Here are the current numbers of novel coronavirus cases across the Southland:
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March 25, 2020
8 p.m.
Three members of the Cal State Northridge campus community have tested positive for COVID-19, two of the cases have been confirmed by medical professionals and one reported diagnosis to CSUN, the university announced. CSUN said one case is an employee who had been on the campus last week and the other two cases are students.
According to the university, the students have not been on campus recently and are living in a neighboring county. Anyone who has come in contact with the three will be alerted if they need to self-isolate or self-monitor. Facilities visited by the employee have been closed and will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, the university said.
5: 30 p.m.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says the federal $2 trillion relief package contains more than $1 billion in benefits to Los Angeles and workers who have lost their jobs, including $400 million to the airport and $700 million to the Metro transit system, plus a $32 million grant to help the homeless.
Garcetti said the city is cutting back on parking enforcement efforts and will not ticket or tow vehicles with expired registrations or drivers with expired licenses. Ticketing will continue for issues such as handicapped parking, fire hydrants and meters near businesses that sell food.
He said based on experience in other areas, like Italy, Spain and New York City, the situation in Los Angeles will continue to worsen before some improvement is seen. “The worst days are still ahead,” he said.
3 p.m.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the county has seen a 10% drop in violent crime and 6% drop in overall crime as so many activities and businesses are restricted. Still, he said, the department is very concerned about the possibility of people taking advantage of the closures. The LASD has shifted some 1,300 deputies to patrol and jails, with concern about issues such as looting of closed businesses.
He also said the county is scaling back parking enforcement, but will still focus on areas like parking near fire hydrants and in handicapped spots, and enforcement of meters near businesses that sell food.
LASD officials said about 30 inmates in the jail system who were exhibiting symptoms of illness were removed from the population to be tested for COVID-19. So far none of the tests have come back positive. About 500 inmates who were in the same area as those 30 were put into temporary quarantine pending the results of those tests.
He said the county is also concerned about price gouging. The county’s Consumer & Business Affairs agency can be contacted if consumers suspect price-gouging at (800)593-8222.
12: 45 p.m.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced that four major banks have agreed to grant a 90-day grace period for mortgage payments in California for those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
Newsom said that four out of five of the nation’s largest banks – JP Morgan Chase, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and Citibank – have all committed to the moratorium. Bank of America only agreed to commit to a 30-day forbearance period.
“I hope they will reconsider and join those other banks that are willing to do the right thing by at least extending that commitment to their customers for at least 90 days,” he said during a Wednesday press conference.
Newsom noted that California does not have regulatory oversight over those banks, though many state banks and credit unions have also agreed to the grace period.
Additionally, Newsom announced that the state is receiving $10 billion in relief as part of a $2 trillion emergency bill that was agreed to on Wednesday.
A total of 1 million people have filed for unemployment in the state since March 13, he said.
12: 30 p.m.
Health officials on Wednesday confirmed 3 additional coronavirus-related deaths and 138 new cases in Los Angeles County, bringing the county’s total to 799 cases. All three of the individuals who died were over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions, according to county health director Barbara Ferrer.
Ferrer added that the county health department is no longer including the death of an individual from Lancaster under the age of 18, which was announced on Tuesday, in the county’s health total. The department has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate that case.
The county’s death total now stands at 13.
11: 40 a.m.
Two firefighters with the Los Angeles Fire Department tested positive for coronavirus, officials say. LAFD began testing those who had COVID-19 symptoms on March 20. Officials say 79 people have been tested there, and both firefighters who tested positive are at home recovering. Twelve employees with the Los Angeles Police Department tested positive for the virus. The 11 sworn officers and one civilian employee are quarantined at home and are also recovering.
11 a.m.
Runyon Canyon Park was officially closed in another effort to keep people safe from the coronavirus. Parks officials said Runyon Canyon is one of the most popular parks in the city. City council officials are also calling for the closure of Lake Hollywood Park — but that has not been decided yet.
10: 45 a.m.
The Malibu Pier and beach parking lots are now closed to prevent crowding and the potential spread of the pandemic. The pier, area beaches and trails saw a large number of visitors over the weekend, seemingly ignoring guidelines for social distancing. Shops and pier restaurants are also closed to visitors.
March 24, 2020
7: 30 p.m.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is ordering all Catholic churches in the region to be closed to the public amid the coronavirus pandemic. The church had already canceled celebrations of Mass, but new guidelines issued by the Archdiocese on Tuesday put a stop to a wide range of activities and access.
The Archdiocese is ordering churches, chapels, centers and missions to be closed to the public from March 24 until April 19 or until further notice. That includes Easter and Holy Week. The annual Blessing of the Animals at Olvera Street has also been postponed.
Parishioners are reminded that many church services will still be made available for viewing online.
Churches equipped with bells are asked to ring them at 12 noon and 6 p.m. every day as a sign of solidarity and hope.
New funeral guidelines for cemeteries and mortuaries have also been issued.
5: 30 p.m.
Mayor Eric Garcetti says most nonessential businesses in the city have complied with orders to close, but a few have not. The city is preparing to launch enforcement efforts against those businesses, starting with a warning. Those that remain open face misdemeanor penalties, citations, fines and the possibility of the city Department of Water and Power shutting off utility service, Garcetti said.
“You know who you are,” Garcetti said. “You need to stop it. This is your chance to step up and to shut it down, because if you don’t, we will shut you down.”
Garcetti said the city is also looking to recruit medical workers to contribute to the city’s efforts, either on a paid or pro bono basis. An application form is available here.
4 p.m.
Los Angeles Unified School District has announced its first known likely case of the coronavirus in a district employee, in addition to a possible second case.
The district said a Facilities Contract employee who had worked in district headquarters was diagnosed with COVID-19 by a health-care provider. The person has not been tested to confirm the diagnosis because of unavailability of the test. The employee had last worked in the district’s Beaudry Avenue headquarters building in downtown Los Angeles on March 13, on the 28th floor. The building itself was closed March 16-18 because of problems with the data systems and it was thoroughly cleaned during that time, the district says. Employees who may have had contact with the individual are advised to self-quarantine at home through April 3.
The district said it is also aware of a possible second case in an employee, but has not confirmed it with health authorities.
3: 15 p.m.
California now has 1,000 more ventilators, thanks to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Musk brought the breathing machines from China on Friday and Gov. Gavin Newsom said they’re already in the state. Musk has also said that his companies would step in to make ventilators if there’s a shortage.
2 p.m.
Approximately 1,700 inmates were released from Los Angeles County jails to lessen the inmate population during the COVID-19 crisis, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Tuesday.
12: 30 p.m.
Los Angeles County public health officials on Tuesday confirmed 4 new deaths and 128 new cases, bringing the total to 11 deaths and 662 cases in the county. County public health director Barbara Ferrer said one of the deaths was a person from Lancaster, who was under the age of 18, which she said is a “devastating reminder” that COVID-19 affects individuals of all ages.
11a.m.
California’s Chief Justice has suspended all jury trials in the state’s superior courts for 60 days. The presiding judge for L.A. County Superior Court has also signed an order restricting access to all county courthouses. Officials say courts in California aren’t equipped to allow for social distancing and other health requirements needed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
11 a.m.
City of Hope hospitals are taking new protective measures over the Coronavirus outbreak. Starting Wednesday, they will no longer allow patients to have visitors. The “no visitor” policy applies to all City of Hope inpatient and outpatient locations and will be in place until further notice. There are exceptions — pediatric patients under 18 will be permitted one parent or guardian. People with disabilities will be allowed one support person and patients at “end of life” will also be permitted visitors.
10 a.m.
Two California State University, Long Beach students tested positive for COVID-19, according to a university spokesperson. The two individuals are in self-isolation off campus and those who may have come in close contact with them are being notified by health officials. One of the students who tested positive for the virus has not been on campus for two weeks, according to university officials, who added that “there was no opportunity for on-campus exposure” in the other student’s case.
“It is a sober signal that the impact of this illness will be felt widely,” officials said in a statement.
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March 23, 2020
1: 06 p.m.
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer reported two new deaths and 128 new cases, bringing the total to seven deaths and 536 cases in the county. The new cases include three in Pasadena and 17 in Long Beach, Ferrer said.
7: 45 a.m.
Schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District will remain closed until at least May 1 as efforts continue to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.
6 a.m.
Starting Monday, Metro will begin using modified bus and rail schedules. Because of the recent drop in demand, rail service will run less frequently during peak hours, arriving at stops every 15 to 20 minutes. Bus riders will also notice some changes. In an effort to maintain social distancing, riders will only be allowed to board and exit using the rear doors.
March 22, 2020
11 p.m.
Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti announced that beach parking and recreation facilities have been shut down due to “too many people packing beaches, trails and parks.”
9: 30 p.m.
School officials announced a student at East Los Angeles College tested positive for COVID-19. The student was last on campus March 12. The student is currently under quarantine while awaiting test results. All faculty and staff members who were supposed to be at the school on Monday were asked to work from home, unless otherwise directed.
5: 16 p.m.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the city is shutting down the Venice Beach boardwalk in consultation with the county Department of Public Health. Beach parking lots will also be closed.
3: 27 p.m.
President Donald Trump said the Navy hospital ship the USNS Mercy “will be deployed to Los Angeles to add emergency surge medical capacity.” Gov. Gavin Newsom requested that the ship come to Los Angeles through September in a letter to Trump.
2: 40 p.m.
Health officials on Sunday announced one new death related to novel coronavirus in Los Angeles County and 71 new cases, bringing the number of cases to 409. The total includes 132 new cases that were confirmed in the previous 48 hours, according to the Los Angeles County Public Health Department. The individual who died was identified only as a Culver City resident who was older than 65 and had underlying health conditions, the agency said in a statement. Five people have now died of COVID-19 in the county.
1: 15 p.m.
Several new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in San Bernardino County on Sunday, bringing the total from 10 to 17, according to the county’s department of public health. No deaths have been reported in the county.
11: 30 a.m
Health officials reported another death related to the coronavirus in Riverside County on Sunday. A total of 6 people have died in the county, which has 30 cases.
March 21, 2020
9: 30 p.m.
Officials announced the Los Angeles Police Department is ramping up its coronavirus staffing, stretching officers’ shifts and limiting days off. Law enforcement will enter this new phase as soon as Monday morning. The new plan is expected to move officers to 12-hour shifts with fewer days off.
8 p.m.
Los Angeles County health officials announced two additional deaths related to the coronavirus, bringing the county’s total to four deaths. Officials also announced 59 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 351. Of those, 69 people have been hospitalized.
Both of the people who died were over age 65 and had u