February 21, 2020
A profile of Susan Lominska and her efforts to assist 195 Americans who were flown from Wuhan China to quarantine at March Air Reserve Base was the first story about the coronavirus to appear in the pages of the COURIER.

March 9, 2020
The first death from the novel coronavirus in Los Angeles County occurred Monday, March 9 at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

March 11, 2020
The city of Claremont canceled any and all events or classes involving adults 55 and over, according to a release from the city. City-hosted special events with more than 100 participants through April 12 were also canceled, including Arbor Day and the Spring Celebration.

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, meaning the disease is having a global impact.

March 12, 2020
The five undergraduate Claremont Colleges canceled all in-person classes and announced a move to an online format beginning March 30. They will not return until the fall.

March 13, 2020
Claremont Unified School District announced that beginning Monday, March 16, all campuses would be closed and would reopen on Monday, April 13, unless conditions called for an extension. During this time, before and after-school child care was canceled.

The COURIER closed its offices with a planned reopening date of March 30.

March 15, 2020
Governor Gavin Newsom ordered all bars, nightclubs, wineries and brewpubs to close; told adults age 65 and over and those with chronic health conditions to stay home; and allowed restaurants to stay open but to reduce capacity so customers are socially distanced.

March 16, 2020
The city canceled all recreation classes and facility rentals as well as closing the Youth Activity Center and the Tracks Activity Center.

Los Angeles County officials limited all indoor and outdoor gatherings within a confined space to 50 or fewer people and required social distancing. The county also issued a temporary closure of certain businesses.

March 19, 2020
Governor Newsom announced a statewide order to stay home, affecting 40 million Californians. The order restricted all non-essential travel and activities outside the home.

L.A. County issued a “Safer at Home” order to go into effect at midnight. Working in conjunction with the governor’s office, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health ordered residents to stay home, except for necessary outings to the grocery store, pharmacy or workplace if deemed essential.

Claremont closed The Wilderness Park, and restrooms and playgrounds at other parks.

March 23, 2020
Claremont closed all city buildings and employees moved to telecommuting. The police department suspended issuance of overnight parking citations across the city until May 1 and suspended the recycling program.

March 24, 2020
County public health reported the first case of the coronavirus in Claremont.

The city closed parking lots at popular parks including the Evey Canyon entrance to the Wilderness Park.

March 27, 2020
President Trump signed a $2.2 trillion economic rescue package. Under the plan, many single Americans would receive $1,200, married couples would get $2,400 and parents would collect $500 for each child.

March 28, 2020
California’s coronavirus death toll topped 100.

April 1, 2020
Claremont’s second coronavirus case was reported.

April 3, 2020
Claremont Colleges Services announced that all seven Claremont Colleges were closed to visitors, including all grounds and pathways, which are popular walking destinations.

April 6, 2020
The number of coronavirus cases in California exceeded 16,000 and 6,360 in L.A. County as well as six in Claremont.

April 8, 2020
The Los Angels County Department of Public Health required the use of face coverings when in public. Both workers and customers at essential businesses must wear masks and businesses can refuse service to customers who do not have a face covering.

April 10, 2020
Los Angeles County extended the Safer at Home order until May 15.

April 11, 2020
President Trump declared a disaster exists in all 50 states—the first time in U.S. history that a president has declared a major disaster exists in all 50 states at once.

April 14, 2020
Governor Newsom laid out a six-point framework to begin gradually lifting the state’s Stay-at-Home order.

April 17, 2020
California reported more than 1,000 total coronavirus deaths. Roughly half occurred in Los Angeles County.

April 28, 2020
Governor Newsom announced a four-stage plan for lifting restrictions in California and reopening businesses. California’s public schools could start the next academic year as early as July or August.

April 30, 2020
Governor Newsom ordered all beaches in Orange County to close following crowding the previous weekend.

May 1, 2020
California reported more than 50,000 cumulative coronavirus cases.

May 6, 2020
Los Angeles County Public Health released the “Roadmap to Recovery,” a five-stage phased approach to relaxing directives of the Safer at Home order, including reopening certain business.

May 8, 2020
California entered stage two, relaxing some restrictions. In L.A. County certain non-essential business were allowed to reopen.  

May 12, 2020
Los Angeles County officials recommend that the Safer at Home order be extended three more months until August, as the region continued efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

May 16, 2020
Thompson Creek Trail reopened.

May 18, 2020
Claremont reopened public buildings including city hall, the Hughes Center and the city yard on an appointment bases. The Claremont Hills Wilderness Park reopened after six weeks but with restrictions including one-way trekking and requiring face coverings.

Claremont’s rent assistance and small business grant programs began accepting applications and filled all available spots quickly.

June 4, 2020
County health officials reported the first confirmed COVID-19 death in Claremont.

June 21, 2020
The Farmers Market reopened.

July 5, 2020
Governor Newsom revised the health order, closing indoor operations at businesses in counties on the watch list, which included Claremont’s restaurants, movie theaters, museums and breweries.

July13, 2020
With cases rising, Governor Newsom closed many businesses that had been allowed to reopen under the Roadmap to Recovery. In Claremont, closures affected gyms, in-person worship services, offices for non-essential workers, nail salons and barbershops. The new restrictions were implemented with no clear deadline.

July 30, 2020
Claremont Club announced it was closing because of the pandemic.

August 7, 2020
L.A. County reported five employees of the Claremont Police Department tested positive for COVID-19.

August 11, 2020
Claremont City Council passed an emergency mask ordinance and created four “mask zones” in the city.
 
August 20, 2020
Coronavirus cases were on a slow but steady decline. Claremont’s cumulative cases rose to 339, with eight deaths.

September 10, 2020
Health officials warned that Halloween traditions such as door-to-door trick-or-treating and costume parties are high risk activities that could further the spread the coronavirus.

September 17, 2020
The number of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations steadily decreased through August and September.

September 22, 2020
L.A. County Department of Public Health announced that the county met all but one requirement necessary to move to the next less restrictive tier in the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

October 15, 2020
Following the state’s lead, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health loosened restrictions on private gatherings.

November 4, 2020
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported the highest number of new cases in a single day since late August and a slight increase in hospitalizations

November 25, 2020
L.A. County modified its health order limiting the number of patrons allowed inside businesses and banning outdoor dining at restaurants.

November 27, 2020
The day after Thanksgiving many local restaurants defied the ban on outdoor dining.

November 30, 2020
A new Stay-at-Home order from L.A. County public health went into effect.

December 9, 2020
Sara Kahn, president of medical staff at San Antonio Regional Hospital, sent an email to medical staff providers declaring, “We are in internal disaster mode.”

December 11, 2020
The Department of Public Health reported more than 501,365 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County and 8,199 deaths. Claremont’s cumulative cases reached 917 with a total of 15 deaths.

December 16, 2020
County reported a record 22,422 new cases, which included a backlog of approximately 7,000 cases from a lab that did not report for several days. Twenty-eight percent of all cases in Claremont were recorded in the previous two weeks.

December 17, 2020
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) received and began administering the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to its frontline associates and physicians.