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Where California stands with coronavirus testing right now -- Gov. Gavin Newsom says help is on the way to ramp up testing for the coronavirus, which has lagged nationally. So where are we now? Who can get tested for COVID-19, who should — and where exactly should you go? If you do get a test, will it be expensive? Here’s what you need to know. Rachel Becker, Ana B. Ibarra Calmatters -- 3/18/20

Three residents of Elk Grove senior home where woman died have tested positive for coronavirus -- Three residents of an Elk Grove senior living facility have now tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to an email sent to family members obtained by The Sacramento Bee. Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Bay Area hospitals scramble to prepare for wave of coronavirus cases -- Health care facilities in the region are trying to conserve masks and other equipment that are already in short supply as the new coronavirus spreads. They’ve canceled elective procedures and routine medical appointments. Erin Allday, Trisha Thadani, Catherine Ho and Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Hospitals are straining under the coronavirus. The big wave coming could break them -- The new coronavirus threatens to overwhelm California hospitals in the coming weeks unless the unprecedented social-distancing measures imposed across the state slow its rapid spread. Anita Chabria, Matt Stiles, Soumya Karlamangla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Yes, the U.S. government stockpiles ventilators; no, it likely won’t be enough -- President Trump says the federal government has stockpiled “massive numbers of ventilators” and “tremendous amounts of equipment” to help hospitals respond to a crush of seriously ill coronavirus patients. The problem, experts say, is that the government’s cache of supplies probably won’t be nearly enough to satisfy the demand. Del Quentin Wilber in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

L.A. County confirms 46 new coronavirus cases as deaths in California rise to 17 -- L.A. County confirmed Wednesday 46 new cases of the coronavirus, including eight in Long Beach and two in Pasadena. The new cases brings the county’s total to 190. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Colleen Shalby, Howard Blume, Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Orange County imposes unprecedented restrictions as coronavirus cases hit 29 -- Orange County’s more than 3 million residents awoke to sweeping new restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus. The county now has 29 confirmed cases of coronavirus. There have been no deaths in the county. Luke Money, Cindy Carcamo, Hillary Davis, Lilly Nguyen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Yolo orders mandatory shelter-in-place, day after county reports 2 new coronavirus cases -- Yolo County is ordering its residents to shelter in place for nearly three weeks in an effort to slow the coronavirus pandemic. The county and its public health officer in a statement said the order, which “limits activity, travel and business functions to only the most essential needs,” goes into effect Thursday and will last through at least April 7. Businesses not defined as essential must temporarily close. Michael McGough and Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Sacramento-area counties issue ‘stay at home’ orders in COVID-19 outbreak. Here are the rules -- The directive, which has the backing of top county and city leaders, is dramatic and sweeping. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

With three coronavirus deaths in area, Palm Springs issues shelter-in-place order -- Faced with three coronavirus deaths in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs has issued a shelter-in-place order in an effort to slow the virus’ spread. The city in a press release said its order is modeled on the one in effect in San Francisco. There have been 18 coronavirus cases confirmed in Riverside County. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Long Beach VA patient tests positive for coronavirus; hospital closes to visitors -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Long Beach has been closed to visitors while the facility treats a patient who has tested positive for COVID-19, officials said. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

COVID-19 outbreak in San Jose fire department may be early sign of danger for first responders -- When it comes to the front line for the coronavirus, the San Jose firefighters are experiencing what officials fear will become a common problem among first responders. So far, 10 firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19 and 50 others are in self-isolation. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

What are the coronavirus restrictions in my community? A guide for Southern California -- Southern California has taken sweeping measures this week to stop dine-in restaurant eating, close gyms and movie theaters, and ban or limit all gatherings to fight the spread of the new coronavirus. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Coronavirus: Safeway, Target, Whole Foods, Zanotto’s launch seniors hours to combat hoarding, supply woes -- San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo joined with Safeway executives Wednesday to announce a plan crafted to combat hoarding by offering special hours twice weekly so senior citizens can more easily shop at the supermarket giant’s Bay Area stores. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/18/20

In confronting coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom takes California on its own path -- While the arrival of the novel coronavirus has prompted governors across the country to issue sweeping statewide orders in the name of public health — legal mandates to cancel school, quarantine the sick and close down businesses — Newsom’s historic directives for the state’s 40 million residents have come with a deliberately light touch. Taryn Luna, Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

More than 4,000 students fed at OUSD’s first meal giveaway -- Across 12 schools in Oakland, students and families received about 25,000 meals in total — three breakfasts and three lunches for each student, with the goal of lasting through Wednesday, said district spokesperson John Sasaki. Fiona Kelliher in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/18/20

UCLA student tests positive for COVID-19, is being treated at hospital -- A UCLA student who lives off-campus has tested positive for COVID-19 and is receiving care at a local hospital, university officials announced Tuesday. Anyone who had close contact with the individual, who was not identified by officials, will be contacted and notified if they need to be isolated or tested, Chancellor Gene D. Block wrote in a news release. Hannah Fry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Here are L.A.’s plans to protect workers, renters and homeless people amid coronavirus -- Faced with the coronavirus crisis, Los Angeles leaders have taken action on key areas involving the homeless population and evictions and are now considering dozens of other measures. David Zahniser, Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Coronavirus is turning an overloaded immigration system into a ‘tinderbox’ -- Last week, immigration Judge Ashley Tabaddor cordoned off the first row of seats in her courtroom at Los Angeles Immigration Court. Interpreters brought their own headsets. Clerks carried disinfectant wipes. And some judges limited the number of people inside courtrooms, which normally are packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Cindy Carcamo, Andrea Castillo, Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Maura Dolan, Brittny Mejia, Molly O’Toole in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Email: Tesla workers told to come to Fremont factory after county shutdown order -- An email sent to Tesla employees Wednesday morning told many categories of workers to come to the Fremont plant, while others were told to work from home. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

How a coronavirus recession could be disastrous for Uber and Lyft drivers -- In an increasingly uncertain economic and social environment brought on by the spread of the novel coronavirus, contingent and contract workers around the world are being forced to grapple with how to stay healthy while maintaining an income. Among them are gig workers, some of whom continue to work for on-demand delivery services like Postmates, Doordash and Instacart or ride-hail services like Uber and Lyft. Johana Bhuiyan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Out of a job? Can’t pay your bills? These proposals may help keep you afloat amid coronavirus -- The coronavirus threatens to swell the ranks of Californians in poverty as businesses shutter and workers stay home. Lawmakers are coming up with ideas to soften the economic blow. Jackie Botts Calmatters -- 3/18/20

Viral cruise ship being cleaned and readied for next stop — likely San Francisco -- The Grand Princess cruise ship that docked in Oakland on March 9 with 3,500 passengers, including 21 people known to be infected with coronavirus, is anchored in the bay but likely headed to San Francisco. Phil Matier in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

How the Bay Area ‘shelter in place’ order is changing the local coffee industry -- Times may seem dire for Bay Area coffee lovers as numerous cafes temporarily close in adherence to Monday’s “shelter in place” order, which directs people to stay home and away from each other as much as possible. But really the situation is much more hopeful. Coffee is still available in the Bay Area. But the experience of getting a cup is now a bit different. Justin Phillips in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

LAPD, Sheriff’s Department arrests drop amid coronavirus outbreak -- Los Angeles County’s two largest law enforcement agencies made significantly fewer arrests in recent weeks, reflecting the changing realities of policing in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Ben Poston in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Coronavirus misinformation and hoax text messages are making the rounds. Here’s how to spot them -- By the time the urgent text message warning that the U.S. military was about to deploy soldiers across the country to enforce a nationwide quarantine landed on Pamela Chelin’s phone this week, it had already made its way to an untold number of people. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Taylor: A homeless man in Oakland hadn’t heard of the coronavirus: ‘What is the virus even about? What happens?’ -- About two hours after six Bay Area counties announced “shelter in place” orders, Larry Taylor sauntered on 45th Street in Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood. Taylor, who is homeless, held a cigarette in his oil-stained hands, and he had T-shirts tied around his ankles to keep his feet warm. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Fox News to be offered as a free channel ‘during dangerous times’ -- On Wednesday, Rupert Murdoch’s media company said it would partner with cable and satellite TV providers to make Fox News Channel and its Fox TV stations widely available “to ensure that every person in America can access the latest national and local news regarding coronavirus.” Meg James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Lopez: Column: Should anyone over 65, including doctors, be going to work during the coronavirus crisis? -- My plan was to stroll El Matador Beach in Malibu, then drive to Griffith Park for a hike, both of which could be done while maintaining a safe distance from anyone. But I’ve had a Medicare card in my wallet for a year and a half, and on Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom told me along with the state’s other 6 million seniors to self-isolate at home until further notice. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Hiltzik: Another strike against Trump’s coronavirus tax cut — most of it would go to the rich -- Decision makers in Washington have come together on the idea of a major cash infusion to household pocketbooks to counter the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis, with the debate now focused chiefly on how much to deliver and who gets the money. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

L.A. to pay $1.5 million to settle suit by LAPD detective alleging abuse by officer -- Los Angeles will pay up to $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit from a police detective who said she was assaulted, abused and blackmailed by a fellow officer, and that department officials ignored her complaints. Emily Alpert Reyes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Fox: The Ghost of Delayed Budgets Past -- The intense reaction to the coronavirus that is upending life as we know it just may resurrect the ghost of delayed budgets that haunted California’s budget process for years. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 3/18/20

 

California Policy & Politics This Morning  

California governor places National Guard on alert -- Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday he has put the California National Guard on alert to help protect communities and fight the spread of COVID-19. In the statement, Newsom said the troops should be prepared to perform humanitarian missions such as food distribution and supply. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/18/20

Expect schools to stay closed through summer break because of coronavirus, Gavin Newsom says -- California parents and students should expect schools to stay closed through summer break as efforts continue to contain the coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday afternoon. Sophia Bollag and Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ John Fensterwald EdSource MacKenzie Mays Politico Casey Tolan, Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ Adam Beam and Don Thompson Associated Press -- 3/18/20

 

Coronavirus surge will strain California hospitals, Gov. Gavin Newsom warns -- Californians’ behavior in the next eight weeks will determine how burdened hospitals will be as they treat a projected surge in patients infected with the coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Coronavirus: Bay Area hospitals say they have enough ventilators — for now -- Hospitals in the Bay Area are expecting to rely on their own breathing devices when the expected surge in coronavirus cases comes, after President Trump told states that they cannot rely on the federal government to obtain ventilators and other emergency equipment. Peter Fimrite in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

As coronavirus threat looms, SF cuts red tape to speed up hiring of public health nurses -- As the deadly coronavirus threatens to overwhelm San Francisco’s emergency rooms in the coming weeks, Mayor London Breed issued an emergency measure Tuesday to radically speed up the time it takes to hire public health care workers. The measure is meant to address the shortages of nurses and other critical health care staff in the city. Trisha Thadani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Kaiser Permanente to ramp up coronavirus testing by next week -- Kaiser Permanente in Southern California will have the capability to perform 1,500 tests a day for the novel coronavirus starting some time next week, regional administrators say. Deepa Bharath in the Inland Daily Bulletin$ -- 3/18/20

 

As officials grapple with coronavirus pandemic, more than 8 million Californians are living under shelter-in-place orders -- At least 10 counties in the Bay Area and Central California and the city of Palm Springs have directed all residents to stay at home as much as possible, with Sonoma, San Benito and Monterey counties deciding Tuesday to join the order implemented a day earlier by San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Santa Cruz counties. In Ventura County, health officials Tuesday announced a shelter-in-place order that applied only to older residents. In total, about 20% of the state’s population is under shelter-in-place orders. Colleen Shalby, Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Ruben Vives, Howard Blume, Jaclyn Cosgrove in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Gov. Gavin Newsom isn’t ordering coronavirus changes — he’s asking -- While governors across the country issue mandatory orders cutting back on social activity to stop the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom is relying on policy guidelines and an expectation that Californians will voluntarily follow them. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Garcetti: No plan to lock down Los Angeles amid coronavirus crisis -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Tuesday “there is no plan to lock down this city,” because of the coronavirus outbreak. “We ask all of you to lock down your life as much as possible,” Garcetti said. Several Bay Area counties were placed on lockdown earlier this week but Los Angeles hasn’t reached the point where it needs to completely shelter in place, Garcetti said. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/18/20

‘No one’s going to jail over this’: Police taking soft approach to COVID-19 stay-at-home enforcement -- Violating the stay-at-home order is technically a misdemeanor offense, but Bay Area law-enforcement agencies say they’re going to focus on warning residents rather than cracking down. Robert Salonga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/18/20

Calm streets and collective dread on Day One of shelter-in-place -- A chain-link fence went up at San Francisco’s Pier 39. Knick-knack vendors disappeared from a trendy stretch of the Mission District, where streets were all but deserted. Grocery stores allowed only a few shoppers in at a time. John King, Peter Hartlaub, Dominic Fracassa, J.K. Dineen and Lizzie Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Bay Area coronavirus shutdown: How life will change with new shelter-in-place order -- tSeven Bay Area counties and others across the region have ordered residents to shelter in place for the next three weeks as health officials scramble to keep coronavirus from spreading. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Orange County issues severe restrictions due to coronavirus -- Health officials directed the closure of bars and other alcohol-serving establishments that don’t serve food. The order also prohibits restaurants from provide on-site dining. Only curbside service and takeout are now allowed. Cindy Carcamo, Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

California Capitol closes to public after Sacramento County issues ‘stay at home’ order -- The California Capitol building in Sacramento has closed its doors to the public in an effort to slow the spread of a coronavirus that’s sickened hundreds of Californians, killed nearly a dozen and all but halted ordinary life in the Golden State. Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Coronavirus and elections: Could the U.S. vote by mail in November? -- As the coronavirus upends virtually every part of the country’s culture, politicians and election officials are beginning to contemplate the unthinkable: How do you hold a presidential election if people aren’t allowed to leave their homes? John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

 

L.A. County coronavirus cases rise to 144: Here’s what you need to know -- L.A. County now has more than 144 cases as of Tuesday, an increase of 50. Officials have said the public should assume there are coronavirus patients in their neighborhood, some of whom might not know they’re sick. Colleen Shalby, Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ David Rosenfeld in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/18/20

Here is the latest list of L.A. communities with coronavirus cases -- The Los Angeles County Public Health Department on Tuesday released a new list of coronavirus cases by communities. It comes as the number of new cases rose by 50 and officials urged the public to follow restrictions designed to slow the spread. Richard Winton, Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Two COVID clusters spotted among first 55 San Diego County cases -- The first includes four people, some whom are active-duty military members, who apparently contracted the virus in the community, McDonald said. One of the four got sick enough to be hospitalized while the other three have been isolating at home. This grouping includes a person in the Navy whose infection was announced over the weekend. Paul Sisson, Gary Warth, Lyndsay Winkley in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/18/20

 

Concerns over COVID-19 prompt police to issue protective gear, limit interactions with the public -- In the face of COVID-19, the San Diego Police Department has shuttered lobbies at all of its stations across the city and made kits with protective gear for patrol officers. Other law enforcement departments across the county took similar actions. Some are trying to limit interactions with the public whenever possible, too. David Hernandez, Karen Kucher in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/18/20

Coronavirus: San Francisco, Contra Costa prosecutors join national call for jail releases -- Elected prosecutors in San Francisco, Contra Costa County and more than two dozen other jurisdictions across the United States are calling for the country’s jail and prisons to release numerous groups of people in an effort to stave off the spread of COVID-19. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

 

Northern California woman attacked and robbed of her groceries outside Raley’s store -- A woman suffered serious injuries after she was attacked and robbed of her groceries and wallet by a man wearing a mask outside a Raley’s store in South Lake Tahoe, police said. The victim on Tuesday remained hospitalized in an intensive care unit, the South Lake Police Department said in a news release. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Instacart, Amazon Fresh, other delivery services overwhelmed during coronavirus outbreak -- But the lifeline can be tenuous. Food delivery services such as Instacart, Good Eggs and Amazon Fresh were already backlogged on Monday with waits of two or three days for delivery. On Tuesday, a spot check of those services in San Francisco showed no current slots available. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

 

Coronavirus adds to uncertainty for residents of San Pablo senior center facing eviction -- Nearly a dozen seniors living in an assisted living facility in San Pablo face potential eviction in about two weeks, amid a deepening health crisis surrounding the new coronavirus and calls for a temporary halt on all displacement of tenants. The looming eviction comes after the property owners decided last year to sell the building. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Coronavirus Isolates Californians in Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care Facilities -- Family members and friends aren’t the only visitors banned at long-term care facilities in California: The threat of coronavirus to older and medically fragile patients is so severe that state regulators and patient advocates have now ended visits to them as well. Molly Peterson KQED -- 3/18/20

San Diego Food Banks Prioritize Meals For Seniors As Coronavirus Increases Demand -- With San Diegans being laid off and out of work because of the coronavirus, local food banks are working to scale up their efforts. Matt Hoffman KPBS -- 3/18/20

Bretón: His coronavirus crystal ball – From Spain, he says what will happen next in Sacramento -- Jock O”Connell is a familiar name and voice around Sacramento, an expert on the economics of trade and a frequent contributor to the Bee editorial pages. He is in Spain right now with a friend and he is experiencing a level of social restriction enforced by police and the military that is far beyond what we have in Sacramento. Marcos Bretón in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

 

Walters: Why journalism matters -- This is Sunshine Week, which pays homage to the principle that the public’s business should be public even though officials often try to keep us in the dark about their unsavory activities. By happenstance, last week provided Californians with four cogent examples of why independent journalism is a vital bulwark against shenanigans and coverups. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 3/18/20

Los Angeles D.A.'s race almost certain to end in runoff between Jackie Lacey and George Gascón -- Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey appears highly likely to face progressive challenger George Gascón in a November runoff that could set the tone for criminal justice policy inside the nation’s largest court system for years to come, according to returns made public Tuesday. James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

 

Economy, Employers, Jobs, Unions, Pensions  

L.A. could boost sick leave, aid businesses, guarantee rights to laid off workers -- The Los Angeles City Council pushed forward dozens of proposals Tuesday meant to help Angelenos cope with the spread of coronavirus and protect them from its effects, including plans to boost sick leave, enshrine recall rights for workers who are laid off, and provide financial assistance to struggling businesses and tenants. Emily Alpert Reyes, David Zahniser, Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Mayor Breed announces moratorium on evictions for small and medium-sized businesses -- Normally, local governments aren't allowed to regulate commercial evictions under state law. However, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order yesterday allowing local governments to halt evictions and to slow foreclosures for residents struggling to pay their bills amid the coronavirus crisis through May 31. In addition, Breed is able to issue this moratorium under the powers of the Local Emergency she declared on Feb. 25. Madeline Wells in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/18/20

Coronavirus: ‘Essential’ Bay Area businesses, workers grapple with staying open in pandemic -- Owners, managers and workers faced a complex set of challenges, from protecting themselves from the widening pandemic the orders were meant to stem, to dealing with swiftly changing rules handed down by authorities. Grocery, hardware and convenience stores are among those considered essential, but retailers selling consumer goods are not. Shwanika Narayan, Mallory Moench and Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Coronavirus: The Bay Area is likely headed for a recession. How bad could it get? -- The Bay Area, long one of the world’s mightiest growth engines, could be headed for a coronavirus-induced recession, as shelter in place orders shutter stores and bars, construction grinds to a halt, and the tourism and hospitality industry all but disappears. Leonardo Castañeda in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/18/20

'We can't weather the storm': Cleophus Quealy Beer Company to close next month -- Just days after Governor Gavin Newsom mandated all California bars to close as a way to slash the spread of coronavirus, local brewery Cleophus Quealy Beer Company has announced it will permanently close next month. Susana Guerrero in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Tesla’s Fremont factory forced to shut down under shelter-in-place order -- After some confusion, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday the car plant was not “essential,” and like most other businesses must shut down under the county’s shelter-in-place order which took effect Tuesday. The move under the health order, imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, will send most of the factory’s 10,000 workers home. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ David DeBolt and Rex Crum in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/18/20

Lyft, Uber drivers seek sick leave during pandemic, or else: ‘I’m not stopping, fever or no fever’ -- Drivers for Uber and Lyft are asking a San Francisco judge to order the ride-hailing companies to pay them sick leave — as employees, not contractors — to protect both their customers and the public from possible exposure to the coronavirus. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Nevada orders all casinos, bars, restaurants closed as U.S. coronavirus cases surge -- Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has ordered the statewide shutdown of all casino and gambling operations as of midnight, another startling indication of the economic and cultural impact the coronavirus is exacting on American life. Melissa Etehad, Lucas Kwan Peterson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Checks to Americans will ease the coronavirus slump, but it may not be much of an economic stimulus -- President Trump’s proposal to send checks to virtually every American adult would probably be a godsend to millions of lower-income households threatened by nationwide shutdowns and social distancing in response to the coronavirus. Don Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

H-1B: Premium processing suspended for upcoming visa application season -- Applicants for the H-1B visa hoping to accelerate their submissions by paying extra for “premium processing” won’t be able to obtain that service when this year’s application period opens April 1, federal authorities announced. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration has temporarily suspended premium at the start of each H-1B application “season” since 2017. Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/18/20

California state workers waiting for new coronavirus guidance after shelter-in-place orders -- Gov. Gavin Newsom did not provide new coronavirus guidance for state workers during a press conference Tuesday evening, saying his administration is still working out details. He plans to issue guidelines later Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Arden Fair mall closes until further notice over coronavirus concerns -- Arden Fair mall has become the latest closure over the coronavirus pandemic in Sacramento, with a mall official telling The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday night that the shopping enter is shutting down immediately until officials determine it is safe to reopen. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Kings suspend basketball operations as effects spread in NBA’s coronavirus shutdown -- The Kings issued a statement saying all basketball operations activities at the team’s Golden 1 Center practice facility have been suspended until further notice. The team noted that no Kings players have exhibited coronavirus symptoms. The organization acted in accordance with a directive from Sacramento County health officials to “stay at home.” Jason Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Coronavirus closures accelerate nationwide, but wide gaps remain -- Mark Estee spent his Tuesday laying off 100 cooks, waiters and dishwashers, having been forced by city decree in Reno, Nev., to close two restaurants that had been thriving just days ago. Less than an hour down the road, in Nevada’s Carson Valley, the threat of coronavirus had inspired no such restrictions. Estee’s three other restaurants were preparing to serve dinner, a hearty mix of pasta, burgers and beer. Griff Witte, Katie Zezima, Ariana Eunjung Cha and Tim Craig in the Washington Post$ -- 3/18/20

Taxes, Fees, Rates, Tolls, Bonds 

Utilities commission rejects SDG&E proposal to nearly quadruple minimum monthly bills -- The California Public Utilities Commission shot down a proposal by San Diego Gas & Electric that called for nearly quadrupling the minimum bill charged to residential customers from $10 per month to $38. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/18/20

Transit  

Coronavirus chases 85% of riders off BART — but the agency won’t cut service as losses mount -- The reason: BART cannot furlough workers without a 60-day notice, an agency spokeswoman told The Chronicle on Tuesday. It’s bound by labor contracts that keep the agency running a full schedule of 10-car trains — with or without people on them. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

Homeless  

Sacramento County identifying hotels where homeless will be sheltered during COVID-19 crisis -- State officials have identified more than 900 hotels and motels where the homeless could be sheltered to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, including some in Sacramento County, Mayor Darrell Steinberg told The Sacramento Bee Tuesday. Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Federal judge orders emergency hearing over coronavirus threat to L.A.'s homeless people -- The federal judge who forced the opening of new homeless shelters in a landmark Orange County case has called for an emergency hearing in Los Angeles this week, citing the risk of people living on the streets during the coronavirus outbreak. Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Hundreds of Oakland hotel rooms secured to shelter the homeless during pandemic -- To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the state is moving hundreds of homeless individuals off the streets and into Oakland hotel rooms. Susana Guerrero in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/18/20

Housing  

What the coronavirus shutdown means for the Bay Area’s housing crisis -- As much of the Bay Area’s economy sputters to a halt due to the new coronavirus, housing builders are plugging away — pouring concrete and hanging drywall — even as they impose strict hygiene rules and ask workers to keep a safe distance from one another. J.K. Dineen in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/18/20

San Diego leaders back freeze on evictions tied to coronavirus outbreak despite landlord concerns -- San Diego city leaders voted unanimously on Tuesday to draft an emergency ordinance aimed at preventing an avalanche of rental evictions triggered by the coronavirus outbreak. Joshua Emerson Smith in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/18/20

With coronavirus spreading, L.A. moves to ban evictions, add protections for homeowners -- Renters and homeowners are likely to see significant new protections against evictions and foreclosures after the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved emergency measures to mitigate the economic effects of the novel coronavirus. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Update: Sacramento adopts ban on some evictions during coronavirus outbreak. How it will work -- The Sacramento City Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted an emergency moratorium on evictions to protect renters financially impacted by the coronavirus. The eviction ordinance will go into effect immediately. It will cover renters who are unable to pay rent due to any of the following reasons: Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Newsom did not issue a statewide eviction ban. Tenant groups say renters’ health could be threatened -- Tenant advocates say renters can't quarantine, or take other measures to avoid spreading coronavirus, if they're forced from the homes officials want them to stay in. Matt Levin Calmatters -- 3/18/20

Education 

UCLA student tests positive for coronavirus, receives hospital treatment -- The student lives in off-campus, non-university-owned housing and was being treated at a hospital, according to a statement from Chancellor Gene Block. The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/18/20

How will students take AP tests with schools closed? At home, College Board proposes -- Aiming to limit student exposure to the coronavirus, the College Board is proposing that rigorous Advanced Placement tests could become take-home exams and has canceled the SAT test scheduled for May 2. ACT Inc. has postponed its April 4 exam to June 13. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Here’s how San Diego universities are handling dorm closings, refunds, teaching -- San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday collectively asked more than 8,500 students to move out of campus housing if they can find accommodations elsewhere to help protect the schools from the coronavirus. Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/18/20

Sacramento State postponing 2020 graduation ceremonies at Golden 1 over coronavirus -- Sacramento State announced it is postponing the university’s May commencement ceremonies “in light of the current health and safety concerns caused by the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic.” Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

For some students, college is their only safe haven. Now they have just days to leave -- Marie Tano, 21, found a sanctuary when she arrived to study at Pomona College from a small town in Georgia. For the first time, she didn’t have to worry about money, her food was taken care of, and she had access to healthcare, therapy and the support she needed to do well in school. Paloma Esquivel, Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

California colleges are going online. How ready are they? -- Thanks to the coronavirus, California is about to embark on an enormous unplanned experiment in remote learning — and no one knows how long it will last. The first challenge is simple: making sure everyone can log on. Vanessa Arredondo, Felicia Mello, Janelle Salanga Calmatters -- 3/18/20

State student assessment tests and SATs in danger because of coronavirus -- The State Board of Education plans to seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education and other federal agencies to suspend testing requirements in school districts that are closed due to coronavirus concerns, a spokesman with the California Department of Education said Tuesday. Roxana Kopetman in the Orange County Register -- 3/18/20

Give us a tuition break, say California students forced into online university classes -- University of California Irvine freshman Rose Oganesian understands the public health reasons to switch from in-person to online courses at universities across California during the coronavirus crisis. But she doesn’t want to get charged the same price. Larry Gordon EdSource -- 3/18/20

Grab-and-go and drive-up allow families to pick up food at closed California schools -- Many districts across California were getting used to a new normal this week of closed schools and delivering lunch and breakfast to students who are normally fed in their schools. Ali Tadayon EdSource -- 3/18/20

All four-year public universities in California have now moved classes online -- All 23 California State University campuses and all nine University of California campuses with undergraduate courses have now made plans to move classes online in response to the spread of the coronavirus. Michael Burke EdSource -- 3/18/20

Cannabis 

San Francisco cannabis dispensaries win reprieve from coronavirus shutdown order -- San Francisco officials are allowing cannabis businesses to remain open while many other stores are shut down over the next three weeks as the city goes to extreme lengths to fight the coronavirus pandemic. J.D. Morris in the San Francisco Chronicle $ Fiona Kelliher and Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/18/20

Immigration / Border 

Immigration interview offices close, while immigration courts remain open despite coronavirus risk -- The federal office responsible for immigration services such as green cards and naturalizations announced late Tuesday it is closing its offices through at least the end of the month amid growing criticism that it was continuing to invite large groups of people to gather in close quarters. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/18/20

Marijuana sales ‘on fire’ as demand spikes amid coronavirus outbreak -- Proprietors scrambling to meet demand, ramping up deliveries to customers spending more time at home. Joe Nelson and Brooke Staggs in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/18/20

Trump administration takes steps to close border to migrants, citing coronavirus -- The Trump administration is taking steps to close the southern border to certain migrants, citing the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Molly O’Toole, Molly Hennessy-Fiske in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Environment 

Coronavirus: California issues warning about disinfecting wipes -- As Americans stockpile disinfecting wipes and paper towels to clean their homes more often to reduce the risk of coronavirus, California’s state water regulators on Tuesday urged them to keep one thing in mind: Don’t flush them down the toilet. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/18/20

Also . . . 

Trials in L.A. are on pause, but some ‘essential’ court proceedings will continue: ‘It’s unprecedented’ -- In an unprecedented move, nearly all trials in Los Angeles County will be on hold for at least a month, but a broad swath of services will still be accessible to the public when courthouses reopen Friday, raising concerns about safety measures. Matt Hamilton, James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Youth in detention should be released to reduce coronavirus risk, advocates say -- Her 16-year-old son was crying, his mother said, when he called Saturday morning from a Los Angeles County juvenile hall. Family visits were being suspended due to the coronavirus, he told her in a 10-minute conversation. Leila Miller in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

Sacramento courts planning full closure to slow spread of coronavirus outbreak -- Sacramento Superior Court is planning to fully shut down its court operations as soon as Wednesday in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, court officials said Tuesday. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/18/20

Cooped up, bored and on a budget? Here’s how to stream TV without paying a dime -- The reality is starting to set in: Coronavirus has a lot of people stuck at home. Sports are shut down. Some people are temporarily out of work or might be soon. Budgets for luxuries — like premium TV —are tightening. Christie D’Zurilla in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/18/20

POTUS 45  

Trump Now Claims He Always Knew the Coronavirus Would Be a Pandemic -- The president tried to rewrite his history with advising Americans about the coronavirus. His own words prove him wrong. Katie Rogers in the New York Times$ -- 3/18/20

Beltway 

Joe Biden romps over Bernie Sanders in Florida, Illinois and Arizona in Tuesday balloting -- Former vice president Joe Biden swept to decisive wins in Florida, Illinois and Arizona on Tuesday, extending his run of victories on a primary election day in which the growing national response to the coronavirus pandemic complicated voting as it threatened to disrupt future contests. Michael Scherer, Annie Linskey and Sean Sullivan in the Washington Post$ -- 3/18/20

 

-- Tuesday Updates 

Sacramento County residents directed to ‘stay at home’ and wait out coronavirus -- In yet another dramatic move to fight the spread of coronavirus, Sacramento County health officials on Tuesday afternoon called on all residents, not just the elderly, to stay at home effective immediately unless they have essential chores to do, such as grocery shopping, banking, restaurant food pickups, or health appointments. Tony Bizjak and Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/17/20

California has tested 3,487 people for COVID-19 as of Monday, March 16 -- Updating figures on the spread of coronavirus in California, the Department of Public Health announced Tuesday, March 17, that the state has experienced 11 deaths and 472 positive cases of COVID-19 as of Monday. Deepa Bharath in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/17/20

California death toll from coronavirus rises to 11 amid extraordinary rules to slow spread -- The coronavirus has claimed 11 lives in California as officials took extraordinary measures to try to slow the spread by shuttering businesses, demanding that older individuals stay home and trying to increase testing for the virus. More than 470 people from across the state have tested positive for the coronavirus, but officials admit that is just a fraction of the real number. Colleen Shalby, Rong-Gong Lin II, Ruben Vives, Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

Worker at Redondo Beach assisted-living facility has coronavirus; two residents are sick -- A staff member who had “flu-like symptoms” at a Redondo Beach assisted-living community has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and two residents were hospitalized “with fever and respiratory symptoms,” the company that runs the facility confirmed Tuesday. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

Sacramento teacher who died of coronavirus was member of church with at least 4 other cases -- The Sacramento substitute teacher who died from coronavirus Sunday had been active in a Greenhaven neighborhood church that now reports five church members have tested positive for the COVID-19 disease and that others are awaiting test results. Sam Stanton, Sawsan Morrar, and Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/17/20

When L.A. City Council meets, the public will comment from outside the building -- Even amid the threat of the novel coronavirus, the Los Angeles City Council is planning to convene on Tuesday. But there will be big changes in the way the meeting is run. With City Hall closed to the public, council members are asking the public to watch by remote, either on television or on streaming video, and offer their comments electronically. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

Orange County expected to ban all gatherings, close bars and limit restaurants to take-out -- Orange County Health Officer Nichole Quick is expected on Tuesday, March 17, to order a ban on all gatherings, public or private, which would effectively close the county’s bars and breweries and end dining in at restaurants to curb transmission of the coronavirus. Alicia Robinson in the Orange County Register -- 3/17/20

Coronavirus threatens to thin the ranks of police and firefighters on the front lines -- As the coronavirus outbreak ravaged a nursing home in Kirkland, Wash, it also hit the local fire department hard. No firefighters tested positive for the virus. But nearly a third of the 95-member department had to go into quarantine after coming to the aid of coronavirus patients. Cindy Chang, Alene Tchekmedyian, Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

Looking to combat coronavirus, L.A. could allow tents on sidewalks during daytime -- Three members of the Los Angeles City Council called Tuesday for the city to temporarily stop enforcing a law requiring tents to come down during daytime hours, saying the change is needed to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

With masks at the ready, ICE agents make arrests on first day of California coronavirus lockdown -- In the darkness of the early hours Monday, about a dozen immigration agents gathered outside a Starbucks in Bell Gardens. For the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, who make daily arrests, it was supposed to be business as usual. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

Governing in crisis: California’s Newsom faces another test -- As the coronavirus spreads through California, the restrictions placed on its 40 million residents have varied by county and community, the result of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s early decision to largely allow local governments to set their own rules. Kathleen Ronayne Associated Press -- 3/17/20

Guatemala turns tables, blocking U.S. deportations because of coronavirus -- Guatemala on Tuesday became the first Central American nation to block deportation flights from the United States in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, a dramatic turnabout on Trump administration policies barring entry to asylum seekers from the region. Molly O’Toole, Cindy Carcamo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

Mapping where America has been shut down -- The map of restrictions looks like this as of early Tuesday afternoon. (We’ve included Nebraska’s school closures, though they don’t go into effect until next week.) Those closures tend to correlate to the number of reported cases in a region. California’s shelter-in-place order is a function of the surge in cases there, as is the possibility of a similar order in New York City. (The case totals below are from Tom Quisel’s aggregation of CSBS data.) Philip Bump in the Washington Post$ -- 3/17/20

A chilling scientific paper helped upend U.S. and U.K. coronavirus strategies -- Immediately after Boris Johnson completed his Monday evening news conference, which saw a somber prime minister encourage his fellow citizens to avoid "all nonessential contact with others," his aides hustled reporters into a second, off-camera briefing. That session presented jaw-dropping numbers from some of Britain’s top modelers of infectious disease, who predicted the deadly course of coronavirus could quickly kill hundreds of thousands in both the United Kingdom and the United States, as surges of sick and dying patients overwhelmed hospitals and critical care units. William Booth in the Washington Post$ -- 3/17/20

As much of America takes drastic action, some Republicans remain skeptical of the severity of the coronavirus pandemic -- Over the weekend, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), a leading ally of President Trump, dismissed concerns about the novel coronavirus pandemic and said on Fox News that “it’s a great time to just go out, go to a local restaurant.” And former New York City police commissioner Bernard B. Kerik, a Trump supporter who was pardoned last month, tweeted that “this hysteria is being created to destabilize the country and destroy” Trump. Robert Costa in the Washington Post$ -- 3/17/20

Devin Nunes’s bad cleanup effort after his coronavirus comments -- Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) on Sunday morning urged people to go to bars and restaurants, even while Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, was on other shows urging the opposite. Trump then on Monday echoed Fauci, saying the administration was urging people to “avoid discretionary travel and avoid eating and drinking at bars, restaurants and public food courts.” Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 3/17/20

 

About 75,000 people work in Sacramento restaurants and bars. They face economic disaster -- The coronavirus pandemic closed down practically the entire restaurant industry Tuesday. The livelihoods of more than 75,000 area residents were thrown into jeopardy, representing 7 percent of the Sacramento job market and putting more dead weight on an economy that, experts said, had already entered a steep recession. Dale Kasler and Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/17/20

Marriott to furlough thousands of hotel workers -- In the Bay Area alone, there are 40 Marriott hotels operating under its various brands, employing hundreds, if not thousands, of workers. Furloughed workers will not earn hourly wages but will retain their health benefits, the company said. Chris McGinnis in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/17/20

Orange County businesses struggle as South Coast Plaza shuts down; coronavirus cases hit 22 -- Among those now-shuttered spaces is South Coast Plaza. The renowned Costa Mesa shopping center closed Monday night and will remain so for two weeks after a store employee tested positive for the virus on Sunday night. Luke Money, Faith E. Pinho, Hillary Davis, Lilly Nguyen, Andrew Turner, Matt Szabo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

Thunder Valley, Red Hawk casinos shutting down amid growing coronavirus closures -- Two major casinos in the Sacramento region — Thunder Valley in Lincoln and Red Hawk in Placerville — joined other gambling halls in announcing plans to shut down temporarily because of the coronavirus pandemic. Red Hawk said it would close at 6 a.m. Wednesday and remain shuttered through the end of March. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/17/20

Coronavirus: SF’s cannabis dispensaries shut down -- San Francisco cannabis dispensaries halted sales this morning. Eliot Dobris, a spokesman for the Apothecarium, a medical and recreational dispensary with three locations in San Francisco, said the notification came from the Department of Public Health. Marcus Crowder in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/17/20

Tesla’s Fremont factory is in full swing despite Bay Area coronavirus lockdown -- Tesla’s Fremont, Calif., factory was up and running at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, despite the “shelter in place” lockdown issued by Alameda County and several other Bay Area counties the day before. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

Coronavirus closures push gyms and trainers online -- Southern California gym chains, boutique fitness spots and personal trainers are scrambling to find alternative ways to sweat as their facilities are forced to close because of the coronavirus outbreak. Ronald D. White in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

18% of U.S. workers have lost jobs or hours since coronavirus hit, poll finds -- The proportion affected grew for lower-income households, with 25% of those making less than $50,000 a year reporting that they had been let go or had their hours reduced, according to a survey released Tuesday by NPR, PBS NewsHour and Marist of 835 working adults in the contiguous United States. Suhauna Hussain in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

 

As the coronavirus grabbed hold, we all got sick at home. It could have been much worse -- Kids, as we know, are notorious for bringing home bugs. Colds, coughs, stomach viruses, contagious skin infections that flourish like red sores around tiny noses and mouths. With two children under 6, we’ve weathered it all. Esmeralda Bermudez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

He gave his wife CPR as she died after contracting coronavirus. Officials won’t test him -- On March 8, they flew into Los Angeles International Airport. They planned to stay at Roddy’s sister’s house in Walnut for two nights and then fly back to Florida on March 10. What happened next is a nightmarish and ultimately tragic tale of missed signals and bureaucratic stumbling blocks that have shattered the couple’s lives and family. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

Navy closes San Diego Training Support Center after instructor, 2 students test positive for COVID-19 -- The Navy is closing Training Support Center San Diego after three sailors there — an instructor and two students — tested positive for COVID-19, according to an announcement Tuesday. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/17/20

The Rolling Stones postpone U.S. tour set to start in San Diego in May -- There’s an old joke that only cockroaches and Keith Richards will survive a nuclear war, but the 76-year-old rock and roller and his Rolling Stones’ band mates aren’t taking any chances with the global coronavirus pandemic. Peter Larsen in the Orange County Register -- 3/17/20

From hope to heartache at Trader Joe’s for seniors looking for a break amid coronavirus panic buying -- Julie Carol was in good spirits Tuesday morning as she approached the front of Trader Joe’s in Monrovia. The 71-year-old would finally get that elusive carton of eggs. As fear of the coronavirus continues to change people’s everyday lives, some grocery stores recently announced they’d host special shopping hours for senior citizens. Priscella Vega in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/17/20

 

Former Rep. Duncan Hunter gets 11 months in prison for campaign finance violations -- Former U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter was sentenced to 11 months in federal prison Monday for conspiring to illegally use more than $150,000 of his campaign money for personal benefit. Morgan Cook, Greg Moran in the Los Angeles Times$ Julie Watson Associated Press -- 3/17/20