Friday, June 12, 2020
The CDC reminds would-be travelers that the best way to avoid COVID-19 infection and spread is to stay home.
Los Angeles County officials today confirmed an additional 20 deaths and 1,633 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the totals to 70,476 cases and 2,832 deaths. — Deadline
Orange County topped 8,000 coronavirus cases today. — CBS Los Angeles
Nine California counties are reporting a spike in new coronavirus cases or hospitalizations of confirmed cases. Those counties are: Los Angeles, Sacramento, Fresno, Imperial, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Tulare, Kings and Santa Clara. — The Guardian
All of this looks like a second wave. Is it? “I spoke to our health experts at some length last evening. They’re saying there is no second spike. Let me repeat that: There is no second spike,” said Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council on “Fox & Friends.” — AP
A Metro bus driver has died from complications due to COVID-19. The driver was assigned to Division 13, the yard across the street from Metro’s headquarters in DTLA. — Metro
USC had another lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court alleging the university is profiting from the coronavirus pandemic by refusing to refund unused portions of students’ spring fees. — NBC Los Angeles
A Pasadena nursing home lost its license after more than 100 residents and staff became infected with the coronavirus. — CBS Los Angeles
As people start to travel more, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises caution. In a new update, the agency recommends that people stay home. “COVID-19 cases and deaths have been reported in all 50 states, and the situation is constantly changing. Because travel increases your chances of getting infected and spreading COVID-19, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick.” — CNN
A quarantined cruise ship employee creates incredible outfits out of paper bags. “I am usually quite a creative person, I love doing art and I studied art for a bit — and obviously we have a lot to do with costuming and design within the theater industry and within the dance scene — so I do love making bits and pieces,” said Australian dancer Ashleigh Perrie. She is now back home. — CNN
“Nearly six weeks after President Trump stopped daily televised briefings at the White House that drew sharp criticism for his false claims and dangerous advice — such as injecting household disinfectant to kill the virus — he has a new tactic: ignoring the threat.” — L.A. Times
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Stocks Plunge Following Bleak COVID News
L.A. landlords are making a federal case over the right to evict tenants who are suffering financially due to the pandemic.
In what is the highest single-day total yet, L.A. County reported 1,857 new COVID-19 cases and 46 deaths. California’s total number of infections now tops 140,000. — FOX Los Angeles
In California and around the nation, coronavirus cases continue to rise as states roll back lockdown restrictions. In Arizona, hospitals have been told to prepare for the worst. Texas has more hospitalized COVID-19 patients than at any time before. And the governor of North Carolina said recent jumps caused him to rethink plans to reopen schools and businesses. The Associated Press analyzed data compiled by The COVID Tracking Project and found that in 21 states as of Monday, the rolling seven-day average of new cases per capita was higher than the average seven days earlier. — AP
The Dow plummets on news of the coronavirus rebounding, marking the worst day on Wall Street since March. The Dow closed down 1,862 points, or 6.9%, lower. The index fell back below 26,000 points for the first time since the start of the month. — CNN
L.A.’s largest landlord association, bitter that the city prevented them from evicting tenants who could not pay rent because of issues surrounding the global pandemic, have sued the city in federal court. L.A.’s new rule says tenants still have to pay past-due rent, but they have up to a year to do it. But that’s not good enough for the landlords. — L.A. Times
L.A. County is paying PR firms $1.9 million to help guide COVID-19 messaging — which doesn’t please Sheriff Alex Villanueva. “When I’m picking and choosing who I’m going to lay off and they’re just throwing money at PR firms, and they’re sitting on 49 public information officers, I mean they have a platoon of people that do this, yet they hire outside, I don’t get it,” the embattled sheriff said. — FOX Los Angeles
Speaking of the L.A. Sheriff’s Department, today it reported that 328 employees and 2,558 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. — CBS Los Angeles
The coronavirus is most commonly transmitted through the nose and mouth, but it’s also possible to get COVID-19 through the eyes. This means that in addition to social distancing, hand-washing and wearing face masks, the use of eye protection, such as goggles, visors and face shields, may help keep infection rates low. — Today
An inmate from the California Institution for Women in Corona died on Tuesday from what appears to be complications related to the virus. She would be the first female prisoner in California to die of the disease. Thirteen male inmates in the state have already died of COVID-19. The women’s prison currently has 104 inmates considered actively positive for the coronavirus, and the men’s prison has 516 inmates with positive cases. — AP
California ended a statewide policy of imposing a $0 bail for misdemeanors and lower-level felonies that reduced jail populations by more than 20,000 suspects during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. — AP
As businesses reopen, make sure to check your receipt for new fees. “COVID surcharges are popping up at service type businesses. I’m seeing them at restaurants, hair salons, dentists offices,” said Ted Rossman, a CreditCards.com industry analyst. Some of the surcharges are steep. — ABC Los Angeles
Vice President Mike Pence, chair of the Coronavirus Task Force, tweeted this image yesterday and then deleted it. Could it be because no one in the “Trump-Pence Team” was socially distancing or wearing a mask? — DCist
Meanwhile, in Ohio, a state senator asked if “the colored population” gets coronavirus because they “do not wash their hands as well as other groups?” — CBS News
Orange County to mellow order on masks now that their previous health officer resigned amid death threats for having the audacity to require that residents wear them. Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said Interim Public Health Officer Clayton Chau is expected to alter the current order to make mask-wearing “strongly recommended” instead of required. — Orange County Register
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Thousands of Angelenos Continue to be Infected Each Week
As the governor says there’s no turning back, Disney announces it will reopen its Anaheim parks next month.
The numbers are not going down. A troubling 1,275 new cases of COVID-19 and 61 deaths have been reported over the past 24 hours in L.A. County. — L.A. County Department of Public Health
Los Angeles County to give OK for film and TV production to restart on Friday. — Variety
California’s hospitalizations are at their highest since May 13 and have risen in nine of the past 10 days. — Bloomberg
The governor says there’s no turning back on reopening plans, even as coronavirus cases climb. “As we phase in, in a responsible way, a reopening of the economy, we’ve made it abundantly clear that we anticipate an increase in the total number of positive cases,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. — L.A. Times
Disneyland parks to reopen on July 17. “We are purposefully taking baby steps during this very intentional phased approach,” Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro said in a written statement. “As one of the first major theme parks to close our operations and the last to reopen, we have been deliberate about keeping the health and safety of our cast, guests and local communities top of mind.” — KTLA
Starbucks to close up to 400 stores after taking a $3 billion hit during coronavirus closures. — CNN Wire
Orange County reports the second-highest day of COVID-19 fatalities since May. — CBS Los Angeles
Former Angel flamethrower Nolan Ryan tells anyone who will listen to wear a mask:
And it’s official: Coachella is dunzo for 2020. — Desert Sun
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
O.C. Public Health Officer Resigns Amid Threats Over Face Mask Orders
Angelenos make their way to a new normal as L.A. County businesses slowly reopen.
COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in L.A. County. Health officials reported 1,225 new cases of the coronavirus and 56 related deaths as of last night. This brings the total of cases to 65,822 and the total of deaths to 2,707. — Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
At least two employees at Tesla’s Fremont factory tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Washington Post. The employees who tested positive remain in isolation, while coworkers who may have been exposed are back to work following a 14-day quarantine at home. — KTLA
Dr. Nichole Quick stepped down as Orange County’s public health officer after she received multiple threats over her order for residents to wear face coverings when in public. “We are appalled at the personal threats and willful ignorance by some members of our community that ultimately led to her resignation. We must continue to protect public health based on science, and not allow bullying to drive the health recommendations that can keep us safe and healthy,” the Orange County Medical Association said in a statement. — AP
Officials from the California Department of Motor Vehicles announced that all filed offices will reopen on June 11, after months of being closed due to the pandemic. The department will offer limited services such as:
- Paying registration for a vehicle impounded because of registration-related issues
- Reinstating a suspended or revoked driver license
- Applying for a reduced-fee or no-fee identification card
- Processing commercial driver license transactions
- Applying for a disabled person parking placards
- Adding an ambulance certificate or firefighter endorsement to a driver license
- Verifying a transit training document to drive a transit bus
- Processing DMV Express customers for REAL ID transactions, if time and space allow
- Vehicle verifications
— ABC Los Angeles
Looking for a job? Here’s a list of companies that are hiring. — ABC Los Angeles
Monday, June 8, 2020
New School Rules — You Can’t Sit With Us or Anyone
COVID-19 transmissions increase as businesses reopen and Angelenos rush to return to normal life.
While just 823 new coronavirus cases were reported today, bringing the total to 64,644 countywide, the L.A. County Public Health director said to not look at it as a positive sign. “I want to note that typically on Mondays, our death and our case counts are lower because of a lag in reporting from the weekend,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer. In addition, Public Health reported 10 new deaths related to the pandemic, bringing the total to 2,655 in L.A. County. — The Signal
Something you should pay attention to: COVID-19 transmissions are rising in L.A. County just as businesses are reopening. “While we don’t know precisely yet how reopening and the recovery activities will affect transmission of COVID-19,” said Dr. Christina Ghaly, the transmission rate “does appear now to be greater than one, and slightly uptrending.” — L.A. Times
California’s Department of Education laid out guidelines this morning for schools to reopen. The changes include making sure students can socially distance, which also involves school busses rolling out at limited capacity. Also, mean girls, shared cafeteria tables will probably be banned, so yeah, you can’t sit with us. — ABC Los Angeles
Philippe’s dips back into business.
Come and knock on my door. The Census will resume hand-delivering questionnaires to select households in L.A. and Riverside counties this week, after pausing the critical fieldwork due to the pandemic. — City News Service
There’s a black jobs crisis. The coronavirus is making it worse. While the national unemployment rate ticked down to 13.3%, from 14.2% in April, a staggering 16.8% of the African American labor force was out of work, an increase from the previous month. — L.A. Times
Pets are not spreading the Rona, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the agency advises “persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to restrict contact with animals during their illness and to monitor any animals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and separate them from other persons and animals at home.” — Yahoo News
Why weren’t hospitals overrun with pandemic patients? Shutdown and shelter-in-place orders helped the country avoid nearly 5 million coronavirus cases, according to a new University of California study. “Our results suggest that ongoing anti-contagion policies have already substantially reduced the number of COVID-19 infections observed in the world today,” the researchers wrote. — CNBC
The global death toll from the COVID-19 virus surpassed 400,000 fatalities yesterday. The U.S. accounts for about one-quarter of those deaths. Brazil marked the grim milestone by refusing to further update the number of deaths and infections in the nation. — AP
The White House forced reporters in the Rose Garden to forgo social distancing because “it looks better.” — AP
Hotels are still hurting in the U.S., as the occupancy rate was a paltry 37% for the week ending May 30, down 43% from the same period in 2019. — NBC Los Angeles