Updating . .
Gov. Newsom orders statewide ban on evictions for renters affected by coronavirus -- The measure prevents the evictions of renters over the nonpayment of rent through May 31. It covers those who have lost work because of the pandemic, have become sick or have had to take care of family members with COVID-19. Law enforcement and the court system also would be prohibited from executing evictions while the order is in effect. Liam Dillon in the Los Angeles Times$ Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ Jeff Collins and Jonathan Lansner in the Orange County Register -- 3/27/20
California surges past 4,000 cases of COVID-19, 1,400 in Bay Area -- In California, that represents a 34% day-over-day increase. Cases also surged in the Bay Area, and are expected to continue to do so, but less rapidly than statewide, with a 21% increase from the previous day. In Los Angeles County, the increase in cases far outpaced the Bay Area, growing by 51% from Wednesday. Evan Webeck in the San Jose Mercury$ Alex Wigglesworth, Rong-Gong Lin II, Soumya Karlamangla, Maria L. La Ganga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
California faces perilous two weeks as coronavirus cases, deaths surge; Mercy arrives in L.A. -- The Navy’s Mercy hospital ship arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday to assist with the expected surge in patients stricken by the coronavirus. The ship, which has a capacity of 1,000 beds, will house patients without COVID-19 in order to free up regional hospital beds for those who do. Alex Wigglesworth, Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
‘These are not numbers, these are neighbors,’ Garcetti says as coronavirus cases surge in L.A. -- “Even more disturbingly, we see that if this rate of increase continues, in six days, we will be where New York is today, the same number of cases per capita as they are struggling through,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said during a somber online briefing Thursday evening. That is not a record any city wants to break. And it is, he said, more than just a figure. Alex Wigglesworth, Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Soumya Karlamangla, Maria L. La Ganga in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Front Lines
Sleep Train Arena to become 360-bed coronavirus hospital, Army Corps says -- The Army Corps of Engineers is planning to create a 360-bed field hospital to treat both coronavirus and regular trauma care patients in Sacramento’s Sleep Train Arena, as it shifts away from initially planning to use hotel rooms, the Corps’ chief engineer said Friday. Tara Copp and Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/27/20
Hospital ship Mercy, with 1,000 beds, arrives in L.A. to ease healthcare strain amid crisis -- The hospital ship Mercy arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday to offer assistance during the coronavirus crisis, which is expected to tax local hospitals. The Mercy has roughly 800 medical staffers, 1,000 hospital beds and 12 operating rooms. Alex Wigglesworth, Andrew Dyer in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Air National Guard readies convention center for COVID-19 patients -- As an expected surge in coronavirus patients looms, dozens of California Air National Guard members on Friday transformed the Santa Clara Convention Center into a temporary federal medical facility. Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
San Francisco to open 3 new drive-through, drop-in coronavirus testing sites -- San Francisco will have seven drive-through or drop-in testing sites operating once the three new locations become operational by the end of next week, though some of those locations are reserved only for health care employees and first responders. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Fearing coronavirus will sicken their families, doctors are begging for more armor -- “I have four small children. I’m always thinking of them,” said the 37-year-old family physician, who is based in Los Angeles and has one daughter with asthma. “But there really is no choice. I took an oath as a doctor to do the right thing.” Laura Ungar California Healthline via the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
‘It’s a scary situation’: LA-area’s frontline healthcare workers face coronavirus amid ‘limited’ supplies -- For Sandra Beltran, the drive to work these days is unsettling. An emergency room nurse at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar, she never thought in her 15-year career there she’d be in a position to worry about having enough supplies to do her job. But the coronovirus outbreak has changed that, she said Thursday. Ryan Carter, David Rosenfeld in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/27/20
UC Davis researchers rushing to develop new treatments to stop corononavirus spread -- UC Davis doctors and researchers are rushing to develop treatments that will stop the new coronavirus, building on breakthroughs that helped them save the life of a Solano County woman who made headlines as the first U.S. citizen to contract COVID-19 through community spread. Leslie Hicks, Darrell Smith, and Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/27/20
With dining rooms closed, high-end restaurants are banding together to feed the needy -- Allora, Camden Spit + Larder, Canon, Binchoyaki and Mulvaney’s B&L will assemble a combined 700 food kits per week to feed seniors in 11 Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency apartment buildings starting Tuesday, Canon co-owner Clay Nutting said. Additional deals with Sacramento City Unified School District and participating nonprofits would add up to 200 more kits per week once funding is secured, with each kit containing the equivalent of four meals. Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/27/20
Spread
Therapist who met with inmate group among 12 California prison workers to get coronavirus -- One of the 12 California prison workers who has tested positive for coronavirus is a therapist who was conducting a group session in March with inmates who need mental health care, a federal judge revealed Friday. Chief U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller made the disclosure during a telephone conference of a task force she ordered formed to address the coronavirus crisis that inmate attorneys fear may cause a devastating outbreak inside California’s 35 prisons. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/27/20
San Bernardino reports third coronavirus death -- San Bernardino County reported a third death linked to the coronavirus Thursday night. The number of confirmed cases has tripled this week to at least 55, up from 17 Monday. The increase is largely because of expanded testing, health officials say. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Social Distancing
L.A. County closes all beaches, trails to deter crowds flouting coronavirus restrictions -- The order also applies to beach bike paths, bathrooms, piers and promenades, she said. Richard Winton, Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Oceanfront boardwalk on Balboa Peninsula closed Friday as Newport Beach gears up to stop crowd surges -- The oceanfront boardwalk on Balboa Peninsula closed to the public at noon on Friday, March 28, as city officials brace for a weekend of good weather that could bring crowds surges from other areas. Erika I. Ritchie in the Orange County Register -- 3/27/20
Disneyland and Disney World extend coronavirus closures ‘until further notice’ -- Disney’s Anaheim theme parks closed on March 14 and initially planned to remain closed through the end of the month. Disneyland’s three hotels and the Downtown Disney outdoor shopping mall closed on March 17. Brady MacDonald in the Orange County Register -- 3/27/20
Chula Vista closes parks, nonessential services -- Parks, libraries and non-essential city functions shut down, school districts are giving free food to children, Port of San Diego closes all waterfront parks. Gustavo Solis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/27/20
Homeless
Why a fight over homeless people could determine how much coronavirus hurts California -- Despite unprecedented attention and spending, tens of thousands of homeless people are still living on the streets of California, and they are fast becoming a hazard to the state’s ability to treat everyone who needs it as coronavirus patients begin to flood hospitals in earnest. Benjamin Oreskes, Anita Chabria, Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Workers - Jobs
Why the oldest restaurant in San Francisco refuses to lay off a single employee -- Unlike a lot of bars and restaurants in the city, Tadich hasn’t let a single employee go. They can’t. Most of their staff has worked there for more than two decades, donning starch white coats and lovably gruff smiles. And while the wainscoting-rich booths certainly look nice, and the fine dining seafood classics certainly taste delicious, the reason Tadich continues to be an institution is the people. And it’s why five generations of my family has made Tadich a part of our lives. Grant Marek in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/27/20
San Diego fund to help unauthorized immigrants out of work due to coronavirus pandemic -- A San Diego fund is ready to start granting money to immigrants who have lost work during the coronavirus pandemic, prioritizing those who would not be eligible for other types of aid. Many immigrants work in the hospitality industry and similar sectors that have been widely impacted by the statewide shelter-in-place order, which has shut down San Diego for more than week already. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/27/20
State Department eases coronavirus bottleneck for foreign farmworkers -- The emergency measures helped allay fears of a labor shortage just as the harvest of major produce crops gets underway in California, the top producer of many seasonal fresh vegetables and fruits nationwide. Geoffrey Mohan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
TSA agents will get masks to help prevent coronavirus spread -- The union representing the nation’s 46,000 Transportation Security Agency officers said Friday it has convinced the agency to supply screening officers with respiratory masks to wear while on duty. Hugo Martín in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Here are remote jobs that could keep you working through the coronavirus era -- As the coronavirus continues to spread, you may be reluctant to take a people-centric job for fear of getting sick. But if you don’t want your finances to expire while you sit out the pandemic, you’ll need an alternative. Consider remote jobs for the coronavirus era. Kathy Kristof in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Economy - Revenues
Dead deals, slashed prices: Coronavirus drags down Southern California home sales -- Deals are now falling out of escrow. Sellers are cutting prices. Certain types of financing are drying up. As Rick Cirelli, a mortgage broker in Laguna Beach, put it: “Everybody is backing out.” Andrew Khouri in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Plummeting tax revenue during pandemic creating budget crisis for San Diego -- San Diego is facing a city budget crisis because business closures and canceled conventions during the COVID-19 pandemic are sharply shrinking city revenue from hotel tax and sales tax. City officials said Thursday that they are likely facing budget cuts because the pandemic will cost San Diego an estimated $109 million in projected revenue through June 30 — the end of the ongoing budget year. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/27/20
Staying afloat
Should workers affected by coronavirus be able to withdraw from their 401(k)? -- Our Econometer panel considers a suggestion from The Wall Street Journal editorial board. Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/27/20
Anaheim prepares to push out $8 million to help struggling residents amid coronavirus shut-down -- City leaders are still working out the details, but in the coming days and weeks Anaheim is expected to disburse up to $8 million to help nonprofits, the homeless, residents and city employees affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Alicia Robinson in the Orange County Register -- 3/27/20
Taxes
Property taxes are still due April 10 despite COVID-19, but tax collector could waive penalty -- Despite COVID-19 creating serious health fears and financial obstacles for millions of Californians, property taxes will not be postponed and are still due April 10. However, residents in some counties, including San Diego County, may be able to avoid incurring late or penalty fees if the effects of the pandemic or quarantines leave them unable to pay on time. Charles T. Clark in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/27/20
Education
Sacramento schools won’t reopen until at least May 1, county superintendent says -- The announcement by the Sacramento County Office of Education came on Friday, weeks after county officials announced they would close until April 13 in a coordinated attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/27/20
With all the distractions at home, low-income students need headphones to study -- In her family’s one-bedroom home every day unfolds with one distraction after another for 17-year-old Anais Hernandez: her mother cooking and cleaning in the kitchen; her disabled father watching high-volume TV news; the bustle of her younger sister in their East Los Angeles home. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
A’s for all? Pass/fail? Colleges grapple with grading fairness during coronavirus -- Zuleika Bravo, a UCLA senior and low-income single mother, has tons to worry about besides grades. The coronavirus outbreak has shut down her young daughter’s school, saddling her with new demands to home-school. Her office job has cut hours — and her income — in half. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
New Normal
How to pump gas and not get infected -- Gas prices around the country are approaching their lowest figures in nearly two decades, but who is brave enough to pump it these days? One station in San Jose in bringing full-service gasoline back to California for the first time since the 1970s. Elsewhere? Grab some disinfectant or a roll of paper towels — If you can find some. Evan Webeck in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Coronavirus: Online grocery deliveries are buckling under intense demand -- Ordered to stay at home whenever they can, many Bay Area residents are turning to online grocery stores to shop for food and other essentials as the coronavirus pandemic rages silently outside. But customers are quickly finding that grocers can’t keep up with the sudden and intense online demand, leaving many frustrated with canceled or delayed deliveries. Shwanika Narayan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Also . . .
Warning: Quick coronavirus blood test could spell trouble, experts say -- As some rushed to grab a quick, $47 blood test from a doctor in Little Saigon that can detect antibodies to the novel coronavirus in just minutes, the Orange County Health Care Agency issued a stern warning against them this week. “These non-approved tests can produce false results and lead to unintended negative consequences for the individual and the broader community,” Orange County Health Officer Nichole Quick said in a statement. Teri Sforza, Scott Schwebke in the Orange County Register -- 3/27/20
California once had mobile hospitals and a ventilator stockpile. But it dismantled them -- They were ready to roll whenever disaster struck California: three 200-bed mobile hospitals that could be deployed to the scene of a crisis on flatbed trucks and provide advanced medical care to the injured and sick within 72 hours. Lance Williams, Will Evans and Will Carless in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Mayor: Teenager with COVID-19 died after initially being denied care over insurance -- A 17-year-old Southern California boy who tested positive for coronavirus and died this week didn't have health insurance and was denied care at an urgent care center, according to the mayor of Lancaster. Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris confirmed the boy's death in a YouTube video posted Wednesday and said the urgent care facility referred him to the local public hospital. Hospitals cannot refuse treatment over payment in their emergency departments. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/27/20
‘Refugees’ flee Bay Area for Taiwan, hoping to leave coronavirus behind -- But the coronavirus has changed a lot of things in the Bay Area, including a feeling of safety in calling San Francisco home. Like a number of locals, Connie Wong on March 14 made the decision to throw a few things together, get the quickest plane ticket available, and find her way to a country that she feels has achieved more success battling the global pandemic. Peter Hartlaub in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
In Abrupt Shift, Trump Cites Need for Ventilators and Criticizes G.M. -- President Trump lashed out at General Motors on Friday, blaming it for overpromising on its ability to make new ventilators for critically ill coronavirus patients and threatening to invoke the Defense Production Act to compel the company to do so. David E. Sanger, Maggie Haberman and Annie Karni in the New York Times$ -- 3/27/20
What exactly has Trump done — or not done — to receive such harsh criticism for his coronavirus response? -- President Trump didn’t cause the coronavirus, as he often reminds people in his daily briefings. And crisis management is difficult for even the most experienced and prepared leaders. So why is he receiving so much criticism about his government’s response to it, from mayors and governors to former vice president Joe Biden and public health officials? Amber Phillips in the Washington Post$ -- 3/27/20
California Policy & Politics This Morning
PG&E plans to pay its $4-million fine for involuntary manslaughter out of fire victims fund -- The utility plans to pay that $4 million out of a $13.5-billion Fire Victim Trust that was set up during its bankruptcy after the wildfire, which killed 85 people and destroyed more than 18,000 buildings in the rural mountain town of Paradise in Northern California. “This is an unconscionable attempt to avoid responsibility for the very crime to which it just confessed,” said Michael Carlson of Caymus Vineyards, one of thousands of claimants against the utility. Joseph Serna in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Coronavirus
Coronavirus: Santa Clara County could see 2,000 deaths in 12 weeks, official says -- City of San Jose projections suggest a staggering 2,000 people in Santa Clara County could die of coronavirus by June, despite unprecedented measures shutting businesses and isolating people at home to check its rapid spread. County public health officials, who have been leading the local coronavirus response, declined to endorse those estimates — far higher than other such numbers. Maggie Angst and John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Santa Clara County distances itself from grim death toll projection made by City of San Jose -- The projections were startling, but the county itself did not comment publicly on the figures until Thursday night, when its public health department appeared to distance itself from the grim forecast with the following brief statement: "The model shared by the City of San Jose projecting deaths and future case counts of COVID-19 was not produced, reviewed, or vetted by the County of Santa Clara. Eric Ting in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/27/20
• U.S. surpasses China, Italy in coronavirus cases; California sees spike as well -- The United States has surpassed Italy and China in having the most confirmed coronavirus cases, according to a global case tracker run by Johns Hopkins University. California now has 3,910 cases and 80 deaths, a major spike over the last few days. State officials say the COVID-19 growth rate is such that it could overwhelm hospitals in the coming days and weeks. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Coronavirus could kill 81,000 in U.S., subside in June - Washington University analysis -- The coronavirus pandemic could kill more than 81,000 people in the United States in the next four months and may not subside until June, according to a data analysis done by University of Washington School of Medicine. Carl O'Donnell Reuters -- 3/27/20
London Breed lashes out at Trump for 'ridiculous' suggestions, lack of federal help -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed is not a fan of President Donald Trump's proposal to reopen the country by Easter, and is also underwhelmed by the federal government's efforts to aid local hospitals through the coronavirus pandemic. Eric Ting in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/27/20
How 1,000 people with coronavirus in L.A. County can turn into 1 million in a few weeks -- Health officials on Thursday stressed how important social distancing is. “If there are 1,000 people who are positive and each one of those people infects two other people ... within a few weeks, there could be a million people infected in L.A. County,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Alex Wigglesworth, Soumya Karlamangla, Anita Chabria in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Bay Area coronavirus cases climb as testing grows: 26% test positive at Hayward site -- More than a quarter of the people tested for coronavirus at a Hayward site that opened this week turned up positive for COVID-19, city officials said Thursday — even as confirmed cases climbed in the Bay Area, topping 1,400, with at least 32 deaths. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Bay Area coronavirus testing: How many have been tested, and when will it increase? -- The Chronicle has received hundreds of questions about coronavirus testing: how many people in the Bay Area have been tested, why there is a limited supply of tests, and when we will see testing capacity ramp up? Conflicting information on whether, where and how Bay Area residents can get tested abounds. Here is what we know on some of the most common concerns. Catherine Ho and Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
As they rush to save lives, health care workers are updating their own wills and funeral plans -- The first time Andrea Austin, 35, considered her own mortality, she was flying into Iraq aboard a C-130 military plane. Though the emergency medicine physician had set up a living will and power of attorney before her seven-month deployment with a shock and trauma team, entering a war zone crystallized the dangers of her job. Now, more than three years later, Austin is again weighing worst-case scenarios as she continues treating patients at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center while coronavirus crisis expands at an alarming rate. Rachel Siegel in the Washington Post$ -- 3/27/20
Coronavirus Surge
New York’s coronavirus surge holds lessons for California, which is listening -- In the escalating battle against the coronavirus, California and the Bay Area have looked across the oceans to China, South Korea and Italy to anticipate how bad things may get — and now they’re looking much closer to home in New York, the epicenter of the U.S. epidemic. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
‘The Other Option Is Death’: New York Starts Sharing of Ventilators -- A New York hospital system has begun treating two patients instead of one on some ventilators, a desperate measure that could help alleviate a shortage of the critical breathing machines and help hospitals around the country respond to the surge of coronavirus patients expected in the coming weeks. Brian M. Rosenthal, Jennifer Pinkowski and Joseph Goldstein in the New York Times$ Jonathan Allen Reuters -- 3/27/20
Riverside County responds to coronavirus spike with temporary hospitals -- After reporting its largest increase in coronavirus cases within a single day, Riverside County is opening two federal medical stations to alleviate stress at local hospitals as they prepare for an influx of patients. Kailyn Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Blood Supply
As blood supplies run critically low, UCSF students organize emergency drive -- With shelter in place mandates keeping people home and locations where blood donations typically take place, such as schools and office buildings, remain shuttered, thousands of blood drives have been canceled across the country. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Spread
First known deaths from stricken Grand Princess cruise ship, 103 infected -- Two passengers who traveled on the Grand Princess cruise ship have died, and at least 103 have been confirmed positive for the new coronavirus, federal officials said Thursday, raising questions about whether the virus could continue to spread further as those who had been on board end their federal quarantine and return home. A San Jose man said a close female relative, also from San Jose, received a positive test result Thursday after being released from quarantine at Travis Air Force Base. Evan Webeck, Ethan Baron in the San Jose Mercury$ Olga R. Rodriguez Associated Press -- 3/27/20
Resident at Laguna Honda Hospital tests positive for coronavirus, 150 employees to be tested -- For the first time, a resident at San Francisco’s huge city-run nursing home has tested positive for the new coronavirus — a troubling and potentially dangerous development at the facility known as Laguna Honda. Six staffers have already tested positive, and most of the 750 long-term residents are elderly with underlying health conditions. Trisha Thadani and Jason Fagone in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Sixth Santa Clara County deputy tests positive -- Authorities on Thursday said another Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office deputy has tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number to six. The deputy is self-isolating at home, said Sgt. Michael Low. Low said the deputy is part of a team assigned to the jails that has seen four others diagnosed with the deadly disease this week. Two other members may have also been exposed. Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Orange County has 69 new cases of coronavirus as of March 26 -- The number of COVID-19 cases in Orange County stands at 256 as of Thursday, March 26, an increase of 69 from the day before – expected, officials said, as more people continue to be tested. The number of cases is doubling in Orange County every three days or so. Jeong Park in the Orange County Register Priscella Vega in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
COVID-19 claims life of third county resident; fifth cluster reported -- A third San Diego County resident has died of COVID-19 and a new cluster of infected people has been identified at an assisted-living community in Rancho San Diego, local health officials reported Thursday. Gary Warth, Alex Riggins in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/27/20
Ventura County coronavirus cases steadily increase, reaching 50 -- Eleven new confirmed COVID-19 cases pushed Ventura County’s total to 50 as of Wednesday evening, health officials reported. The new benchmark came less than three weeks after the county’s first confirmation on March 6 and demonstrated the spread of the coronavirus outside the area’s biggest hot spot. Andrew J. Campa in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
2 residents at Westside home for people with dementia have the coronavirus -- Two residents and an employee of a Westside luxury home for dementia patients have tested positive for the coronavirus. A man who moved into the facility, Silverado Beverly Place, last week developed symptoms shortly after his arrival and was taken to Cedars Sinai Medical Center by ambulance, according to emails reviewed by The Times and interviews with relatives. Harriet Ryan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
New York reports 100 coronavirus deaths in 24-hour period -- Coronavirus-related deaths have spiked in New York, with 100 reported in the last 24 hours, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday. The governor told reporters in Albany that the death toll in the state has now hit 385, up from 285 as of Wednesday morning. Shannon Young Politico -- 3/27/20
Social Distancing
California’s DMV to close field offices to the public starting Friday over coronavirus fears -- Starting Friday, those offices will be closed to the public in order to ensure customers’ safety during the evolving pandemic, the department said. The offices will re-open April 2, but only in a “virtual” capacity in which employees will be at their jobs on site, but the public will interact with them only online, according to a news release. Jonah Valdez in the Orange County Register Leila Miller, Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
More Bay Area parks, beaches closing before weekend -- After thousands of Bay Area residents mobbed some of the region’s parks and beaches last weekend, the state is pushing back to discourage people from venturing too far from their homes during shelter in place. Tom Stienstra in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Workers
SF General Hospital workers file complaint claiming lack of COVID-19 protections -- Health care workers at San Francisco General Hospital have filed a complaint with California workplace safety regulators alleging the hospital is doing too little to protect them from the coronavirus and violating state law. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Kamala Harris tries shaming big employers on coronavirus sick leave -- Harris, D-Calif., sent a letter Thursday to the CEOs of 36 large corporations — including McDonald’s, Walmart, Kroger and Burger King — demanding they “put public health ahead of profits” and provide two weeks of paid sick leave and 10 weeks of family and medical leave for all workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Dustin Gardiner in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Coronavirus is supercharging the fight over California’s new employment law -- Pro-AB 5 voices say workers can’t wait any longer for healthcare coverage, paid sick leave and other protections in the face of a fast-moving pandemic. Those who oppose the law point to the economists already declaring the U.S. in recession and say any regulation that takes opportunities for workers off the table will do more harm than good. Johana Bhuiyan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
San Jose to adopt emergency sick leave policy for residents affected by coronavirus -- In an effort to support San Jose’s low-wage workforce, San Jose officials on Wednesday proposed an emergency paid sick leave policy that would provide extra protection for any essential employee in the city who is still working and affected by the growing coronavirus crisis. Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Dentists Donate Protective Equipment To Health Care Workers While Facing Their Own Challenges -- San Diego dentists are stepping up to help health care workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak by donating masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE). Globally, there is a worldwide shortage of PPE. Matt Hoffman KPBS -- 3/27/20
How To Donate Masks And Medical Supplies To Sacramento Region Hospitals -- Health care workers across the country are reporting shortages of personal protective equipment, also called PPE, which includes gowns, face shields and respiratory masks. There are a number of crowdsourced organizations collecting donations — including GetusPPE.org, DonatePPE.org, Mask Match and PPE Link. Capital Public Radio -- 3/27/20
Unemployment
As coronavirus spread, California businesses posted a surge of layoff notices -- California companies reported a surge of layoffs as they grappled with economic effects of the coronavirus, but the reports reflect just a fraction of the job losses in the fast-moving meltdown. Margot Roosevelt in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Massive unemployment claims during coronavirus crisis have California officials scrambling -- California faces an unprecedented number of unemployment claims amid the coronavirus pandemic, sparking emergency actions by the state agency that handles jobless benefits and a waiting game to see whether the state can keep up. Melody Gutierrez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Thousands of job cuts loom in Bay Area, Monterey County -- Hotels, spas, stores, and restaurants, including some in getaway destinations for California, are among the employers that revealed plans for job cuts totaling in the thousands for the Bay Area and nearby regions amid the coronavirus pandemic, state labor officials reported Thursday. Rosewood CordeValle, Carmel Valley Ranch, and Ventana Big Sur were some of the high-profile names that issued warnings they were planning layoffs, the latest grim reminder of the economic devastation spawned by the coronavirus. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Fabled Chateau Marmont lays off most of staff amid coronavirus crisis -- The Chateau Marmont hotel, a longtime haunt for Hollywood celebrities, has laid off an estimated 200 workers as business plummets amid the coronavirus outbreak, employees said. Kevin Smith in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/27/20
Economic Rescue Package
Stimulus bill would make it easier to tap retirement accounts, waive required distributions -- The $2 trillion stimulus bill that has passed the Senate makes three big temporary changes to retirement savings. Two would make it easier for people with a coronavirus-related hardship to tap their retirement accounts for short-term needs this year; the other would let people who are required to take money from their accounts, but don’t want to, skip their required minimum distribution for 2020. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
‘Just damage containment’: Cost of the coronavirus shutdown keeps rising -- The mammoth $2 trillion rescue package on the brink of heading to President Donald Trump’s desk would plug some of the massive holes coronavirus is ripping through the American economy. But the massive effort — the largest single injection of federal cash into the economy in U.S. history — will do nothing to flip the switch back on for an economy enduring the swiftest paralyzation any major developed nation has ever seen. Ben White Politico -- 3/27/20
Who got special deals in the stimulus and why they got them -- As the colossal $2 trillion rescue package heads toward President Donald Trump’s desk as soon as this weekend, it’s clear that special interests and members of Congress aren’t letting the pandemic crisis go to waste. Here’s a look at a handful of special deals, and how they got into the stimulus: Caitlin Emma, Jennifer Scholtes and Theodoric Meyer Politico Anna M. Phillips, Kim Christensen, Adam Elmahrek in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Business
Chef sues for coronavirus insurance coverage over French Laundry, Bouchon -- Prominent chef Thomas Keller is suing his insurance company for losses caused by the shutdowns of his two Napa County restaurants, a case that could help determine the extent of insurance coverage for the commercial impact of the coronavirus. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Thieves party at closed Bay Area restaurant during shelter in place -- La Costanera, an elegant Peruvian restaurant overlooking the water in Montara, has been closed since the Bay Area’s shelter-in-place order March 17. On Saturday night, at least four people broke into the restaurant, stole cash, smashed cameras and drank sparkling wine — then lingered for 11 hours over the course of two days. Janelle Bitker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
SF’s soaring office market was slowing down. Then the coronavirus hit -- The coronavirus epidemic closed down almost all San Francisco businesses and sent hundreds of thousands of workers home. Now, the city’s office market is facing the most uncertainty in more than a decade, although strength in the tech sector could help a recovery, according to experts. Roland Li in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Disney furlough of theme park employees in April could save $500 million, analysts say -- Disney’s two Anaheim theme parks, four Florida parks and two parks in France remain closed through the end of March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shuttering of Disney’s domestic parks was preceded by closures of Disney parks in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Japan. Brady MacDonald in the Orange County Register -- 3/27/20
Empty malls. Closed stores. Will coronavirus forever change how we shop? -- Although analysts predict a rebound by the end of the year, the new retail landscape may look different from the old one, as mandated closures knock out weak malls and merchants. Online shopping is likely to permanently grab an even bigger share of buyers’ money, particularly for groceries because house-bound consumers grew comfortable getting their food picked out by someone else and delivered. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Bay Area pet care industry reeling, adapting amid coronavirus pandemic -- Portions of the pet care industry are being decimated by the coronavirus pandemic, with workers debating whether they’re considered “essential,” many day care and boarding centers closing, and some dog walkers and trainers trying to shift from normal routines. Rusty Simmons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Transit
AC Transit passengers get free ride throughout pandemic -- AC Transit has suspended fare collections, so all rides on the East Bay’s primary bus service will be free for the remainder of the coronavirus pandemic. “The decision was made out of concern for the health and safety of our bus operators and riders,” said AC Transit spokesman Robert Lyles. Phil Matier in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
BART ridership dips 92% due to coronavirus, agency considers more service cuts -- With BART ridership plunging 92% this week as Bay Area residents hunker down at home during the coronavirus outbreak, the transit agency is considering more drastic service cuts to make up for lost revenue, including no Sunday service. Anna Bauman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Metrolink cuts service by 30% as ridership plummets amid coronavirus outbreak -- As rail ridership plunges amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, Metrolink has significantly scaled back its train schedule, reducing service by 30%, officials said. Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Laura J. Nelson in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
San Francisco’s Muni Metro to shut down Monday; VTA suspends all light rail service -- The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency announced the decision to shut down Muni Metro andc light-rail service late Wednesday, and buses will begin replacing the affected lines Monday to ensure people can continue to commute to work and conduct essential errands around the city. Josh Koehn and Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Homeless
San Jose receives 109 state trailers to house homeless individuals -- The trailers, which are located in the east parking lot at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in south San Jose, will be used to isolate homeless people with confirmed or presumed coronavirus cases but do not need to be hospitalized, according to the city. Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
California's homeless census was already troubled. Covid-19 is making it impossible -- For the past year and a half, local county census committees and homeless service providers throughout California have been conducting their own outreach for the 2020 census, knowing that only an accurate count of the state’s growing homeless population will guarantee the federal funding needed to get people off the streets and into stability. Vivian Ho The Guardian -- 3/27/20
Education
Citing coronavirus risks, L.A. teachers union calls for new limits on charter schools -- Citing the coronavirus emergency, the L.A. teachers union on Thursday called for a moratorium on new charter school approvals and a halt to new campus-sharing arrangements with charters. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Six Bay Area counties extend coronavirus school closures to May 4 -- The coordinated decision aligns the closure schedule for hundreds of schools and nearly 1 million students in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. The decision follows an announcement by Los Angeles Unified last week to close through May 1 as well. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Solano County school closures extended through May 1 -- Previously, the superintendents of Solano County’s school districts had announced closures with tentative dates for reopening beginning in late March and then rescheduled to mid-April. Nick Sestanovich in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Bay Area school districts are racing to respond to coronavirus shutdown — but some are more prepared than others -- In many cities, thousands of students still don’t have access to computers or the internet at home, officials say. In districts that are further along, the transition to remote teaching and learning is uneven at best, leaving many parents and students frustrated. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
The Learning Curve: The Looming School Budget Crisis -- School districts get the vast amount of their money from the state. And the outlook for the state budget right now is … very bad. There are two options California schools can look to for help. Will Huntsberry Voiceofsandiego.org -- 3/27/20
Stanford stops all faculty searches, institutes hiring pause due to COVID-19 -- Stanford announced Thursday it is instituting a hiring pause for all faculty and staff positions as the “university is anticipating that the COVID-19 pandemic will have a significant impact on Stanford’s financial picture.” Kerry Crowley in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Exam used for college credit canceled due to coronavirus. How that affects California students -- As worldwide attempts to prevent the spread of coronavirus continue, the International Baccalaureate, a worldwide program offering rigorous coursework for college credit, announced Tuesday that all exams will be canceled. Sawsan Morrar in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/27/20
Bogus tweet suggests San Jose high schools will hold streaming graduation on app -- A bogus tweet attributing a claim that graduation for seniors will happen on the online gaming platform “Roblox” to San Jose East Side Union High School District superintendent Chris Funk has blown up on social media. Aldo Toledo in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Bay Area school districts are racing to respond to coronavirus shutdown — but some are more prepared than others -- The coronavirus pandemic is forcing Bay Area districts to play catch-up so kids can keep learning. In many cities, thousands of students still don’t have access to computers or the internet at home, officials say. In districts that are further along, the transition to remote teaching and learning is uneven at best, leaving many parents and students frustrated. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
With coronavirus-prompted distance learning, teens cope with social isolation, new stressors -- A cluster of friends high-fived and chatted at the entrance to Reseda Charter High on Wednesday morning, standing rather close to one another at a time when public health officials caution against breaching 6 feet with anyone outside your household. They stood in a line that snaked around the block to pick up school-issued laptops for remote instruction. Ariella Plachta, Ryan Hagen in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/27/20
Nursing students are eager to answer California's call to help stop coronavirus spread -- Thousands of California nursing students could be delayed from graduating just as the state needs them most to help slow the coronavirus pandemic. Ashley A. Smith EdSource -- 3/27/20
$31 billion in federal coronavirus relief coming soon to schools, college students and universities -- The $2.2 trillion in coronavirus relief that the U.S. Senate unanimously approved late Wednesday will include $31 billion nationwide in assistance for K-12 and higher education and more than $4 billion for child care and Head Start. That should translate into at least several billion dollars for California schools and colleges. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 3/27/20
Immigration / Border
SF D.A., activists, doctors call for undocumented immigrants’ release -- Undocumented immigrants being held in proximity to one another in detention facilities across the country are at risk of contracting and spreading the coronavirus at alarming rates, said San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who on Thursday joined thousands of attorneys, doctors and immigration advocates across the country Thursday in calling for the detainees’ release. Tatiana Sanchez in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
Coronavirus stalls asylum system and exacerbates conditions of migrants waiting in Mexico -- Migrants waiting south of the border for their chance at asylum in the United States are facing new levels of uncertainty as court hearings get rescheduled and border officials stop processing new cases as part of the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Kate Morrissey in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/27/20
Guns
Coronavirus: Bay Area cities crack down on gun stores; L.A. sheriff goes back to ordering gun sales there stopped -- Three Bay Area guns stores were ordered closed, another was put on notice, and the sheriff of California’s largest county reversed course again and ordered stores in his jurisdiction to also stop selling weapons Thursday as the debate over whether or not the businesses are essential played out across California in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. Thomas Peele in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Military
Coronavirus case prompts health emergency declaration at L.A. Air Force Base -- A 30-day public health emergency was declared Thursday for the Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo after an individual in the housing area at Ft. MacArthur in San Pedro tested positive for the coronavirus. The item is in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
Navy, Marines Race To Contain Coronavirus Spread -- Even as California shelters in place because of the coronavirus, the Navy and Marines are trying to balance social distance with military readiness. The Navy continues to announce more restrictions for bases around the country to limit the spread of COVID-19. But while parking lots at many businesses in Southern California were deserted, those at Naval Station San Diego were still full the day the hospital ship USNS Mercy departed. Steve Walsh KPBS -- 3/27/20
New Normal
Why is there still no toilet paper in stores? -- A week into an unprecedented statewide stay-home order aimed at keeping hospitals from being overwhelmed with patients, consumers throughout the Bay Area and beyond are still finding empty store shelves when they look for things such as toilet paper, paper towels, sanitary wipes and hand sanitizer. “The ultimate question everyone wants to know is when will the store shelves be restocked,” said Eric Abercrombie, a spokesman for Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific, one of the world’s leading producers of toilet paper and paper towels. “And unfortunately, I don’t have a good answer for you on that.” John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Your guide to parking, bridges, buses and trains -- The Bay Area’s roads, bridges and public transportation systems are all open during the shelter in place orders that have millions of us working and studying from home. Under the order, though, you’re only allowed to travel for “essential” reasons — so you can still take BART to your essential job, but no recreational ferry rides to take in the fresh air and view. Nico Savidge in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Can you get the coronavirus from touching or eating food? -- You’re following all of California’s shelter-in-place guidelines. Eliminating all nonessential trips from your home. Keeping 6 feet away from others whenever you’re outside. But you still need to eat, which means you’re occasionally traveling to the grocery store or farmers’ markets and touching all kinds of surfaces — from shopping carts to apples to cans of beans — that have been touched by others. Esther Mobley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
How long does it stay on surfaces? And how do I do laundry? -- While the new coronavirus is primarily spread through person-to-person contact, a new study shows that the virus that causes COVID-19 can linger on some surfaces for days or weeks, and remain in the air for hours. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/27/20
What You Can Do To Keep Your Groceries Clean And What Stores Are Doing To Stop Coronavirus Spread -- Ron Fong, president of the California Grocers Association, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have different recommendations for different types of surfaces. "The CDC has recommended plain old hot water and soap on hard surfaces like cans," Fong said. "For produce, don’t use bleach water. Use regular warm water to wash your produce.” Fong says you can also use soap and water or a disinfecting wipe to clean the grocery bags, too. Bob Moffitt Capital Public Radio -- 3/27/20
Court pilots video arraignments amid escalating COVID-19 jail worries -- With courthouse activity across the state reduced to a trickle and mounting pressure to reduce inmate populations and stem potential COVID-19 outbreaks in jails, Santa Clara County conducted its first-ever video arraignments to keep essential hearings going on amid the pandemic. Robert Salonga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
No, you can't get COVID-19 from San Francisco tap water -- Bottled water is disappearing from grocery shelves almost as fast as toilet paper, but there’s no shortage of water in California. There’s plenty flowing right out of your tap. And it’s germ-free and perfectly safe to drink. You can’t get COVID-19 from tap water. Mike Moffitt in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/27/20
Can I Get COVID-19 From My Dog? 6 Questions About Pets and the Coronavirus Answered by Experts -- But people still have many questions about the impact of COVID-19 on their pets, especially after the World Health Organization deleted a section on their "myth busters" webpage on March 12 that said there was "no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus." Laura Klivans KQED -- 3/27/20
Also . . .
Atherton mom who gloated in college cheating wants home detention fearing COVID-19 -- The Atherton mother who prosecutors say gloated over cheating to get her daughters into elite universities has offered up a novel argument why she shouldn’t go to prison: time behind bars would needlessly expose her to the potentially deadly coronavirus. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/27/20
Citing the coronavirus, ex-L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca asks for release from prison -- Baca, who was found guilty of thwarting a federal investigation into his department’s scandal-plagued jail system, is less than two months into a three-year prison term. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
L.A. County supervisors and sheriff in standoff over coronavirus emergency response -- In recent weeks, Los Angeles County supervisors and other local leaders have gathered most days at the Hall of Administration to give virtual updates about how the coronavirus outbreak is unfolding. Sheriff Alex Villanueva has held his own virtual briefings at the county emergency operations center in East Los Angeles, taking questions about law enforcement operations and efforts to reduce the jail population. Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/27/20
POTUS 45
Can Trump Legally Order the Country Back to Work From Coronavirus by Easter? -- While the president of the United States is often referred to as the most powerful leader on earth, there are limits to those powers, and one of them is that he cannot order Americans to leave their homes and go to work. Neil MacFarquhar in the New York Times$ -- 3/27/20
Fact Check: Trump’s Baseless Claim That a Recession Would Be Deadlier Than the Coronavirus -- Though the question of the overall impact of recessions on mortality remains unsettled, experts disputed Mr. Trump’s claim that an economic downturn would be more deadly than a pandemic. (The White House did not respond when asked for the source of the president’s conjecture.) “All these effects of economic expansions or recessions on mortality that can be seen, e.g., during the Great Depression or the Great Recession, are tiny if compared with the mortality effects of a pandemic,” said Dr. José A. Tapia, a professor of public health and economics at Drexel University who has written several studies on the topic. Linda Qiu in the New York Times$ -- 3/27/20
After Considering $1 Billion Price Tag for Ventilators, White House Has Second Thoughts -- A deal with General Motors and Ventec Life Systems to produce tens of thousands of the critical lifesaving devices seemed imminent. Then the announcement was pulled back. David E. Sanger, Maggie Haberman and Zolan Kanno-Youngs in the New York Times$ -- 3/27/20
Trump: I don't believe you really need that many ventilators -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York says his state needs 30,000 ventilators to respond to the escalating coronavirus crisis. President Donald Trump doesn’t believe him. Matthew Choi Politico -- 3/27/20
Beltway
Gouged prices, middlemen and medical supply chaos: Why governors are so upset with Trump -- They’ve pleaded for the White House to invoke the Defense Production Act, the legislation that would compel American companies to make critical supplies. President Trump has refused. “I just haven’t had to use it,” Trump said Thursday night. Interviews with hospital purchasing managers, state emergency management officers and even the middlemen themselves paint a different picture. They portray a broadly dysfunctional system across the United States, with hospitals and health authorities having few options but to rely on largely unknown middlemen whose priority appears to be making a profit as they promise to quickly replenish the nation’s depleted medical stockpiles. Drew Harwell in the Washington Post$ -- 3/27/20
Bonanza for Rich Real Estate Investors, Tucked Into Stimulus Package -- Senate Republicans inserted an easy-to-overlook provision on page 203 of the 880-page bill that would permit wealthy investors to use losses generated by real estate to minimize their taxes on profits from things like investments in the stock market. The estimated cost of the change over 10 years is $170 billion. Jesse Drucker in the New York Times$ -- 3/27/20
-- Thursday Updates
Coronavirus: Trump tells governors he plans to revise social distancing guidelines -- The federal government will move to relax social distancing recommendations for some counties as President Trump hopes to restart the nation’s economy in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, the president wrote in a letter to governors Thursday. Casey Tolan in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/26/20
Coronavirus Surge
Silicon Valley could face 2,000 to 16,000 coronavirus-related deaths, new estimates show -- Silicon Valley could see a coronavirus-related death toll of 2,000 to 16,000 by the end of May, depending on how seriously people take the order to stay at home as much as possible, according to projections presented at a San Jose City Council meeting Wednesday. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
California coronavirus cases are doubling much faster than expected, surge likely on the way -- "We originally thought that it would be doubling every six to seven days. We see cases doubling every three to four days," California Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly said at a news conference Wednesday. Ghaly said at that rate, he expects hospitals will see a surge in one to two weeks. Katie Dowd in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/26/20
Coronavirus: California cases top 3,000 as testing ramps up -- As of Wednesday night there were 3,082 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in California and 67 deaths related to the disease known as COVID-19, according to the total cumulative cases as reported by the counties and compiled by the Bay Area News Group. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/26/20
‘A surge like we’ve never seen’: Sacramento hospitals brace for flood of coronavirus cases -- Sacramento-area hospital leaders are bracing for a barrage of new patients infected with the coronavirus and suffering from COVID-19, a surge of cases they say is just days away and unlike any they have ever seen. Cathie Anderson and Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/26/20
Long lines, big demand: Still-limited LA-area drive-through coronavirus testing inches ahead -- Faced with mammoth demand and a finite capacity to deal with it, novel coronavirus testing sites have started to appear, scattered around Los Angeles County. But with long lines and a tapped-out appointment system to contend with, officials cautioned Wednesday, March 25 that capacity in the county is not where it should be. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/26/20
Coronavirus infections surge in Inland Empire; San Bernardino County cases triple in days -- San Bernardino County recorded 54 COVID-19 cases and two fatalities related to the virus as of Thursday. The number of confirmed cases has tripled in less than a week. The county initially recorded 17 cases Monday. Priscella Vega in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
UC Davis nurses fear COVID-19 patients have infected employees. ‘Absurd’ to think otherwise -- When he announced that employees of the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento had tested positive for coronavirus, health system CEO David Lubarsky cast blame on the outside world as “very likely” responsible. He noted the hospital’s own infection-control regime for nurses, doctors and other medical staff, and said, “We simply can’t be protected outside of work.” Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/26/20
California needs nurses. So why is the state about to give up 10,000 prospects? -- Amid a frantic scramble to open hospitals and increase the number of healthcare workers, California nursing schools are warning state officials that an estimated 10,000 nursing students are in jeopardy of not graduating, meaning they will be unable help evaluate and treat patients amid the coronavirus pandemic. Melody Gutierrez, Nina Agrawal in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
Six residents of Elk Grove senior facility have now tested positive for coronavirus -- The facility, Carlton Senior Living in Elk Grove, was home to a woman in her 90s who contracted the disease earlier this month and died at the hospital. That was the first Sacramento County death tied to the new coronavirus and apparently the first confirmed case in a California senior facility. Theresa Clift in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/26/20
Tesla: Two workers have the coronavirus, are in quarantine -- It was not immediately clear if the employees worked at the company’s Fremont factory, which remained open until Monday despite being ordered to close, along with other nonessential businesses, by Alameda County last week. Tesla’s headquarters is in Palo Alto, though the factory has the bulk of its Bay Area employees. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/26/20
Social Distancing
'6 feet apart is better than 6 feet under': The new rules of COVID-19 etiquette -- In these days of coronavirus, etiquette takes on a greater importance. This isn’t a matter of where to place knives and forks, or even of someone obnoxiously wearing his backpack on a crowded BART train; the new etiquette is part of a more dire social reality. David Curran in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/26/20
'This is serious business': Dr. Anthony Fauci answered questions from Steph Curry on Instagram -- Curry and Fauci covered a range of common questions about the novel coronavirus during their Instagram Live conversation. In the comment section, a number of celebrities popped in to make their presence known, including President Barack Obama (who posted a waving emoji) and the rapper Common (who wrote, inscrutably, "Common Cold.") A small plastic basketball hoop was visible in Dr. Fauci's office throughout the conversation. Michael Rosen in the San Francisco Chronicle Wes Goldberg in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/26/20
Advocates ask state to expand social safety net during coronavirus pandemic -- Like many janitors, her medical insurance comes via a trust fund that requires her to be continuously employed. If there’s a two-week gap in her job, she loses her insurance. “I’m very concerned that my coverage will run out,” she said. “I’m diabetic. A leave could be temporary but diabetes is forever.” Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/26/20
Transit
Parts of Bay Area halt light rail service due to coronavirus epidemic -- Light rail service is being suspended in San Francisco and Silicon Valley due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority immediately suspended light rail service Wednesday night after a light rail operator trainee tested positive for the coronavirus, the agency said. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
Coronavirus: VTA suspends light rail service in South Bay after operator tests positive -- The South Bay light rail network run by the Valley Transportation Authority has shut down indefinitely after a person being trained as an operator tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/26/20
Air traffic down 85% at LAX as local airports face historic declines due to coronavirus -- Sean Burton, president of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners, said at a commission meeting Thursday that air passenger traffic is now down 85% nationally compared with a year ago. At LAX and Van Nuys, the effect is just as extreme, he said. Dakota Smith in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
Home Learning
'It has not been enough': Bay Area parents on first week of distance learning -- Over the last week we polled parents and kids from pre-K to high school in a mix of both private and public schools in every county in the Bay Area — and while this is far from a full snapshot of every school and experience, it was nonetheless incredibly revealing. Based on this sample, Bay Area experiences with “school-from-home” can best be described as… uneven. Grant Marek in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/26/20
Homeless
Few sheltered as California aims to help homeless amid virus -- Homeless outreach workers are passing out hand sanitizer, checking temperatures and pleading with people not to crowd together. But a week after California Gov. Gavin Newsom pledged thousands of hotel rooms to help the homeless survive the coronavirus pandemic, most of those rooms sit empty. Janie Har Associated Press -- 3/26/20
California is scrambling to house the homeless -- With shelters reporting that some residents show symptoms of coronavirus infection, and with public health authorities worried about outbreaks in tent camps, state officials are confronting questions of how to speed up help as much as possible. Matt Levin Calmatters -- 3/26/20
Inmates
Federal judges urged to free thousands of California inmates -- Attorneys representing California inmates late Wednesday filed an emergency motion asking federal judges to free thousands of infirm and lower-security prisoners to prevent what they predict will otherwise be the catastrophic spread of coronavirus through a vulnerable population. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 3/26/20
The push to release more inmates from L.A. County jails due to coronavirus -- Authorities in Los Angeles County have said that a top priority in the coronavirus pandemic was reducing the number of inmates housed in the county jail system, which is the nation’s largest. It’s considered a race against time to safeguard those living and working in the crammed quarters against spread of the virus. Matt Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
Economy
‘All my income is gone’: Tenants, landlords voice coronavirus fears as rents come due -- Tenants and landlords throughout Southern California are bracing for next Wednesday, when April rents are due just as thousands of people have lost their jobs and most business have been shut down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. James F. Peltz in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
L.A.'s beloved taco trucks are in survival mode -- With drastic reductions in foot traffic and revenue, many of the city’s popular taco vendors are fighting for their livelihoods. Raul Ortega, who operates Boyle Heights’ Mariscos Jalisco food truck with several family members, says that in 19 years of business he’s never witnessed such a steep decline in revenue. Patricia Escárcega in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
Unemployment
Unemployment claims surge in California as coronavirus outbreak stalls US economy -- New unemployment claims surged dramatically in California and the nation last week as the coronavirus outbreak continued to send the economy into a tailspin. California saw 186,809 new claims last week, up dramatically from 57,606 the previous week. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/26/20
Lansner: California unemployment claims soar to record high -- The number of Californians seeking unemployment benefits has officially set a record high. And I’ll guarantee you this statistic — a quick snapshot of jobs lost since coronavirus ravaged the economy — paints too pretty a picture of a much uglier reality. Jonathan Lansner in the Orange County Register -- 3/26/20
3.3 million seek US jobless aid, nearly 5 times earlier high -- The surge in weekly applications was a stunning reflection of the damage the viral outbreak is inflicting on the economy. Filings for unemployment aid generally reflect the pace of layoffs. Layoffs are sure to accelerate as the U.S. economy sinks into a recession. Christopher Rugaber Associated Press -- 3/26/20
Workers
No face masks so California’s farmworkers are left unprotected -- Masks shield them from pesticides and field dust, which cause respiratory problems. And as California enters fungicide season, soon followed by fire season, growers and laborers worry there won't be enough masks due to the coronavirus. Kate Cimini Calmatters -- 3/26/20
How to protect workers from the coronavirus: This CEO has good advice -- Gatherings of more than five people were banned, and six-foot-minimum social distancing was required. Larger meetings would be held outdoors. Lunch and breaks were staggered, no more than five employees at a time. Tables were spread apart. A two-level sanitizing protocol was announced, one for employees, one for equipment. The print shop is always stocked with isopropyl alcohol, “drums of it,” Kelly said. It was diluted, put in spray bottles, and handed out for each desktop and factory workstation. Russ Mitchell in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
Child Care
Childcare providers need supplies, coronavirus guidance as daycare system suffers -- As hundreds of large preschools and daycare centers have closed amid statewide school shutdowns and stay-at-home orders, many children of essential workers are now being watched over by lone providers — mostly women working in their homes with help from family members. In L.A. County, experts say 75% are immigrants. Sonja Sharp in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
Military
COVID-19 sidelines carrier Theodore Roosevelt; 3 San Diego ships lock down crews over virus concerns -- The San Diego-based aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, deployed in the Western Pacific, is pulling into Guam to test its entire crew for COVID-19, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said today at a Pentagon press briefing. At least eight sailors on board have tested positive for the virus but a Thursday Wall Street Journal report puts the actual number at 23. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/26/20
Also ...
Rows of tanks? National Guard patrols? Police stops? Officials debunk coronavirus rumors -- Amid concerns about the coronavirus, officials are trying to debunk rumors of various types about government actions. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell says he’s been diagnosed with COVID-19 -- Shell, 54, began feeling ill March 15, a couple of days after the New York-based NBCUniversal began shutting down its productions and operations. Meg James in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/26/20
Virus takes toll on US military as it tries to aid civilians -- The coronavirus is taking a growing toll on the U.S. military, and commanders and senior officials are bracing for worse. From nuclear missile fields at home to war zones abroad, from flight lines to ships at sea, the Pentagon is striving to shield vital missions even as it faces urgent calls for help on the civilian front. Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor Associated Press -- 3/26/20