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California Coronavirus Cases Update: The Latest on the Outbreak California Coronavirus Cases Update: The Latest on the Outbreak
(3 days later)
Across California, life is unrecognizable: Bars are shuttered. Gyms are empty. Malls look like ghost towns. From the sunny coasts of Southern California to the lakes and peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, everyone is being asked to stay home. Across California, life is unrecognizable: Bars are shuttered. Gyms and schoolyards are empty. Malls look like ghost towns. From the sunny coasts of Southern California to the lakes and peaks of the Sierra Nevada, everyone is being asked to stay home.
The most recent order, issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday night, represents the most drastic measure any state has taken to control the spread of the coronavirus, and it has upended life for all 40 million Californians.The most recent order, issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday night, represents the most drastic measure any state has taken to control the spread of the coronavirus, and it has upended life for all 40 million Californians.
“We will look back at these decisions as pivotal,” the governor said at a news conference.“We will look back at these decisions as pivotal,” the governor said at a news conference.
Things are changing quickly. Here is a recap of what you need to know.Things are changing quickly. Here is a recap of what you need to know.
[Sign up for daily updates in each California Today newsletter here.][Sign up for daily updates in each California Today newsletter here.]
As of Friday morning, the state had more than 1,040 cases, including 19 deaths. Los Angeles County has had more than 200 confirmed cases, and San Diego and Santa Clara Counties have each had more than 100 patients. As of Monday morning, the state had more than 1,840 cases, including 33 deaths. Los Angeles County has had more than 400 confirmed cases, and San Diego and Santa Clara Counties have more than 140 patients currently hospitalized.
On Saturday, officials said they have conducted more than 26,000 tests from 22 commercial and private labs across the state.
Officials have conducted more than 16,000 tests, including from commercial and private labs. Mr. Newsom has said that he expects that number to ramp up over the coming weeks as more labs are outfitted to testing capacity. Santa Clara, San Mateo, Riverside and Sacramento counties have also begun piloting a program in partnership with Verily, the health and life science subsidiary of Alphabet, that will triage patients and screen them before testing them for the virus. Qualified residents can use Project Baseline’s website to screen their symptoms to determine if they are eligible for in-person testing.
“We are increasing our capacity on an hourly basis,” he said in a news conference earlier this week.
Santa Clara and San Mateo counties have also begun piloting a program in partnership with Verily, the health and life science subsidiary of Alphabet, that will triage patients and screen them before testing them for the virus.
The governor made an important announcement Thursday from the state’s emergency operations center in Sacramento, normally a place where officials respond to wildfires and earthquakes. This time, Mr. Newsom spoke in stark terms of the risks of a more invisible threat.The governor made an important announcement Thursday from the state’s emergency operations center in Sacramento, normally a place where officials respond to wildfires and earthquakes. This time, Mr. Newsom spoke in stark terms of the risks of a more invisible threat.
Citing a model that state planners have been using, Mr. Newsom said that the coronavirus could infect 56 percent of Californians, or more than 25 million people, over eight weeks. “I think it’s time I tell you what I tell my family,” he said.Citing a model that state planners have been using, Mr. Newsom said that the coronavirus could infect 56 percent of Californians, or more than 25 million people, over eight weeks. “I think it’s time I tell you what I tell my family,” he said.
“This is not a permanent state,” he said. “This is a moment in time.”“This is not a permanent state,” he said. “This is a moment in time.”
To combat the spread, he announced that all Californians were being asked to stay home as much as possible, until further notice.To combat the spread, he announced that all Californians were being asked to stay home as much as possible, until further notice.
Under the order, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, gyms, retail shops and most corporate offices will be closed. Essential businesses — like banks, grocery stores, pharmacies and laundromats — should remain open, officials said. Though residents are being asked to stay home except for essential needs, they are still allowed to go outside to take walks and visit grocery stores, as long as they stay six feet apart. Under the order, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, gyms, retail shops and most corporate offices will be closed. Essential businesses — like banks, grocery stores, pharmacies and laundromats — should remain open, officials said. On Friday, officials specified which workers and businesses are considered essential and how they’d be allowed to operate. The list included liquor stores that sell foods and cannabis dispensaries. Though residents are being asked to stay home except for essential needs, they are still allowed to go outside to take walks and visit grocery stores, as long as they stay six feet apart.
[Read the full order here.][Read the full order here.]
Even before the governor’s order, counties in the Bay Area had issued strict instructions asking residents to “shelter in place.”Even before the governor’s order, counties in the Bay Area had issued strict instructions asking residents to “shelter in place.”
Starting this week, the order applied to the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz, and the city of Berkeley. Other areas — Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Solano and Yolo Counties and the city of Palm Springs followed with similar orders. Starting this week, the order applied to the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz, and the city of Berkeley. Other areas — Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Solano and Yolo Counties and the city of Palm Springs followed with similar orders.
Residents were told not go out for three weeks except to meet “essential needs,” which including things like grocery shopping and caring for family members and pets. [Here are the answers to important questions about the mandate.]Residents were told not go out for three weeks except to meet “essential needs,” which including things like grocery shopping and caring for family members and pets. [Here are the answers to important questions about the mandate.]
In Los Angeles County, officials announced their own order, which they called “safer at home.” A Los Angeles County sheriff’s official said on Twitter that the department did not plan on making arrests to enforce the order.In Los Angeles County, officials announced their own order, which they called “safer at home.” A Los Angeles County sheriff’s official said on Twitter that the department did not plan on making arrests to enforce the order.
All of the orders, including the state order, are mandatory, but it remained unclear how they would differ in scope or enforcement. At their root, each gives residents similar guidance: Stay at home unless you need to leave the house.All of the orders, including the state order, are mandatory, but it remained unclear how they would differ in scope or enforcement. At their root, each gives residents similar guidance: Stay at home unless you need to leave the house.
Officials indicated that they would rely on enormous social pressure to help enforce the rules. “People will self-regulate their behavior,” Mr. Newsom said. “We’ll have social pressure to encourage people to do the right thing.”Officials indicated that they would rely on enormous social pressure to help enforce the rules. “People will self-regulate their behavior,” Mr. Newsom said. “We’ll have social pressure to encourage people to do the right thing.”
Gov. Newsom has urged cities and counties throughout the state to protect residents who cannot keep up with rents, mortgages or utilities because of the coronavirus. He issued an executive order that authorizes local governments to take action.Gov. Newsom has urged cities and counties throughout the state to protect residents who cannot keep up with rents, mortgages or utilities because of the coronavirus. He issued an executive order that authorizes local governments to take action.
“People shouldn’t lose or be forced out of their home because of the spread of COVID-19,” he said in a statement. “Over the next few weeks, everyone will have to make sacrifices — but a place to live shouldn’t be one of them.”“People shouldn’t lose or be forced out of their home because of the spread of COVID-19,” he said in a statement. “Over the next few weeks, everyone will have to make sacrifices — but a place to live shouldn’t be one of them.”
The order does not relieve tenants from the obligation to pay rent but it does request that banks halt foreclosures and evictions that stem from a person’s inability to pay their household expenses as a result of the pandemic. The protections are in effect until May 31.The order does not relieve tenants from the obligation to pay rent but it does request that banks halt foreclosures and evictions that stem from a person’s inability to pay their household expenses as a result of the pandemic. The protections are in effect until May 31.
Already, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Jose and San Francisco have put in place temporary moratoriums on evictions related to the loss of income because if the virus. Already, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Jose and San Francisco have put in place temporary moratoriums on evictions related to the loss of income because of the virus.
Civil rights groups say the order doesn’t go far enough in protecting tenants. They called on the governor to issue a blanket moratorium on all evictions and utility shutoffs across the state. Civil rights groups say the order doesn’t go far enough in protecting tenants. They called on the governor to issue a blanket moratorium on all evictions and utility shut-offs across the state.
“This is overly complicated and does not protect tenants from evictions now, but leaves it up to local jurisdictions to enact such protections. It is imperative that there is a statewide moratorium that does not rely on local action,” they wrote in a joint statement.“This is overly complicated and does not protect tenants from evictions now, but leaves it up to local jurisdictions to enact such protections. It is imperative that there is a statewide moratorium that does not rely on local action,” they wrote in a joint statement.
Though Californians face sweeping job and income losses in the face of the outbreak, Mr. Newsom has expressed confident that the state can survive the economic fallout from the crisis. California has a $21 billion budget surplus, plus a rainy-day fund of close to $16 billion. “We are well positioned from a cash perspective to get through this,” he said. Though Californians face sweeping job and income losses in the face of the outbreak, Mr. Newsom has expressed confidence that the state can survive the economic fallout from the crisis. California has a $21 billion budget surplus, plus a rainy-day fund of close to $16 billion. “We are well positioned from a cash perspective to get through this,” he said.
But like everything else, the situation is changing by the day.But like everything else, the situation is changing by the day.
Economists at the University of California, Los Angeles released a revised report saying that the nation’s economy had entered a recession, and predicting that the economic fallout would be worse in California, because of the state’s reliance on tourism and international transportation. Economists at the University of California, Los Angeles released a revised report saying that the nation’s economy had entered a recession, and predicting that the economic fallout would be worse in California, because of the state’s reliance on tourism and international transportation.
By next year, California could lose more than 280,000 jobs, including many in hospitality and transportation sectors, the report found.By next year, California could lose more than 280,000 jobs, including many in hospitality and transportation sectors, the report found.
Reporting was contributed by Sarah Mervosh, Jill Cowan, Rick Rojas, Patrick J. Lyons, Sean Plambeck, Roni Caryn Rabin, Farah Stockman, Louis Keene, Emily Cochrane, Margot Sanger-Katz and Noah Weiland.Reporting was contributed by Sarah Mervosh, Jill Cowan, Rick Rojas, Patrick J. Lyons, Sean Plambeck, Roni Caryn Rabin, Farah Stockman, Louis Keene, Emily Cochrane, Margot Sanger-Katz and Noah Weiland.