Pasadena: Pasadena reported 36 new cases on Saturday. There were no reported deaths. Pasadena has experienced 3,671 total cases and 132 fatalities due to COVID-19.
The Pasadena Public Health Department did not restrict outdoor dining in Pasadena. Safety protocols are still required and will be enforced. City officials did announce more robust inspection and enforcement of restaurants, as well as other places people gather such as parks, the Rose Bowl loop and other public spaces. Residents are urged not to gather with people outside their immediate household and to continue social distancing and wearing masks in public.
From PasadenaNOW: A city official said this morning (Sunday) that on Saturday night, Pasadena health inspectors were able to finish the reinspections of all the original locations from Wednesday and Thursday’s visits, and to conduct first visits at restaurants in Old Pasadena (along Green Street, Colorado Boulevard, Union Street, One Colorado, and Raymond Avenue), at and around the Paseo, on South Arroyo, and on South Lake Avenue. The most common violations observed were no face shields, dining tables not distanced, and protocols not completed. The Health Department reinstated three health permits on Saturday night to restaurants previously shut down, and closed two additional restaurants. Approximately 50% of restaurants were found to be compliant during initial visits.
Pasadena Health Department inspectors were in city parks Saturday enforcing Pasadena’s COVID-19 Health Orders, after shutting down five restaurants Friday night for violating the protocols.
Inspectors stopped athletic games forbidden under the most recent health order, contacted people not wearing masks and instructed them to put one on immediately, required large gatherings to reduce in size to the permitted allowance, and posted public notices to inform and remind citizens of the rules.
The five restaurants that were closed down Friday must completely close their kitchens, schedule a hearing and then have an inspection before they can reopen to any type of dining, including takeout and delivery, Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian said.
The enforcement efforts were announced earlier this week as Pasadena, like much of the U.S., faces a spike in new coronavirus cases.
Officials had said that throughout the weekend, enforcement teams would monitor businesses, parks, and other areas of potential gatherings to ensure compliance with health orders issued by the Pasadena Public Health Department.
The teams were deployed Saturday to the Rose Bowl Loop and to Brookside, Victory, Eaton Blanche, Central, McDonald and Washington Parks. Derderian reported on the following results:
- At the Rose Bowl Loop, teams observed a dozen people without masks and were able to contact and get compliance from 10 of them.
- At Brookside, a football game was stopped and two soccer teams instructed to drill only, as sports competitions aren’t allowed. An unpermitted running event was shutdown with the assistance of Pasadena Park Rangers.
- A birthday party in Victory Park was reduced to 15 people in size and instructed on social distancing.
- At Eaton Blanche Park a group of 12 playing competitive volleyball were required to disband.
- In Central Park, three people informed to wear mask which they did immediately
- At both McDonald Park and Washington Park, all visitors in compliance
Derderian reported that “all citizens we interacted with were complimentary of our presence and encouraged continued enforcement.”
Earlier this week City of Pasadena Health Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh warned the city would roll out a “broad, aggressive enforcement strategy” that had become “an immediate necessity given the rate of increase in COVID-19 cases and potential strain on our healthcare resources.”
Derderian said at that time city would review its health orders and continue to enforce the business curfew, which prohibits local businesses from operating between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. until Dec. 21.
“The city of Pasadena will continue to assess our COVID numbers and work closely with Huntington Hospital and give as much advance notice as possible if the city’s order is going to change in any respect,” Derderian said.
A statement released by the city Tuesday afternoon listed some of the rules already in place for Pasadena businesses:
• Retail store occupancy may not exceed 25% of maximum capacity (as defined by the Fire Code). This capacity limit was previously established by the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy for local health jurisdictions in counties in Purple Tier 1.
• Limitations on gatherings are still in place: people are permitted to gather outdoors with no more than 2 other households, for 2 hours or less, with all attendees wearing face coverings and maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet or more between households.
• Sports competitions, such as softball and soccer games, are still not permitted.
• Non-essential offices must remain closed for in-person operations and only conduct work remotely, as previously established by the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
The new restrictions in Pasadena as of November 20 are as follows:
• Personal care services that require either the customer or the staff to remove their face covering, such as facials, shaves, and threading are not permitted. All public health protocols must continue to be followed for other personal care services, including a requirement for services to be offered by appointment only, and as many services as possible provided outdoors.
• Personal care services are now limited to 25% maximum capacity (as defined by the Fire Code).
• Gatherings must meet the limitations stated above (outdoor, 2 hours or less, with face coverings worn and physical distancing between households) and may not exceed a total of 15 people from 3 or fewer households.
• Restaurants, breweries and bars must cease service in their on-site, outdoor dining areas as of 10 p.m. and close their on-site dining areas thereafter until 5 a.m.
For additional information please call the Citizen Service Center, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (626) 744-7311.
“We want to keep restaurants operating, but that hinges on their willingness to follow the rules,” Derderian said. She declined to name the restaurants that were closed but said they would be published on the city’s website by Tuesday.
Earlier this week City of Pasadena Health Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh warned the city would roll out a broad, aggressive enforcement strategy that had become an immediate necessity given the rate of increase in COVID-19 cases and potential strain on healthcare resources. On Tuesday City Manager Steve Mermell said special attention would be invested in locating restaurants which didn’t comply with Pasadena’s health orders.
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge throughout Los Angeles County, Young and Healthy Pasadena has decided to add more dates to their free COVID-19 testing program.
Join Young and Healthy on Monday, November 30, and Tuesday, December 1, at the Altadena Seventh Day Adventist Church from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a free COVID-19 cheek swab test. Results will be sent to you within 24 to 48 hours.The free test is open to everyone, and no ID or insurance will be required. This is a walk-up only testing event and no reservations are required. The COVID-19 free testing is supported by other community organizations and volunteers, and by funding from the Southern California Children’s Museum. For more information, call (626) 795-5166.
LA County: From the Pasadena Star-News: Snarled in the midst of a relentless surge that has propelled new coronavirus cases to record levels, Los Angeles County health officials issued an urgent plea to follow a temporary three-week safer-at-home order starting Monday.
No additional orders were announced by Barbara Ferrer, the county’s Department of Public Health director, during Saturday’s rare weekend media briefing, but the possibility of further measures should case numbers continue to increase was not ruled out.
“I understand everyone’s frustration, but we’re headed into the holiday season and more than anything, we’re longing to spend time with friends and family,” Ferrer said. “If we really care about each other … we need to not gather with anyone not in our immediate household, at least for the immediate future. We’re really trying to ensure for the next three weeks we do everything we can to get the surge to decrease.”
Officials reported 3,143 new cases and 19 new deaths Saturday, lifting those totals to 390,891 cases and 7,623 deaths since the pandemic began. Saturday’s death number reflected a holiday weekend reporting lag, Ferrer said.
The county’s five-day average of new cases, a statistic that has been used to trigger more severe restrictions on public activity, is now 4,155
Last week Los Angeles County health officials closed all restaurants under their jurisdiction to outdoor dining. (This does not apply to Pasadena with its own health department.)
In response to “alarming levels” of new coronavirus cases, the Los Angeles County Depart- ment of Public Health issued a temporary order Friday adding new restrictions to daily life.
Last week, Los Angeles County officials said that if the five-day average of cases exceeded 4,500 cases, or if hospitalizations were higher than 2,000 a day, it would trigger a new set of restric- tions.
On Friday, an additional 4,544 cases were reported, and the five-day average exceeded the limit, triggering the re- strictions, which will begin on Monday and remain in effect until Dec. 20, the county said. In the new order, “residents are advised to stay home as much as possible and always wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when they are outside their house- hold and around others.” While beaches, trails, and parks in the county remain open, gatherings with people outside one’s household are pro- hibited. Religious services and protests are exempt because of constitutional protections. The order also puts new caps on occupancy, including a 35% maximum occupancy for essential businesses, and a maximum 20% occupancy for nonessential businesses.
According to the latest data from the county, there are 1,893 people currently hospitalized and 24% of them are in the intensive care unit. A month ago, on Oct. 27, there were 747 people hospitalized.
Los Angeles County health officials also issued new safety orders — including a stay-at-home order — on Friday. The orders do not apply to Pasadena, which is governed by its own health department. The new county measures will go into effect on Monday and remain until December 20, according to Los Angeles County Public Health.
Those measures advise residents to stay home as much as possible and always wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when outside their household and around others.
Friday’s 4,544 new cases raised the county’s five-day average to 4,751 — the highest point since the pandemic began — and triggered the new health order. The new rules will effectively ban most public and private gatherings starting Monday and remain in effect through at least Dec. 20.
On Friday, 1,893 L.A. County residents were hospitalized with the coronavirus, 24% of whom were in intensive care. In late October,about 750 people were hospitalized with the virus.
On Wednesday, county Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said that the situation was getting worse each day.
“We continue to be at a very difficult time in this pandemic, as is so much of the United States,” Davis said.
According to current county estimates, every COVID- 19 patient in the county is passing the virus to an average of 1.27 people, the highest transmission rate the county has seen since March, before any safety protocols such as face coverings and social distancing were in place.
Based on that transmission rate, health officials estimate one of every 145 people in the county are now infected with the virus and transmitting it to others.
The additional safety modifications in the order include the following changes to the existing Health Officer Order:
- Gatherings: all public and private gatherings with individuals not in your household are prohibited, except for church services and protests, which are constitutionally protected rights.
- Occupancy limits at various businesses; all individuals at these sites are required to wear face coverings and keep at least 6 feet of distance:
- Essential retail: 35% maximum occupancy;
- Nonessential retail (includes indoor malls): 20% maximum occupancy;
- Personal care services: 20% maximum occupancy;
- Libraries: 20% maximum occupancy;
- Fitness centers operating outdoors: 50% maximum occupancy;
- Museums galleries, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens operating outdoors: 50% maximum occupancy;
- Mini-golf, batting cages, go-kart racing operating outdoors: 50% maximum occupancy;
- Outdoor recreation activities all which require face coverings (except for swimming) and distancing: Beaches, trails and parks remain open; gatherings at these sites with members outside your household are prohibited. Golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball, archery ranges, skate parks, bike parks and community gardens remain open for individuals or members of a single household. Pools that serve more than one household may open only for regulated lap swimming with one person per lane. Drive-in movies/events/car parades are permitted provided occupants in each car are members of one household.
- Schools: All schools and day camps remain open adhering to reopening protocols. K-12 Schools and Day Camps with an outbreak (3 cases or more over 14 days) should close for 14 days.
- Closed nonessential businesses/activities:
- Playgrounds (with the exception of playgrounds at childcare and schools;
- Cardrooms;
- Restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries remain closed for in- person dining and drinking because of the high rates of transmission in the community, as customers are not wearing face coverings, which results in an increased chance of transmission of the virus. Restaurants, wineries and breweries remain open for pick-up, delivery and take-out. Breweries and wineries remain open for retail sales at 20% occupancy.
The US: The number of Americans hospitalized for Covid-19 sur- passed 90,000 for the first time, as the pandemic’s largest, most widespread U.S. surge pushes rural health care to its limits. Hospitalizations nationally have nearly doubled this month, setting a record Nov. 10, and every day since, to reach about 90,480 people in hospitals with Covid-19 on Thursday, Covid Tracking Project data show. The number of people in intensive-care units due to Covid-19 rose on Thurs- day to an all-time high of 17,802.
On April 15, more Americans were reported dead of Covid-19 than on any other day of the pandemic. The daily toll is growing close once more. The coronavirus pandemic has reshaped the holiday shop- ping season, with fewer people hitting stores on Black Friday and many retail chains holding the line on discounts because they are sitting on lean inventories. Crowds were smaller this year than last after chains like Walmart Inc. and Best Buy Co. put their Black Friday promotions online and, alongside Amazon.com Inc., encouraged peo- ple to buy earlier in the season. Even Black Friday veterans out shopping said they had made much more of their purchases online this year.
On April 15, the United States reached a grim nadir in the pandemic: 2,752 people across the country were reported to have died from Covid-19 that Wednesday, more than on any day before or since.
For months, the record stood as a reminder of the pain the coronavirus was inflicting on the nation, and a warning of its deadly potential. But now, after seven desperate months trying to contain the virus, daily deaths are rising sharply and fast approaching that dreadful count again.
How the virus kills in America, though, has changed in profound ways. Months of suffering have provided a horrific but valuable education: Doctors and nurses know better how to treat patients who contract the virus and how to prevent severe cases from ending in fatality, and a far smaller proportion of people who catch the virus are dying from it than were in the spring, experts say.
A growing number of governors are calling for another round of coronavirus-relief legislation from Washington, saying they are unable to provide additional funds to small businesses amid budget shortfalls. The issue is gaining urgency as money from federal relief passed earlier this year runs out ahead. States have funneled hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid into everything from personal-protective equipment and hazard pay for front-line health-care workers to schools and food banks.
The U.S. economy is recovering at a sturdy but slowing pace heading into the holidays. Consumers stepped up their spending by a brisk 0.5% in Octo- ber, down from a gain of 1.2% the month before, the Commerce De- partment said Wednesday. Factory orders for long-lasting goods rose a solid 1.3%, in part because businesses shelled out more for long-term projects, the agency said. Sales of newly built homes slipped last month but remained near the highest level in almost 14 years.
Jobless claims rose for the second straight week, to 778,000, a sign the nationwide surge in virus cases was starting to weigh on the labor-market recovery. Claims haven’t risen for two consecutive weeks since July. Worker filings for unemployment insurance are down sharply from a peak of nearly seven million in late March. But they remain higher than in any previous recession for records tracing back to 1967.
Hawaii is seeking a careful balance as the holiday travel season kicks off: Allow enough visitors to help struggling, tourism-reliant businesses without causing a new wave of coronavirus cases. The state last month began allowing U.S. visitors to skip a mandatory 14-day quarantine if they get tested for Covid-19 through an approved provider within three days of their flight and the test comes back negative. The change prompted some businesses on the islands to reopen, and many are hoping for a pickup in December. Hawaii suffered one of the most severe economic down-turns of any state from the pandemic. Hawaii’s unemploy- ment rate was the highest of any state in October, at 14.3%, the Labor Department said.