel in tents, left, tend to passengers as they disembark from the Grand Princess cruise ship at the Port of Oakland. (Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images)
Times staff writers Richard Read, Jaclyn Cosgrove, Sarah Parvini , Thomas Curwen and Anita Chabria contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-13--Anticipation builds over possible closing of L.A. schools

Los Angeles school officials have called an emergency 7 a.m. closed-door meeting Friday , increasing speculation that a district-wide shutdown is imminent .
So far , no coronavirus cases have been linked to L.A. schools , which have remained open amid the widening pandemic .
The emergency meeting comes the morning after the L.A. teachers union called on the nation ’ s second-largest school district to close all its campuses as quickly as possible to combat the coronavirus outbreak .
While health officials have supported the district ’ s decision to keep schools operating , an increasing number of schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced closures including San Francisco Unified , several unified districts in Ventura County including Simi Valley , Moorpark and Oak Park .
Also the governors in four states — Ohio , Maryland , New Mexico and Michigan — ordered the closing of all public schools .
Elk Grove Unified , a large district in Northern California , was the first in the state to shut down .
On Wednesday , the Archdiocese of San Francisco shuttered all 90 of its schools in Marin , San Francisco and San Mateo counties .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In L.A. County , numerous private schools have closed and public school districts were moving in that direction .
L.A. Unified on Wednesday announced that all gatherings of groups would be canceled until further notice — curtailing events from the prom to the academic decathlon .
And sports events would continue , if at all , without spectators .
But the district had resisted a complete shutdown .
LAUSD enrolls about half a million students , eight in 10 of whom rely on free or reduced-price lunches and 18,000 of whom are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on us for meals , for child care , ” school board member Nick Melvoin said Thursday afternoon .
If schools close , parents who have to go to work may be forced to take their children with them .
Also , children in middle school and high school might congregate in public areas anyway , as teenagers tend to do , he said .
“ The school environment is one we can control right now , ” Melvoin said .
Supt .
Austin Beutner has had the task of preparing for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to online education would be difficult : A fourth of students don ’ t have adequate broadband at home and the district could provide computers to only about half of its students .
Many teachers have little experience with online platforms .
In a move that was both resourceful and desperate , Beutner entered into a partnership with PBS to provide educational programming on three different public television stations .
In the event of school closures , KCET would offer high school level programming .
KLCS — which is operated by L.A. Unified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through 8 .
And PBS SoCal KOCE would manage preschool through grade 2 .
Beutner said the service would be available to other school systems as needed and he welcomed their collaboration to make it better .
Disaster planning is going on in schools and school districts across the county .
Las Virgenes Unified , for example , will close for two days next week for “ staff in-service time to prepare for the likelihood of a district-wide closure , ” the district ’ s Supt .
Dan Stepenosky said in a letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district is closed Friday and Monday for a deep cleaning and staff meetings after “ a community member with children in our schools ” was exposed to coronavirus , according to a Thursday afternoon release from Supt .
Ben Drati .
No decision has been made on whether schools will reopen Tuesday .
“ We have noticed a higher than normal absentee rate on our campuses today and will take this time to determine if students are ill , with what type of illness , or if parents are keeping students home during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his statement .
“ This allows us time to consult with our local agencies and consider the status of this health emergency in L.A. County and the communities we serve , ” he said .
“ Staff and teachers will prepare for possible school closures next week .
”

Students hug as they are let out of school at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles LAUSD announced that schools will be closed due to the Coronavirus.
Los Angeles school officials on Friday announced that the nation’s second-largest school system will shut down its 900 campuses serving more than 670,000 students beginning Monday, citing concerns over the rapid spread of the coronavirus and joining an escalating number of districts throughout the state and nation.
The Los Angeles closure is initially scheduled to last two weeks, but a firm reopen date will depend on the status of the outbreak.
For the record: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the school system that jointly announced a shutdown with L.A. Unified. The school system was San Diego Unified, under Supt. Cindy Marten, not the San Diego County Office of Education, under Supt. Paul Gothold.
“The public health crisis created by the coronavirus is not something any of us could’ve reasonably expected to happen and we are in uncharted waters as we work to prevent the spread of the illness,” said L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner.
Advertisement
LAUSD’s announcement came as California’s five largest public school districts — including Fresno, Long Beach and San Diego — will pause classes. Although the state Department of Education does not have an exact number, all schools are closed in the counties of Marin, Monterey, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Solano and Ventura, affecting more than 2 million students. This comes on top of widespread actions by most state universities, including most of the University of California, to cancel in-person classes and move to online learning.
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)
Catholic schools in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties will close on Tuesday and nearly 75,000 students will shift to remote learning through at least March 31, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced.
At least 12 states — Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin —have ordered all schools closed affecting millions of students nationwide.
Education leaders throughout the country have struggled with the monumental decision to upend the routines of millions of families and seriously disrupt instruction at a critical time of the year, as teachers enter the home-stretch of their curricular programs. Also, children from poor and low-income families receive their weekday breakfast and lunch and, in some cases, dinner on campus. Parents rely on schools to provide childcare while they work — including first-responders, nurses, doctors and other emergency personnel who are likely to be needed to deal with the community medical crisis.
“California has now entered a critical new phase in the fight to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said a joint statement by Beutner and San Diego Unified Supt. Cindy Marten, who also closed her district. “There is evidence the virus is already present in the communities we serve, and our efforts now must be aimed at preventing its spread. We believe closing the state’s two largest school districts will make an important contribution to this effort.”
Advertisement
A key element of the Los Angeles coping strategy will be to open 40 “family resource centers” throughout the vast school system that will open Wednesday. These centers will provide childcare, educational activities and other services. They’ll also provide packaged meals. Beutner said a list of the centers will be provided before Monday.
As a public health precaution, all center visitors will have their temperature taken upon arrival and all students will be directed to wash their hands, Beutner said. The centers will be staffed by district employees on a voluntary basis, who will receive extra pay. The details on how employees will step forward and what they will be paid are the subject of ongoing discussions with district labor groups.
The district plans to provide training for those working at the centers Monday and Tuesday. The facilities will operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. They are likely to be located at schools. Beutner said they will be tied, when possible, to community hubs that already had been identified as part of the district’s effort to decentralize into regional communities of schools.
Beutner said he hoped that local transit agencies would provide free transportation to and from these centers as needed, but nothing has been worked out so far.
In addition, the Los Angeles district will offer televised and online lessons in an attempt to help families. School district employees will continue to be paid, even if not directly involved in working with students.
Some parents reacted to the news of the closures with apprehension.
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)
Crystal Ellis, 34, stood outside of Raymond Elementary School in South Los Angeles on Friday as a light drizzle came down. She held a white package and an iPad that the school asked her to pick up for her 11-year-old son.
“It’s a little bit scary because I don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said.
Nearby, an occasional parent rushed inside to pick up their children.
“Some parents are panicking and coming in to pick up their kids,” she said.
Veteran L.A. school board member and former state lawmaker Jackie Goldberg said that considerations about childcare weighed heavily in their unanimous decision.
Shaking her head as she spoke, Goldberg said the school closures were “probably the most difficult decision any of us on the board have had to make because it affects so many people and it affects so many children and it affects so many people who have jobs that they are fearful of losing if they have childcare issues.”
Teachers union president Alex Caputo-Pearl, who called on the district Thursday night to shut schools said all district leaders faces two “unacceptable alternatives”: keeping schools open during a dangerous public health crisis or closing them despite the lack of a social safety net for children and their families.
“What it shows is that this country, this city, this county does not have ... the practices in place or the structures in place to support young people or workers,” he said.
L.A. Unified had announced on Wednesday that all gatherings of groups would be canceled until further notice — curtailing events such as proms and the state academic decathlon. And sports events would continue, if at all, without spectators.
LAUSD enrolls about half a million students in kindergarten through 12th grade, 80% of whom rely on free or reduced-price lunches and 18,000 of whom are homeless.
A central challenge faced by the district is the continuation of academic work during a shutdown that could last for two weeks or more.
L.A. Unified is trying to address three hurdles: a lack of broadband access for students, a lack of computers at home, and teachers and students who are underprepared to switch to a non-classroom format.
In a Monday letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Beutner said that the district has about 330,000 computer devices available for 480,000 K-12 students. The district, Beutner said, would “need an additional 150,000 devices to make sure all students can continue to learn if their schools are closed.”
However, it isn’t clear that all these computers could be sent home with students or that they are the correct devices for the task at hand. An iPad without a keyboard, for example, would work for a student film project, but not so well for an essay.
Beutner has requested $50 million from the state for additional computers, but no immediate relief appears to be in sight. In the meantime, he has authorized the use of $10 million to purchase 50,000 additional devices, which should be available in several days, he said.
Beutner had the power to authorize this purchase, without going through the normal, lengthy bidding process, by virtue of emergency powers granted this week by the Board of Education.
In the meantime, the plan was for schools to distribute computer devices Friday for students who need them. This step — allowing potentially tens of thousands of students to take home district computers on short notice for an extended period — is unprecedented for L.A. Unified. Students could face problems using them and keeping them secure.
But having computers is only part of the challenge. Many families lack the broadband access needed to connect online to lessons and assignments. Beutner on Monday wrote to local carriers requesting that they place free hotspots in low-income communities.
Charter Communications announced that, beginning Monday, it will offer 60 days of free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access to households with K-12 or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription. Installation fees will be waived for these households, the company said in a news release.
The company also plans to open Wi-Fi hotspots across its footprint for public use, as of Monday.
Adela Hernandez, 35, watched Friday as the washer at a laundromat spun around, wondering how she and her husband would manage their 10-year-old son’s education without internet at home. He attends West Vernon Elementary school without internet at home.
“Maybe I’ll ask the neighbor if they can give us access,” she said. “I’ll have to maybe pay her.”
Times were already getting hard. Hernandez said she’s bringing in less money at home because her hours at work were cut down.
“I was working five days out of the week, now just three,” she said.
It is unclear how prepared teachers and students are for the transition.
Beutner said every school has asked teachers to prepare two weeks of instruction that students can continue at home.
Every student has an online account through which teachers can assign work and students can turn it in. Some teachers make better use of this resource than others. Self-contained online courses also will be available, but have mainly been used by high school students to pass required courses that they previously failed.
In a move that was both resourceful and desperate, Beutner entered into a partnership with PBS SoCal/KCET to provide educational programming on three local public television stations. The KCET channel will offer high school level programming. KLCS — which is operated by L.A. Unified — will offer content for grades 3 through 8. And the PBS SoCal channel will manage preschool through grade 2.
Beutner said the service is available to other school systems as needed and he welcomed their collaboration to make it better.
Disaster planning is going on in schools and school districts across the state and county.
Las Virgenes Unified, for example, will close for two days next week for “staff in-service time to prepare for the likelihood of a districtwide closure,” the district’s Supt. Dan Stepenosky said in a letter to families Thursday.
The Santa Monica-Malibu district is closed Friday and Monday for a deep cleaning and staff meetings after “a community member with children in our schools” was exposed to coronavirus, according to a Thursday afternoon release from Supt. Ben Drati. No decision has been made on whether schools will reopen Tuesday.
““This allows us time to consult with our local agencies and consider the status of this health emergency in L.A. County and the communities we serve,” Drati said.”Staff and teachers will prepare for possible school closures next week.”
Jenna Schwartz, 41, of Valley Village, pulled her two children out of school on Thursday, because she believed school closure was imminent and wanted to prepare.
Last year, during the LAUSD teacher’s strike, Schwartz started the Facebook group “Parents Supporting Teachers,” that has since grown to more than 23,000 members. In recent days, it has become a sounding board for parents concerned about school closures.
The strike helped ready parents for the possibility that schools might shutter, but Schwartz said, this time is very different.
During the strike, many parents took their children to parks and museums and organized play dates, Schwartz said. But it’s not the same with large gatherings canceled and people practicing social distancing.
“This is actually being at home,” she said. “I think this is going to be really challenging for people. It’s going to be challenging to not sort of be like, ‘fine watch TV.’”
As a stay-at-home mom, Schwartz said, she knows she has it easier than some parents, so she’s grateful that the district will provide child care centers to help parents who have to work.
Yesterday, she and her children inventoried their refrigerator, to stock up on food for the coming weeks. And on Friday, they set up a school room at home — the kids made their own desks from folding tables, and spent part of the morning searching cookbooks, picking out meals for the family as they hunker down.
In the afternoon, Schwartz said she would be going to her children’s schools to pick up their assignments.
After that, she said, “we’re planning ideally to not leave the house anymore.”