Health officials say number of Valley Fever cases in children are rising in Inland Empire

Health officials say number of Valley Fever cases in children are rising in Inland Empire

Health officials say number of Valley Fever cases in children are rising in Inland Empire

Health officials at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital say that they have noticed a spike in pediatric cases of Valley Fever in recent months.

Valley Fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection that is caused by inhaling spores of the Coccidioides fungus, which lives in the soil. It is typically found in the soil of arid and semi-arid climates in both North and South America.

Symptoms usually mimic those of the flu, doctors said.

From January to April, a report from the California Department of Public Health shows more than 4,000 cases, and Loma Linda doctors say that youth cases are up from the average, with five to 10 cases per month since the start of the year.

“While many people experience mild or no symptoms, it can cause serious respiratory illness and, in some cases, spread to other parts of the body,” said a statement from hospital officials.

The fungus can be spread when soil is disturbed and one breathes in dust.

In severe cases, the infection can lead to chronic lung disease or disseminated disease, meaning it spreads to other parts of the body.

Doctors say that it is not contagious, however, and cannot be spread between people or animals.

As norovirus cases rise in CA, doctors pinpoint 2 things you should not do if you get it

Norovirus symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea are painful. As cases rise in California, here’s what doctors say you should avoid if you have it.

Norovirus symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea are painful. As cases rise in California, here’s what doctors say you should avoid if you have it.

Norovirus symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea are painful. As cases rise in California, here’s what doctors say you should avoid if you have it.

Norovirus symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea are painful. As cases rise in California, here’s what doctors say you should avoid if you have it.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — While the Northeast is getting hit the hardest, CDC officials say cases of norovirus, often called the “stomach flu,” continue to climb in California. It can spread quickly in enclosed spaces like schools, workplaces and cruise ships.

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea – these norovirus symptoms can be painful. Earlier this month, over 150 people were stricken while on a cruise ship that docked in San Francisco. Once someone gets it, doctors describe just how quickly it can spread

“With norovirus, it’s sort of like wildfire,” said infectious disease specialist Dr. Daisy Dodd with Kaiser Permanente Orange County.

Contaminated food may be the most common way norovirus spreads, but she said it can also move quickly from person to person.

“The means of spread is what we call fecal oral. So from your tushy to your mouth,” Dodd said.

The virus can live on surfaces for weeks. The CDC says on the West Coast, nearly 13% of tests came back positive for norovirus. Annually, about 900 people die from this gastro-intestinal infection. The elderly, the immunocompromised and the very young are the most vulnerable.

“Children, if they get it, they can get dehydrated and very easily. The elderly can do the same thing. So hydration becomes the key to proper treatment,” she said.

There is no vaccine. And If you get sick, doctors say avoid anti-diarrheal medications.

“You’re going to prolong the agony because the virus is going to stay within you. And obviously the longer it stays within you, the more problems you’re going to have,” said Dodd.

She added – don’t rely on hand sanitizers. They’re not the most effective at killing norovirus. The best way to neutralize this bug is with soap.

“There’s something to do with soap breaking the cell of the germs and killing them. So that’s actually the best thing you know – wash your hands often,” she said.

Other tips from Dodd include sanitizing your cellphones and door handles. Wash your produce. Cook shellfish thoroughly. Stay home for about two or three days after you start feeling better, because you can still be shedding the virus.

It’s the season for cold and flu viruses, and this year, walking pneumonia may be more of a concern as cases rise in Canada and the U.S., in particular among young people.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a rise in infections since last spring. While Canada does not keep record of cases of walking pneumonia, CBC News reports that anecdotally, cases are on the rise here too.

Walking pneumonia at its broadest is a lung infection caused by either a virus or bacteria. Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, associate medical officer of health for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, said it’s normally fairly mild.

“You might have a cough, fever, sore throat for some time before you begin having trouble breathing,” Tenenbaum said. “If you’re having trouble breathing, it is worth going to see your family doctor or going to [the emergency room] if it’s bad.”

Tenenbaum notes that one of the most notable causes of walking pneumonia — the bacteria mycoplasma pneumoniae — is currently one of the biggest indicators of a growing trend in patients.

Tenenbaum said the public health unit doesn’t track cases, but officials have heard from family doctors and offices that they’re seeing more people with the infection.

“We’ve heard from our colleagues at Public Health Ontario that we have seen since the late summer an increase in the number of tests that came back positive for this particular bacteria,” Tenenbaum said.

“It can’t give us a full picture, but it does corroborate what we’re hearing from physicians about there being more cases.”

WATCH | Children’s doctors warn of spike in highly infectious walking pneumonia: Children’s doctors warn of spike in highly infectious walking pneumonia Duration 2:03 Children’s doctors across Canada are closely monitoring a spike in cases of atypical pneumonia, also known as walking pneumonia, which can cause serious complications for infected kids.

Dr. Earl Rubin, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, told CBC News he’s seeing patients being admitted to hospital for infections.

“Speaking to colleagues across the country in pediatric infectious diseases, everybody is experiencing the same,” Rubin said.

Halifax hospital IWK Health and the B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver have also recorded an increase in children with walking pneumonia since August.

Bacteria type has ‘cyclical nature’

Tenenbaum said it isn’t typical for there to be walking pneumonia cases in children and teens more than adults, but that does seem to be the trend this year.

He said the m. pneumoniae bacteria is gaining unusual traction among young kids, especially those under five, but it’s unclear why this year may be particularly bad for walking pneumonia.

“We know that this particular bacteria that we see increasing in the lab data does have a bit of a cyclical nature, ” said Tenenbaum.

“But again, what’s different this time is the fact that it’s more prone to causing infections for young people, and we don’t really have an explanation for that.”

Rubin told CBC News there’s no evidence the bacteria itself has changed; rather, the theory is more and more people are not immune and therefore more susceptible to such an infectious disease.

With a wide range of viruses circulating right now, Tenenbaum said, the best course of action if people are feeling unwell is to “stay home, toss the mask on, go see your doctor or nurse practitioner.”

“And of course, if you haven’t yet gotten your COVID shot or your flu shot, please do go out and get those now.”

By David Downey | Contributing Writer

The Inland Empire is seeing one of its worst surges in years of a virus that is sickening large numbers of children and sending many to the hospital.

Concerns about respiratory syncytial virus, which is hammering the region and nation harder and earlier in the season than usual, prompted San Bernardino County’s health officer on Friday, Nov. 4, to issue a health advisory urging people to take measures to prevent its spread.

“San Bernardino County is seeing high rates of respiratory illness severely impacting capacity in our pediatric hospitals with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) being a contributing factor,” County Health Officer Dr. Michael Sequeira said in a news release.

On Thursday, Nov. 3, Riverside County’s public health officer, Dr. Geoffrey Leung, urged parents to take precautions as well.

Zoey Morris, 3 months old, is treated Friday, Nov 4, 2022, for respiratory syncytial virus in the emergency department at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. (Courtesy of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital)

A nasal sample kit that tests for RSV, COVID-19, influenza A and B is seen Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. (File photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center pediatric nurse Stephanie Perez cares for a young patient with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. (Courtesy of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center) Show Caption 1 of 3 Zoey Morris, 3 months old, is treated Friday, Nov 4, 2022, for respiratory syncytial virus in the emergency department at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. (Courtesy of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital) Expand

However, Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky, deputy public health officer, said Riverside County did not intend to declare an RSV health emergency like one the Orange County health officer proclaimed Tuesday, Nov. 1.

San Bernardino County also had no plans to proclaim RSV a public health emergency, Department of Public Health spokesperson Francis Delapaz wrote in an email.

In Los Angeles County, the county Board of Supervisors directed health officials to work with schools to inform parents about the risks and preventive measures they can take.

Such measures include some of the same practices Southern Californians are familiar with from the coronavirus pandemic, such as wearing a mask, washing hands often, avoiding close contact with people and frequently cleaning such surfaces as doorknobs and mobile devices.

RSV has been around a long time and tends to spread during the fall and winter, coinciding with the flu-and-cold season. Generally, the virus causes mild cold-like symptoms such as runny nose and fever.

But it can lead to serious illness in babies, very young children, older adults and anyone with weakened immune systems, health officials said.

“While RSV is a common respiratory virus, it can make young children quite ill,” Leung said in a news release.

RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, and of pneumonia, an infection in the lungs, in children younger than 1 year old in the U.S., the release states.

Dr. Emily Wong, a pediatric hospitalist at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and director of the hospital’s acute care pediatric unit, said RSV can trigger serious illness in older children afflicted with asthma.

“RSV is notorious for causing asthma flares, often leading to hospitalization,” Wong said Thursday.

Complications from RSV and other viruses are prompting many parents to rush children to emergency rooms.

An example is Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

The Pomona hospital’s emergency department has seen a surge of children with a variety of respiratory viruses, spokesperson Amber Brenneisen said. In a majority of cases, children had RSV infections, she wrote. Some were diagnosed with flu and other viruses.

“Due to the severity of symptoms seen in the ED, we have been continuously admitting patients to our pediatric unit for multi-day stays with typical treatment consisting of supplemental oxygen, IV fluids, breathing treatments and pain management,” Brenneisen wrote.

The unit is averaging 12 patients per day, most of them 2 years old or younger, she said.

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, which is run by San Bernardino County, also is reporting a surge in respiratory infections and hospitalizations among children, said Dr. Webster Wong, the pediatrics department chair.

Many are coming through the emergency-room doors.

Dr. Ben Archambeau, who works in Arrowhead’s emergency department, said one troubling trend is the age range.

“We are seeing 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds that are having more severe disease,” Archambeau said.

Even young adults, he said, have been getting very ill from RSV.

“That’s really unusual,” he said.

Arrowhead is sending the most seriously sick kids to other hospitals, among them Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley, Archambeau said.

Loma Linda’s Dr. Emily Wong said the children’s hospital has been struggling to keep pace.

“We’ve been close to, if not at, capacity for the last few weeks,” she said, referring to the hospital’s emergency room, inpatient beds and pediatric intensive care unit.

Wong said the 364-bed Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital is treating more children for RSV than it has at any time over the past four years — including the typical mid-winter peaks.

The “most remarkable thing” about the current wave is the timing, Wong added.

“It’s not that we haven’t felt this busy before,” she said. “But it feels like we are in January or February, and it is only November. And we know it is only going to get more busy for us.”

Wong said the children’s hospital was less busy during the heart of the coronavirus pandemic than was its overwhelmed sister hospital that treats adults. Now there are many sick pediatric patients, she said, and “the chatter amongst us is, ‘Is this our COVID moment?’”

It’s not just RSV driving the wave. Many kids are coming down with other viruses or influenza.

Some are testing positive for two viruses at the same time, and even three, Wong said.

“That is often why they end up sicker,” she said.

Chevinsky, Riverside County’s deputy public health officer, said precise numbers of cases are unavailable because agencies aren’t required to report RSV infections.

“In general we are seeing levels of RSV that are higher than we would typically find at this time of year,” Chevinsky said, adding: “We haven’t seen those cases plateau or fall down yet.”

The reason for the surge, Arrowhead’s Archambeau said, is likely partly “the lack of interaction and exposure that kids have had for the last few years because of COVID restrictions and masking.”

Normally, children get exposed to RSV and build up immunity to the virus during the first couple years of their lives, health officials said. However, young children born right before or during the pandemic spent little time in day care centers or other public places where they would be exposed to the virus and didn’t build up immunity.

Now that pandemic restrictions have been cast aside, large numbers of children are being exposed and becoming sick with RSV for the first time, officials said.

People with RSV generally show symptoms such as runny nose, fever, coughing, sneezing and decreased appetite within a few days, officials said.

Wong, of the Loma Linda hospital, suggested parents talk to a pediatrician to find out what steps they should take, based on their children’s symptoms.

The time to take a child to an emergency room, Wong said, is when a child is laboring to breathe or taking breaths very fast. Having difficulty breathing also can impede a child’s ability to drink and eat, and cause dehydration, she said.

In such cases, a child may need additional oxygen and fluids at a hospital.

“It can be difficult to keep your children safe from the transmission of viruses, especially with school and the holiday season in full swing,” said Dr. Muzna Atif, pediatric hospitalist and medical director for inpatient pediatrics at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

“If your child does become sick and starts showing any of the more serious signs of RSV, such as labored breathing, wheezing or decreased appetite, it’s time to take them to the emergency department,” Atif said.

PREVENTING RSV

If a parent has cold-like symptoms, they may want to:

Wear a mask when doing anything over a baby, when droplets could easily get into the baby’s mouth or nose

Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or upper shirt sleeve, not one’s hands

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

Avoid close contact with other people, such as kissing, shaking hands and sharing cups or eating utensils

Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices

Get a monoclonal antibody medication called Palivizumab that is available for infants and young children who are at high risk for severe disease.

Source: Riverside University Health System – Public Health

Disneyland guests take photos in front of the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Disneyland guests wearing ponchos pass the Marketplace inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on Thursday. Disneyland and California Adventure will temporarily close in response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Two children look at movie posters in the lobby of the Arclight theater Thursday in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Alexandria Casserly crosses the street while looking for toilet paper in downtown Los Angeles. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)

Students leave John C. Fremont High School in Los Angeles at the end of the school day on Friday, Mar. 13, 2020. LAUSD announced it will shut down beginning Monday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times )

Blake Anderson, left, a freshman, walks with his father Oree Anderson, as school is let out at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles. LAUSD announced that schools will be closed due to the Coronavirus. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)

Students hug as they are let out of school at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 13, 2020. The school has 2,623 students who live in 94 different zip codes, some of whom travel upwards of 30 miles to school on 24 different school bus routes. 221 school staff live in 88 zip codes. Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner announced that schools will be closed due to the coronavirus. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)

A guest wears a mask in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland on Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A line at the Martin B. Retting gun store in Culver City on Sunday extends out the door and around the corner in 2020. (Francine Orr / The Times)

Carlos Perez, a worker at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles sits in the empty restaurant. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)

L.A. has banned restaurants from offering seating at places such as Grand Central Market. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Normally bustling Grand Central Market in downtown L.A. is open only for take out. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

From left, Josh Akamine, of Oahu, Hawaii; Madison Shine of Oahu; Matthew Valencia of Los Altos and Dani Ikeda visit L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)

Medical personnel surround a car that is going through a coronavirus drive-thru test clinic at the San Mateo County Event Center. Drive-thru test clinics for COVID-19 are popping up across the country as more tests become available. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Emma Bradley, left, and her husband, Samuel Bradley, of Palmdale are walking up the ramp to catch the Metrolink in Union Sation in Los Angeles. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)

Volunteer Rachel Figueroa, serves a free lunch to go to Destiny Mendez, with her mother, Estefany, at the Dream Center in Los Angeles. LAUSD students can get free breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Dream Center, Monday through Friday. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)

Muhammad Faruq, an Uber driver, picks his ride Sotero Reyes, left, and Cristian Eguia, visitors from Houston, all in protective masks, from downtown Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Shoppers queue up ahead of the Los Feliz Costco opening for business on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

A large tent is installed for public attendance at Tuesday’s Los Angeles City Council meeting. The public was not allowed in the council chamber. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Dr. Mark V. Morocco oversees the testing at UCLA Medical Center. Testing for Covid-19 is going on at UCLA Medical Center, where people can drive up and get tested if they have the symptoms. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)

Orange County Undersheriff Bob Peterson listens during a board of supervisors discussion on combating the coronavirus in Santa Ana. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Kevin Ezeh, protected with face mask and gloves, addresses the Los Angeles City Council meeting standing under a tent erected outside City Hall. A television livestreamed video of the meeting and the public offered comments remotely. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

An employee of the Trader Joe’s store in Monrovia tells customers waiting in line that it would open doors to everyone at 9 a.m., not just seniors, who arrived believing doors would open earlier to older residents, as some of the people were told by employees and it was reported. Some grocery outlets were offering special morning hours of shopping to accommodate older residents. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

A nurse takes the vital signs of a woman in a medical tent outside the hospital on Catalina. (Francine Orr/Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)

Medical personnel screen patients outside the emergency room at Loma Linda University Health during the coronavirus pandemic. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

HOPICS outreach worker Ralph Gomez tosses a clipboard for a signature to homeless client Davis Soto, right, taking care to stay at least six feet away during outreach in Los Angeles. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Dr. Mark V. Morocco oversees testing at UCLA Medical Center where people can drive up and get tested if they have the symptoms. Morocco listens to a female patient’s lungs through the car window. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)

Seniors shop at Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday. The store is doing a “seniors shopping hour” where seniors can go grocery shopping before the store opens to the general public. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

Roberta Tabor, 66, of Hermosa Beach, has her ID checked by store director Dennis Sullivan at Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday. The store is doing a “seniors shopping hour” where seniors 65+ can go grocery shopping before anybody else. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

Seniors, including Eileen Oda Leaf, 67, left, and her husband Dave Leaf, 67, right, both wearing protective masks, line up outside Gelson’s Market in Manhattan Beach early on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

Dr. Dallas Weaver, 79, and his wife, Janet Weaver, 75, of Huntington Beach, walk on the Huntington pier. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

David Barker, 56, is visiting with his friend living in a tent on skidrow in Los Angeles. Barker, who is not homeless, works in the area. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)

People walk up the ramp, exiting the secure area at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)

Volunteer Nagma Shakur, 16, left, hugs her “Grannie” as she helps senior shoppers with their carts at the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Altadena. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

The City of Santa Monica closed the Santa Monica Pier in an attempt to prevent the further spread of the Coronavirus. Very few people were on the beach in Santa Monica as the epidemic continues. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)

Coronavirus cases in California continue to rise as officials turn to extraordinary steps to slow the spread.

L.A. County officials announced the closure of all bars, fitness centers and movie theaters and directed restaurants to move to takeout only. The directive applies to all 88 cities and unincorporated regions of the county, including Los Angeles, which issued a similar directive Sunday.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom made a similar announcement Monday evening, asking all California restaurants to close their doors to dine-in customers and that gyms, health clubs and movie theaters should also shutter their operations.

“If we’re asking people to shelter in place, to isolate at home,” Newsom said during an update broadcast on Facebook Live. “The point of gatherings is lost on all of us from a public safety and health perspective. So directing that no gatherings … we think it’s very rational under these circumstances. Disruptive, I know, for some. But rational, we believe, in this moment.”

In L.A., officials are also banning gatherings of more than 50 people following a recommendation made Sunday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Twenty-five new cases were confirmed Monday, bringing L.A. County’s total to 94, according to county public health data. There have been 41 new cases in the county over the last 48 hours, and at least 15 of the cases are likely due to community transmission.

California California asks Navy for coronavirus support The latest updates from our reporters in California and around the world

“Residents at this point must assume that there may be people who are infected everywhere in the county,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the L.A. County Department of Public Health director, said.

County officials also released a list of specific cities and neighborhoods where cases of the virus have been confirmed. The city of Los Angeles currently has the largest count with more than 25 confirmed cases. Other affected cities include Beverly Hills, Arcadia, Alhambra, Glendale, Torrance and West Hollywood.

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Elsewhere in the state, public health officials provided more grim news Monday afternoon.

Newsom announced, as of Monday, California had 392 confirmed cases, 57 more than reported on Sunday. The new confirmed cases include one homeless person in Santa Clara County.

Riverside County confirmed its first two deaths associated with COVID-19, two patients in the Coachella Valley.

“Sadly, these outcomes are expected as we face a serious challenge and continue to make the necessary decisions to protect the health of the community,” Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said in a statement.

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Santa Clara County confirmed two additional deaths, bringing that county’s total to four. And Sacramento County confirmed one person had died, bringing its total to two deaths, both people who were older than 70 and had underlying health conditions.

Officials said that all hospitals were preparing for a surge in patients.

President Trump announced new guidelines that urge people to participate in schooling from home, avoid eating and drinking at bars and restaurants and food courts, avoid discretionary travel from home and avoid gathering in groups of more than 10.

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“If everyone makes these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus,” he said. “It’s important for the young and healthy people to understand, while they may experience milder symptoms, they can easily spread this virus,” adding that “we especially worry about our senior citizens.”

Shelter-in-place ordered

After the Silicon Valley region reported 114 coronavirus cases and rising, six counties in the Bay Area were to be placed under a shelter-in-place directive by public health officials, San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals said Monday.

It’s a move that will close virtually all businesses and direct residents to remain at home.

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Later, Santa Cruz County issued a similar order, bringing the total affected counties to seven.

Asked if L.A. County should expect a similar shelter-in-place order, Ferrer said that, at this point, the county didn’t have the same trajectory as what was happening to the north and hoped the spread of the virus would slow down.

But she cautioned: “Nothing’s off the table for anyone anywhere in the United States.”

In Sacramento County, officials confirmed a second death related to coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to seven. The Associated Press reported the victim was a substitute teacher in the Sacramento City Unified School District who died Sunday after contracting the coronavirus.

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The instructor, who also was a temporary volunteer, worked at Sutterville Elementary School in February, the district announced.

Helping struggling Angelenos

Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on Sunday night a moratorium on evictions for renters, telling Angelenos that they won’t lose their housing during the crisis “because you can’t make the rent,” and has asked the city attorney to look into whether the city can stop commercial evictions. He also announced that the city is putting together a fund for small businesses that will offer loans.

On Monday evening, Garcetti announced further measures to lessen the impact of the outbreak on residents.

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Garcetti said the city will ease a number of parking enforcement policies, including not ticketing people for violating street sweeping policies in residential areas, and not ticketing parents and caregivers who violate parking policies while picking up meals around schools.

Metered parking will still be enforced, along with colored curb parking rules, Garcetti said.

“Nobody should be penalized for being responsible,” Garcetti said. “There’s no need to worry about the financial cost of keeping your car at home while you practice safe social distancing and you help our city flatten the curve.”

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A much better list of LA’s relaxed parking rules. Unless otherwise noted, measures below will be in effect until March 31 (May be extended). ⁦@KNX1070⁩ pic.twitter.com/x2r57Pb1ts — Claudia Peschiutta (@ReporterClaudia) March 17, 2020

Garcetti also announced that half of LAPD detectives will work on the streets of L.A. to supplement patrol officers and help ensure public safety during the coronavirus crisis.

The mayor said he is not considering enforcing a curfew because the city hadn’t seen issues with looting or spikes in crime at night.

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“That seems to be something that’s an answer for a different sort of emergency,” Garcetti said. “It’s less that people can’t move at nighttime than where they were going that we needed to stop, and that’s why we had to make the difficult decision” to place restrictions on bars, movie theaters and other venues.

Social distancing continues

On Monday, the director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted a dramatic increase in social distancing measures in response to the pandemic.

There has not been, however, a corresponding rise in testing and isolating contacts, which are both required to stop an outbreak, he said.

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“You cannot fight a fire blindfolded, and we cannot stop this pandemic if we do not know who is infected,” Tedros said during a news briefing Monday. “We have a simple message for all countries: Test, test, test.”

He said anyone suspected of having COVID-19 should be able to get tested. Responding to the outbreak requires a political commitment at the highest level, he said.

A government should “be able to mobilize the whole society and make sure that this response becomes everybody’s business,” he said.

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Tedros said crises such as pandemics tend to bring out the “best and worst in humanity.” The world is likely still early in this outbreak, he added.

“This is the defining global health crisis of our time,” he said. “The days, weeks and months ahead will be a test of our resolve, a test of our trust in science and a test of our solidarity.”

Closures, anxiety in L.A.

In Los Angeles, bars and nightclubs have closed and restaurants have halted dine-in service and limited their business to takeout orders until March 31, following an order from Garcetti.

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Movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers also will be closed, Garcetti said in a video news conference Sunday. Grocery stores, pharmacies and food banks will remain open.

Santa Monica ordered the temporary closure of its iconic pier on Monday morning, which applies to the adjacent parking deck and businesses.

“We welcome thousands of guests to our pier each and every day, so we take this step out of the deepest desire to keep people at home and healthy,” City Manager Rick Cole said in a statement. “We love our pier and the joy it brings to everyone that visits, but in this moment, we must take aggressive actions to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

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Fears over store closures prompted people to flock to grocery stores and get supplies in bulk. The rush has, at times, triggered fights and disagreements over the limited supply of popular items.

On Monday, Garcetti and representatives of various grocery store chains said there was no shortage of food in Los Angeles and asked that residents allow time for stores to restock and give priority to seniors while waiting in line.

Also, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced that the department would increase the presence of its deputies in the field, with their efforts focused on shopping centers, supermarkets and big-box stores.

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This is being done as a precautionary measure “in case there’s any sort of conflict,” he said during a news conference.

Deputies were called to a Costco in Chino Hills earlier this month when a crowd of customers became unruly after finding that water, paper towels and toilet paper were out of stock.

Villanueva also cautioned residents against stockpiling guns. Gun sales are surging in many U.S. states, especially those hit hardest by the coronavirus, including California, New York and Washington, over fears that the virus may cause an unraveling of social order.

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“You have a lot of people now who are at home, normally they’re not, cabin fever sets in and you have a crowded environment,” Villanueva said. “Weapons are not a good mix.”

The sheriff said several of the department’s employees came into contact with people exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 over the weekend, but none had tested positive for the virus. They all are self-isolating, he said.

Deputies who must respond to emergency calls where someone is exhibiting symptoms are being equipped with protective gear. The department is screening callers to ensure that deputies are protected, he said.

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“This is about being prepared, not scared,” he said.

At a Vons in Koreatown on Monday morning, at least 50 people were waiting in a line to enter an hour before the store opened. A store clerk instructed the crowd to remain calm as only 30 customers would be let in at a time.

“Don’t panic, trust in God, and don’t run over each other!” the clerk shouted to chuckling customers.

Lifestyle Resources, ideas and more for parents and children at home during the coronavirus pandemic Many schools are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Check out The Times’ list of news, resources and more to help parents and children at home.

City workers report in

As businesses across Los Angeles took action, more than 50,000 of the city’s government employees are still being asked to go to work.

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City employees can’t refuse to go to work out of fear that they’ll be infected with the virus, Wendy Macy, general manager of the city’s personnel department, wrote in a memo to department heads Friday.

Telecommuting options are available for some employees, and some exceptions are allowed, according to emergency guidelines issued by the city’s personnel department.

On Monday evening, Garcetti said the city will announce new guidelines Tuesday that will go further in allowing more city workers to telecommute.

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Courts announce changes

Taking heed of the governor’s orders, the California Supreme Court announced Monday that it was suspending in-person hearings. Lawyers will appear for cases remotely via video or telephone conferences. The public still will be permitted to attend hearings, but seating will be limited to ensure appropriate distancing, the court said.

All Los Angeles County court proceedings will be suspended for several days as concerns about the spread of the coronavirus continue to mount, court officials announced Monday.

The nation’s largest court system will go dark from March 17 to 19, according to a statement issued by Presiding Judge Kevin Brazile. Court will reopen Friday for “the limited purpose of hearing or handling essential or emergency matters.”

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“The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is committed to providing equal access to justice through the fair, timely and efficient resolution of all cases. However, it is imperative that we continue aligning our Court with the most recent directives and guidelines issued by our national, state and local public health officials,” the statement read. “Let me be clear: We will continue to serve the needs of the most vulnerable people in Los Angeles County — our children, the elderly, domestic violence victims, people whose life and liberty interests are at stake, and in many other emergent cases as is possible and safe.”

Protecting those without homes

Newsom also announced that the state’s 108,000 homeless people would be the top priority for mitigation policies, with a significant push to move them indoors.

Though details remained unclear, he said the state had hotels and motels that could be used to provide shelter, along with an additional 450 state-owned trailers sent to “critical points” to supplement those that were deployed in Los Angeles, Stockton, Sonoma and other places before the outbreak.

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Last week, Newsom issued an executive order allowing the state to commandeer some private properties to provide beds for isolation. Newsom said the goal of the newly announced measures aimed at the unsheltered population was to “get people into environments where we can address their growing anxiety and our growing concerns.”

He stopped short, however, of saying the attempt to bring people indoors would be mandated or require law enforcement intervention.

In recent days, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the CDC have also detailed guidelines for homeless shelters and encampments, many of which include increasing sanitation and providing detailed suggestions for handling ill people in shelter settings.

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“I am not ratcheting up a mindset of enforcement,” Newsom said.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, co-head of Newsom’s statewide task force on homelessness, said Newsom’s move to bring homeless people inside was crucial.

“They are very susceptible to disease and infection,“ said Steinberg of unsheltered populations. Leaving them outdoors, he said, is “really an invitation for a more wide spread of the disease.”

Randy Simonsen, a 65-year-old homeless man in Sacramento, said he would like to go indoors during this crisis. He listened to the governor’s speech on a transistor radio and heard the call for older residents to stay home. But “I don’t have one,” Simonsen said.

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In L.A. County, Dockweiler State Beach may be used to temporarily house people who have been ordered to isolate or quarantine because of the coronavirus. The beach’s RV park on Vista del Mar is one of several locations the county could use for that purpose, according to a news release from the city of El Segundo. Officials said the public should avoid the area.

Businesses respond to outbreak

Anxious Californians continued to clear the shelves of local grocery stores. The Los Angeles Police Department assured residents on Twitter that there was no food shortage and stores would restock.

“The water supply is clean & safe to drink, so there’s no need to buy water in bulk,” the department said.

Grocery chains have announced changes to deal with the relentless throngs of shoppers.

Ralphs, for example, said it was working with suppliers to replenish high-demand products, and its store hours have been curtailed so employees have more time to restock. Albertsons — which operates the grocery chains Vons, Pavilions and Safeway — said it was taking similar steps.

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Starbucks announced new efforts to limit the number of people gathering at its coffeehouses. All of its stores in the U.S. and Canada will move to a “to go” model for at least two weeks and will remove all seating in cafe and patio areas, the company announced Sunday.

Though many businesses have been affected by a slower stream of customers, bars in West Hollywood were packed on Sunday afternoon.

At Rocco’s WeHo and Flaming Saddles, drag queens danced to deafening music as they were cheered on by crowds handing them dollar bills on the stage. In these places, at least, life seemed to go on as normal.

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Not everyone was proceeding with business as usual. At the Abbey, West Hollywood’s most popular gay bar, the gates were closed. On each door, a sign read: “As we continue to navigate the rapidly changing conditions with COVID-19, the Abbey is closing temporarily. We plan to open as soon as our public health officials tell us it is safe.”

Jimmy Han, who owns Frank ‘n Hank bar in Koreatown, said he decided to close his bar down Saturday after seeing customers not follow the 6-foot social-distancing rule he tried to implement.

“I’ll be losing a lot of money and so will my employees, but honestly, that’s the least of our concern right now,” he said. “We’re more worried about public health and how this is going to impact the economy long term.”

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Times staff writers Suhauna Hussain, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, John Myers, Anita Chabria, Benjamin Oreskes, Hannah Fry, Maura Dolan, Joseph Serna, Jaclyn Cosgrove and Luke Money contributed to this report.