Los Angeles mayor urges everyone to wear masks

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The mayor of Los Angeles on Wednesday told everyone in the nation’s second-largest city to start wearing masks to combat the coronavirus, but California’s governor isn’t ready to take that idea statewide. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he’s focused instead on keeping people inside. He also announced the state may need 66,000 additional hospital beds, 16,000 more than previously forecast, to handle the crush of illnesses expected during the second part of May. At an afternoon news conference, Mayor Eric Garcetti said he had been awaiting advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on mask-wearing but with the COVID-19 rate surging had decided to wait no longer. The mayor said all 4 million residents who are performing essential tasks such as food shopping should wear homemade, non-medical face coverings, or even bandannas, as people in other COVID-19-struck countries have done. “To be clear, you should still stay at home. This isn’t an excuse to suddenly all go out," Garcetti said. He also said people shouldn't use medical-grade masks, which are in short supply and are needed by health care workers and first responders. The mayor said even a “tucked-in bandanna” could slow the spread of the virus and the masks also are good for reminding people to keep their distance. “I know it will look surreal,” he said, donning a mask. “We’re going to have to get used to seeing each other like this ... This will be the look.” Los Angeles County reported more than 500 new cases on Wednesday, a 17% hike over the previous day. Garcetti's announcement came after Riverside County public health officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser urged that people who need to go out in public should use something — even bandanas or neck...