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California Coronavirus Cases Update: The Latest on the Outbreak California Coronavirus Cases Update: The Latest on the Outbreak
(1 day later)
For 40 million Californians, life has ground to a halt. Schools and nonessential businesses are shuttered. Bars and playgrounds are empty. Over the weekend, thousands of residents swarmed parks and beaches, causing officials to double down on their call for social distancing. In many ways, Californians are adjusting to the new normal: empty freeways and malls, lines of shoppers outside grocery stores and schooling children at home. But the drastic measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus have also choked off an economic lifeline for many in the Golden State, the fifth largest economy in the world.
“I don’t want to close big, beautiful open spaces,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Monday. “But we want you to go outside with intention.” Mass layoffs driven by the closure of nonessential businesses are causing a surge in applications for benefits and on Wednesday, Governor Newsom announced that one million people have filed unemployment claims over just a two-week period.
The Governor closed dozens of state parks to vehicular traffic and local officials took similar steps. The $2 trillion stimulus bill passed by the Senate on Wednesday will increase weekly unemployment payments by $600 per week and provide billions of dollars in aid to the state.
In addition to enacting measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, state officials are also scrambling to prepare for the flood of cases that experts say is on the horizon. On Monday, Mr. Newsom admitted that the state was experiencing a shortfall of hospital beds, masks and ventilators and other equipment needed to treat the thousands of incoming patients that are expected in the coming weeks. In addition to enacting economic measures to help those residents affected by the virus, state officials are also scrambling to prepare for the flood of cases that experts say is on the horizon: procuring the test kits, protective equipment and ventilators needed to treat the thousands of incoming patients that are expected in the coming weeks.
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 Wednesday morning, the state had more than 2,640 cases, including 52 deaths. On Tuesday, the number of cases in the Bay Area topped 1,000 and officials in Los Angeles County announced the death of a 17-year-old boy from Lancaster who possibly died from the disease. If the cause of death is confirmed as coronavirus, it would be the first known instance of a minor dying from it in the United States. As of Thursday morning, the state had more than 3,180 cases, including 67 deaths. On Tuesday, the number of cases in the Bay Area topped 1,000 and officials in Los Angeles County announced the death of a 17-year-old boy from Lancaster who possibly died from the disease. If the cause of death is confirmed as coronavirus, it would be the first known instance of a minor dying from it in the United States.
On Saturday, officials said they have conducted more than 26,000 tests from 22 commercial and private labs across the state. On Wednesday, Gov. Newsom said the state has conducted a total of 67,000 tests, more than twice the amount reported on Saturday.
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.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.
The governor made an important announcement last week 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 last week 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. 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.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.”
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.]
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.
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.”
Should the most dire predictions come true, Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Monday that California would be short about 17,000 hospital beds. The state was also short 1 billion protective gloves and hundreds of millions of masks, he said.Should the most dire predictions come true, Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Monday that California would be short about 17,000 hospital beds. The state was also short 1 billion protective gloves and hundreds of millions of masks, he said.
The effort to conduct widespread testing has also been slow, with New York State having tested twice as many people as California.The effort to conduct widespread testing has also been slow, with New York State having tested twice as many people as California.
Still, officials are rushing to fill the shortfall, reopening hospitals that had been shuttered, buying motels to house the state’s more than 150,000 homeless people, and retrofitting college dormitories to serve as hospital wards.Still, officials are rushing to fill the shortfall, reopening hospitals that had been shuttered, buying motels to house the state’s more than 150,000 homeless people, and retrofitting college dormitories to serve as hospital wards.
San Francisco has also been laying out plans to turn convention centers into temporary shelters, and lease hotel rooms for health care workers and vulnerable people who cannot self-quarantine.San Francisco has also been laying out plans to turn convention centers into temporary shelters, and lease hotel rooms for health care workers and vulnerable people who cannot self-quarantine.
The Mercy, a Navy hospital ship with a thousand beds, is set to sail to the Port of Los Angeles within a week. The USNS Mercy, a Navy hospital ship with a thousand bed capacity, is set to sail into the Port of Los Angeles on Friday.
The Governor is also leaning heavily on the private sector. Elon Musk, the head of the electric carmaker Tesla, has vowed to produce 1,000 ventilators. Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg and Mr. Musk have each made separate pledges to give 2 million protective masks to the state.The Governor is also leaning heavily on the private sector. Elon Musk, the head of the electric carmaker Tesla, has vowed to produce 1,000 ventilators. Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg and Mr. Musk have each made separate pledges to give 2 million protective masks to the state.
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. As the due date for next month’s rent inches closer, many residents fear they will be unable to pay their rent or mortgage on time.
On Wednesday, Gov. Newsom announced that four of the nation’s five largest banks — Wells Fargo, Citi, JP Morgan, and US Bank — have agreed to a 90-day grace period for mortgage payments for those affected by Covid-19. Bank of America agreed to a 30 day forbearance. The Governor mentioned in a news conference that in order to be eligible for the waiver, documentation would need to be provided, but provided no specific details.
Gov. Newsom has also urged cities and counties throughout the state to protect residents who cannot keep up with rents, mortgages or utilities because of the coronavirus. On March 16, 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 of 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 shut-offs across the state. Civil rights groups say the Governor’s executive order doesn’t go far enough in protecting tenants, however. 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 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.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.
In addition, the Federal stimulus bill, the largest one in modern U.S. history, is expected to provide billions of dollars in aid to the state.
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. Already, a million people have applied for unemployment benefits because of the outbreak.
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.