By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  March 10, 2020 Board of Supervisors meeting

March 20, 2020 (San Diego) - The County Board of Supervisors will cancel next week’s Wednesday board meeting and discuss those agenda items during its Tuesday board meeting on March 24.

March 20, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Fed slashes interest rates to zero in massive intervention (Washington Post)
• Trump says anti-malarial treatment will soon be available to coronavirus patients (CNN)
• Visits halted in fed prisons, immigration centers over virus (AP)
• Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Ben McAdams become first members of Congress to test positive for coronavirus (CNN)
• Shocking photos emerge from airports of long and crowded lines for coronavirus testing: ‘A social distancing nightmare’ (RawStory)
• TSA Screeners Begin Staying Home En Masse After Agency Loosens Leave Rules (Govt. Executive)
• Minnesota and Vermont just classified grocery clerks as emergency workers (Mother Jones)
• The companies that feed America brace for labor shortages and worry about restocking stores as coronavirus pandemic intensifies (Washington Post)
• Congresswoman Katie Porter secures free coronavirus testing for all Americans (Guardian)
• Democrat Biden tacks left, backs Warren bankruptcy plan with student loan relief(Reuters)
• Trump Food-Stamp Cuts Blocked by Judge Who Cites Pandemic (Bloomberg News)
• Supreme Court, for first time since 1918, suspends oral arguments (USA Today)
• Coronavirus: Universal to make current theatrical movies available for home viewing on Friday (Los Angeles Times)
• Progressives debate Sanders’ future (The Hill)

WORLD

• U.S.-Canada border closing to ‘non-essential traffic’ amid coronavirus outbreak (Washington Post)
• Economic relief on the way in U.S., Europe; China reports no new local coronavirus infections (Washington Post)
• Spain goes under lockdown to fight coronavirus  (Reuters)
• France closes shops, restaurants, tells people to stay home (Reuters)
• Denmark shuts its borders for one month to curb spread of coronavirus (Reuters)
• Poland to close borders to foreigners from Sunday (Reuters)
• Russia’s Vladimir Putin just got one step closer to being president for life (VOX)
• EU to introduce waste reduction targets, new sustainable products law (Reuters)
• Monaco’s head of state Prince Albert contracts new virus (AP)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

At-Home Service Company Launches Free Car Repair Program for Car Owners in Need; Ramps Up Technician Hiring and Fleet Service for Businesses

Source: PR Newswire/Repair Smith

March 20, 2020 (San Diego)--Today, RepairSmith announces it will donate $100,000 in free, 'No-Contact Car Repair' to the communities it serves. The company is introducing a series of initiatives to support members within the community who are facing hardship because of the coronavirus.  

Starting today, in California and Las Vegas, free car repairs are available to car owners who are severely impacted by COVID-19, either via loss of employment or acting as a frontline worker to their community.

This includes government workers, service workers, delivery drivers, healthcare professionals, employees of grocery stores and pharmacies, volunteers and others who require the use of a functioning car, in locations where RepairSmith currently operates, including San Diego County.

East County News Service

March 20, 2020 (Laguna Mountain) – Amid the fears and uncertainties we are facing right now, there is a healing power in nature.  This inspirational sunrise photo was taken this morning by UCSD’s HP Wren camera atop Laguna Mountain in San Diego’s East County, which is covered in snow on this official first day of springtime.

Source:  SDCountyEmergency.com

Image by Free Photos from Pixabay

March 19, 2020 (San Diego) - San Diego County residents can sign up to receive updated information about the novel coronavirus via text with the County COVID-19 public information text message alert system.

March 19, 2020 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:  

LOCAL

• By the Numbers: SD’s Hospital Bed Count Too Low for Number of Potential Coronavirus Patients (NBC 7)
• 2 more San Diego companies get emergency approval to produce coronavirus tests
•  COVID-19 Prompts Closure Of Fashion Valley, Premium Outlets (KPBS)
• 2 health workers at UCSD health test positive for COVID-19 (NBC 7)
• Chula Vista Councilmember reports positive test for COVID-19 (NBC 7)

STATE

• Could coronavirus collide with wildfire season? California is preparing for it (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Sen. Kamala Harris ‘very concerned’ about coronavirus and wildfires (San Francisco Chronicle)
• California to spend $50 million to protect homeless from coronavirus (KPBS)
• Gov. Newsom puts National Guard on alert due to pandemic (USA Today)
• Trump says states should find their own respirators; countries turn to drastic measures as new coronavirus infections rise outside China  (Washington Post)
• Proposal Would End California Cap On Freelancer Assignments (KPBS)
• To battle virus, 7 California counties order everyone to stay home (New York Times)
• Students may not return to school before summer, Newsom says (10 News)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

Source: U.S. State Department

March 19, 2020 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Department of State today issued a level 4 travel advisory – the highest level -- warning U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19.  

“In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period, the State Department warns. U.S. citizens living abroad should avoid all international travel.

Some U.S. citizens have already found themselves stranded overseas. The State Department further advises, “Many countries are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice.  Airlines have cancelled many international flights and several cruise operators have suspended operations or cancelled trips.  If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be severely disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite timeframe.”

Source: San Diego Blood Bank

March 19, 2020 (San Diego) - School closures and work-from-home policies have resulted in cancelled blood drives. San Diego Blood Bank collects more than half of its blood supply on bloodmobiles. An additional strain on the blood supply is expected in the coming weeks. See all coronavirus-related travel and exposure deferrals.

By Miriam Raftery

March 18, 2020 (San Diego) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispelled hopes that the COVID-19 virus could lessen or go away when the weather warms up.  On its myth busters page, WHO advises that evidence indicates that COVID-19 is being transmitted in all climates, including areas with hot and humid weather, as well as in cold and snow.

See details below.

Source:  MTS

March 18, 2020 (San Diego) - The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System will continue running normal weekday and weekend service through March 31. This will allow more opportunities for passengers to practice social distancing during this critical time. MTS will continue to monitor bus and Trolley ridership and adjust service levels if necessary.

March 20, 2020 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego’s libraries are closed due to the coronavirus crisis to protect safety of customers and staff.

County Library Director Migell Acosta said library patrons can still access all the Library’s e-books and e-magazines around the clock — 24 hours a day, seven days a week — by downloading the Libby app for e-books or Flipster (under e-books and e-magazines) for e-magazines like Sports Illustrated, People, Time. The New York Times and other reference resources are available on our website.

All of the library’s online resources can be accessed here. Residents who do not have a library card can sign up for an Instant Digital Card and use their mobile phone number as their library card. To download the Libby app, San Diego County residents can go to sdEbooks.org. Library patrons can even order books and materials that are available at any of the County’s 33 branch libraries and have them delivered to their own branch library for them to pick up.

By Miriam Raftery

March 18, 2020 (Washington D.C.) – Today, President Donald Trump announced he will invoke the Defense Production Act to help combat the Covid-19 crisis and fill critical needs for ventilators, respirators, masks and productive equipment.

The Act gives the President the authority to order increased manufacturing of  these items as well as distribution of emergency medical supplies and equipment where needed most.  Trump also authorized two military hospital ships to be dispatched, one to New York, though it will take weeks to arrive. The other will be sent from San Diego to an as yet unnamed West Coast destination.