Disneyland closes as California rushes to battle coronavirus

Disneyland will close its doors for the rest of the month, an extraordinary decision mirrored throughout California by companies big and small after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call for any nonessential gatherings of 250 people or more to be canceled to help stop the rapid spread of the new coronavirus.

Newsom issued an executive order late Wednesday recommending the closures extend through March, and about 12 hours later at a news conference he said it was likely they would stretch into April. Newsom said he was not ordering the closures but expected compliance.

A short time later Walt Disney Co. announced Disneyland and Disney California Adventure would close starting Saturday because it was in the best interest of guests and employees.

“Disney made the right call,” Newsom said. Universal Studios Hollywood also fell in line, announcing it would close for two weeks starting Saturday.

Major League Baseball said it would delay the start of its season by at least two weeks. The move canceled home openers scheduled March 26 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics.

The NBA and NHL also have suspended their seasons, and the NCAA men’s and women’s March Madness basketball tournaments were canceled. Those decisions, along with myriad cancellations involving concerts, theater performances, parades, conventions and even weddings will have a major impact on California.

The state’s economy has been growing for nearly 10 years, the longest economic expansion on record. But Thursday, UCLA’s Anderson Forecast predicted California would begin losing jobs, largely because of effects from the virus on the manufacturing, transportation and tourism industries.

“The growth in those sectors has come to a screeching halt, and in some cases we are beginning to see layoffs,” said Jerry Nickelsburg, director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast.

State and local leaders were weighing short-term help for small businesses and individuals, with Newsom’s executive order eliminating a one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits. In Sacramento, the City Council planned to vote Friday on a $1 million economic relief package that could provide loans to restaurants and other businesses hurting due to coronavirus precautions.

Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce, said employers can’t count on government help. Businesses must begin planning to reduce expenses if necessary, he said.

“Hope is not a business strategy,” Zaremberg said.

California has recorded about 200 coronavirus cases and four deaths. One was a woman in her 90s at an assisted living facility in Sacramento County that has been placed on isolation for two weeks as tests are administered to other residents and staff.

 

Disneyland closes as California rushes to battle coronavirus

Disneyland will close its doors for the rest of the month, an extraordinary decision mirrored throughout California by companies big and small after Gov. Gavin Newsoms call for any nonessential gatherings of 250 people or more to be canceled to help stop the rapid spread of the new coronavirus. Newsom issued an executive order late Wednesday recommending the closures extend through March, and about 12 hours later at a news conference he said it was likely they would stretch into April. Newsom said he was not ordering the closures but expected compliance. A short time later Walt Disney Co. announced Disneyland and Disney California Adventure would close starting Saturday because it was in the best interest of guests and employees. Disney made the right call, Newsom said. Universal Studios Hollywood also fell in line, announcing it would close for two weeks starting Saturday. Major League Baseball said it would delay the start of its season by at least two weeks. The move canceled home openers scheduled March 26 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics. The NBA and NHL also have suspended their seasons, and the NCAA mens and womens March Madness basketball tournaments were canceled. Those decisions, along with myriad cancellations involving concerts, theater performances, parades, conventions and even weddings will have a major impact on California. The states economy has been growing for nearly 10 years, the longest economic expansion on record. But Thursday, UCLAs Anderson Forecast predicted California would begin losing jobs, largely because of effects from the virus on the manufacturing, transportation and tourism industries. The growth in those sectors has come to a screeching halt, and in some cases we are beginning to see layoffs, said Jerry Nickelsburg, director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast. State and local leaders were weighing short-term help for small businesses and individuals, with Newsoms executive order eliminating a one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits. In Sacramento, the City Council planned to vote Friday on a $1 million economic relief package that could provide loans to restaurants and other businesses hurting due to coronavirus precautions. Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce, said employers cant count on government help. Businesses must begin planning to reduce expenses if necessary, he said. Hope is not a business strategy, Zaremberg said. California has recorded about 200 coronavirus cases and four deaths. One was a woman in her 90s at an assisted living facility in Sacramento County that has been placed on isolation for two weeks as tests are administered to other residents and staff.