Updating . .
Coronavirus patients in California’s ICU beds double overnight -- The number of coronavirus patients in California’s intensive care unit beds doubled overnight, rising from 200 on Friday to 410 on Saturday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said. Taryn Luna, Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Sean Greene in the Los Angeles Times$ Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/28/20
Coronavirus deaths in California top 100 as officials struggle to slow spread -- There are now nearly 5,000 cases of coronavirus infection in the state, and officials believe that number will skyrocket with aggressive new testing. Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ Vincent Moleski in the Sacramento Bee$ Daisy Nguyen Associated Press -- 3/28/20
Bay Area coronavirus updates: San Francisco reports one new death, preps for imminent surge -- San Francisco's public health department reported 29 new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Saturday, as well as one new death. The city and county's total number of cases now stands at 308, and the death total is now at four. The daily increase of cases is actually down from Friday's increase of 56, but no data was provided on how many tests were conducted, making it impossible to directly compare the two days' figures. Eric Ting in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
How bad will the next few weeks be for California as coronavirus cases surge? -- Looking east, California can envision its coronavirus future in the overflowing hospital wards of New York City. Looking west, it can draw hope from the disease’s swift decline in Asian nations that quickly imposed strict physical-isolation measures on infected people. Soumya Karlamangla, Anita Chabria, Rong-Gong Lin Ii, James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Orange County coronavirus cases jump past 400 with 4 deaths -- Orange County on Saturday said total coronavirus cases jumped to 403, including four deaths. The rise came as the county is doing more testing. As of Saturday, the county had performed more than 4,800 tests. Officials on Friday began released city-by-city coronavirus cases, with Anaheim, Irvine and Newport Beach having among the highest totals. Luke Money, Hillary Davis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Sacramento health chief ‘cautiously optimistic’ county may escape worst virus consequences -- Sacramento County’s health chief said this week he is cautiously optimistic county residents and local hospitals are taking steps that will reduce illnesses and deaths in the coming critical weeks of the fight against the highly contagious coronavirus. Tony Bizjak and Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/28/20
Bay Area Hospitals Shift Workforce to Free Doctors for Coronavirus Duty -- At the same time hospitals in California are racing to secure more beds, ventilators, and masks to care for a surge of coronavirus patients, they are also scrambling to prepare — and preserve — their workforce so they don’t run out of doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists, too. April Dembosky KQED -- 3/28/20
LAPD preparing scenarios in which many officers are out sick from coronavirus -- While the number of infected Los Angeles police officers remains relatively small compared with their counterparts in New York City, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said he is prepared for the coronavirus to potentially sicken more of the force. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Coronavirus outreach: Rep. Lou Correa asks Orange County businesses to make more medical gear -- Rep. Lou Correa, a Democrat from Santa Ana, says his 46th congressional district — which includes much of Santa Ana and Anaheim — is home to about 3,000 manufacturing companies in all types of industries. Many, he believes, can make masks, gowns and medical devices currently in short supply during the mounting coronavirus pandemic. Andre Mouchard in the Orange County Register -- 3/28/20
Blood drives planned at Nixon Library in Yorba Linda to meet urgent demand amid coronavirus pandemic -- The Richard Nixon Presidential Library will host four blood drives over the next three weeks to meet urgent demand for blood donations amid the coronavirus pandemic, library officials said Saturday. The item is in the Orange County Register -- 3/28/20
Doctors and experts warn against the risks of using malaria drugs off-label to treat COVID-19 -- The prospect that a pair of malaria drugs will become go-to medications for treating COVID-19 before they’ve been rigorously tested is prompting new safety warnings from heart specialists and other doctors and experts. Melissa Healy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Testing
Introducing L.A.'s coronavirus testing czar. Can he fix a ‘grossly inadequate’ system? -- Clayton Kazan, Los Angeles County’s new coronavirus testing coordinator, has no shortage of opinions on how management of the crisis has gone so far. It’s been a failure at all levels of government, he says, and testing capacity in Los Angeles County remains “grossly inadequate” — a fact that should frustrate residents here. Matt Stiles in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
California has ramped up coronavirus testing, but where are the results? -- Gov. Gavin Newsom touted how California dramatically ramped up its coronavirus testing this week, but nearly three-quarters of test results are still undetermined — a gap that could hinder the state’s ability to assess and track the spread of the virus. Victoria Colliver Politico -- 3/28/20
Air Traffic
Coronavirus test negative, so John Wayne Airport tower reopens -- The control tower at John Wayne Airport, which was closed Friday after an employee presumptively tested positive for coronavirus, reopened Saturday, March 28, after the employee was determined not to have the illness, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The tower reopened at 6:15 a.m., FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. Brian Rokos in the Orange County Register -- 3/28/20
Social Distancing
From closed beaches to shuttered businesses, here’s what you can’t do this weekend -- Most beaches, trails, recreation areas and other points of interest are closed, including trails in Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles. The state has also ordered parking lots closed at dozens of state beaches and parks. But L.A. officials said it’s fine to walk or jog in your neighborhood or through neighborhood parks as long as you social distance. Luke Money, Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Bay Area parks and beaches: What’s open during coronavirus shutdown -- Because the shelter-in-place order allows outside exercise, most parks in the San Francisco Bay Area are allowing public access to trails, beaches and other open space. Visitor centers and other buildings are closed, and parking lots have been closed at overcrowded parks. Visitors are reminded to maintain at least 6 feet distance from other people, except members of their own households. The item is in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
Nearing overload in coronavirus pandemic, Mono County sheriff has a message: Stay out -- With eight confirmed coronavirus cases and a hospital with 17 beds and four ventilators, Mono County Sheriff Ingrid Braun said Friday night that officials are nearing their capacity to handle the outbreak and need outsiders to stay away. Anita Chabria, Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Public meetings and social distancing: It’s complicated -- The transition from physical to virtual interface in the first couple of weeks since shelter-in-place orders went into effect in the Bay Area hasn’t always been pretty, often resulting in frustrating technical and logistical hiccups. And it’s raised questions about whether the public’s voice is being diluted when people must email or call in to the meetings to get feedback on matters big and small read into the official record. Annie Sciacca in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
Surfing Madonna charity postpones beach marathon to March 2021 -- The Surfing Madonna Oceans Project has canceled the Encinitas Half Marathon & 5K beach run it was scheduled to host this weekend, but organizers have resisted returning the money participants paid in advance. Instead, charity officials Robert Nichols and his wife, Megan McCarthy, have been telling ticket buyers that the money already has been spent and the race has been rescheduled for March 2021. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/28/20
Jails
Deadly virus presents growing threat inside county jails -- Medical experts working in San Diego County jails are growing increasingly worried about the danger posed by the coronavirus because officials have tested only a few dozen people and more inmates are showing signs of infection, multiple sources tell The San Diego Union-Tribune. Jeff McDonald, Kelly Davis in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/28/20
Jail deputy in Contra Costa County tests positive -- A deputy at the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office has tested positive for coronavirus, an official for the agency confirmed Saturday. In a text message, Assistant Sheriff Matt Schuler said a deputy at the West County Detention Facility tested positive COVID-19. No other information on the positive test, the deputy’s condition or the repercussions at the jail after the diagnosis were available. Schuler oversees the jails in the county. Rick Hurd, Annie Sciacca in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
Sheriff raids Aryan Brotherhood members’ jail cells over tampered locks, feds say -- A Sacramento County Sheriff emergency response team conducted midnight raids of a jail module that’s housing alleged Aryan Brotherhood members, after discovering a reported attempt by one high-ranking member of the prison gang to free himself from his cell, according to federal prosecutors. Nate Gartrell in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
New Normal
L.A. passes ordinance to reserve grocery shopping times for the elderly and disabled -- It’s a move many retailers voluntarily implemented last week in response to the increased demand brought on by the recent COVID-19 shutdowns, but the measure — which passed by a unanimous vote during a City Council meeting Friday — makes it standard across the board. It is now awaiting the mayor’s signature. Jenn Harris in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Doing the Essential: Grocery Shopping in the Bay Area During the Pandemic -- In the wake of shelter in place orders, grocery stores — an essential business, have become one of the few places where people can go to stock the pantry and get some fresh air. But empty shelves and large gatherings of people are topics of concern for shoppers and health officials alike. Shannon Lin KQED -- 3/28/20
Toilet paper alternatives clogging toilets, sewers -- Jeff Taylor said he has learned a few things since widespread panic ensued amid the coronavirus outbreak, perhaps most importantly that there is no substitute for toilet paper. Now the San Clemente resident of 15 years is spending $11,200 to replace the sewer pipe running beneath his house on Calle Mendoza, nestled in the hills. Joe Nelson in the Orange County Register -- 3/28/20
Mystery surfboards share the stoke around Dana Point, Laguna Beach -- How else would messages of hope be scattered around beach towns in sunny Southern California, known for its epic waves and laid-back coastal culture? On surfboards, of course. Mystery messages inscribed on surfboards have been popping up around Dana Point and Laguna Beach, making people wonder who is behind the inspiring words. Laylan Connelly in the Orange County Register -- 3/28/20
Workers / Jobs
Delivery workers are keeping California fed. They say no one’s keeping them safe -- While most of California hunkered down at home, Toby N. was still delivering meals for DoorDash in the Bay Area town of San Leandro. But days after Alameda County directed its residents to stay home, Toby began experiencing shortness of breath and a dry cough. He went to a doctor on Sunday and was told to self-quarantine for two weeks. Johana Bhuiyan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
‘Worst heartbreak of my life’: Family mourns FoodMaxx cashier who died of COVID-19 -- As she always did, Martinez, 65, put on a tough face, so her family was almost entirely unaware of her symptoms, until it was too late. On March 21, the San Jose woman — who had worked as a cashier at FoodMaxx in San Jose and was known for her big heart and unrivaled cooking skills — died of COVID-19. Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
Chase Center Workers Left Unemployed and Uninsured -- In her seven years as a seat attendant for the Golden State Warriors, Alina Martinez has tried hard to avoid living paycheck-to-paycheck. She paid down her debts and saved what little was left every month. Even with years of diligent work, she and her husband only have enough in reserve to scrape by for a few weeks. Sam Harnett KQED -- 3/28/20
Even in a pandemic, building is still booming in San Diego — for now -- The local construction industry is chugging along at a remarkable pace despite complications of performing state-deemed “essential” work during a global pandemic. Jennifer Van Grove in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/28/20
Jobless in Las Vegas: Locals lean on their faith, cut back on food and cling to the past -- As the number of jobless rises across the nation and daily life grinds to a unprecedented halt, the deadly virus has strained household budgets for thousands in Las Vegas who find themselves against an uncompromising reality. They are among the shocking 3.3 million Americans who last week applied for unemployment benefits, according to a report released by the U.S. Labor Department. Melissa Etehad in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Local Business
Coronavirus closures lead owners to board up some Southern California businesses -- Some owners who have closed their shops and restaurants because of the coronavirus pandemic — and even some owners whose businesses remain open — have taken the extra precaution of boarding up their windows in case burglars attempt to enter or social order breaks down. Brian Rokos in the Orange County Register -- 3/28/20
Local Economy
SeaWorld San Diego coronavirus closure could cost $30 million in lost revenue -- SeaWorld San Diego could see an attendance drop of more than 500,000 visitors and a $30 million revenue loss from the coronavirus closure of the marine park, according to data from industry analysts. Brady MacDonald in the Orange County Register -- 3/28/20
Environment
Ports and dockworkers seek delay on ship pollution cuts, citing coronavirus -- California ports and dockworkers, already hit by a major slowdown from the coronavirus, are asking state regulators to delay moving forward with new rules intended to reduce air pollution from cargo ships. Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Whales are dying, but numbers are unknown. Coronavirus has stalled scientific fieldwork -- As gray whales began their northern migration along the Pacific coast, earlier this month — after a year of unusually heavy die-offs — scientists were poised to watch, ready to collect information that could help them learn what was killing them. The coronavirus outbreak, however, has largely upended that field work — and that of incalculable other ecological studies nationwide. Susanne Rust, Rosanna Xia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Homeless
Lopez: Column: ‘It’s not real to some of them’: A doctor’s efforts to warn homeless patients about the coronavirus -- It was late morning when Dr. Susan Partovi and nurse practitioner Jen King set out from downtown Los Angeles on a mission — to track down some of their homeless patients, check on their welfare and warn them about the dangers of the coronavirus. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Also . . .
He thought he had coronavirus and had nowhere to go. He spent five days alone in his car -- Reggie Dominguez sat in his car dazed, listening to the radio. He had been in the parking lot of the Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park Medical Center for three days and alone in his car for two days before that, suffering through diarrhea, cold sweats and chills, interrupted by coughing fits that shook his entire body. Benjamin Oreskes, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
At a nursing home for L.A.’s wealthy, coronavirus diagnoses stir anger and questions -- In a get-what-you-pay-for-world, the families of Silverado Beverly Place expect a lot. Harriet Ryan, Brittny Mejia, Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Politics
Trump quarantine of New York would accomplish little, experts say -- President Donald Trump’s idea of imposing statewide quarantines on “hot spots” like New York won’t stop the virus from seeping into the rest of the country, according to public health experts. Adam Cancryn Politico -- 3/28/20
‘America’s governors’: Andrew Cuomo and Gavin Newsom take the lead on coronavirus -- But with COVID-19 spreading throughout the United States, Cuomo’s and Newsom’s profiles have grown exponentially across the country as their demands for action, pleas for aid and calls for shared sacrifice defined the Democratic response to the pandemic. They have become the opposition party’s foil to President Trump. Seema Mehta, Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
AP Fact Check: Trump a rosy outlier on science of the virus -- A look at some recent statements during a week when the U.S. rose to No. 1 globally in the number of people infected by COVID-19 since the pandemic began: Calvin Woodward and Hope Yen Associated Press -- 3/28/20
California Policy & Politics This Morning
California governor commutes sentences, including for murder -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday pardoned five people who already served their time and commuted the sentences of 21 state prison inmates, including more than a dozen convicted of murder or related crimes. The victims were children in two of the cases and a pregnant woman in a third. Don Thompson Associated Press Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/28/20
Coronavirus Complicates The Budget Picture For California Lawmakers -- There are a lot of uncertainties over the coronavirus, but for California lawmakers, one thing remains the same: Their constitutional mandate to pass a budget by June 15. Asm. Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, said lawmakers will “absolutely” meet that deadline, though the budget will likely look “very different” than the $222 billion proposal Gov. Gavin Newsom laid out in January. Ting chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Nicole Nixon Capital Public Radio -- 3/28/20
Governor’s order gives state court leader more power in face of pandemic -- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order gives the chief justice sweeping powers to “take any action she deems necessary to maintain the safe and orderly operation” in the state courts. Greg Moran in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/28/20
Drip, drip: California Democrats gain again in post-election day count -- California’s slow count of the March 3 primary ballots has been bad news for GOP congressional candidates, who have seen their margins slip as millions of late-arriving votes were tallied. That trend is a continuing concern for Republican leaders, who are looking to take back the seven California congressional districts Democrats grabbed from the GOP in 2018. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Earthquake probability adds urgency in time of COVID-19: What you need to know -- Earthquake experts — including at the U.S. Geological Survey and UC Berkeley’s seismology lab — are considering, especially in recent days, one potential scenario that isn’t an out-of-bounds notion: the convergence of an earthquake with the COVID-19 pandemic in the Bay Area and across California. Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28 /20
California Officials Say They'll Be Ready For November Election -- California officials say the state will be ready for the November general election, despite the coronavirus pandemic. But questions remain about key issues, including whether groups pushing ballot measures will be able to collect signatures before the June deadline given current social distancing requirements. Marisa Lagos KQED -- 3/28/20
Coronavirus
Shocking San Jose estimate raises coronavirus question: How many people will die? -- As the death toll climbs in the Bay Area’s coronavirus battle, an alarming projection that the pandemic would kill at least 2,000 in Santa Clara County has exposed a rift among local officials and a debate among scientists: What is the best — and most responsible — way to estimate how many might die? John Woolfolk and Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
California has surge of virus cases that threatens hospitals -- The surge of coronavirus cases in California that health officials have warned was coming has arrived and will worsen, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday, while the mayor of Los Angeles warned that by early next week his city could see the kind of crush that has crippled New York. Christopher Weber and Adam Beam Associated Press -- 3/28/20
Analysis: Tag-team chief executives Newsom and Garcetti face fiercest common foe yet: coronavirus -- With a backdrop of a massive Navy hospital ship behind them, the leader of the nation’s most populous state and his counterpart at the nation’s second-largest city faced cameras on Friday, March 27. The coRyan Cartermmon goal: “Bend the curve” for COVIC-19. Defeat it. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/28/20
Knight: How SF has stayed ahead of coronavirus curve: slashing red tape, shedding bureaucracy -- They’ve prepared for an earthquake. They’ve prepared for a terrorist attack striking the Golden Gate Bridge. They’ve helped their city weather plane crashes and mass shootings. But San Francisco officials haven’t prepared for something quite like this — a virus that could kill thousands of people and crush the health care system and economy while it’s at it. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Front Lines
Seton — designated COVID hospital in Daly City — will run out of masks in less than a week -- Seton Medical Center in Daly City, one of two California hospitals the state is funneling $30 million into to accommodate an anticipated surge of coronavirus patients, is slated to start receiving patients from other hospitals next week. But it is on track to run out of masks and other critical protective equipment for health workers in just five days. Catherine Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
We're steering blind': California testing lags behind New York -- There’s no clear answer why California, which implemented the country’s first shelter-in-place order, has lagged behind in testing. But a shortage of basic materials and other factors help to explain it. New York got early approval of a state COVID-19 test. But even with new lab tests being approved in California, there’s still an ongoing shortage of staffing and supplies like swabs and personal protective gear to conduct them — which has been true across the country. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Santa Clara Convention Center transforms into coronavirus hospital -- The city of Santa Clara is transforming its convention center into a temporary hospital for up to 250 COVID-19 patients with non-emergency symptoms who may need it. The space is stocked with beds and enough medical supplies and medicine for at least three days. Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Kaiser closes 7 offices, preparing San Bernardino County for spike in coronavirus -- To prepare for an anticipated increase in new coronavirus patients, Kaiser Permanente is closing seven medical offices in and around San Bernardino County beginning Monday, March 30. The health care provider announced the closures Friday as part of a consolidation plan. Steve Scauzillo in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 3/28/20
Coronavirus Surge
As coronavirus surges, nursing students hope to enter workforce early -- Now, thousands of aspiring nurses who are just inches from graduation are begging to join Boykin on the front lines. She could use the help, and on Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signaled that it might be forthcoming. Rachel Swan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Spread
A 25-year-old California man dies of coronavirus. It’s a warning of the risks -- The death of a 25-year-old pharmacy technician this week from the coronavirus has prompted Riverside County officials to remind residents that the elderly are not the only ones as risk. Kailyn Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ Gary Warth, Morgan Cook, Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/28/20
‘We do expect an outbreak’: SF warns of increased coronavirus threat at Laguna Honda Hospital -- After days of downplaying the coronavirus threat at Laguna Honda Hospital, San Francisco’s 780-bed nursing home, officials warned that the virus would probably spread further through the facility. Trisha Thadani and Jason Fagone in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
181 coronavirus cases in the San Fernando Valley -- As of noon Friday, March 27, 2020, there were at least 181 documented cases of the novel coronavirus in San Fernando Valley communities, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Between Thursday and Friday, there were 22 new cases in San Fernando Valley communities. The Valley communities with the most cases of COVID-19 are Encino with 23, Sherman Oaks with 21 and North Hollywood with 18. Steven Rosenberg in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/28/20
Riverside County coronavirus cases at 185; city-by-city numbers announced -- Most of the cases — 77 — are of people between the ages of 40 and 64. Fifty-six cases are of 18- to 39-year-olds, 36 are of 65- to 79-year-olds; 13 cases are of those 80 and older and two cases involve those in the 5- to 17-year-old range. One hundred fifteen of the cases — 62% — are men, while 69 are women. Jeff Horseman in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 3/28/20
Ventura County coronavirus cases reach 61 heading into weekend -- The new benchmark is nearly double the amount the region, which borders Los Angeles County, reported on Sunday, records show. There has been one death in the county. Kailyn Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Early release begins in Orange County jails after more than 100 inmates exposed to coronavirus -- Some Orange County jail inmates will be released 10 days early to help stop the spread of COVID-19 after three Central Jail inmates tested positive this week. Sheriff Don Barnes said nonviolent offenders and those medically vulnerable will be eligible for early release. Tony Saavedra, Sean Emery in the Orange County Register -- 3/28/20
Orange County confirms two new coronavirus deaths, as total number of cases reaches 321 -- Orange County health officials on Friday confirmed two additional coronavirus deaths, as the total number of cases in the country climbed to 321. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
UC Davis faculty member and student test positive for coronavirus, remain at home -- A faculty member and a student at the University of California, Davis have tested positive for the coronavirus that causes the respiratory disease COVID-19, according to an announcement from the school’s chancellor. Rosalio Ahumada in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/28/20
Social Distancing
L.A. officials text an urgent message: Stay home this weekend to slow coronavirus -- Los Angeles city and county officials on Friday night sent emergency text alerts urging residents to avoid nonessential public activities this weekend as part of an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. “Stay home this weekend, and weekends until April 19. Only travel to seek medical care, do essential business and run necessary errands,” L.A. County said in its alert. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
All San Mateo County parks shut ‘until further notice’ -- With concerns about an increase in foot traffic and the failure of park visitors to follow proper social distancing protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic, the department ultimately pursued the most restrictive measure to keep people from the parks. Kerry Crowley in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
Free rides help Southern California bus agencies combat coronavirus -- Since fare boxes are always at the front of the bus next to the driver, requiring riders to deposit money or tap the electronic pad with a pass violates social distancing guidelines the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and county health agencies have issued to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. Hence, many bus agencies are temporarily eliminating fares or not enforcing whether someone “taps” or pays — all in an effort to keep bus riders farther away from bus operators. Steve Scauzillo in the San Bernardino Sun$ -- 3/28/20
New Normal
California campaigns, activists craft political messages for pandemic times -- Few people want to hear from a political campaign during a pandemic. But that’s not stopping some candidates’ backers and activists from sounding off — albeit in a different tone from what they would use in normal times. “It is dead. Dead. We’re not raising a plug nickel,” said John Thomas, a strategist who is advising 15 House Republican candidates in California and a dozen other states. “A lot of campaigns are going to live or die on the resources that they brought into the race” before the coronavirus spread. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Best practices: How restaurants can safely serve food during the coronavirus outbreak -- The newness of social distancing at food businesses, where cooking areas are often cramped, has amounted to ad hoc measures: restricting the number of people allowed inside shops, drawing queue guides 6 feet apart with chalk on sidewalks, dictating that workers wear disposable gloves at all times, keeping hand sanitizer at the cash register, or leaving delivery orders on stoops. Soleil Ho in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Coronavirus Q & A Part 3: Is hiking OK? Does it live in drinking water? What about sex? -- “Shelter in place” gets a lot more complicated when we start thinking about the many ways we might cross paths with the COVID-19 virus in day-to-day life. Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
Downtown L.A. court is placed on lockdown after confusion over coronavirus quarantine -- Fears that an inmate who was supposed to be in quarantine was mistakenly brought to court led to a partial lockdown of the downtown Los Angeles Criminal Justice Center on Friday morning, as concerns about the coronavirus continue to sow discord in the nation’s largest court system, officials with knowledge of the situation said. James Queally, Matt Hamilton, Alene Tchekmedyian in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Teletherapy provides a pandemic lifeline but presents new complications -- The pandemic’s mental health risks include the impact of social isolation, a risk factor for a range of psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety and alcohol abuse, as well as for physiological problems like compromised immune responses, high blood pressure, inflammatory responses and more, Horowitz noted. “When you isolate people and subject them to a lot of stress, they’re less resilient,” Horowitz said. Annie Vainshtein in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Staying afloat
Answers on new federal unemployment benefits or stimulus checks -- The $2 trillion coronavirus relief act President Trump signed Friday will provide direct payments to most Americans and a vast expansion of unemployment benefits. Although many questions about these two programs have yet to be answered, here’s some of what we know. Kathleen Pender in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
If I live in California, do I still have to pay my rent this month? -- With the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc on the economy, many Californians are scrambling to find the money to make their next rent payment. Kerry Crowley in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
When will checks come? This and other FAQs on $2.2 trillion relief package -- Here are answers to 10 common questions about payments coming to individuals: Brooke Staggs in the Orange County Register -- 3/28/20
Coronavirus FAQs: Does It Live On Clothes? Can My Dog Infect Me? Any Advice On Wipes? -- The new coronavirus continues its spread in nearly every nation, bringing illness or death to many thousands of people. In the United States, the number of cases is growing rapidly. Here we ask experts questions from readers and listeners about COVID-19, and how to prevent the spread of the virus. Laurel Wamsley NPR -- 3/28/20
Newsom offers renters some relief as cases rise -- As the Bay Area heads into its third week of shelter in place and the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across California, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered a statewide ban on evictions through May. Fiona Kelliher and Louis Hansen in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
L.A. expands sick leave amid coronavirus — but only for employees at big companies -- The Los Angeles City Council voted Friday to increase paid leave for workers who have fallen ill or need to care for family — but only for workers at businesses with 500 or more employees nationwide. Emily Alpert Reyes, David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Gouging
Coronavirus price gouging: Investigators tracking vendors who mark up cleaning supplies, toiletries and food -- Teresa Drenick, a spokesperson for the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, said the vast majority of complaints aren’t from large retailers like Costco or Target, but mom-and-pop shops in low-income areas. Megan Cassidy in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Workers
Instacart tweaks policies as shoppers plan strike -- Grocery delivery service Instacart made some minor changes to its policies and pay on Friday, even as some of its freelance shoppers planned a strike starting Monday to demand more financial and safety coverage during the coronavirus crisis. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Business
With crush of delivery demand, Bay Area restaurants make space for couriers -- Since last week’s shelter-in-place order, which directed restaurants to close their dining rooms and switch their businesses to takeout and delivery only, German’s seafood establishment has seen a 50% increase in delivery orders. Most of the people walking through AlaMar’s doors these days are delivery drivers for DoorDash. Justin Phillips , Shwanika Narayan and Anna Bauman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
California restaurants say 30% to close without state aid -- As many as 30,000 California restaurants could close permanently because of coronavirus restrictions that have shuttered dining rooms and led to widespread layoffs, the industry warned Friday, while urging the state to delay tax payments and planned minimum-wage increases to help the ailing businesses. Michael R. Blood Associated Press -- 3/28/20
Bay Area brewery Cleophus Quealy to close permanently due to coronavirus shutdown -- Cleophus Quealy Beer Co. in San Leandro has announced that it will close permanently at the end of April. The coronavirus shutdown was the immediate reason, said owner Dan Watson, though the business had been struggling before the Bay Area’s shelter-in-place orders forced the closure of its tasting room. Esther Mobley in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Unemployment
SeaWorld will furlough 90 percent of its workers as theme park shutdown continues -- While the Orlando-based company had promised to pay employees through the end of March, that will end April 1, the company said Friday. It offered no new date for reopening the dozen parks within the SeaWorld theme park portfolio. Lori Weisberg in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/28/20
Homeless
LA’s Garcetti says homeless person being tested for coronavirus exposure -- The mayor said that the person was in isolation as a potential case, adding that public health officials are working to trace the person's recent contacts for potential exposures. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 3/28/20
Taylor: Empty handwashing stations not helping homeless, or anyone else -- At a time when we’re being advised — no, warned — to wash our hands excessively, Kaplus and the more than 29,000 homeless people in the Bay Area’s nine counties are in a vulnerable position: They can’t easily clean their hands. Otis R. Taylor Jr. in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Education
Getting into USC this fall just got easier amid coronavirus uncertainty -- USC announced Friday that it increased its acceptance rate to 16% for fall 2020, offering admission to 9,535 freshmen this year — about 2,000 more than last year. That’s the university’s highest admission rate in three years — up from 11.4% last year — and the largest number of students to receive the thick red welcome folder in at least a decade. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Amid uncertainty, wide variation in how long California schools say they will be closed -- How long will students be out of school? That is a question that no one can definitively answer at the moment. But how it is answered has extreme relevance for California’s vast public education ecosystem of over 6 million students, 310,00 teachers, and many more parents and school employees. Louis Freedberg EdSource -- 3/28/20
New push to expand ‘transitional kindergarten’ in California -- Currently only children with birthdays between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2 are eligible for transitional kindergarten, which effectively gives them two free years of public kindergarten. “It’s a fairness issue,” said McCarty, D-Sacramento, pointing out that three out of four children do not get that benefit. He said the research shows that children who have been able to attend transitional kindergarten have had a tremendous advantage and been very successful. Lisa Renner Capitol Weekly -- 3/28/20
Cannabis
Cannabis industry booming, but companies left out of coronavirus stimulus -- The cannabis industry has soared during the initial wave of the coronavirus pandemic, but the next stage may be more difficult to navigate as the companies are not eligible for federal assistance. Rusty Simmons in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
DACA / Immigration / Border
Citing virus, judge orders release of two men from California immigrant detention center -- A federal judge Friday ordered the immediate release of two men held in the Adelanto detention center after their attorneys cited their severe risk of contracting coronavirus. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Federal Judge Considers Release of Migrant Children In Custody As COVID-19 Spreads -- A federal judge in California is weighing whether to grant an emergency order to release unaccompanied minors in government custody to protect them from contracting COVID-19. Vanessa Romo NPR -- 3/28/20
Immigrant advocates to Supreme Court: DACA recipients vital to health care in virus crisis -- Out of the 700,000 migrants currently protected from deportation under DACA, 27,000 work in health care — nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, home health aides, and nearly 200 who are medical students or licensed physicians, said lawyers defending the program. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 3/28/20
Guns
NRA sues Gov. Gavin Newsom to get gun stores deemed essential during coronavirus emergency -- The National Rifle Association is suing to have California gun stores declared essential businesses amid Gov. Gavin Newsom’s coronavirus emergency. The NRA, along with several other plaintiffs including two individuals, filed the lawsuit Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Andrew Sheeler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/28/20
Gun groups sue Los Angeles sheriff over shutdown order -- Four gun-owners rights organizations on Friday sued Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva over his repeated attempts this week to shut down firearms dealers, contending that his actions violate citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed right to bear arms. Don Thompson Associated Press -- 3/28/20
Environment
7,000 gallons of sewage from San Onofre nuclear plant spills a mile into the ocean -- Officials at Southern California Edison, the plant’s operator, said the sewage amounted to a “non-radiological release” that entered the ocean through a conduit from Unit 2 at the facility, also known as SONGS. The plant has not produced electricity since 2012. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 3/28/20
Also . . .
Strip club pressured into coronavirus compliance shuts down -- Bliss Showgirls strip club, in Avocado Heights off Valley Boulevard, hung a sign on its locked gates and doors that read, “Sorry we’re closed. The wheels fell off.” It’s not certain if the establishment closed voluntarily. Andrew J. Campa, Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
Coronavirus: See’s Candies suspends operations amid pandemic -- For only the second time in nearly a century, See’s Candies is suspending production and shipping of its storied confections, this time because of the novel coronavirus. Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 3/28/20
Coyotes are being seen on the empty streets of San Francisco -- While families' cats and dogs are enjoying the upside of spending days with their owners working from home during the coronavirus shutdown, wild coyotes in San Francisco are reportedly also taking advantage of the benefits of a suddenly empty city. Andrew Chamings in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/28/20
POTUS 45
Despite widespread shortages, Trump hasn’t come up with a plan to get medical supplies where needed -- Even as President Trump ordered General Motors Friday to begin manufacturing ventilators, the president’s broader strategy to get desperately needed medical supplies to hospitals and doctors across the country remained shrouded in uncertainty. Noam N. Levey, Del Quentin Wilber in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
“Don’t call the woman in Michigan” — Trump’s pettiness was on display during Friday’s coronavirus briefing -- Hospitals in Michigan are hurting and Gov. Whitmer is calling for help. But Trump wants her to be more “appreciative.” Aaron Rupar Vox -- 3/28/20
Trump ties coronavirus decisions to personal grievances -- President Trump is a commander in chief dealing with a coronavirus outbreak in which many difficult decisions have to be made. And on Friday, he seemed to suggest some of those decisions could be made according to who has run afoul of him personally. Aaron Blake in the Washington Post$ -- 3/28/20
Analyzing the Patterns in Trump’s Falsehoods About Coronavirus -- Hours after the United States became the nation with the largest number of reported coronavirus cases on Thursday, President Trump appeared on Fox News and expressed doubt about shortages of medical supplies, boasted about the country’s testing capacity, and criticized his predecessor’s response to an earlier outbreak of a different disease. Linda Qiu in the New York Times$ -- 3/28/20
Trump's push for risky malaria drugs disrupts coronavirus response -- President Donald Trump’s all-out push to advance unproven coronavirus treatments is deepening a divide between the White House and career health officials, who are being pulled away from other potential projects to address the president’s hunch that decades-old malaria medicines can be coronavirus cures. Sarah Owermohle and Dan Diamond Politico -- 3/28/20
Trump promised scores of big-box retailers would offer parking lots for covid-19 testing. There are only five of them -- Two weeks ago, President Trump promised a network of drive-through covid-19 testing sites across the country where people could be tested “very safely, quickly and conveniently.” In a Rose Garden news conference, chief executives of Target, Walgreens, Walmart and CVS said they would work with the government to provide space in store parking lots. Elizabeth Dwoskin, Abha Bhattarai, Juliet Eilperin and Ashley Parker in the Washington Post$ -- 3/28/20
Beltway
Joe Biden calls for a national lockdown to contain the coronavirus -- Former Vice President Joe Biden called for an immediate nationwide stay-at-home order to contain the spread of the coronavirus, saying the main mistake that leaders can make in a pandemic is “going too slow.” The Democratic presidential candidate told CNN on Friday that he agreed with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates that the uneven patchwork of state and local lockdowns in effect in the United States will inevitably cost lives and prolong the economic catastrophe. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 3/28/20
-- Friday Updates
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