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Coronavirus update: San Diego Unified announces digital learning plan | Kristen Taketa Mar 26, 2020

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San Diego Unified will officially start conducting school online beginning on April 27.

It is one of the first large area districts to announce a plan to return to grading and formal instruction.

“San Diego Unified will return to instruction next month to guarantee students an opportunity to successfully complete the current academic year, even as physical school facilities will remain closed until public health officials determine it is safe for students to return to classrooms,” the district said in a statement Tuesday.

The district’s plan is meant to answer the concerns of many students about whether they’ll be able to finish the school year or complete course credits to move on to the next grade or graduate.

“The schedule outlined today by the district will give members of the Class of 2020 the assurance they need that they will graduate, whether or not public health officials approve a return to in-classroom instruction,” the district of 103,000 students said in the statement.

The timeline means most students will get about six weeks of formal instruction for the rest of the school year, which for most students ends on June 9.

Coronavirus update: Going to a park, beach or trail? You could face a $1,000 fine | David Hernandez Mar 25, 2020

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San Diego closed public spaces as a means to push for more social distancing amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Coronavirus update: Public spaces begin to close | David Hernandez Mar 24, 2020

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Many San Diego County residents failed to social distance this weekend, causing governments to begin to close public spaces. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases swell to 230, with one death in the county so far.

Coronavirus update: Businesses grapple with stay-at-home order | Phil Molnar Mar 21, 2020

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Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mandate is clear, but only for about a dozen or so different industries. Grocery stores, gas stations, banks, laundromats and pharmacies are essential and can remain open. Alternatively, others — dine-in restaurants, bars and clubs, entertainment venues, gyms, public events, and conventions centers — must close immediately.

But what about the hundreds or thousands of businesses that fall into the massive gray area not identified in the order? And what exactly is “essential” in today’s totally unrecognizable brick-and-mortar world? As it stands, lattes are still being served through Starbucks drive-throughs, craft beers are available for pickup at local breweries, and cable TV and Internet sales staff are still reporting to Spectrum stores.

Basically, businesses appear to be making the call on their own, with some leaning on the guidance provided to individual municipalities earlier in the week.

When seven counties in the San Francisco Bay Area instituted their shelter-in-place mandate, officials included a wider range of businesses in their definition of essential, including hardware stores, plumbers, some legal services and newspapers. Friday evening, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer clarified that home builders also fall into the go-to-work bucket.

Coronavirus update: Even funerals change in wake of the virus | John Wilkens Mar 20, 2020

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Throughout San Diego County, where on an average day about 60 people die from various causes, mortuaries are also making adjustments. They’re shortening or eliminating visitations, live-streaming services so people can watch from home, and asking those at funerals not to hug or kiss.

Coronavirus update: Will San Diego's drinking and dining scene survive the virus? | Lori Weisberg Mar 18, 2020

Show notes

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the economy, forcing temporary closures of businesses large and small and cancellations of major events and conventions, hospitality workers are struggling to cope with being suddenly jobless or having their work hours drastically reduced.

Duncan Hunter sentenced in campaign finance scandal | Morgan Cook Mar 18, 2020

Show notes

A judge sentenced former Rep. Duncan Hunter to 11 months in federal prison Tuesday, closing a case that began nearly four years ago with questions about stolen campaign funds which ended the once-promising career of the scion of an East County political family.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Whelan gave Hunter until May 29 to report to a federal prison. The judge left open the possibility that date could change in light of evolving circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 11-month sentence is in the middle of the 8-to-14-month range called for by federal sentencing rules under terms of the plea bargain struck by Hunter and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Coronavirus update: Introducing the COVID Diaries | Sam Hodgson Mar 17, 2020

Show notes

It’s a complicated time to be a journalist.

It’s a complicated time to be anyone.

With strong social-distancing orders in place at all levels of government, we wanted to find a way to check the pulse of the region that wouldn’t contribute in any way to the spread of the coronavirus.

We turned to video chats -- a medium that so many of us are using more often this past week, whether we’re taking business meetings while working from home or doing “social-distancing happy hours” with friends across the county or the country.

“COVID-Diaries” introduce you to people across the region who are navigating this thorny new world under unique circumstances.

Episode 1 will introduce you to Thomas Shaw, who is concerned about the implications of the virus’ spread on his relationship with his wife, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s and lives in a memory care facility. Episode 2 features Daisy Scott, who is trying to run a student newspaper while reckoning with the fact that her final quarter of college has been upended.

If you’d like to share your story or have ideas for who we should reach out to, email sam.hodgson@sduniontribune.com.

Coronavirus update: What's open, what's closed and what's next. Mar 14, 2020

Show notes

In preparation for a potential boom in coronavirus infections, much of San Diego slowed down to a snail’s pace. Thousands of workers telecommuted, and plans for how to mitigate the damage were revealed in Washington. With the announcement that San Diego Unified -- and most San Diego schools -- would send students home -- the real social and economic impacts of this massive social change remain unknown.

Coronavirus update: Social "slowdown" comes to San Diego | John Wilkens Mar 13, 2020

Show notes

Over a period of 24 hours, many cornerstones of American life came to a halt. March Madness, Broadway, and even campaigning for the Democratic nomination -- were either cancelled or moved online -- all part of the nationwide effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. In San Diego, the county announced 5 more cases of the virus, and has banned gatherings of more than 250 people. For ongoing coverage, check out our live blog: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/liveblog/coronavirus-live-san-diego-business-updates-sycuan-casino-implements-hourly-disinfection-policy

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