COVID-19 State Policy Update 03.27.20

UPDATED 7:30 PM – This afternoon, March 27, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom held a press conference in Los Angeles at approximately 1:00 PM.  The Governor met with Mayor Eric Garcetti (who also spoke at the press conference) and County public health officials.

Governor Newsom also visited the USNS Mercy hospital ship with the Mayor and received a briefing on the mission in San Pedro.  The ship is set to become an additional hospital in the Los Angeles area with up to 1,000 beds.  The ship may be able to start taking patients as early as tomorrow. 

During the press conference, Newsom said progress is being made on every front in terms of the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.   In terms of testing, Newsom says total CA COVID-19 tests as of this morning are up to 88,400.  However, results are still forthcoming. 

As far as enforcement, Newsom noted the ongoing questions. He said the National Guard will be out this weekend with flyers.  Garcetti said that the City of Los Angeles is prepared to enforce the stay-at-home order – whether it’s shutting the power off to a still-open business, issuing citations, etc. But, Garcetti also added, social pressuring seems to be working pretty well.

Earlier today, Newsom issued an executive order (EO) banning the enforcement of eviction orders for renters affected by COVID-19 through May 31, 2020.  The order prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent and prohibits enforcement of evictions by law enforcement or courts.   It also requires tenants to declare in writing, no more than seven days after the rent comes due, that the tenant cannot pay all or part of their rent due to COVID-19.  A copy of the full news release can be found here.  A copy of the Governor’s EO can be found here.

This morning, Newsom issued a statement on the passage of the Federal Supplemental Stimulus Bill.  A copy of the news release can be found here

Earlier this week Newsom announced that financial institutions will provide major financial relief for millions of Californians suffering financially as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.   Following today’s announcement, the Governor’s office issued an updated release.  A copy of that news release can be found here

As of late today, California reported a total of 3,006 positive cases and 65 deaths in California (including one non-California resident), but that number may be incomplete. More information can be found here.

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