Essential California Week in Review: Faltering on the front lines

Here’s a look at this week's top stories. Medical workers are falling ill with the coronavirus while equipment remains scarce. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Los Angeles Times] Essential California April 18, 2020 [View in browser]( Good morning, and welcome to the [Essential California newsletter](. It is Saturday, April 18. Here’s a look at the top stories of the last week: Front-line conditions worsen. Doctors and nurses are facing a growing pool of patients with a shrinking staff. Medical workers are falling ill from the virus in large but underreported numbers, [including more than 175 at UCLA](. Makeshift equipment. With protective equipment still scarce and supplies long depleted, nurses at some of the hardest-hit facilities are fashioning their own gear from [pillowcases, raincoats and trash bags](. At other hospitals, staff are [refusing to work without protective gear](. Scammers’ delight. In the most dire conditions, [thieves and con men are thriving]( with false promises of badly needed masks, tests and other protective gear. A California union was among those swindled, prompting [an investigation from the FBI](. Some unlikely helpers. As private businesses step in to fill the gaps, Santa Ana’s Suavecito has pivoted from [hair pomade to hand sanitizer]( and three dressmaking sisters are [now sewing masks](. Old innovations become new. Researchers too are doing their best with what they have, including [revisiting old vaccines]( that might aid in the fight against the virus. Tough choices. With hospitals paralyzed by COVID-19 care, breast cancer patients are finding little room for their treatment. [Surgeries have been delayed and treatments are being put on hold if patients can wait](. Lives lost. More than 1,000 people have died in California, leaving behind families, friends and local legacies big and small. [These are some of their stories](. Light at the end. California officials are working with their Oregon and Washington counterparts on [plans to lift restrictions and reopen their economies](. Gov. Gavin Newsom outlined [six conditions that must be met](. There’s no timeline, though experts have an idea of [what one might look like](. What history tells us. Pandemics past scarred the world long after they were over. Cholera led to sewer systems; smallpox felled empires. [Where might the coronavirus fit in?]( Those who saw this coming. Impeachment, presidential primaries, Kobe Bryant’s death — the major events of January and February now feel like a world away. But while many of us were distracted, [the virus’ threat loomed for researchers, doctors and public health experts](. Who is “Developer C?” As a federal probe into Los Angeles City Hall corruption deepens, a Times analysis finds one downtown project — a 20-story residential tower planned for the corner of Hill Street and Olympic Boulevard — [at the heart of the latest case](. Enjoying this newsletter? Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. [Become a Times subscriber.]( ADVERTISEMENT This week’s most popular stories in Essential California 1. These chain restaurants are selling cost-effective family bundles and do-it-yourself kits. [Orange County Register]( 2. When surfing gets banned, surfers get salty. What’s the real solution in Santa Cruz? [Mercury News]( 3. Coyotes, bobcats and bears: Wildlife is reclaiming Yosemite National Park. [Los Angeles Times]( 4. New signs suggest coronavirus was in California far earlier than anyone knew. [Los Angeles Times]( 5. The Times’ new podcast, “Coronavirus in California: Stories From the Front Lines.” [Los Angeles Times]( Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints, ideas and unrelated book recommendations to [Julia Wick.](mailto:julia.wick@latimes.com) Follow her on Twitter [@Sherlyholmes](. (And a giant thanks to the legendary [Laura Blasey]( for all her help on the Saturday edition.) ADVERTISEMENT Thank you for reading the Los Angeles Times Essential California newsletter. Invite your friends, relatives, coworkers to sign up [here](. Not a subscriber? Get unlimited digital access to latimes.com. [Subscribe here](. [Los Angeles Times] Copyright © 2020, Los Angeles Times 2300 E. Imperial Highway, El Segundo, California, 90245 1-800-LA-TIMES | [latimes.com]( *Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. If you're interested in placing an ad or classified, get in touch [here](. 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