# data[].attributes.body
All over the world, people are being made to stay indoors, but that doesn't mean we have to stay apart. The two musicians featured in this video are from Barcelona and living proof that beauty can still be found now. This video, found on Twitter, continues to inspire people to connect - even through distance.

# data[].attributes.body
This meme is saying how people use to show of their airpods and how they were a big deal. Although, now with the corona virus everyone needs hand sanitizer to not spread germs and people show off that now.

# data[].attributes.body
A guy (seen below) is doing his part and staying protected from covid-19, by wearing a hazmat suit and a mask.

# data[].attributes.body
This meme was created in January or February before COVID-19 was this big. The ironic part is that an epidemic did occur, and stuck to the pattern.

# data[].attributes.body
Disabled and impaired people who have trouble working in the workplace have been asking to work and learn from home ever since they were deemed able enough to work at all. They have been told that this was impossible, not hired and sometimes even fired for asking for the accommodations they would need to stay in the workplace despite laws protecting them from discrimination. But now, when everybody needs to work from home, it suddenly becomes possible. These people have been lied to about what was possible for a long time and the quarantine has brought that to light. When this is over, will they go back to being told that they must work in person like everyone else, or will their lives finally be made easier?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
After losing out on jobs and being denied accommodations, seeing the world change its ways is bittersweet.

As COVID-19, a global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus responsible for a growing number of infections and deaths worldwide, continues to spread throughout the United States, more and more employers and educational institutions are facilitating work-from-home policies. This means they're providing necessary telecommuter accommodations to their employees and students, in order to promote social distancing and help limit the reach of the virus. In early March, Amazon asked their Seattle staff to work from home if they could, and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are expected to be asked to work from home in the coming days. More than 100 colleges have closed in-person classes and switched to online teaching programs.

While these changes are undeniably necessary in helping curb the spread of a virus that may be 10 times more deadly than the seasonal flu according to Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on March 11, for people with mental and physical disabilities the willingness of these businesses and schools to facilitate work from home policies or online classes can be bittersweet. Many of us have long asked, fought for, and have been denied these reasonable accommodations, and have even lost their job as a result. So, it can feel painful to watch policies we've been told were impossibilities, unfair work arrangements, or somehow detrimental to the energy of the workplace, be so widely and effortlessly implemented.

The American Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibits discrimination based on disability. "It's a federal statute designed to protect the civil rights of disabled individuals in all walks of life," Vincent P. White, a lawyer and a partner at White, Hilferty & Albanese, who specializes in workplace discrimination and sexual harassment, including discrimination against individuals dealing with a disability, tells Teen Vogue. "This includes in the course of their employment. Qualifying employees with a disability are guaranteed a reasonable accommodation dialogue to discuss their needs and qualifying employers must grant any reasonable accommodation they are able to in order to allow the employee to continue working."

Unfortunately, the ADA only covers business with 15 or more employees, and even large businesses who should be operating under ADA guidelines may not always adhere to them. "Employers looking to deny an employee their reasonable accommodations often try to create fake, unrelated reasons to terminate the employee," White says. "We see things like an employer changing a schedule in secret then claiming the employee never showed up. Other employers create performance improvement plans with unreachable goals for disabled employees, but never ask anywhere near as much from their staff who do not require accommodations. There is no end to what employers try to get away with, that is why firms like ours have to exist."

It's often up to people with mental or physical disabilities to advocate for themselves in situations that can be taxing, purposefully confusing, and aren't guaranteed to end in the employee's favor. So, watching the world swiftly alter office work environments and provide education alternatives for able-bodied people can be both exciting and infuriating. If anything, the drastic social changes we've made in a short time to stymie the spread of the virus show just how capable we are to address the inequalities disabled people face, and expose exactly how much we don't do. Teen Vogue spoke to 10 people with disabilities to learn how coronavirus accommodations are filling them with righteous anger - and hope for the future.

Kat, 20
"My condition is called rheumatoid arthritis. It's an autoimmune disorder, which means my immune system attacks the cells that line my joints by mistake. I take immunosuppressants to manage the discomfort and minimize the damage to my joints, so I'm more susceptible to infections and the effects are much more serious. With my disability, I'm always at some level of pain, especially [when] moving around, so when my pain is high or my joints are too stiff to move, I need to be able to work from home. It's key to me being able to earn a living and contribute my bit to society.

Having [these accommodations offered] now is genuinely relieving because I can take care of my health better and not force myself to work when I'm ill. But it's overwhelmingly frustrating, because it feels like the technology is there, the ability, even the willingness is there, but it's only there because it affects the able-bodied majority. To have your basic right to work ignored or actively rejected, just goes to show how ignorant employers are about how to support those of us with disabilities. It's really just a perfect example of the everyday microaggressions that disabled people face when trying to work, study, even just live. The issues have always been there, it's just harder to ignore when the double standard is so blatant."
Laura, 29
"I have a chronic pain and fatigue condition, which means I don't have the capacity to work a full-time office job - especially in a city like New York City where I would have to add on a long and physically taxing commute. I'm an author, but I don't currently make enough money from writing books to support myself, so I also freelance edit novels for other people. I absolutely love editing - often more than writing - and I would love nothing more than to have stable work as an editor at a publishing house. But 99.9% of the editorial jobs in publishing are full-time and require you to be in the office. So, instead, I have to freelance edit.

I love my freelance clients, but the instability of freelance work is incredibly stressful, especially when coupled up with a disability. I only book up a few months in advance, I have to get my own health insurance, etc. I'm a skilled editor and great at time management, so with a little accommodation from a publisher, I believe I would be a great addition to their team, and it's frustrating to not be given that chance or consideration.

I feel a combination of pain and hope. I knew already how many jobs in this world could be made accessible if a company decided accessibility was important to them, and the pandemic seems to be proving that. So it's difficult to watch. But I also feel hope- perhaps this will open some eyes and show that more jobs can be made remote, and therefore accessible, moving forward."

Mandi, 25
"I have several disabling chronic illnesses. Throughout my education, I've had to proactively fight for various accommodations that I've needed as my conditions have changed and progressed over time. This has meant everything from leniency with absences to modifications in course expectations that required activities I couldn't do or that may put me in danger.

Watching these accommodations become available in a wide-spread way so quickly has been really painful. It hurts not only because I could have benefited from accommodations like this throughout my education, but because there are so many others who could have benefited, or were forced to drop out of school, or quit their jobs because their school or employer told them they were impossible to accommodate. These accommodations have always been possible but acknowledging that requires acknowledging the ableism behind their denial."
Lara, 33
"I have cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair. Right now, I work remotely, so I haven't had to ask for any accommodations. I have three remote part-time jobs.

I've encountered [discrimination] when applying for job and internships [in the past]. It's very difficult. So many of them say 'must live in Los Angeles or New York,' or 'must have a driver's license,' etc. It's really ableist. I want to work in the entertainment and publishing industries. Many jobs and internships can be made remote, it's that people and/or their companies refuse to make those accommodations.

It's awful and unfair. I have missed out on so many job and/or internship opportunities because of their unwillingness to accommodate remote work. I am unable to drive due to one of my invisible disabilities. I know remote work is not possible in all situations, but it's possible in many."
Anishinaabe, 25
"I'm a Native American Two Spirit (queer/non-binary) artist and writer. I have an autoimmune condition that severely impacts mobility and cognitive function on an irregular basis. Part of my disorder is a debilitating allergy to 11 different mold families. I told a professor for the entire time that the [location] where [the] classes were held had mold in it. I lost consciousness and went into anaphylactic shock five separate times there. I begged for remote coursework: live streams, webcam, anything! She said they would be a distraction. Now it's all online! I had to drop out because of the impact this class had on my health.

Seeing the accommodations provided around COVID-19 has been heartbreaking. I [believe] that it wasn't the level of difficulty of the accommodations I was requesting: it was that these institutions didn't want to provide them. We are worthless to them because of these supposed defects. They treat us as disposable and our health negotiable, then ask us to support these decisions. I do! But not knowing that I was the inconvenience, not the request."
Oliver, 24
"This whole situation demonstrates the concept of environmental disability, which basically says that disability isn't actually an individual attribute, but instead a result of an interaction between an individual and their environment. During a pandemic, non-disabled people are disabled by the requirement to work-from-home. When the organization provides them with what they need to do their jobs appropriately, they're able to accomplish as much as they could at the office, thus no longer experiencing their environmental disability. I experience environmental disability on a daily basis even under normal conditions (i.e. my organization's lackluster efforts to provide me with technology), but my accommodations haven't been honored until now because my environmental disability of inaccessible spoken language, unlike working-from-home during a pandemic, is heavily stigmatized. I have already been dealing with biases about what I can or can't do as a disabled person from my supervisors and coworkers. My lack of accommodations and stigma within my organization, not my disability itself, are what prevent me from doing my job effectively. When I assert my needs only to be met with bureaucracy, rejection, or non-responsiveness, it hinders my job performance, perpetuating the notion that disabled people are incapable and undervaluing our work further."

Danni, 21
"I'm a law student and have been extremely lucky with the accommodations I have been given to help me manage studying with [myalgic encephalomyelitis], which causes a range of symptoms including chronic fatigue, muscle pain, and brain fog. Examples of the accommodations I have [received] include access to restricted lecture recordings and a part time study timetable. Despite this, seeking reasonable adjustments takes time and is something disabled students often feel they have to fight for, which can make you feel like you are a burden on the university. For example, very few students here even know that part time can be an option if you push for it. As per usual, the onus is on disabled students to seek adjustments, whereas what would be a welcome change is universities being more willing to outline all the possible adjustments to enable disabled students to thrive (rather than just cope). Another big thing that needs to be recognized by universities is that disabled students deserve a social life in the same way as non-disabled students. My part time timetable has allowed me to have a balance of work, social and rest but many disabled students have to sacrifice all social life in order to gain their degree - putting their mental well-being at risk.

COVID-19 has seen an increase in remote learning. During my time editing [a] student disability magazine, I have heard many stories of disabled students at multiple universities struggling to keep up with compulsory attendance to lectures because they have a disability such as a chronic health issue. Students then are penalized for this or may drop out of higher education altogether. The fact that remote learning is now suddenly made possible is upsetting for so many disabled students. As I stated in a recent article 'When non-disabled students need an adjustment', the fact that it suddenly becomes possible when it wasn't before is disheartening. This simply proves that the barriers to an inclusive education are not insurmountable problems that cannot be overcome. Barriers can be broken if there is the willpower and resources to do so. It is a shame that our higher education institutions have seemed to (in some cases) lack that willpower up to now."
Jameson, 29
"I work in tech and I am lucky that I have never had to work from an office. It's very hard for me, due to severe anxiety and I'm privileged to be in an industry where remote jobs were already possible to come by. But it was frustrating for me to see others in my position unable to work remotely for what seemed to me to be no reason, since most tech work can be done remotely perfectly well. (I even speak about and advocate for this at tech industry events.) I think what's happening now, with more tech companies suddenly pushing for working-from-home, is going to be great long-term for people like me. It's going to be hard to turn this back once people know there's nothing really stopping them from being able to work-from-home and I think we'll see a huge rise in remote positions going forward, even after this situation passes. I concede that it sucks we needed a pandemic to get here, but I'm hopeful about seeing a permanent change in the tide."

Amy, 30
"I studied and worked in academia for nearly a decade, at three different universities. As a visually impaired student I was constantly denied the reasonable adjustments I needed. My requests were simple: large print resources, worksheets, reading and powerpoint slides sent in advance, and the best possible accommodation was online learning and recorded lectures I could refer back to.

Despite going through a lengthy process of evidencing my visual impairment- filling out paperwork, getting sign-off from university disability services- in the end, if a professor didn't want to support me, all those forms didn't matter, they had the power and they said no. I have lost count of the number of times I stood in front of a lecture full of my peers begging a tutor to email me the slides or the lunchtimes spent sobbing in the loos with chronic migraines from straining my eyes at tiny print.I even had situations where I was denied the adjustments I needed to sit exams and once had to make the terrifying choice between using a laptop without support and being unable to see what I had written, or dictating a three-hour essay. I risked the laptop, and luckily I typed into the right document.

Seeing so many universities, including two of the ones I studied at suddenly putting classes online, sharing resources through online portals and recording lectures is honestly painful. My hours of begging and pleading with academics left them unmoved, but suddenly all that I wanted is possible, because they might get sick. I was told so many times that my requests for these adjustments were too difficult, too expensive or too complicated. All I wanted was to get my degree like everyone else. For me it just confirms the message I received loud and clear from academia, that disability is considered inconvenient, that we aren't worthy of an education, that it's too much effort to bother to include us, and that our non disabled peers will always be given priority."
These responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Disabled People Explain How Coronavirus Is Exposing Ableism at Work

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
After losing out on jobs and being denied accommodations, seeing the world change its ways is bittersweet. As COVID-19, a global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus responsible for a growing number of infections and deaths worldwide, continues to spread throughout the United States, more and more employers and educational institutions are facilitating work-from-home policies.

# data[].attributes.body
Popular Instagramer sharing the message to his millions of followers. This is just one example of the ways people are using comedy that is much needed during this time to spread positive and important messages.

# data[].attributes.body
Many places are having to close down just like this one in London.  The COVID-19 has put many people out of work due to the high risk of it spreading.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - As concerns continue to rise over the coronavirus, many agencies are taking precautions to limit the possible spread of the infection. Here is a list of events that have been either canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus.

This list will be continuously updated as more information becomes available.

Rosemary's Family Creamery, 2733 F St. has been temporarily closed.

(UPDATE: March 20, 3:36 p.m.): Studio Movie Grill, 2733 Calloway Drive, announced they will temporarily close all locations and refund all tickets purchased and suspend billing customers an all subscription plans.

All affected employees will continue current SMG medical insurance.

Chukchansi Economic Development Authority (CEDA) and the management team at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino announce the property will temporarily close on March 20 at 6:00 p.m. through March 31, 2020. The closure is required by the Tribe's compact with the State of California, which mandates that the casino be operated in compliance with the Tribe's federally-approved gaming ordinance.

Sonder announced they will be closed until April 20.

(UPDATE: March 19, 8:29 a.m.): JCPenney said Thursday that it would close all stores for about two weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a press release from the company, all JCPenney stores will close beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday and will remain closed through April 2.

(UPDATE: March 18, 1:04 p.m.): The Buena Vista Museum is the latest in the list of local museums closing due to the coronavirus.

The museum said the closure is effective immediately and expected to last through April 14.

(UPDATE: March 16, 2:47 p.m.): The M.A.R.E Riding Center announced its 2020 Evening at the Races event has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.

(UPDATE: March 16, 2:19 p.m.): The BLVD, a local entertainment restaurant venue, announced that amid Governor Gavin Newsom's recommendation to close bars and wineries, it will be closed for the foreseeable future.

Temblor Brewing Company, however, said it is still open for business and is operating at half-capacity in line with Gov. Gavin Newsom's recommendation.

(UPDATE: March 16, 1:14 p.m.): The Kern County Museum and the Bakersfield Museum of Art both announced closures amid the coronavirus.

The Kern County Museum announced it will be closing Wednesday and canceling all of its spring events in response to COVID-19. The Museum said its Lori Brock Children's Discovery Center will also be closed effective Wednesday through April 17, 2020. The Museum is also canceling their Spring Break Camp Discover at Lori Brock, all school tours, and California History Day.

The museum has also canceled all docent training and the Spring Lecture Series.

The Village Flea Spring event scheduled for April 19 and the Haggard Boxcar Music Festival scheduled for May 9 have both been postponed.

"We will look at rescheduling these popular community events at a later date, " said Mike McCoy, Executive Director.

(UPDATE: March 16, 10:45 a.m.): CAPK is canceling it's "Stuff the Bus" food drive that was scheduled for Friday, March 27 at the Valley Plaza parking lot and 23ABC studios. CPAK plans to reschedule the event, but no date was provided at this time.

(UPDATE: March 16, 10:08 a.m.): The 4th Annual CSUB Hair Cut-A-Thon has been postponed over concerns about the coronavirus.

The Blackboard Barbershop Cut a Thon, benefiting the Roadrunner Scholarship Fund is a fundraiser held at the iconic barbershop.

It was scheduled to take place March 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. A new date will be announced.

(UPDATE: March 16, 9:14 a.m.): The city of Taft is cancelling their Coffee with a Cop event that was scheduled for this week. It will be rescheduled, but no future date has been announced at this time.

(UPDATE: March 16, 9:00 a.m.): The NFL said Monday the 2020 college draft would still take place on April 23-25, but it was canceling the public events surrounding the event in Las Vegas. The league said that it still plans on televising the event, but did not go into specifics.

(UPDATE: March 16, 8:32 a.m.): The Celtic Woman tour scheduled for Mechanics Bank Arena for May 6th has been postponed. The released the following statement:

"Unfortunately, the current Celtic Woman Celebration tour has been postponed. First and foremost, our primary concern is the safety and wellness of our audiences, cast and crew. We are carefully monitoring developments regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) and are following the recommendations from the CDC and are communicating with the local venues regarding what local authorities are saying. Tickets for the show May 6 th in Bakersfield will be honored at a to be announced rescheduled date in 2021. Rescheduled tour dates will be announced soon. For more information check www.celticwoman.com."

(UPDATE: March 16, 8:00 a.m.): Here's a list of the following closures and when those closures are set to start:

Mojave Unified School District, extending Spring Break until April 14th

Tehachapi Unified School District, closure starting Wednesday

Delano Joint Union High School District , closure starting Wednesday

Greenfield Union School District, closure starting Wednesday

Fairfax School District, closure starting Wednesday

Panama-Buena Vista Union School District, closure starting Wednesday

Bakersfield City School District, closure starting Wednesday

Sierra Sands Unified School District, closure starting Tuesday

Taft City School District, closure starting Wednesday

Taft Unified School District, closure starting Wednesday

Grimmway Academy in Arvin and Shafter, closure starting Wednesday

McFarland Unified School District, closure starting Wednesday

Delano Unified School District, closure starting Wednesday

Some individual schools announced they will be canceling classes:

Bakersfield Christian High School, closure starting Monday

St. John's Lutheran School, closure starting Monday

(UPDATE: March 15, 5:04 p.m.)
According to Wynn Resorts, the company will close its Wynn Las Vegas and Encore hotels to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The company says all full-time Wynn and Encore employees will receive pay during the closure.

The closure will be effective Tuesday, March 17th at 6 p.m., and is expected to be in effect for two weeks.

(UPDATE: March 14, 8:17 p.m.)
California City suspends all activities, sponsored events and gatherings due to coronavirus concerns, according to the California City Government Office.

The Senior Center, Strata Center, Arts and Community Center and all City Hall meetings are also suspended, a press release sent Saturday by the California City Police Department states.

(UPDATE: March 14, 4:20 p.m.): The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science announced it will be closing as a result of the coronavirus. The museum issued the following statement:

"The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science will be closed to the public from March 15th-29th, 2020, This decision was not made lightly, but on the recommendation from The California Department of Public Health regarding concerns to help limit exposure of the COVID-19 Virus. We do not know of any staff or visitors who have been exposed, however, Health and Safety for-all is our main concern. All events scheduled in March through the museum have been cancelled or postponed to a later date. We are taking this one week at a time. Please keep an eye on our Website for further updates. We thank you in advance for understanding during this unprecedented time."

(UPDATE: March 13, 8:45 p.m.): Universal Orlando Resort will temporarily close its theme park and Blue Man Group shows beginning Monday, March 16. Officials said they anticipate being closed through the end of March, but will continue to evaluate the situation.

(UPDATE: March 13, 6 p.m.): The Bridge Bible Church announced it is canceling services.

In a video message from Pastor Jeff Gowling, he announced this is in response to the coronavirus.

You can watch the full video below:

(UPDATE: March 13, 5 p.m.): The Catholic Diocese of Fresno is suspending all daily and weekend Masses as of Monday due to the coronavirus outbreak.

(UPDATE 4:30 p.m.): Lighting in a Bottle Festival canceled.

We'll catch Lightning in a Bottle together again, soon ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/ETlYcdADLr

- Lightning in a Bottle (@LIBfestival) March 13, 2020

(UPDATE: March 13, 3:59 p.m.): Fresno Pacific University is temporarily suspending all in-person, on-campus classes from Monday, March 16, through Saturday, March 21.

During that week it will equip faculty to conduct all classes online through April 12, after which time it will assess the situation and review the plan to see how best to complete the semester. This will apply to students in the traditional undergraduate, bachelor's degree completion, graduate and seminary programs.

(UPDATE: March 13, 3:28 p.m.): House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday evening that she has reached a deal with the White House to pass an $8.3 billion spending bill, aimed at minimizing the economic effects of coronavirus.

The bill is expected to be voted on tonight with bipartisan support.

(UPDATE: Marh 13, 3:06 p.m.): Six Flags Magic Mountain has announced that it is closing temporarily.

In a statement posted on social media, the park in Valencia, California, says that it committed to the healthy and safety of its park guests and team members.

The park is suspending operations until the end of March and will re-evaluate the situation at that time.

(UPDATE: March 13, 12:25 p.m.): The Fox Theater is postponing all events through the end of March.

(UPDATE: March 13, 12:20 p.m.): CSUB programming announced Runner Nights has been postponed until further notice. Anyone who purchased tickets will be refunded via their original method of payment. We are sorry for the inconvenience and if anyone has questions, you can contact our office.

(UPDATE: March 13, 12:10 p.m.): The April 8 performance of Baby Shark Live! at Mechanics Bank Theater has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date to be announced. Ticketholders should keep their current tickets, which will be valid for the rescheduled performance. Refunds will also be offered at point-of-purchase.

(UPDATE: March 13, 12:10 p.m.): The Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office said there are currently no local or statewide recommendations from public health or the governors office about school closures in Kern County.

"As an educational community, we are currently working very diligently on this topic and will keep you updated as we learn more...We will update you as more info becomes available."

(UPDATE: March 13, 11:57 a.m.): Garces Memorial High School announced Friday it is closing its campus out of an abundance of caution regarding the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The decision was made at the diocesan level in consultation with Bishop Joseph Brennan, Superintendent Mona Faulkner, Monsignor Perry Kavookjian and Principal Myka Peck.

While the physical campus is closed, Garces said it will have an extensive plan to continue education through online class instruction, thanks, in part, to iPad technology. Teachers will use the ZOOM app to teach lessons virtually and all class materials will be uploaded on iTunes U. Each student's iPad will become their virtual classroom and we will continue to follow the regular block schedule.

To make the transition to online learning as smooth as possible, students spent time in each of their classes over the last few days logging onto the app and signing into a class meeting with each of their teachers.

"We understand this immediate transition is not ideal, however online learning is part of 21st century learning. As a college preparatory school, this provides us an opportunity to help prepare students for their future," said Mary Kate Paquette, spokesperson for Garces Memorial High School.

Regarding athletics and all extra-curricular activities, those too are suspended until further notice. This includes all games and practices.

As of this time, Garces plans to be back inside buildings on March 30 tentatively.

(UPDATE 11:55 a.m.): Kern County Public Health is currently monitoring 10 people for coronavirus, according to a briefing Friday morning.

Public health spokesperson Michelle Corson said there are still no confirmed cases in the county. Around the state, there are 198 confirmed cases and 4 coronavirus-related deaths.
(UPDATE 6:24 p.m.):
(UPDATE 6 p.m.): Following recommendations from the Office of the Governor of California, the Bakersfield Police Department is taking precautionary measures in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

At this time, there will be no changes to any calls for service response protocols. BPD wants to remind the public of its telephonic and online reporting systems in place to aid in responding to service requests that are not emergencies, or that are no longer in progress.

The community is encouraged to continue to use these reporting platforms in order to preserve public safety availability for emergencies.

For non-emergencies, contact the Bakersfield Police Department Communications Center at (661) 327-7111.

The online reporting system is accessible on the Bakersfield Police Department's webpage: www.bakersfieldpd.us.

Effective immediately, the lobby counter services at the Bakersfield Police Department Headquarters (1601 Truxtun Avenue) and the Westside Substation (1301 Buena Vista Road) will be closed until further notice.

(UPDATE 5:30 p.m.): The City of Bakersfield is taking precautionary measures amid concerns over the coronavirus. Those measures include the following steps:

The March 25th City Council Meeting is planned to take place as originally scheduled with an abbreviated agenda. In-person public comments will still be accepted at the meeting, however, the public is encouraged to submit public comments for that meeting via the City Clerk's Office at city_clerk@bakersfieldcity.us.

Nonessential board, commission, and committee meetings will be postponed to later dates.

All City-hosted community meetings scheduled through March 31 are postponed until further notice.

The postponement of previously permitted special events scheduled to be held through the end of March, including special events scheduled at City parks. Application fees may be refunded, or the event may be rescheduled to a later date. Attendees or participants should contact respective event organizers to find out potential impact.

The suspension of Recreation & Parks Department programs provided to the public through the end of March, with the exception of the after-school meal programs at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center.

City Community Centers and pools will be CLOSED to the public until the end of March.

Mesa Marin Sports Complex, Kaiser Permanente Sports Village and Aera Park will be CLOSED to the public through the end of March.

The low-cost Community Vaccination Clinic scheduled for Saturday, March 14 has been postponed to a later date and will be rescheduled.

Specific impacts to scheduled events at the Mechanics Bank Arena, Convention Center and Theater, as well as the Spectrum Amphitheatre will be determined by the facility manager AEG. Any questions regarding event schedules or ticketing should be directed to AEG.

(UPDATE 5:01 p.m.): The upcoming Dustin Lynch concert, scheduled for Saturday at Mechanics Bank Arena, has been postponed to a later date. Ticketholders should keep their current tickets, which will be valid for the new date. Those who cannot attend the new date can request a refund at their point-of-purchase.

(UPDATE 4:52 p.m.): The Kern High School District is canceling all academic competitions, all theatre, music, and other performances, all field trips, and all staff professional development effective immediately and through April 14, 2020.

The District will continue to evaluate the situation and will extend the cancellation date as needed.

(UPDATE 4:31 p.m.): The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced a temporary suspension of all public gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic.

(UPDATE 4:19 p.m.): The Kern High School District has officially canceled all sporting events through April 13.

(UPDATE 4:10 p.m.): Universal Studios Hollywood is falling in line with Disneyland as it announces it too will close due to concerns over the coronavirus.

The theme park released the following statement:

The health and safety of our team members and guests is always our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution and in response to the guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health, Universal Studios Hollywood will temporarily close beginning Saturday, March 14. The theme park anticipates reopening on March 28 as we continue to monitor the situation.

Universal CityWalk will remain open. We will provide timely updates as conditions evolve.

The Universal and Disney theme parks ' call to close up shop for a spell come less than a day after California Gov. Gavin Newsom heavily recommended no gatherings of more than 250 people in the Golden State.

(UPDATE 4:00 p.m.): The Delano Police Department announced Thursday afternoon that they will be limiting in-person responses to life-threatening or emergency calls only. This will take effect through April 1. All non-life-threatening emergencies will be handled over the phone.

(UPDATE 3:42 p.m.): The Kern County Fire Department's Chief David Witt has announced that until further notice all non-emergency community event support, ride alongs, and station tours have been suspended.

"With the rising concerns related to Coronavirus COVID-19, the decision was made out of an abundance of caution and with our community and fire personnel's safety and health as our highest priority. Please be assured that all fire department activity related to 911 emergencies is ongoing," the release said.

(UPDATE 3:32 p.m.): Kern County announced it is canceling all non-essential special events of 250 persons or greater at all County-owned parks and facilities, at least through the end of March.

(UPDATE 3:30 p.m.): Cal State University, Bakersfield announced Thursday it have been instructed to prepare to move classes online.

According to CSUB, all on-campus, in-person classes will be suspended for the rest of the spring semester.

(UPDATE 3:24 p.m.): Bakersfield National Cemetery, Unaccompanied Veteran Ceremony scheduled for March 19, has been postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

According to the cemetery, the NCA is postponing all events and ceremonies (excluding burial services) that are scheduled to occur at the national cemeteries between now and April 15, 2020.

Cemetery Operations is providing guidance for immediate implementation regarding public gatherings at national cemeteries and is conducting a data call for events and ceremonies postponed (now through April 15, 2020) and scheduled (April 16, 2020 through Memorial Day).

(UPDATE 2:23 p.m.): Bakersfield College released a statement saying that future sporting events will be open to student-athletes, coaches and officials. They released the following statement:

Effective immediately and until further notice, the Bakersfield College Athletic Department has limited attendance at all athletic events to participating student-athletes, coaches and officials. These measures were taken with an abundance of caution for the health and well-being of our student athletes and campus community and to help combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Live streams of softball and baseball games will still be available to fans at no cost. Click here to access the stream: https://www.facebook.com/BakersfieldCollegeAthletics/.

Bakersfield College Athletics continues to work with the college and CCCAA officials to monitor this very fluid situation. For campus updates to the situation visit the college's COVID-19 page: https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/covid19.

(UPDATE 1:53 p.m.): The Bakersfield National Cemetery Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony has been postponed until further notice.

According to the cemetery, the NCA is postponing all events and ceremonies (excluding burial services) that are scheduled to occur at the national cemeteries between now and April 15, 2020.

Cemetery Operations is providing guidance for immediate implementation regarding public gatherings at national cemeteries and is conducting a data call for events and ceremonies postponed (now through April 15, 2020) and scheduled (April 16, 2020 through Memorial Day).

(UPDATE 1:45 p.m.): The Central Valley Sportsmen's Boat and RV Show has been postponed to May due to concerns over the coronavirus.

The event was set to take place this weekend at the Kern County Fairgrounds, but now will be held May 15 -17.

"We continue to closely monitor the evolving coronavirus situation and are committed to following the facts and recommendations provided by public health officials," the fair said.
(UPDATE 1:39 p.m.)

(UPDATE 1:34 p.m.) The annual Campout Against Cancer celebration, which was expected to take place on March 27 and 28 has been postponed.

"For the safety and precaution of survivors, participants and the general community, it's in our best interest we reschedule our event to further help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus," said executive director Michelle Avila.

This decision comes in light of the new policy issued by the Department of Public Health, where Governor Gavin Newsom urges public events be limited to no more than 250 people and shouldn't process unless organization could ensure at least 6 feet of distance between attendees.

(UPATE 1:29 p.m.) The upcoming Delano Police Department Block Party has been postponed out of an abundance of caution amid coronavirus fears. Officials said they hope to reschedule the event in May.

(UPDATE 1:20 p.m.) Following the announcement of the AHL pausing its season, the Bakersfield Condors have released the following statement:

With the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans of primary importance, the American Hockey League has announced the suspension of play until further notice, effective immediately, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The AHL will continue to monitor developments and will provide updates on the 2019-20 season at the appropriate time.
The Condors will be communicating to ticket holders, partners and other affected parties with information as soon it becomes available.. The team will return home to Bakersfield from Grand Rapids, Michigan where the team was slated to play two games against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

(UPDATE 1 p.m.) Mechanics Bank Arena has confirmed that the Jojo Siwa show has been postponed amid coronavirus. The show is now scheduled for June 12.

CORONAVIRUS CONSEQUENCES: Mechanics Bank Arena has confirmed that the Jojo Siwa show has been postponed amid coronavirus. The show is now scheduled for June 12. https://t.co/wDxzNe0kqr

- 23ABC News (@23ABCNews) March 12, 2020

(UPDATE 12:21 p.m.) The Kern County Superintendent of Schools announced Thursday that, although they have no plans to close schools in Kern County at this time, non-essential gatherings and travel being canceled or postponed to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

"Schools are an essential service, providing education, meals, security and resources for our children and families,"KCSOS said in a statement. "Based on guidance released on March 7, 2020 from the California Department of Education and California Department of Public Health, there are no recommendation for school closures in Kern County at this time. The Kern County Superintendent of Schools and local school districts will remain diligent in working with public health officials to monitor this very fluid situation."

Kern County school districts and programs operated by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools have been advised to immediately:

Suspend all non-essential out-of-county travel effective immediately through the end of March or until further notice.

Suspend all out-of-county athletic competitions and other performances through the end of March or until further notice.

Cancel or postpone all out-of-county and local student field trips through the end of March or until further notice.

Cancel or postpone any large, district-sponsored gatherings with more than 250 people through the end of March or until further notice.

Consider options for social distancing efforts within the traditional school setting with special consideration being applied to high-risk individuals (the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and people with serious chronic medical issues such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease).

(UPDATE 12:16 p.m.) NEW YORK (AP) - Major League Baseball delays opening day by at least 2 weeks, suspends spring training schedule.

Statement from Major League Baseball: pic.twitter.com/0bWS5VTRPu

- MLB (@MLB) March 12, 2020

(UPDATE 12:00 p.m.) The Los Angeles County Air Show announced the cancellation of the 2020 Air Show "Aerospace Valley, USA®", originally scheduled for March 21 and 22. The cancellation comes at the guidance and direction of Los Angeles County, federal, local and state health officials.

With uncertainty regarding the spreading of coronavirus COVID-19, we are officially announcing the cancellation of the 2020 Los Angeles County Air Show

This comes at the guidance & direction of LA County, federal, local and state health officials. https://t.co/4vhPNDRaK6

- LA County Air Show (@LACountyAirShow) March 12, 2020

There will be no cash refunds for purchased tickets. Los Angeles County Air Show, Inc. is exploring the possibility of honoring purchased tickets at their 2021 event.

(UPDATE 11:54 a.m.) The Leaders in Life Youth concert scheduled for Thursday at Mechanics Bank Arena has been canceled.

The Kern County Superintendent of Schools released the following:

We regret this last-minute decision and notice, but we want to ensure we are focused on the safety and security of Kern County students and our greater community.

(UPDATE 11:48 a.m.) The Bakersfield Speedway announced they are dropping the 'black flag' on Saturday's race.

The speedway released the following statement on their website:

State and county recommendations regarding Coronavirus restrictions have force postponement of this Saturday's race program at the Bakersfield Speedway. We will continue to update the status of the racing for the remainder of March on a weekly basis. Thank you for your continued support.

(UPDATE 11:32 a.m.) AP- Broadway theaters to suspend performances through April 12.

Our sister station in San Diego is reporting that Governor Gavin Newsom said Disneyland and other California theme parks are exempt from cancellations of non-essential events of over 250 people due to "complex" and "unique" circumstances.

Newsom says Disneyland and other California theme parks are exempt from cancellations of non-essential events of over 250 people due to "complex" and "unique" circumstances#CoronavirusPandemic #coronavirus #Covid_19 #COVIDー19 #COVD19

- Mario Sevilla (@mariosevilla) March 12, 2020

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California governor: Guidance on limiting large gatherings likely to extend beyond March, will affect pro baseball games.

pic.twitter.com/mmvs7SFd3Q
- NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 12, 2020

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is postponing a planned Statewide Shoulder Tap Operation scheduled for this Saturday, March 14. ABC has decided to hold off on the operation and avoid putting young volunteer decoys into situations that could increase their contact with the public and potentially increase their exposure to the Coronavirus - COVID 19.

The Veteran's Appreciation Benefit that was scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 at Liberty High School has been

The Bakersfield Condors are delaying practice in Grand Rapids and awaiting word on any further decision.

Condors are delaying practice in Grand Rapids and awaiting word on any further decision.

In the meantime ... pic.twitter.com/0a13r71CLH

- Ryan Holt (@CondorsHolty) March 12, 2020

The March 13 roundtable with Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21) has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns. No word on if it will be rescheduled.

Honor Flight Network announced that it will be postponing all flights nationally through April 30 in response to the growing health concerns over the coronavirus.

Honor Flight will postpone all trips through April 30, due to concerns over the coronavirus. We made this difficult decision following an alert issued by the CDC, advising adults over the age of 60 avoid all non-essential air travel. Our full statement: https://t.co/bYstC00hgu

- Honor Flight Network (@HonorFlightNet) March 11, 2020

Major League Baseball has not announced any changes to their spring training so far, however ESPN is following closely the possibility.

After a conference call among owners this afternoon, Major League Baseball is expected to suspend spring training. The league likely will delay the beginning of the regular season as well. At this point, it's a formality that ownership-level sources expect to happen.

- Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 12, 2020

For anyone questioning MLB's potentially suspending spring training, I'll refer to David Price as he walked into the Dodgers' facility about an hour ago: "It's gotta happen. This is so much bigger than sports. I've got two kids."

That feeling is shared by many, many in the game.

- Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 12, 2020

The Trump administration is working on plans to delay the April 15 federal tax deadline for some taxpayers in a bid to soften the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the U.S. economy.

Major League Soccer (MLS) is suspending its season for 30 days, effective immediately, due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A Western Athletic Conference women's basketball game between CSU Bakersfield and Grand Canyon in Las Vegas has been postponed until Thursday after a player got sick and was taken to the hospital to be tested for coronavirus.

The National Hockey League is the latest to postpone its season amid concerns of COVID-19, better known as coronavirus, ESPN reports.

The entertainment industry is a business predicated on drawing crowds in theaters, cinemas and concert venues. But it is bracing for potential shutdown in the coming weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The virus' spread and dawning awareness of its reach has already forced the cancellation of all major imminent events on the calendar, including South by Southwest, CinemaCon, Coachella, Stagecoach and vital television events like the NBA season.

Thursday, John Krasinski announced that the release of his film, "A Quiet Place Part 2," will be pushed back due to the virus.

Also on Thursday, it was announced that ninth installment in the "Fast and the Furious" franchise will be suspended.

Several college basketball conferences announced Thursday that they had canceled their postseason tournaments amid the novel coronavirus.

The American Athletic Conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big Ten, Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Pac-12 Conference, the Southeastern Conference, the Southland Conferenceand the Western Athletic Conference announced Thursday that they are all canceling their men's basketball tournaments amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the California Interscholastic Federation ("CIF"), they are canceling all remaining state basketball championship games.

The released the following statement on Twitter:

The California Interscholastic Federation ("CIF") has canceled all remaining CIF State Basketball Championship games. This includes regional finals scheduled for March 12, 2020, and the CIF State finals scheduled for March 13-14, 2020 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. This decision was made after careful deliberation and in the primary interest of protecting the health and safety of our member schools, fans, and most importantly, our student-athletes. While we understand this decision is disappointing, we strongly believe that the opportunity to compete in this event does not outweigh our obligation to place the health and safety of our member schools and school communities above all else.

The NBA has confirmed its season has been suspended after a player has tested positive on Wednesday for coronavirus.

The Thunder and Jazz were moments from tipoff when a trainer approached referees. Moments later, players, coaches and referees left the court. The game was then suspended.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What's Closed: Events canceled or postponed due to coronavirus concerns

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - As concerns continue to rise over the coronavirus, many agencies are taking precautions to limit the possible spread of the infection. Here is a list of events that have been either canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus. This list will be continuously updated as more information becomes available.

# data[].attributes.body
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in humans and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people, such as with MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.

# data[].attributes.body
During the time in which no one will be in the buildings, in order to save their insurance premiums and their press the school have declared traipsing on school property illegal. This is really annoying because the elementary school next to my house has a lovely walking track that I would prefer to use.

(as a side note, it turns out that despite the outbreak there are still enough cars on the road to make chalk art instialion impractical)

# data[].attributes.body
News sources saying that it has the same evil effect on NYC as the attacks of 9/11 did.

# data[].attributes.body
Since the beginning of 2020 it seems that big things are affecting our world in a negative way. Due to the Coronavirus there has been a great shortage of toilet paper.

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.text
At what point did we establish that it was a necessity to stockpile as much toilet paper as humanely possible. It’s been a long year and it’s only March.
#toiletpaperpanic

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.original_text
At what point did we establish that it was a necessity to stockpile as much toilet paper as humanely possible. It’s been a long year and it’s only March.
#toiletpaperpanic https://t.co/SUMO96k1J8

# data[].attributes.headline
New cases slowing unemployment still sky high

# data[].attributes.subject
New cases slowing unemployment still sky high

# data[].attributes.body
The amount of new cases are slowing while unemployment is still at an all time high in the United States.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
More than 430,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the U.S., with the death toll nearing 15,000. However, the growth rate in new cases continues to decline across states, and the CDC found that 90 percent of hospitalized patients had at least one preexisting condition.

As the medical news improves, the economic news grows more dire. 6.6 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the total over the past three weeks to approximately 16 million. The Federal Reserve expanded lending programs to small business and municipalities this morning to combat the economic fallout.

Declining growth rates in new cases indicate that we've avoided the worst-case outcomes in the U.S. The table below shows the average daily growth rate in new cases over the past five days and the change in that growth rate from five days prior. The negative percentages in the right-hand column reflect decreases in the growth rate across all the hardest-hit states.

Testing increased slightly yesterday, but is still below the high of 180,000. By some estimates, the U.S. will need to administer 2 million tests a day to roll back social-distancing measures. We'll be watching testing data closely this week to see how quickly the U.S. can move to the "test-and-trace" strategy used by South Korea.

Across states, testing disparities persist, with Michigan and California dramatically lagging other states with large outbreaks.

Daniel Tenreiro is the Thomas L. Rhodes Journalism Fellow at the National Review Institute. @tenreirodaniel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coronavirus Update: Cases Slowing as Economic News Worsens | National Review

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
More than 430,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the U.S., with the death toll nearing 15,000. However, the growth rate in new cases continues to decline across states, and the CDC found that 90 percent of hospitalized patients had at least one preexisting condition.

# data[].attributes.body
With everyone being told to stay home, many people have become more depressed and stressed/anxious.

# data[].attributes.body
Since the beginning of COVID-19 people were not so worried they were only worried about the necessities and the things they needed for there household. But what people weren´t realizing was that they needed to social distance so they wouldn´t get sick and catch COVID-19.

# data[].attributes.body
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Wash Your Hands Properly to Stay Safe and Healthy

# data[].attributes.body
i saw this image on the internet and it makes me think about how its still so weird to see more than a few people wearing masks out in public. this image is tow men wearing masks them selves and promoting people to take precaution and advise to stay home. -Jaylen R

# data[].attributes.headline
Us Telling Stories of this Pandemic to Future Generations

# data[].attributes.subject
Us Telling Stories of this Pandemic to Future Generations

# data[].attributes.body
Many people have said how this is our 9/11, Pearl Harbor, WWI, WWII, Spanish Flu, etc. This pandemic will be remembered in the minds and hearts of all who will live through it.

# data[].attributes.body
(see below) this shows that if you stay 6 feet apart and someone sneezes it wont touch you

# data[].attributes.body
This instagrammer is an RN who works long hours to help those who are sick with the virus. She shares her story and perspective of risking her health to help ours.

(sorry for some of the language, but I think it shows the frustration of medical employees)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.embed_code
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sydni Lane (@sydvic1ous)

# data[].attributes.body
The New York Times have an article talking about the situation with the corona virus and when it could be done. It talks about how it all matters on how we contain the virus.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Everything you need to know about coronavirus, including the latest news, how it is impacting our lives, and how to prepare and protect yourself.

# data[].attributes.body
The popular 2017 film is now being used to help people realize that staying in the house during this horrible period. The popular film was once a top movie in the US. This picture gives people something to laugh at and something to really think about.

# data[].attributes.body
The poster gives info on the signs and symptoms of Covid-19.

# data[].attributes.body
this is a photo of what people are doing to get masks. there are so many people in this world that are trying anyway possible to get mask.