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LA County health officials worried of coronavirus among homeless

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “It would be useful to be more proactive about giving out flu shots to homeless people,” said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, professor of medicine and public health at UCLA, adding that the flu remains more prevalent than coronavirus, and preventing those cases in the homeless community has the dual benefit of improving overall health and keeping flu cases out of emergency rooms. “On a day-to-day basis, they are at much greater risk for influenza,” he said.

Published

6 years ago

March 23, 2020

Oakland Post

People living outdoors often do so in close quarters and lack the ability to maintain basic hygiene, including precautions such as hand washing. They may also face more danger from serious infection because existing illnesses or frequent use of drugs or alcohol all factor to make a case of COVID-19 illness more severe. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

Growing population at risk of immediate illness

By Merdies Hayes, Managing Editor, Our Weekly News

The potential for an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among the nation’s homeless population is increasing daily. Public health officials in Los Angeles County and statewide are concerned for this unsheltered population because of the susceptibility of illness, particularly the flu and other concerns that can begin small and rapidly become a life-altering event.

In Sacramento recently, A Solano County woman came down with a suspected viral infection and needed treatment. She was taken to the hospital, not knowing that she would become the first person in the nation to be diagnosed with the novel coronavirus without a known cause. The hospital’s emergency room is often filled with homeless patients, whose immune systems have become significantly weakened from living in filthy encampments on riverbeds, in alleys and on city sidewalks.

New cases of virus through community spread

This week, Los Angeles County witnessed its first two cases of coronavirus through community spread. While the sources are unknown, the danger of contracting the virus by living in a homeless encampment has received the attention of county officials. Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas has called for extra precautions for this especially vulnerable population.

“While this is a challenging issue for everyone, people experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable and we must do everything we can to help them,” Ridley-Thomas said. “LA County is being proactive and collaborating with stakeholders. The board urges everyone to be calm, cautious, mindful and empathetic as we work together to prevent the spread of coronavirus.”

In addition to voting for a motion presented by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda Solis in declaring a local emergency, Ridley-Thomas asked LA County Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer about the need to roll out sanitation stations and other measures to prevent any outbreaks among people living on the street. Ferrer said the ordinary safety precautions for the general public can be all but “impossible” to instill among the homeless population of which—taken on an individual basis—are never in the same place twice from day to day.

Homeless often ‘sicker than general public’

“[The homeless] cannot stay home when they’re sick. They cannot wash their hands often,” Ferrer said. “Many times, they don’t have a medical provider that they’re in contact with.” Ferrer further explained they are aware of many people experiencing homelessness are “sicker than the general public” and already have heightened mortality rates.

“We are very concerned that novel coronavirus can disproportionately devastate people who are experiencing homelessness,” she added.

Throughout the county, members of Ferrer’s department are visiting hundreds of interim housing facilities (mostly homeless shelters) to ensure each has adequate facilities and links to medical providers. The Public Health department has also met with leaders of several departments and agencies—including LA County’s Homeless Initiative and Office of Emergency Management—as well as the Los Angeles Homeless Services Department—to better identify locations where homeless persons who show symptoms of coronavirus can be safely placed to monitor their health.

“If we do start seeing cases among people who are experiencing homelessness, we need to be prepared to house people who have mild illness and don’t require hospitalization,” Ferrer recently told the Board of Supervisors. “These folks will require…a place where they can be isolated and other folks who are (their) close contacts will require a place where they, too, can be quarantined.”

Greater risk of serious complications

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, professor of medicine and public health at UCLA, concurs that people living in crowded, unsanitary conditions are at increased risk of an infectious disease like coronavirus.

“This is definitely a population…with other chronic medical conditions, so should they acquire coronavirus, they are potentially at risk for more serious complications,” Klausner said.

With an unprecedented number of people living on the streets of LA County, and large encampments now more common in urban areas, coronavirus has created a situation unlike that of previous outbreaks of communicable disease. This has led to an uncertain scenario in which planning is happening as the outbreak evolves. Local public health officials, therefore, are dealing with the possible complexities of managing a pandemic in the middle of a homelessness crisis.

Klausner believes it is a good idea for county health officials to reach out to homeless people to inform them about the coronavirus and screen them for infection.

Flu more prevalent than coronavirus

“It would be useful to be more proactive about giving out flu shots to homeless people,” Klausner said, adding that the flu remains more prevalent than coronavirus, and preventing those cases in the homeless community has the dual benefit of improving overall health and keeping flu cases out of emergency rooms. “On a day-to-day basis, they are at much greater risk for influenza,” he said.

The homeless are more vulnerable to ill health, including contracting an infectious disease. Last year, there was an outbreak of typhus in the squalor of skid row in Downtown Los Angeles. In other places, including San Diego, homeless persons have seen cases of hepatitis A. In Santa Monica early this year, there were a few cases of trench fever, which is transmitted by body lice.

Los Angeles City Council members Mitch O’Farrell and Monica Rodriguez presented a motion recently to direct the city to install sanitation stations at homeless encampments big and small in an effort to protect an estimated 36,000 persons against the coronavirus outbreak.

“While the coronavirus is mainly affecting travel and tourism, it is imperative we have a lens focused on (its) potential to imperil those experiencing homelessness,” O’Farrell said. “I want to ensure we have the necessary hygiene stations and resources available from our local, state and federal partners to address this rapidly moving urgent public health issue.”

Spreading from person-to-person

Experts believe that coronavirus is spread mainly from person-to-person in the following ways:

Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet);
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes;
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly inhaled into the lungs;
It may be possible that a person can contract coronavirus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or possibly their eyes. Experts don’t believe that this is the main way the virus spreads.

Health practitioners nationwide believe that people are most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases. Symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure and include: Fever, cough and shortness of breath.

People who believe they have been exposed to coronavirus should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

Many longtime homeless persons do not have a doctor nor healthcare insurance. This is primarily why the LA City Council is debating the installation of sanitation stations along skid row and at the growing amount of homeless encampments citywide and, possibly, throughout the county.

The risk for homeless seniors

Homeless seniors are at particular risk of coronavirus. The immune system naturally weakens as you age. If an older adult contracts the disease, they tend to have a higher amount of the virus because they can’t get rid of it and it tends to infiltrate deep into their lungs.

In effect, persons with the most robust immune systems have a better chance of warding off the infection—if detected early. Homeless seniors, however, often have pre-existing co-morbidities (simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases). Anyone who has a lung disease is at very high risk. Anyone with Type 2 diabetes is more susceptible to infection—especially from the aforementioned lung infections. Additionally, there a myriad of health concerns (i.e. heart disease, high blood pressure) for elderly homeless persons that can be exacerbated by the cononavirus.

There are many ways to protect yourself and others from coronavirus. First of all, stay at home if you’re sick. Limit close contact with people who are sick. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Always cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue. And get a flu shot to prevent influenza.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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