CALIFORNIA — As the week began, California’s surge in coronavirus cases showed few signs of slowing down, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday to reimpose statewide containment measures by closing down a number of indoor activities.
Newsom ordered restaurants, theaters, wineries, zoos and museums to close indoor operations in all counties, effective immediately. Bars are ordered to close completely.
The state will also impose stricter measures for the 30 counties on the “watch list,” which are being monitored for signs of elevated disease transmission and/or hospitalization.
In those counties, which comprise 80 percent of the state’s population, indoor activities and businesses including hair salons and barbershops, gyms and fitness centers, protests, worship services, nonessential offices and shopping malls are being ordered to close indoor operations immediately once counties have stayed on the list for at least three days.
The new measures come as seven of the Bay Area’s nine counties are on the state’s watch list, and as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti warns the city may bring back a mandatory stay-home order if the city’s outbreak continues to grow.
Los Angeles, San Diego public schools will start year remotely
The Los Angeles and San Diego unified school districts both announced Monday that school campuses will remain closed when the academic year begins, forcing more than 750,000 combined students to continue attending class remotely.
“The health and safety of all in the school community is not something we can compromise,” LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said Monday.
Citing Los Angeles-area coronavirus testing rates, which climbed to a seven-day average of 10 percent positive last week, Beutner said the virus — which is often asymptomatic — could cause schools to become Petri dishes. He called it a public health imperative to keep schools closed.
Instruction will resume on Aug. 18 in Los Angeles Unified and Aug. 31 in San Diego Unified. Both districts will continue planning for a return to in-person classes during the 2020-21 school year, as soon as public health conditions allow, according to the districts.
DMV gives extension to seniors with expiring licenses
The California Department of Motor Vehicles will offer a one-year extension to senior citizens whose driver’s licenses expire between March 1 and December 31, 2020, the agency announced on Monday.
The offer, which lasts one year past the license’s expiration date is intended to help seniors avoid having to visit a DMV office in person during the pandemic. Previously, the DMV had offered 120-day extensions to senior drivers whose licenses were set to expire in March through July.
Seniors whose licenses are expiring have the option to request a temporary paper license online starting July 15.
Drivers of all ages have until July 31 to renew their licenses if they were set to expire between March and July 2020. They can also renew online or by mail.
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There were more than 3,323,400 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States and 135,272 deaths as of Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. At least 7,030 of those deaths were in California. The U.S. has the most confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in the world.
Who has been diagnosed with coronavirus in California?
Total number of cases (Johns Hopkins University): 325,916 as of Monday
Total deaths reported (Johns Hopkins University): 7,053 as of Monday
Case breakdown by age, per the California Department of Health (totals may be outdated):
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Age 0-17: 26,652 cases
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Age 18-49: 190,310 cases
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Age 50-64: 63,696 cases
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Age 65 and older: 39,776 cases
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Unknown/Missing: 370 cases
Gender of confirmed positive cases:
The latest live updates from across California are as follows:
Monday, 3:22 p.m.: SMMUSD Continues School Lunches For Summer
SMMUSD students continue to receive lunch this summer. Plans for fall remain unknown.
Monday, 1:26 p.m.: BeachLife Festival Planned For 2021 In Redondo Beach
The BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach is scheduled to return for 2021, following this year’s canceled event.
Monday, 1:03 p.m.: LAUSD To Keep Campuses Closed, Despite Trump’s Push To Reopen
Los Angeles Unified School District will continue to close classrooms and remain online when the fall semester begins.
Monday, 12:57 p.m.: August School Reopening A No-Go, South Bay Teachers’ Union Says
The district is acknowledging plans to reopen schools for in-person instruction Aug. 12 are unlikely.
Monday, 12:46 p.m.: CA Closes Most Indoor Activities Statewide As Coronavirus Surges
Restaurants, theaters and more are ordered to stop indoor service, while 30 counties must close gyms, hair salons and other businesses.
Monday, 12:39 p.m.: OC Schools May Reopen Without Masks,Social Distancing This Fall
The OC Board of Education is considering a proposal to reopen without physical distancing or wearing face coverings. What do you think?
Monday, 11:47 a.m.: San Diego Unified Schools To Remain Closed Due To Coronavirus
San Diego Unified School District campuses will remain closed when the district resumes classes for the new school year, officials said.
Monday, 11:14 a.m.: Another Jockey Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Jockey Flavien Prat tested positive for COVID-19 following a trip to Kentucky, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club officials said.
Monday, 11:06 a.m.: Irvine Opens Month-Long COVID Testing Site For Residents, Workers
If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, Irvine is taking appointments for testing.
Monday, 10 a.m.: Coronavirus Cases, Deaths In Riverside County
Records for one-day reported coronavirus increases were set three times last week in the county.
Monday, 9 a.m.: Alameda County Deputy In Critical Condition Due To COVID-19
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office asked the public for prayers and positive energy as the deputy battled for his life.
This article originally appeared on the Across California Patch