Author Archives: Ana B. Ibarra

Ana is a Sacramento-based health reporter. She joined CalMatters in 2020 after four years at Kaiser Health News, where she covered California health care and policy. She started her reporting career at McClatchy’s Merced Sun-Star. Her work has also appeared in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today and many other state and national news outlets. She is a 2015 fellow of the Center for Health Journalism at USC Annenberg and a Cal Poly Pomona graduate.

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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks at a news conference that announced that six new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Los Angeles County on the steps of the county Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday, March 4, 2020. The announcement comes on the same day of California's first reported death from the coronavirus. Photo by AP Photo, Stafanie Dazio

California declares state of emergency after first coronavirus death reported

by Ana B. Ibarra March 4, 2020March 16, 2020

California reported its first death linked to the novel coronavirus today. Los Angeles County joined others in declaring local health emergencies, and nurses are asking for more training for health care workers.

California lacks the test kits and face masks needed to brace for a spread of the coronavirus — shown here in an illustration via the Centers for Disease Control.

California low on test kits and face masks in its battle against coronavirus

by Ana B. Ibarra February 28, 2020March 16, 2020

Ambulances are outside Travis Air Force Base., where Americans have been evacuated from overseas for quarantine after being exposed to, or sickened by, the coronavirus. Photo by Hector Amezcua, AP Photo.

Governor: Coronavirus changing “by the hour” in California

by Ana B. Ibarra February 27, 2020March 16, 2020