latimes--2020-03-17--How the San Francisco Bay Area coronavirus 'shelter in place' order works

Seven counties in the greater San Francisco Bay Area region have issued a shelter-in-place order to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Here ’ s how it works .
Why it ’ s being done The San Francisco Bay Area is the hardest-hit region in California with regards to coronavirus cases .
More than 290 cases have been reported in the six Bay Area counties of Alameda , Contra Costa , Marin , San Francisco , San Mateo and Santa Clara , as well as the neighboring county of Santa Cruz .
In Santa Clara County alone , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 50 have been hospitalized .
Officials expect the number of cases to worsen .
Officials say slowing the spread of the virus is urgent to prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed .
Older adults and those with underlying medical conditions are most at risk for critical illness , with their bodies unable to fight off a viral infection of the lungs that can result in a failure to breathe on their own , septic shock and multiple organ failure .
“ Some individuals who contract the COVID-19 virus have no symptoms or have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be aware they carry the virus , ” the order said .
“ Because even people without symptoms can transmit the disease , and because evidence shows the disease is easily spread , gatherings can result in preventable transmission of the virus.
” What does the order say ?
Officials are directing the public to stay at home as much as possible , with certain exceptions , such as to go out and get food at supermarkets , pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy , buy gas , go to the bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You will still be able to walk your dog , or go on a hike alone or someone you live with , or even with another person , as long as you keep six feet between you , ” Dr. Grant Colfax , the San Francisco director of health , said at a press conference .
Certain essential activities are exempt , such as essential government and business services or essential public infrastructure construction , like housing .
Essential activities are defined below .
The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. on April 7 , unless rescinded earlier or extended .
What kinds of businesses are now ordered closed ?
Essential businesses are urged to remain open .
A list of them is below .
Restaurants and cafes can remain open for takeout and delivery .
How big can gatherings be now ?
All public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a single household or living unit are now banned , with certain exceptions listed below .
What kind of travel is banned ?
All travel , including by car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for essential travel or essential activities , as defined below .
Public transit riders should try to stay six feet away from others .
Homeless people are not subject to this order but are urged to find shelter .
How will it be enforced ?
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said police are asking the public to voluntarily comply .
While violation of the health order could be enforceable as a misdemeanor , “ that is an absolute last resort , ” Scott said .
“ This is not about a criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” What are essential activities that are still allowed to occur ?
• To do things essential to health and safety of the household , including pets , like getting medical supplies , visiting a clinic or hospital , or obtaining supplies to work from home .
• To obtain needed services or supplies , like buying groceries .
• To engage in outdoor activities like walking , hiking or running , while keeping six feet away from others .
• To do work defined as essential business , defined below .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pet in another household .
• To continue working for a healthcare operation , like a hospital , clinic , dentist ’ s office , pharmacy , pharmaceutical and biotech company , a healthcare facility , healthcare supplier , home healthcare service , mental health provider , veterinary office or other related services .
• To continue working for construction projects needed for essential infrastructure , such as building housing , airport operations , and work on water , sewer , gas , electrical , oil refining , roads and highways , public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and telecom systems .
• To continue working as first responders , emergency management personnel , emergency dispatchers , court personnel , and law enforcement .
Anyone needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health , safety and welfare of the public is exempt .
People at high risk for severe illness , such as the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions , are urged to remain at home except as needed to seek medical care .
If you go out , what are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet away from other people — the distance at which virus-infected saliva can travel in someone ’ s cough or sneeze ; wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds often or use hand sanitizer ; cover coughs and sneezes ; stop shaking hands ; • Other than healthcare workers and other essential workers , if you have a medical condition that puts you at risk for serious complications for the coronavirus , stay at home ; • For employers , take all steps needed to allow workers to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What are essential businesses under this order ?
• Grocery stores , certified farmers ’ markets , farm and produce stands , supermarkets , food banks , convenience stores , and other establishments that sell canned food , dry goods , fresh fruits and vegetables , pet supplies , fresh meats , fish and poultry , and household products such as cleaning and personal care products .
• Businesses that provide food , shelter and social services and other necessities of life for the needy • Plumbers , electricians , exterminators , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are necessary to maintaining safety and sanitation • Educational institutions — including public and private K-12 schools , colleges and universities — for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing essential functions • Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food , but only for delivery or carry out .
Schools and other entities that typically provide free food services to students or members of the public may continue to do so under this order on the condition that the food is provided to students or members of the public on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other entities that provide food services under this exemption shall not permit the food to be eaten at the site where it is provided , or at any other gathering site • Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home • Businesses that supply other essential businesses with the support or supplies necessary to operate • Businesses that ship or deliver groceries , food , goods or services directly to residences • Airlines , taxis and other private transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for essential activities • Residential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and children • Professional services , such as legal or accounting services , when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities • Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in this order to work as permitted .
To the extent possible , childcare facilities must operate under the following mandatory conditions : • Childcare must be carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer ( “ stable ” means that the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day ) .
• Children shall not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility , each group shall be in a separate room .
Groups shall not mix with each other .
• Childcare providers shall remain solely with one group of children .

Medical staff test a person for the novel coronavirus in a drive-through setting at the Kaiser Permanente Geary campus in San Francisco on Wednesday. Drive-through testing at the campus is available by appointment only.
At least 17 counties in California, centered on the San Francisco Bay Area, have issued shelter-in-place or shelter-at-home orders to slow the spread of coronavirus. Here’s how it works.
Why it’s being done
The San Francisco Bay Area is the hardest-hit region in California with regards to coronavirus cases. More than 450 have been reported in the nine Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Napa and Solano), which issued the orders this week.
In Santa Clara County alone, 189 cases were confirmed and more than 60 have been hospitalized. Officials expect the number of cases to worsen. Other counties around the state issued similar orders this week — Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and San Luis Obispo in the Central Coast area; Sacaramento and Yolo in the Sacramento Valley, which includes Davis and West Sacramento; Mendocino and Lake in the North Coast area.
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Officials say slowing the spread of the virus is urgent to prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed. Older adults and those with underlying medical conditions are most at risk for critical illness, with their bodies unable to fight off a viral infection of the lungs that can result in a failure to breathe on their own, septic shock and multiple organ failure.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
“Some individuals who contract the COVID-19 virus have no symptoms or have mild symptoms, which means they may not be aware they carry the virus,” the order said. “Because even people without symptoms can transmit the disease, and because evidence shows the disease is easily spread, gatherings can result in preventable transmission of the virus.”
What does the order say?
Officials are directing the public to stay at home as much as possible, with certain exceptions, such as to go out and get food at supermarkets, pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy, buy gas, go to the bank and check up on relatives.
San Francisco coronavirus shelter-in-place order - March 16, 2020 More than half a dozen San Francisco Bay Area counties issued similar orders asking almost all people to stay home as much as possible to help reduce the spread of the new coronavirus.
“You will still be able to walk your dog, or go on a hike alone or someone you live with, or even with another person, as long as you keep 6 feet between you,” Dr. Grant Colfax, the San Francisco director of health, said at a press conference.
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Certain essential activities are exempt, such as essential government and business services or essential public infrastructure construction, like housing. Essential activities are defined below.
Alameda County coronavirus ‘shelter-in-place’ order - March 16, 2020 Counties in the greater San Francisco Bay Area region issued a coronavirus ‘shelter-in-place’ order. Here’s the text of the order, issued by Alameda County; similar orders have been issued in San Francisco and the counties of Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Contra Costa and Santa Cruz.
The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. It’ll continue until 11:59 p.m. on April 7, unless rescinded earlier or extended.
What kinds of businesses are now ordered closed?
All bars and nightclubs
Gyms and recreation facilities
Essential businesses are urged to remain open. A list of them is below.
Are restaurants and cafes ordered closed?
Restaurants and cafes can remain open for takeout and delivery.
How big can gatherings be now?
All public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a single household or living unit are now banned, with certain exceptions listed below.
What kind of travel is banned?
All travel, including by car and public transit, is banned except for essential travel or essential activities, as defined below. Public transit riders should try to stay 6 feet away from others.
What about homeless people?
Homeless people are not subject to this order but are urged to find shelter.
How will it be enforced?
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said police are asking the public to voluntarily comply. While violation of the health order could be enforceable as a misdemeanor, “that is an absolute last resort,” Scott said. “This is not about a criminal justice approach to a public health issue.”
What are essential activities that are still allowed to occur?
To do things essential to health and safety of the household, including pets, like getting medical supplies, visiting a clinic or hospital, or obtaining supplies to work from home.
To obtain needed services or supplies, like buying groceries.
To engage in outdoor activities like walking, hiking or running, while keeping 6 feet away from others.
To do work defined as essential business, defined below.
To care for a family member or pet in another household.
To continue working for a healthcare operation, like a hospital, clinic, dentist’s office, pharmacy, pharmaceutical and biotech company, a healthcare facility, healthcare supplier, home healthcare service, mental health provider, veterinary office or other related services.
To continue working for construction projects needed for essential infrastructure, such as building housing, airport operations, and work on water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection, internet, and telecom systems.
To continue working as first responders, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, court personnel, and law enforcement. Anyone needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public is exempt.
People at high risk for severe illness, such as the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, are urged to remain at home except as needed to seek medical care.
If you go out, what are you supposed to do?
Stay 6 feet away from other people — the distance at which virus-infected saliva can travel in someone’s cough or sneeze; wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds often or use hand sanitizer; cover coughs and sneezes; stop shaking hands; Other than healthcare workers and other essential workers, if you have a medical condition that puts you at risk for serious complications for the coronavirus, stay at home; For employers, take all steps needed to allow workers to work from home to the extent possible.
What are essential businesses under this order?
Healthcare operations
Grocery stores, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, and other establishments that sell canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet supplies, fresh meats, fish and poultry, and household products such as cleaning and personal care products.
Food cultivation, like farming, livestock and fishing
Businesses that provide food, shelter and social services and other necessities of life for the needy
Newspapers, TV, radio and other media services
Gas stations, auto supply, auto repair and related facilities
Banks and related financial institutions
Hardware stores
Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining safety and sanitation
Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes
Educational institutions — including public and private K-12 schools, colleges and universities — for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing essential functions
Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers
Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, but only for delivery or carry out. Schools and other entities that typically provide free food services to students or members of the public may continue to do so under this order on the condition that the food is provided to students or members of the public on a pickup and takeaway basis only. Schools and other entities that provide food services under this exemption shall not permit the food to be eaten at the site where it is provided, or at any other gathering site
Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home
Businesses that supply other essential businesses with the support or supplies necessary to operate
Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences
Airlines, taxis and other private transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for essential activities
Home-based care for seniors, adults and children
Residential facilities and shelters for seniors, adults and children
Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities
Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in this order to work as permitted. To the extent possible, childcare facilities must operate under the following mandatory conditions: Childcare must be carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer (“stable” means that the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day). Children shall not change from one group to another. If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group shall be in a separate room. Groups shall not mix with each other. Childcare providers shall remain solely with one group of children.
Can I still get an eye exam or teeth cleaning?
A separate upcoming order will require routine medical appointments and elective surgery be canceled or rescheduled.
What if my business is not an “Essential Business”?
Owners and employees are allowed to perform minimum basic operations, like activities to maintain the value of the business’ inventory and ensure security, and to ensure other workers being able to work remotely from home.
Will the local government close?
“Essential services” by city and county government will remain operational, such as police, fire, hospitals, clinics, jails, courts, garbage, public transportation, water, power and gas, office uses like payroll, security and administration, public works construction including construction of housing and airport operations.
Can I still get deliveries?
Yes.
Can I use a rideshare or taxi?
Yes, for essential activities.
Can I go to the laundromat or dry cleaner?
Yes.
Can nannies still work?
Yes, in some instances, like if the nanny provides health care for the child, or if the child lives with you. Nannies are also permitted to work if parents are required to work away from home for essential services.


latimes--2020-03-16--As coronavirus spreads, 7 Bay Area counties ordered to shelter in place

Seven counties in the greater San Francisco Bay Area issued sweeping orders Monday that will force most businesses to close and residents to “ shelter-in-place ” inside their homes — the nation ’ s most stringent public health measures yet as state and local governments strain to rein in the coronavirus .
San Francisco Mayor London Breed called Monday ’ s order a necessity , suggesting that the federal response to the COVID-19 virus had been too slow and that local governments needed to take bold action to slow the sometimes deadly virus .
While it is possible Southern California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , the focus is on the Bay Area , home to the greatest number of cases with counties reporting three deaths in just the last two days .
“ Many are calling this the new normal , ” Breed said at an afternoon news conference , referring to the restrictions .
“ Well , it ’ s the new normal , temporarily , in an effort to protect public health.
” “ These measures will be disruptive to day-to-day life , ” she added .
“ But there is no need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health officials in San Francisco and six other counties — Santa Clara , San Mateo , Marin , Contra Costa , Alameda and Santa Cruz , and also from the city of Berkeley .
The actions affect nearly 7 million residents and thousands of businesses .
It was scheduled to take effect at midnight Monday and to remain in force for three weeks , until April 7 .
Public health experts praised the region ’ s action , while residents , business owners and workers were divided .
Some welcomed the restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while others feared they could threaten jobs and livelihoods , doing more harm than the virus itself .
The measures are designed to prevent COVID-19 from spreading so quickly that hospitals get overrun with a surge of patients .
Dr. George Rutherford , a public health epidemiologist at UCSF , said the rules should significantly slow the spread of the virus in the coming weeks .
“ It ’ s going to change it , ” Rutherford said , “ and it ’ s going to change it for the better.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California facing possibly the worst risk of having its health systems overwhelmed by the coronavirus , which as of Monday afternoon , had killed more than 7,000 people worldwide .
In the greater Bay Area , more than 290 cases have been reported in the seven counties , with more than 130 alone in Santa Clara County , home to Stanford University and Silicon Valley .
Of the 11 deaths reported in California , five have been in the Bay Area .
Orders in each of the seven counties were similarly worded — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , but offering a fairly broad definition of what is “ essential.
” Police and fire departments , hospitals , grocery stores , gas stations , banks and pharmacies all will be allowed to remain in operation .
Restaurants were ordered closed to eat-in customers , but will be allowed to remain open for take-out and delivery orders .
Also deemed essential and exempt from closure : the media and workers who maintain water , sewer , gas , transportation , electrical and other public systems , including the internet .
Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaners , hardware stores , plumbers , electricians , exterminators , and others deemed to “ provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety , sanitation , and essential operation ” of homes and businesses .
Officials emphasized that , while residents should take the orders seriously , they would not be inflexible .
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said police are asking the public to voluntarily comply .
While violation of the health order could be enforceable as a misdemeanor , “ that is an absolute last resort , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a criminal justice approach to a public health issue.
” The orders recognized that homeless people would not be able to shelter-in-place and instead urged them “ to find shelter ” adding that “ government agencies are urged to take steps needed to provide shelter for those individuals.
” Health officials assured residents they also would be free to go out to buy food and medicine and other essentials .
The orders also allowed for outdoor activities such as “ walking , hiking or running , ” while reminding residents to comply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by health officials — to remain six feet away from others .
“ You will still be able to walk your dog , or go on a hike alone or someone you live with , or even with another person , as long as you keep six feet between you , ” said Dr. Grant Colfax , San Francisco director of health .
He also emphasized that restaurants would be open for to-go business and that residents would be allowed to care for relatives .
“ Together we will get through this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after health officers from six of the seven counties conferred over the weekend and “ agreed that this step is needed immediately , `` Colfax said .
“ Now is the time to do everything we can to prevent the situation from getting much worse in a matter of days or weeks ... .
Every hour counts.
” Other California counties gave no indication they would follow the Bay Area ’ s lead .
Barbara Ferrer , Los Angeles County director of public health , said earlier on Monday that the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same infection rate as the Bay Area and she had no plans for a shelter-in-place order .
But she cautioned : “ Nothing ’ s off the table for anyone , anywhere in the United States.
” For businesses and workers in Northern California , there was no question that the new order would further escalate the economic distress caused by COVID-19 , this time hitting the nation ’ s tech capital and a region that is home to both immense wealth and stubborn poverty .
Jordan Kutzer , a consultant who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had received numerous contacts from businesses looking for funding to weather the next six to 12 months .
He described a feeling of helplessness among people used to solving problems .
“ There are lots of questions about what life is going to be like going forward , ” said Kutzer .
“ And this is an area built by problem solvers .
...
The people who look at big solutions all the time are looking around and saying , ‘ What are we going to do ?
’ ” At the lower-end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear .
Ducky ’ s Car Wash in Menlo Park was preparing to close Monday , putting 50 employees out of work .
“ The rent still needs to get paid .
But I won ’ t have it , ” said Daniel Flores , one of the workers .
He ’ s thinking about looking for other work , but knows that ’ s not going to be easy — as everything is going to shut down .
He said everyone at the car wash is worried .
“ A lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to to make ends meet , ” Flores said .
“ They ’ re going from barely making it to nothing .
It ’ s really scary.
” Along Menlo Park ’ s main shopping drag , Santa Cruz Avenue , not all businesses were ready to concede they were nonessential .
Jenny Smetana , a manager at Cheeky Monkey toy store , said she had no plans to close the following day .
“ We ’ re going to do what we do , ” she said .
“ Until we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement , we ’ ll keep doing what we do.
” At the flooring store up the street , John Christiansen , manager of Abbey Carpet , said doors would be open the following morning .
He said : “ There are only three people working here.
” Across the Bay Area , the public health orders provoked spirited debate .
“ I am surprised because I feel like I am staying six feet away from people and hand sanitizing , and it just seems a little extreme at this point , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a largely retired addiction physician who lives in Contra Costa County and works part time .
“ But it definitely makes my life easier because I was going to draft an email to my work saying , ‘ I am not coming in.
’ Now I can honestly say I can ’ t come in.
” Edward Collins , 71 , a retired police officer who lives in Pacheco , called the orders “ a tempest in a teapot.
” “ I don ’ t know how we can stop the virus anyway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ To me this is just a big inconvenience over something that is not much more than a cold.
” Katherine Trent , 28 , a Lafayette resident who does public relations for a dentist , welcomed the action .
“ Personally I think I would have been more comfortable if it had happened sooner , ” she said .
“ I think we are a little bit behind .
I know it ’ s going to be tough for everyone to stay at home , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an insurance broker in the upscale East Bay community of Walnut Creek , praised the shelter-in-place advisory as a wise preventive measure that might have collateral benefits .
“ I see a lot of panic in people ’ s eyes , but I also see lot of cooperation , ” Santos said , “ and people willing to help each other .
On Nextdoor , the social networking service , “ I saw a lot of people stepping up and offering to do store runs for elderly people and people looking out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it ’ s just what our country needs , ” he added .
“ I don ’ t mean that we need to be sick .
But our country needs something like this to come together and heal .
It will help us heal.
” Times staff writers Anita Chabria , Maura Dolan and Mark Z. Barabak contributed to this report .
Lin reported from Millbrae , Rust from Menlo Park and Rainey from Pasadena .

Rong-Gong Lin II, Susanne Rust, James Rainey

Seven counties in the greater San Francisco Bay Area issued sweeping orders Monday that will force most businesses to close and residents to “shelter-in-place” inside their homes — the nation’s most stringent public health measures yet as state and local governments strain to rein in the coronavirus.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed called Monday’s order a necessity, suggesting that the federal response to the COVID-19 virus had been too slow and that local governments needed to take bold action to slow the sometimes deadly virus.
While it is possible Southern California authorities will issue similar orders, for now, the focus is on the Bay Area, home to the greatest number of cases with counties reporting three deaths in just the last two days.
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“Many are calling this the new normal,” Breed said at an afternoon news conference, referring to the restrictions. “Well, it’s the new normal, temporarily, in an effort to protect public health.”
“These measures will be disruptive to day-to-day life,” she added. “But there is no need to panic.”
The order was issued by public health officials in San Francisco and six other counties — Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa, Alameda and Santa Cruz, and also from the city of Berkeley. The actions affect nearly 7 million residents and thousands of businesses. It was scheduled to take effect at midnight Monday and to remain in force for three weeks, until April 7.
California How the San Francisco Bay Area coronavirus ‘shelter in place’ order works Stay at home as much as possible, officials say, but there are exceptions, like to go out and get food, pick up medicine, buy gas, go to the bank and check up on relatives.
Public health experts praised the region’s action, while residents, business owners and workers were divided. Some welcomed the restrictions as necessary for the common good, while others feared they could threaten jobs and livelihoods, doing more harm than the virus itself.
The measures are designed to prevent COVID-19 from spreading so quickly that hospitals get overrun with a surge of patients. Dr. George Rutherford, a public health epidemiologist at UCSF, said the rules should significantly slow the spread of the virus in the coming weeks.
Advertisement
“It’s going to change it,” Rutherford said, “and it’s going to change it for the better.”
The social-distancing directives stemmed from a part of California facing possibly the worst risk of having its health systems overwhelmed by the coronavirus, which as of Monday afternoon, had killed more than 7,000 people worldwide. In the greater Bay Area, more than 290 cases have been reported in the seven counties, with more than 130 alone in Santa Clara County, home to Stanford University and Silicon Valley. Of the 11 deaths reported in California, five have been in the Bay Area.
Orders in each of the seven counties were similarly worded — requiring all but essential businesses to shut down, but offering a fairly broad definition of what is “essential.” Police and fire departments, hospitals, grocery stores, gas stations, banks and pharmacies all will be allowed to remain in operation.
Restaurants were ordered closed to eat-in customers, but will be allowed to remain open for take-out and delivery orders. Also deemed essential and exempt from closure: the media and workers who maintain water, sewer, gas, transportation, electrical and other public systems, including the internet.
Other exemptions were allowed for laundromats, dry cleaners, hardware stores, plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and others deemed to “provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation” of homes and businesses.
Officials emphasized that, while residents should take the orders seriously, they would not be inflexible.
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said police are asking the public to voluntarily comply. While violation of the health order could be enforceable as a misdemeanor, “that is an absolute last resort,” Scott said. “This is not about a criminal justice approach to a public health issue.”
The orders recognized that homeless people would not be able to shelter-in-place and instead urged them “to find shelter” adding that “government agencies are urged to take steps needed to provide shelter for those individuals.”
Health officials assured residents they also would be free to go out to buy food and medicine and other essentials. The orders also allowed for outdoor activities such as “walking, hiking or running,” while reminding residents to comply with “social-distancing” requirements set forth by health officials — to remain six feet away from others.
“You will still be able to walk your dog, or go on a hike alone or someone you live with, or even with another person, as long as you keep six feet between you,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco director of health. He also emphasized that restaurants would be open for to-go business and that residents would be allowed to care for relatives.
“Together we will get through this,” Colfax said.
The action came after health officers from six of the seven counties conferred over the weekend and “agreed that this step is needed immediately, “ Colfax said. “Now is the time to do everything we can to prevent the situation from getting much worse in a matter of days or weeks.... Every hour counts.”
Other California counties gave no indication they would follow the Bay Area’s lead. Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County director of public health, said earlier on Monday that the state’s most populous county did not have the same infection rate as the Bay Area and she had no plans for a shelter-in-place order.
But she cautioned: “Nothing’s off the table for anyone, anywhere in the United States.”
For businesses and workers in Northern California, there was no question that the new order would further escalate the economic distress caused by COVID-19, this time hitting the nation’s tech capital and a region that is home to both immense wealth and stubborn poverty.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
Jordan Kutzer, a consultant who advises Silicon Valley startups, said he had received numerous contacts from businesses looking for funding to weather the next six to 12 months. He described a feeling of helplessness among people used to solving problems.
“There are lots of questions about what life is going to be like going forward,” said Kutzer. “And this is an area built by problem solvers. ... The people who look at big solutions all the time are looking around and saying, ‘What are we going to do?’ ”
At the lower-end of the economic ladder, workers expressed fear. Ducky’s Car Wash in Menlo Park was preparing to close Monday, putting 50 employees out of work.
“The rent still needs to get paid. But I won’t have it,” said Daniel Flores, one of the workers. He’s thinking about looking for other work, but knows that’s not going to be easy — as everything is going to shut down. He said everyone at the car wash is worried.
“A lot of these guys work two jobs. They have to to make ends meet,” Flores said. “They’re going from barely making it to nothing. It’s really scary.”
Along Menlo Park’s main shopping drag, Santa Cruz Avenue, not all businesses were ready to concede they were nonessential.
Jenny Smetana, a manager at Cheeky Monkey toy store, said she had no plans to close the following day.
“We’re going to do what we do,” she said. “Until we hear otherwise, or get an official statement, we’ll keep doing what we do.”
At the flooring store up the street, John Christiansen, manager of Abbey Carpet, said doors would be open the following morning. He said: “There are only three people working here.”
Across the Bay Area, the public health orders provoked spirited debate.
“I am surprised because I feel like I am staying six feet away from people and hand sanitizing, and it just seems a little extreme at this point,” said Dr. Nicola Longmuir, 66, a largely retired addiction physician who lives in Contra Costa County and works part time.
“But it definitely makes my life easier because I was going to draft an email to my work saying, ‘I am not coming in.’ Now I can honestly say I can’t come in.”
Edward Collins, 71, a retired police officer who lives in Pacheco, called the orders “a tempest in a teapot.”
“I don’t know how we can stop the virus anyway, how we can slow it down,” he said. “To me this is just a big inconvenience over something that is not much more than a cold.”
Katherine Trent, 28, a Lafayette resident who does public relations for a dentist, welcomed the action.
“Personally I think I would have been more comfortable if it had happened sooner,” she said. “I think we are a little bit behind. I know it’s going to be tough for everyone to stay at home, but it is necessary.”
Scott Santos, 56, an insurance broker in the upscale East Bay community of Walnut Creek, praised the shelter-in-place advisory as a wise preventive measure that might have collateral benefits.
“I see a lot of panic in people’s eyes, but I also see lot of cooperation,” Santos said, “and people willing to help each other. On Nextdoor, the social networking service, “I saw a lot of people stepping up and offering to do store runs for elderly people and people looking out for each other.”
“So I think it’s just what our country needs,” he added. “I don’t mean that we need to be sick. But our country needs something like this to come together and heal. It will help us heal.”
Times staff writers Anita Chabria, Maura Dolan and Mark Z. Barabak contributed to this report. Lin reported from Millbrae, Rust from Menlo Park and Rainey from Pasadena.


latimes--2020-03-17--Coronavirus cases rise to 94 in L.A. County as officials issue more emergency restrictions

Coronavirus cases in California continue to rise as officials turn to extraordinary steps to slow the spread .
L.A. County officials announced the closure of all bars , fitness centers and movie theaters and directed restaurants to move to takeout only .
The directive applies to all 88 cities and unincorporated regions of the county , including Los Angeles , which issued a similar directive Sunday .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom made a similar announcement Monday evening , asking all California restaurants to close their doors to dine-in customers and that gyms , health clubs and movie theaters should also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re asking people to shelter in place , to isolate at home , ” Newsom said during an update broadcast on Facebook Live .
“ The point of gatherings is lost on all of us from a public safety and health perspective .
So directing that no gatherings … we think it ’ s very rational under these circumstances .
Disruptive , I know , for some .
But rational , we believe , in this moment.
” In L.A. , officials are also banning gatherings of more than 50 people following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control and Prevention .
Twenty-five new cases were confirmed Monday , bringing L.A. County ’ s total to 94 , according to county public health data .
There have been 41 new cases in the county over the last 48 hours , and at least 15 of the cases are likely due to community transmission .
“ Residents at this point must assume that there may be people who are infected everywhere in the county , ” Dr. Barbara Ferrer , the L.A. County Department of Public Health director , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of specific cities and neighborhoods where cases of the virus have been confirmed .
The city of Los Angeles currently has the largest count with more than 25 confirmed cases .
Other affected cities include Beverly Hills , Arcadia , Alhambra , Glendale , Torrance and West Hollywood .
Elsewhere in the state , public health officials provided more grim news Monday afternoon .
Newsom announced , as of Monday , California had 392 confirmed cases , 57 more than reported on Sunday .
The new confirmed cases include one homeless person in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its first two deaths associated with COVID-19 , two patients in the Coachella Valley .
“ Sadly , these outcomes are expected as we face a serious challenge and continue to make the necessary decisions to protect the health of the community , ” Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said in a statement .
Santa Clara County confirmed two additional deaths , bringing that county ’ s total to four .
And Sacramento County confirmed one person had died , bringing its total to two deaths , both people who were older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Officials said that all hospitals were preparing for a surge in patients .
President Trump announced new guidelines that urge people to participate in schooling from home , avoid eating and drinking at bars and restaurants and food courts , avoid discretionary travel from home and avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 .
“ If everyone makes these critical changes and sacrifices now , we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus , ” he said .
“ It ’ s important for the young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they may experience milder symptoms , they can easily spread this virus , ” adding that “ we especially worry about our senior citizens.
” After the Silicon Valley region reported 114 coronavirus cases and rising , six counties in the Bay Area were to be placed under a shelter-in-place directive by public health officials , San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals said Monday .
It ’ s a move that will close virtually all businesses and direct residents to remain at home .
Later , Santa Cruz County issued a similar order , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Asked if L.A. County should expect a similar shelter-in-place order , Ferrer said that , at this point , the county didn ’ t have the same trajectory as what was happening to the north and hoped the spread of the virus would slow down .
But she cautioned : “ Nothing ’ s off the table for anyone anywhere in the United States.
” In Sacramento County , officials confirmed a second death related to coronavirus , bringing the total number of deaths in the state to seven .
The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher in the Sacramento City Unified School District , who died Sunday after contracting the coronavirus .
The instructor , who also was a temporary volunteer , worked at Sutterville Elementary School in February , the district announced .
Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Sunday night a moratorium on evictions for renters , telling Angelenos that they won ’ t lose their housing during the crisis “ because you can ’ t make the rent , ” and has asked the city attorney to look into whether the city can stop commercial evictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is putting together a fund for small businesses that will offer loans .
On Monday evening , Garcetti announced further measures to lessen the impact of the outbreak on residents .
Garcetti said the city will ease a number of parking enforcement policies , including not ticketing people for violating street sweeping policies in residential areas , and not ticketing parents and caregivers who violate parking policies while picking up meals around schools .
Metered parking will still be enforced , along with colored curb parking rules , Garcetti said .
“ Nobody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Garcetti said .
“ There ’ s no need to worry about the financial cost of keeping your car at home while you practice safe social distancing and you help our city flatten the curve.
” Garcetti also announced that half of LAPD detectives will work on the streets of L.A. to supplement patrol officers and help ensure public safety during the coronavirus crisis .
The mayor said he is not considering enforcing a curfew because the city hadn ’ t seen issues with looting or spikes in crime at night .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an answer for a different sort of emergency , ” Garcetti said .
“ It ’ s less that people can ’ t move at nighttime than where they were going that we needed to stop , and that ’ s why we had to make the difficult decision ” to place restrictions on bars , movie theaters and other venues .
On Monday , the director of the World Health Organization , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , noted a dramatic increase in social distancing measures in response to the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a corresponding rise in testing and isolating contacts , which are both required to stop an outbreak , he said .
“ You can not fight a fire blindfolded , and we can not stop this pandemic if we do not know who is infected , ” Tedros said during a news briefing Monday .
“ We have a simple message for all countries : Test , test , test.
” He said anyone suspected of having COVID-19 should be able to get tested .
Responding to the outbreak requires a political commitment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A government should “ be able to mobilize the whole society and make sure that this response becomes everybody ’ s business , ” he said .
Tedros said crises such as pandemics tend to bring out the “ best and worst in humanity.
” The world is likely still early in this outbreak , he added .
“ This is the defining global health crisis of our time , ” he said .
“ The days , weeks and months ahead will be a test of our resolve , a test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test of our solidarity.
” In Los Angeles , bars and nightclubs have closed and restaurants have halted dine-in service and limited their business to takeout orders until March 31 , following an order from Garcetti .
Movie theaters , gyms and fitness centers also will be closed , Garcetti said in a video news conference Sunday .
Grocery stores , pharmacies and food banks will remain open .
Santa Monica ordered the temporary closure of its iconic pier on Monday morning , which applies to the adjacent parking deck and businesses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our pier each and every day , so we take this step out of the deepest desire to keep people at home and healthy , ” City Manager Rick Cole said in a statement .
“ We love our pier and the joy it brings to everyone that visits , but in this moment , we must take aggressive actions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
” Fears over store closures prompted people to flock to grocery stores and get supplies in bulk .
The rush has , at times , triggered fights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular items .
On Monday , Garcetti and representatives of various grocery store chains said there was no shortage of food in Los Angeles and asked that residents allow time for stores to restock and give priority to seniors while waiting in line .
Also , Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced that the department would increase the presence of its deputies in the field , with their efforts focused on shopping centers , supermarkets and big-box stores .
This is being done as a precautionary measure “ in case there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said during a news conference .
Deputies were called to a Costco in Chino Hills earlier this month when a crowd of customers became unruly after finding that water , paper towels and toilet paper were out of stock .
Villanueva also cautioned residents against stockpiling guns .
Gun sales are surging in many U.S. states , especially those hit hardest by the coronavirus , including California , New York and Washington , over fears that the virus may cause an unraveling of social order .
“ You have a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally they ’ re not , cabin fever sets in and you have a crowded environment , ” Villanueva said .
“ Weapons are not a good mix.
” The sheriff said several of the department ’ s employees came into contact with people exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 over the weekend but none had tested positive for the virus .
They all are self-isolating , he said .
Deputies who must respond to emergency calls where someone is exhibiting symptoms are being equipped with protective gear .
The department is screening callers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ This is about being prepared , not scared , ” he said .
At a Vons in Koreatown on Monday morning , at least 50 people were waiting in a line to enter an hour before the store opened .
A store clerk instructed the crowd to remain calm as only 30 customers would be let in at a time .
“ Don ’ t panic , trust in God , and don ’ t run over each other !
” the clerk shouted to chuckling customers .
As businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 50,000 of the city ’ s government employees are still being asked to go to work .
City employees can ’ t refuse to go to work out of fear that they ’ ll be infected with the virus , Wendy Macy , general manager of the city ’ s personnel department , wrote in a memo to department heads Friday .
Telecommuting options are available for some employees , and some exceptions are allowed , according to emergency guidelines issued by the city ’ s personnel department .
On Monday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new guidelines Tuesday that will go further in allowing more city workers to telecommute .
Taking heed of the governor ’ s orders , the California Supreme Court announced Monday that it was suspending in-person hearings .
Lawyers will appear for cases remotely via video or telephone conferences .
The public still will be permitted to attend hearings , but seating will be limited to ensure appropriate distancing , the court said .
All Los Angeles County court proceedings will be suspended for several days as concerns about the spread of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
The nation ’ s largest court system will go dark from March 17 to 19 , according to a statement issued by Presiding Judge Kevin Brazile .
Court will reopen Friday for “ the limited purpose of hearing or handling essential or emergency matters.
” “ The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is committed to providing equal access to justice through the fair , timely and efficient resolution of all cases .
However , it is imperative that we continue aligning our Court with the most recent directives and guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local public health officials , ” the statement read .
“ Let me be clear : we will continue to serve the needs of the most vulnerable people in Los Angeles County—our children , the elderly , domestic violence victims , people whose life and liberty interests are at stake , and in many other emergent cases as is possible and safe.
” Newsom also announced that the state ’ s 108,000 homeless people would be the top priority for mitigation policies , with a significant push to move them indoors .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state had hotels and motels that could be used to provide shelter , along with an additional 450 state-owned trailers sent to “ critical points ” to supplement those that were deployed in Los Angeles , Stockton , Sonoma and other places before the outbreak .
Last week , Newsom issued an executive order allowing the state to commandeer some private properties to provide beds for isolation .
Newsom said the goal of the newly announced measures aimed at the unsheltered population was to “ get people into environments where we can address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He stopped short , however , of saying the attempt to bring people indoors would be mandated or require law enforcement intervention .
In recent days , the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the CDC have also detailed guidelines for homeless shelters and encampments , many of which include increasing sanitation and providing detailed suggestions for handling ill people in shelter settings .
“ I am not ratcheting up a mindset of enforcement , ” Newsom said .
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg , co-head of Newsom ‘ s statewide task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s move to bring homeless people inside was crucial .
“ They are very susceptible to disease and infection , “ said Steinberg of unsheltered populations .
Leaving them outdoors , he said , is “ really an invitation for a more wide spread of the disease.
” Randy Simonsen , a 65-year-old homeless man in Sacramento , said he would like to go indoors during this crisis .
He listened to the governor ’ s speech on a transistor radio and heard the call for older residents to stay home .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Simonsen said .
In L.A. County , Dockweiler State Beach may be used to temporarily house people who have been ordered to isolate or quarantine because of The beach ’ s RV park on Vista del Mar is one of several locations the county could use for that purpose , according to from the city of El Segundo .
Officials said the public should avoid the area .
Anxious Californians continued to clear the shelves of local grocery stores .
The Los Angeles Police Department assured residents on Twitter that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restock .
“ The water supply is clean & safe to drink , so there ’ s no need to buy water in bulk , ” the department said .
Grocery chains have announced changes to deal with the relentless throngs of shoppers .
Ralphs , for example , said it was working with suppliers to replenish high-demand products , and its store hours have been curtailed so employees have more time to restock .
Albertsons — which operates the grocery chains Vons , Pavilions and Safeway — said it was taking similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit the number of people gathering at its coffeehouses .
All of its stores in the U.S. and Canada will move to a “ to go ” model for at least two weeks and will remove all seating in cafe and patio areas , the company announced Sunday .
Though many businesses have been affected by a slower stream of customers , bars in West Hollywood were packed on Sunday afternoon .
At Rocco ’ s WeHo and Flaming Saddles , drag queens danced to deafening music as they were cheered on by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage .
In these places , at least , life seemed to go on as normal .
Not everyone was proceeding with business as usual .
At the Abbey , West Hollywood ’ s most popular gay bar , the gates were closed .
On each door , a sign read : “ As we continue to navigate the rapidly changing conditions with COVID-19 , the Abbey is closing temporarily .
We plan to open as soon as our public health officials tell us it is safe.
” Jimmy Han , who owns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said he decided to close his bar down Saturday after seeing customers not follow the 6-foot social-distancing rule he tried to implement .
“ I ’ ll be losing a lot of money and so will my employees , but honestly , that ’ s the least of our concern right now , ” he said .
“ We ’ re more worried about public health and how this is going to impact the economy long term.
” Times staff writers Suhauna Hussain , Alejandra Reyes-Velarde , John Myers , Anita Chabria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maura Dolan , Joseph Serna , Jaclyn Cosgrove and Luke Money contributed to this report .

Phil Willon, Alex Wigglesworth, Taryn Luna, Laura Newberry, Colleen Shalby

Disneyland guests take photos in front of the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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)
Two children look at movie posters in the lobby of the Arclight theater Thursday in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
A crew member stands on the stern of a cruise ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Alexandria Casserly crosses the street while looking for toilet paper in downtown Los Angeles. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
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 )
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)
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)
A guest wears a mask in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland on Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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)
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)
L.A. has banned restaurants from offering seating at places such as Grand Central Market. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
Normally bustling Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. is open only for take out. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Medical personnel screen patients outside the emergency room at Loma Linda University Health during the coronavirus pandemic. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Dr. Dallas Weaver, 79, and his wife, Janet Weaver, 75, of Huntington Beach, walk on the Huntington pier. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
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)
People walk up the ramp, exiting the secure area at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
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)
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)
Coronavirus cases in California continue to rise as officials turn to extraordinary steps to slow the spread.
L.A. County officials announced the closure of all bars, fitness centers and movie theaters and directed restaurants to move to takeout only. The directive applies to all 88 cities and unincorporated regions of the county, including Los Angeles, which issued a similar directive Sunday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom made a similar announcement Monday evening, asking all California restaurants to close their doors to dine-in customers and that gyms, health clubs and movie theaters should also shutter their operations.
“If we’re asking people to shelter in place, to isolate at home,” Newsom said during an update broadcast on Facebook Live. “The point of gatherings is lost on all of us from a public safety and health perspective. So directing that no gatherings … we think it’s very rational under these circumstances. Disruptive, I know, for some. But rational, we believe, in this moment.”
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In L.A., officials are also banning gatherings of more than 50 people following a recommendation made Sunday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Twenty-five new cases were confirmed Monday, bringing L.A. County’s total to 94, according to county public health data. There have been 41 new cases in the county over the last 48 hours, and at least 15 of the cases are likely due to community transmission.
California California asks Navy for coronavirus support The latest updates from our reporters in California and around the world
“Residents at this point must assume that there may be people who are infected everywhere in the county,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the L.A. County Department of Public Health director, said.
County officials also released a list of specific cities and neighborhoods where cases of the virus have been confirmed. The city of Los Angeles currently has the largest count with more than 25 confirmed cases. Other affected cities include Beverly Hills, Arcadia, Alhambra, Glendale, Torrance and West Hollywood.
Elsewhere in the state, public health officials provided more grim news Monday afternoon.
Newsom announced, as of Monday, California had 392 confirmed cases, 57 more than reported on Sunday. The new confirmed cases include one homeless person in Santa Clara County.
Riverside County confirmed its first two deaths associated with COVID-19, two patients in the Coachella Valley.
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“Sadly, these outcomes are expected as we face a serious challenge and continue to make the necessary decisions to protect the health of the community,” Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said in a statement.
Santa Clara County confirmed two additional deaths, bringing that county’s total to four. And Sacramento County confirmed one person had died, bringing its total to two deaths, both people who were older than 70 and had underlying health conditions.
Officials said that all hospitals were preparing for a surge in patients.
President Trump announced new guidelines that urge people to participate in schooling from home, avoid eating and drinking at bars and restaurants and food courts, avoid discretionary travel from home and avoid gathering in groups of more than 10.
“If everyone makes these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus,” he said. “It’s important for the young and healthy people to understand, while they may experience milder symptoms, they can easily spread this virus,” adding that “we especially worry about our senior citizens.”
Shelter-in-place ordered
After the Silicon Valley region reported 114 coronavirus cases and rising, six counties in the Bay Area were to be placed under a shelter-in-place directive by public health officials, San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals said Monday.
It’s a move that will close virtually all businesses and direct residents to remain at home.
Later, Santa Cruz County issued a similar order, bringing the total affected counties to seven.
Asked if L.A. County should expect a similar shelter-in-place order, Ferrer said that, at this point, the county didn’t have the same trajectory as what was happening to the north and hoped the spread of the virus would slow down.
But she cautioned: “Nothing’s off the table for anyone anywhere in the United States.”
In Sacramento County, officials confirmed a second death related to coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to seven. The Associated Press reported the victim was a substitute teacher in the Sacramento City Unified School District who died Sunday after contracting the coronavirus.
The instructor, who also was a temporary volunteer, worked at Sutterville Elementary School in February, the district announced.
Helping struggling Angelenos
Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Sunday night a moratorium on evictions for renters, telling Angelenos that they won’t lose their housing during the crisis “because you can’t make the rent,” and has asked the city attorney to look into whether the city can stop commercial evictions. He also announced that the city is putting together a fund for small businesses that will offer loans.
On Monday evening, Garcetti announced further measures to lessen the impact of the outbreak on residents.
Garcetti said the city will ease a number of parking enforcement policies, including not ticketing people for violating street sweeping policies in residential areas, and not ticketing parents and caregivers who violate parking policies while picking up meals around schools.
Metered parking will still be enforced, along with colored curb parking rules, Garcetti said.
“Nobody should be penalized for being responsible,” Garcetti said. “There’s no need to worry about the financial cost of keeping your car at home while you practice safe social distancing and you help our city flatten the curve.”
A much better list of LA’s relaxed parking rules. Unless otherwise noted, measures below will be in effect until March 31 (May be extended). @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/x2r57Pb1ts — Claudia Peschiutta (@ReporterClaudia) March 17, 2020
Garcetti also announced that half of LAPD detectives will work on the streets of L.A. to supplement patrol officers and help ensure public safety during the coronavirus crisis.
The mayor said he is not considering enforcing a curfew because the city hadn’t seen issues with looting or spikes in crime at night.
“That seems to be something that’s an answer for a different sort of emergency,” Garcetti said. “It’s less that people can’t move at nighttime than where they were going that we needed to stop, and that’s why we had to make the difficult decision” to place restrictions on bars, movie theaters and other venues.
Social distancing continues
On Monday, the director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted a dramatic increase in social distancing measures in response to the pandemic.
There has not been, however, a corresponding rise in testing and isolating contacts, which are both required to stop an outbreak, he said.
“You cannot fight a fire blindfolded, and we cannot stop this pandemic if we do not know who is infected,” Tedros said during a news briefing Monday. “We have a simple message for all countries: Test, test, test.”
He said anyone suspected of having COVID-19 should be able to get tested. Responding to the outbreak requires a political commitment at the highest level, he said.
A government should “be able to mobilize the whole society and make sure that this response becomes everybody’s business,” he said.
Tedros said crises such as pandemics tend to bring out the “best and worst in humanity.” The world is likely still early in this outbreak, he added.
“This is the defining global health crisis of our time,” he said. “The days, weeks and months ahead will be a test of our resolve, a test of our trust in science and a test of our solidarity.”
Closures, anxiety in L.A.
In Los Angeles, bars and nightclubs have closed and restaurants have halted dine-in service and limited their business to takeout orders until March 31, following an order from Garcetti.
Movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers also will be closed, Garcetti said in a video news conference Sunday. Grocery stores, pharmacies and food banks will remain open.
Santa Monica ordered the temporary closure of its iconic pier on Monday morning, which applies to the adjacent parking deck and businesses.
“We welcome thousands of guests to our pier each and every day, so we take this step out of the deepest desire to keep people at home and healthy,” City Manager Rick Cole said in a statement. “We love our pier and the joy it brings to everyone that visits, but in this moment, we must take aggressive actions to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Fears over store closures prompted people to flock to grocery stores and get supplies in bulk. The rush has, at times, triggered fights and disagreements over the limited supply of popular items.
On Monday, Garcetti and representatives of various grocery store chains said there was no shortage of food in Los Angeles and asked that residents allow time for stores to restock and give priority to seniors while waiting in line.
Also, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced that the department would increase the presence of its deputies in the field, with their efforts focused on shopping centers, supermarkets and big-box stores.
This is being done as a precautionary measure “in case there’s any sort of conflict,” he said during a news conference.
Deputies were called to a Costco in Chino Hills earlier this month when a crowd of customers became unruly after finding that water, paper towels and toilet paper were out of stock.
Villanueva also cautioned residents against stockpiling guns. Gun sales are surging in many U.S. states, especially those hit hardest by the coronavirus, including California, New York and Washington, over fears that the virus may cause an unraveling of social order.
“You have a lot of people now who are at home, normally they’re not, cabin fever sets in and you have a crowded environment,” Villanueva said. “Weapons are not a good mix.”
The sheriff said several of the department’s employees came into contact with people exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 over the weekend, but none had tested positive for the virus. They all are self-isolating, he said.
Deputies who must respond to emergency calls where someone is exhibiting symptoms are being equipped with protective gear. The department is screening callers to ensure that deputies are protected, he said.
“This is about being prepared, not scared,” he said.
At a Vons in Koreatown on Monday morning, at least 50 people were waiting in a line to enter an hour before the store opened. A store clerk instructed the crowd to remain calm as only 30 customers would be let in at a time.
“Don’t panic, trust in God, and don’t run over each other!” the clerk shouted to chuckling customers.
City workers report in
As businesses across Los Angeles took action, more than 50,000 of the city’s government employees are still being asked to go to work.
City employees can’t refuse to go to work out of fear that they’ll be infected with the virus, Wendy Macy, general manager of the city’s personnel department, wrote in a memo to department heads Friday.
Telecommuting options are available for some employees, and some exceptions are allowed, according to emergency guidelines issued by the city’s personnel department.
On Monday evening, Garcetti said the city will announce new guidelines Tuesday that will go further in allowing more city workers to telecommute.
Courts announce changes
Taking heed of the governor’s orders, the California Supreme Court announced Monday that it was suspending in-person hearings. Lawyers will appear for cases remotely via video or telephone conferences. The public still will be permitted to attend hearings, but seating will be limited to ensure appropriate distancing, the court said.
All Los Angeles County court proceedings will be suspended for several days as concerns about the spread of the coronavirus continue to mount, court officials announced Monday.
The nation’s largest court system will go dark from March 17 to 19, according to a statement issued by Presiding Judge Kevin Brazile. Court will reopen Friday for “the limited purpose of hearing or handling essential or emergency matters.”
“The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is committed to providing equal access to justice through the fair, timely and efficient resolution of all cases. However, it is imperative that we continue aligning our Court with the most recent directives and guidelines issued by our national, state and local public health officials,” the statement read. “Let me be clear: We will continue to serve the needs of the most vulnerable people in Los Angeles County — our children, the elderly, domestic violence victims, people whose life and liberty interests are at stake, and in many other emergent cases as is possible and safe.”
Protecting those without homes
Newsom also announced that the state’s 108,000 homeless people would be the top priority for mitigation policies, with a significant push to move them indoors.
Though details remained unclear, he said the state had hotels and motels that could be used to provide shelter, along with an additional 450 state-owned trailers sent to “critical points” to supplement those that were deployed in Los Angeles, Stockton, Sonoma and other places before the outbreak.
Last week, Newsom issued an executive order allowing the state to commandeer some private properties to provide beds for isolation. Newsom said the goal of the newly announced measures aimed at the unsheltered population was to “get people into environments where we can address their growing anxiety and our growing concerns.”
He stopped short, however, of saying the attempt to bring people indoors would be mandated or require law enforcement intervention.
In recent days, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the CDC have also detailed guidelines for homeless shelters and encampments, many of which include increasing sanitation and providing detailed suggestions for handling ill people in shelter settings.
“I am not ratcheting up a mindset of enforcement,” Newsom said.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, co-head of Newsom’s statewide task force on homelessness, said Newsom’s move to bring homeless people inside was crucial.
“They are very susceptible to disease and infection,“ said Steinberg of unsheltered populations. Leaving them outdoors, he said, is “really an invitation for a more wide spread of the disease.”
Randy Simonsen, a 65-year-old homeless man in Sacramento, said he would like to go indoors during this crisis. He listened to the governor’s speech on a transistor radio and heard the call for older residents to stay home. But “I don’t have one,” Simonsen said.
In L.A. County, Dockweiler State Beach may be used to temporarily house people who have been ordered to isolate or quarantine because of the coronavirus. The beach’s RV park on Vista del Mar is one of several locations the county could use for that purpose, according to a news release from the city of El Segundo. Officials said the public should avoid the area.
Businesses respond to outbreak
Anxious Californians continued to clear the shelves of local grocery stores. The Los Angeles Police Department assured residents on Twitter that there was no food shortage and stores would restock.
“The water supply is clean & safe to drink, so there’s no need to buy water in bulk,” the department said.
Grocery chains have announced changes to deal with the relentless throngs of shoppers.
Ralphs, for example, said it was working with suppliers to replenish high-demand products, and its store hours have been curtailed so employees have more time to restock. Albertsons — which operates the grocery chains Vons, Pavilions and Safeway — said it was taking similar steps.
Starbucks announced new efforts to limit the number of people gathering at its coffeehouses. All of its stores in the U.S. and Canada will move to a “to go” model for at least two weeks and will remove all seating in cafe and patio areas, the company announced Sunday.
Though many businesses have been affected by a slower stream of customers, bars in West Hollywood were packed on Sunday afternoon.
At Rocco’s WeHo and Flaming Saddles, drag queens danced to deafening music as they were cheered on by crowds handing them dollar bills on the stage. In these places, at least, life seemed to go on as normal.
Not everyone was proceeding with business as usual. At the Abbey, West Hollywood’s most popular gay bar, the gates were closed. On each door, a sign read: “As we continue to navigate the rapidly changing conditions with COVID-19, the Abbey is closing temporarily. We plan to open as soon as our public health officials tell us it is safe.”
Jimmy Han, who owns Frank ‘n Hank bar in Koreatown, said he decided to close his bar down Saturday after seeing customers not follow the 6-foot social-distancing rule he tried to implement.
“I’ll be losing a lot of money and so will my employees, but honestly, that’s the least of our concern right now,” he said. “We’re more worried about public health and how this is going to impact the economy long term.”
Times staff writers Suhauna Hussain, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, John Myers, Anita Chabria, Benjamin Oreskes, Hannah Fry, Maura Dolan, Joseph Serna, Jaclyn Cosgrove and Luke Money contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-16--L.A. Unified won't open family resource centers, citing coronavirus health risk

Los Angeles school officials have halted a plan to open 40 family resource centers due to increasing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus .
The 40 planned centers were intended as a service point and refuge for students and families in need of food , childcare , counseling and educational materials .
Instead , 60 grab-and-go food centers will be available for school families .
“ At this time , state and local health and public safety officials can not assure us it will be safe for the children and adults at the family centers for us to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Supt .
Austin Beutner in a letter posted on social media Monday afternoon .
“ We are deeply disappointed.
” The decision was made amid rapidly changing guidance and restrictions from health agencies and other levels of government .
For example , over the course of several hours on Sunday , restaurateurs went from no restrictions , to reduced capacity statewide , to an L.A. ban on dining in .
As Beutner weighed the decision earlier Monday he cautioned that the “ more fundamental issue is making sure we can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which serves about 670,000 children and adults , shut down its 900 campuses beginning Monday morning , joining closures at 24 of the state ’ s 25 largest school systems .
More than half of California ’ s school districts have shut down , accounting for about 85 % of students .
The centers seemed like an ambitious but sensible solution for parents desperate for childcare and other resources .
These parents include first responders , such as ambulance drivers and healthcare workers .
In this health siege , key personnel also include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centers , visitors would have had their temperature taken on the way in and would immediately wash their hands .
A district operations planner said that lines for food or other services would be set up so people were standing six feet apart .
The centers were to be open from about 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m .
But ultimately , if schools are closed because of concerns over transmission of the coronavirus , should a resource center be treated any differently ?
“ We ’ re trying to make sure we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beutner said earlier Monday .
Even in the best scenario , families were on their own until Wednesday .
Monday morning , Julia Andres sat quietly on a green metal bench with her two school-aged sons as they waited for a city shuttle in MacArthur Park .
The trio were heading to Andres ’ job at a garment warehouse in downtown Los Angeles because she can ’ t afford daycare .
“ I have to bring them to work , ” she said .
“ I have to try and work whatever hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older brother ’ s hand , 10-year-old Miguel Petz , a fourth-grader at Vermont Elementary School , said he was worried about his parents being infected by the virus .
“ I ’ m scared about it , ” he said .
Miguel said he had a packet for homework that he would be working on , and that he would do other courses online using his older brother ’ s Chromebook .
Emmanuel Garcia , 13 , a 7th-grader at Foshay Learning Center , said he was going to do most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an LAUSD online learning system .
His feelings are mixed about schools being closed .
“ We ’ re out of school , ” he said .
“ But then we have homework.
” Even for families with greater flexibility , the options are limited with libraries , museums , recreation centers and other gathering places closed .
The district faced an additional challenge late Sunday when a false fire alarm in a key data center triggered the release of retardant that shut down the critical system for about 12 hours , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were supposed to login for instruction , according to school district officials .
The system that powers the online platform was reportedly back up by about 8:30 a.m. During the outage , students and teachers were not able to communicate .
Beutner said he got an urgent text about a problem between 10 and 11 p.m. Sunday night .
He could not respond instantly because he was on an unrelated urgent call .
He ended up being awake most of the night “ but not just because of that , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in another 30 people who worked through the night , ” he said .
“ We ’ re appreciative of their efforts to get the system going.
” Beutner said he did not yet have a cost estimate for the damage .
During the shutdown , teachers are expected to do what they can to keep learning going via online and electronic coursework and even old-fashioned paper homework packets .
Other staff are tasked with keeping schools secure and sanitized .
And principals stood by Monday morning to alert parents who didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed .
Also , students who were absent Friday could stop by in the morning to pick up assignments , instructional materials and possibly computers .
School board president Richard Vladovic said that he drove by 10 schools Monday morning and saw only four students total entering a campus .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Sunday reiterated his position that he would not — for now — mandate the shuttering of all schools in the state .
West Covina Unified wasn ’ t ready to close Friday but announced an immediate shutdown Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the district put it , at West Covina High School tested positive for COVID-19 .
It was not immediately clear whether the affected person was a staff member , student , family member or volunteer .
The immediate plight for families did not get easier Sunday night after L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti took additional precautionary measures .
The city ’ s public libraries and indoor recreation centers are closed — cutting off more activities and child-supervision options .
Major museums are shut , including the L.A. County Natural History Museum , the La @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Museum of Art .
While Newsom ordered the closing of nightclubs , bars and brew pubs , Garcetti went further , banning all dining in .
Restaurants still can offer take-out service .
That ban further narrows student and family options — including the use of restaurant WiFi for families without broadband at home .
A library , coffee house or McDonald ’ s often become a place where low-income students and families have WiFi access .
Beutner has estimated that about a quarter of students lack the broadband needed for effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nutritious , abundant food — about 80 % of L.A. students qualify for a free or reduced price lunch .
And many rely on the district for breakfast .
Some take advantage of free dinners as well .
About 18,000 district students are homeless .
“ Los Angeles Unified serves a high-needs population , and our schools provide a social safety net for children , ” Beutner said Friday .
“ The closing of any school has real consequences beyond the loss of instructional time.
” Times staff writers Sonali Kohli and Ruben @ @ @ @ @ @

Los Angeles school officials have halted a plan to open 40 family resource centers due to increasing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
The 40 planned centers were intended as a service point and refuge for students and families in need of food, childcare, counseling and educational materials. Instead, 60 grab-and-go food centers will be available for school families.
“At this time, state and local health and public safety officials cannot assure us it will be safe for the children and adults at the family centers for us to provide care for children at these sites,” said Supt. Austin Beutner in a letter posted on social media Monday afternoon. “We are deeply disappointed.”
The decision was made amid rapidly changing guidance and restrictions from health agencies and other levels of government. For example, over the course of several hours on Sunday, restaurateurs went from no restrictions, to reduced capacity statewide, to an L.A. ban on dining in.
As Beutner weighed the decision earlier Monday he cautioned that the “more fundamental issue is making sure we can do it safely.”
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Los Angeles Unified, which serves about 670,000 children and adults, shut down its 900 campuses beginning Monday morning, joining closures at 24 of the state’s 25 largest school systems. More than half of California’s school districts have shut down, accounting for about 85% of students.
The centers seemed like an ambitious but sensible solution for parents desperate for childcare and other resources. These parents include first responders, such as ambulance drivers and healthcare workers. In this health siege, key personnel also include pharmacists and supermarket checkers.
At the centers, visitors would have had their temperature taken on the way in and would immediately wash their hands. A district operations planner said that lines for food or other services would be set up so people were standing six feet apart. The centers were to be open from about 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
But ultimately, if schools are closed because of concerns over transmission of the coronavirus, should a resource center be treated any differently?
“We’re trying to make sure we’re doing the right thing,” Beutner said earlier Monday.
Even in the best scenario, families were on their own until Wednesday.
Monday morning, Julia Andres sat quietly on a green metal bench with her two school-aged sons as they waited for a city shuttle in MacArthur Park. The trio were heading to Andres’ job at a garment warehouse in downtown Los Angeles because she can’t afford daycare.
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“I have to bring them to work,” she said. “I have to try and work whatever hours I can get.”
Tugging on his older brother’s hand, 10-year-old Miguel Petz, a fourth-grader at Vermont Elementary School, said he was worried about his parents being infected by the virus.
“I’m scared about it,” he said.
Miguel said he had a packet for homework that he would be working on, and that he would do other courses online using his older brother’s Chromebook.
Emmanuel Garcia, 13, a 7th-grader at Foshay Learning Center, said he was going to do most of his courses online, some through Schoology, an LAUSD online learning system.
His feelings are mixed about schools being closed.
“We’re out of school,” he said. “But then we have homework.”
Even for families with greater flexibility, the options are limited with libraries, museums, recreation centers and other gathering places closed.
The district faced an additional challenge late Sunday when a false fire alarm in a key data center triggered the release of retardant that shut down the critical system for about 12 hours, just as thousands of students and teachers were supposed to login for instruction, according to school district officials.
The system that powers the online platform was reportedly back up by about 8:30 a.m. During the outage, students and teachers were not able to communicate.
Beutner said he got an urgent text about a problem between 10 and 11 p.m. Sunday night. He could not respond instantly because he was on an unrelated urgent call.
He ended up being awake most of the night “but not just because of that,” he said.
“Late last night we called in another 30 people who worked through the night,” he said. “We’re appreciative of their efforts to get the system going.”
Beutner said he did not yet have a cost estimate for the damage.
During the shutdown, teachers are expected to do what they can to keep learning going via online and electronic coursework and even old-fashioned paper homework packets. Other staff are tasked with keeping schools secure and sanitized. And principals stood by Monday morning to alert parents who didn’t get the message that campuses are closed. Also, students who were absent Friday could stop by in the morning to pick up assignments, instructional materials and possibly computers.
School board president Richard Vladovic said that he drove by 10 schools Monday morning and saw only four students total entering a campus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday reiterated his position that he would not — for now — mandate the shuttering of all schools in the state.
West Covina Unified wasn’t ready to close Friday but announced an immediate shutdown Sunday after an “individual,” as the district put it, at West Covina High School tested positive for COVID-19. It was not immediately clear whether the affected person was a staff member, student, family member or volunteer.
The immediate plight for families did not get easier Sunday night after L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti took additional precautionary measures. The city’s public libraries and indoor recreation centers are closed — cutting off more activities and child-supervision options. Major museums are shut, including the L.A. County Natural History Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits Museum and the L.A. County Museum of Art.
While Newsom ordered the closing of nightclubs, bars and brew pubs, Garcetti went further, banning all dining in. Restaurants still can offer take-out service. That ban further narrows student and family options — including the use of restaurant WiFi for families without broadband at home. A library, coffee house or McDonald’s often become a place where low-income students and families have WiFi access.
Beutner has estimated that about a quarter of students lack the broadband needed for effective online study.
Many also lack for nutritious, abundant food — about 80% of L.A. students qualify for a free or reduced price lunch. And many rely on the district for breakfast. Some take advantage of free dinners as well. About 18,000 district students are homeless.
“Los Angeles Unified serves a high-needs population, and our schools provide a social safety net for children,” Beutner said Friday. “The closing of any school has real consequences beyond the loss of instructional time.”
Times staff writers Sonali Kohli and Ruben Vives contributed to this report.