Here is a list of the major developments in the coronavirus epidemic facing San Diego County, updated at 9:45 p.m. on Monday, April 13.
• There have been 1,847 cases and 47 deaths among San Diego County residents as of Monday afternoon.
• Across California there have been 22,348 cases and 687 deaths as of Monday afternoon.
• Across the United States, there have been 582,634 cases and 23,649 deaths as of early Tuesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University.
• San Diego County continues to “flatten the curve,” with just 43 new coronavirus cases reported, but officials again urged residents to “stay the course.”
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an agreement with the governors of Oregon and Washington to create a joint plan for reopening economies on the West Coast and for controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the future.
• A sailor died of coronavirus-related complications after contracting the disease while aboard the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the Navy announced.
• San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister announced his office will consider penalty cancellation requests from those directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
• Rep. Susan Davis announced that nearly two dozen San Diego County colleges and universities would receive more than $137 million in emergency funding thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
• Researchers at UC San Diego Health reported the first empirical findings that strongly associate the temporary loss of smell and taste with COVID-19.
• Four weeks after San Diego County schools ramped up free food distribution during the coronavirus pandemic, some districts report they’re still falling short of reaching all children who relied on the meals when classes were in session.
• A 10-person crew is in the midst of a three-week shelter-in-place shift at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, relieving an initial crew that self-quarantined on site for three weeks to continue producing clean drinking water for county residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Lincoln Club of San Diego County, a pro-business civic association, called on the Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Supervisor Greg Cox to establish a task force to advise regional leaders on best practices for re-opening San Diego’s economy as soon as it’s safe and responsible to do so.
• The statewide stay-at-home order has brought about drastic reductions in air pollution across California. The Los Angeles basin, where the term smog was invented, has enjoyed the longest period of good air quality days since 1995.
• San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer directed all city-operated buildings and facilities to fly flags at half-staff to pay tribute to people who have lost their lives to the coronavirus.
• Rep. Mike Levin released a detailed online guide to federal resources available to constituents amid the pandemic. The guide includes information about direct payments, unemployment insurance, the Payment Protection Program, and more.
• Vista Community Clinic — with eight centers in San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties — is keeping its doors open to pregnant women, and also via phone and video. Clinics have hand washing stations outside all entrances, where face masks are also provided.
• The Conrad Prebys Foundation today awarded a $350,000 challenge grant to support UC San Diego’s COVID-19 efforts.
• Geneviéve L. Jones-Wright of Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance wrote San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer urging that police cease and desist from sweeps and clearing homeless encampments.
• California College San Diego said 22 of its respiratory therapy students will be able to help in the fight against COVID-19 by working with Scripps Health as respiratory therapy externs.
• Soccer great Landon Donovan, coach and part owner of the San Diego Loyal soccer club, describes his new routine while sheltering at home.
• Volunteers with the Chula Vista Foundation plan to bake 400 cupcakes for personnel in the Chula Vista Police Department who are working long hours during the pandemic.
• Barry Edelstein, artistic director of The Old Globe, will lead a special free online edition of “Thinking Shakespeare Live!” focusing on Shakespeare’s sonnets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on the theater’s Facebook page.
• Editor Chris Jennewein notes in a column that a surprising number of right-wing voices are suggesting that coronavirus deaths are an acceptable price to pay in return for opening up the economy.
If your organization has relevant news to add to this daily list, please send to news@timesofsandiego.com.