California Orders Lockdown for State’s 40 Million Residents
From the Wall Street Journal's JENNIFER CALFAS, MARGHERITA STANCATI and CHUIN-WEI YAP: "California ordered its 40 million residents to stay at home except for essential activities beginning Thursday night in the largest such lockdown in the U.S., as the nation’s total coronavirus cases rose to more than 14,000 and an intensifying outbreak in Europe pushed State Department officials to advise citizens not to travel abroad.
In a letter to President Trump, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he estimated 56% of the state’s population, or 25.5 million people, would be infected over an eight-week period.
Mr. Newsom sent the letter—asking that a naval hospital ship be deployed to Los Angeles to increase health-care capacity—before the lockdown order. In calling for people to stay home, Mr. Newsom asked the state’s residents to “bend the curve together.” Nearly half of residents in America’s most populous state had already been given stay-at-home orders from local cities and counties, including Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area."
Newsom: More than half in CA face coronavirus infection
From Capitol Weekly's JOHN HOWARD: "Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday estimated that more than half of California’s 40 million people will be infected by the coronavirus during the next two months."
“We project that roughly 56 percent of our population …. will be infected with the virus over an eight-week period,” Newsom wrote in a letter to President Donald Trump, in which the governor requested the deployment of a Navy hospital ship to Los Angeles.
“In some parts of the state, our case rate is doubling every four days,” Newsom wrote."
READ MORE related to COVID-19: Quarter-million cases worldwide; 10,000 dead -- The Chronicle's ALEJANDRO SERRANO/DUSTIN GARDINER; Newsom praises Trump on virus, but state's still short on supplies -- Sac Bee's SOPHIA BOLLAG/MICHAEL WILNER; Hundreds of workers petition for telework and sick leave amid viral spread -- Sac Bee's WES VENTEICHER; Online reporting center launched to track virus-related hate crimes -- Sac Bee's THEODORA YU; Toilet paper shortages caused by virus blamed for spike in raw sewage spills -- The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER; Shelter-in-place order spurs mass food service industry layoffs -- The Chronicle's JUSTIN PHILLIPS
Unemployment claims double in 2 days as virus takes toll
Sac Bee's DAVID LIGHTMAN: "California is seeing a big spike in unemployment claims as the state and nation hurtle towards the first recession in 12 years.
“We are currently experiencing a large increase in claims filed in our programs and have staff working overtime to keep up with the demand,” said Loree Levy, spokesman for the state’s Economic Development Department.
“In addition, we are working to redirect other staff, and hire additional staff, as much as possible to assist with the claim filing process,” she said."
Asian-American groups compile hate crime reports as Trump persists in 'Chinese virus' attacks
The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANATUAN: "Distressed by the rise in xenophobia and racism during the coronavirus pandemic, a coalition of Asian American groups based in California have created a reporting webpage for victims of virus-related hate crimes.
The Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action and San Francisco State University Asian American Studies Department are asking anyone who’s been harassed, intimidated or otherwise discriminated against for their race to share their stories on the website.
“First and foremost, we want community members to know they are not alone; they can speak out and help stop the spread of bigotry,” said Cynthia Choi, the co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action. “Secondly, the collected data will allow us to assess the extent and magnitude of these incidents and to develop strategic interventions.”"
Before virus, state let public health funding stall for years
Sac Bee's HANNAH WILEY: "Fourteen years ago, California made a huge investment in public health by creating a standalone state department and seeding it with tens of millions of dollars in special funding for emergency supplies.
In 2009, former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger put it to work, using the new department to lead the state’s response to a swine flu outbreak that year.
Then, the Great Recession hit, and California’s spending on its public health department plateaued, even as a 10-year economic expansion swelled the state’s budget by nearly $100 billion."
READ MORE related to Healthcare: Health businesses feel virus pain -- Sac Bee's CATHIE ANDERSON/DARRELL SMITH; Raley's posting off-duty deputies outside some stores during pandemic -- Sac Bee's SAM STANTON; Bay Area healthcare workers dealing with virus short of crucial face masks -- The Chronicle's PETER FIMRITE/MEGAN CASSIDY/MATTHIAS GAFNI
Billions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of Bay Area jobs at risk from COVID-19
The Chronicle's JOAQUIN PALOMINO/CYNTHIA DIZIKES: "Nearly a half a million people work in Bay Area restaurants, stores and venues that have been required to shut down or drastically scale back operations to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, a Chronicle review of federal data released by the Associated Press found.
Another 69,500 people work in the hotel and air travel industries, which have been severely hampered by a sharp drop in tourism and flights, data show.
Those employees received about $4.7 billion in wages during the first quarter of 2019, underscoring the severe blow the pandemic could cause to the local service economy. Countless more in the nine Bay Area counties have been affected by the shuttering of nonessential businesses in other sectors, such as commercial construction and manufacturing."
READ MORE related to Economy: Mortgage rates head up again, another blow to real estate market -- The Chronicle's KATHLEEN PENDER
RT slashes service because of virus; maintains commute hours
Sac Bee's TONY BIZJAK: "Sacramento Regional Transit, the region’s major bus and rail network, will cut service to 38 percent of normal, starting Monday, due to lack of ridership expected during the coming weeks.
It’s one of many transit, rail, and airline companies cutting back as fewer people venture out to travel during the height of the coronavirus infection period.
Agency officials said ridership was off 60 percent on Thursday, and likely will drop more as more businesses close and more workers stay at home as leaders call for self-isolation in homes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus."
