23ABC News at 6 p.m. | Top Stories for April 9, 2020

23ABC News at 6 p.m. | Top Stories for April 9, 2020

JOINING IS TONIGHT FOR 23ABCNEWS AT SIX-- I'M JESSICAHARRINGTON.TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES..HELPING HEALTH CARE WORKERSAFTER THEIR SHIFTS -- DETAILSON THE NEW PLAN FROM THEGOVERNOR TO HAVE HOTELSAVAILABLE FOR THOSE CONCERNEDABOUT EXPOSINGTHEIR FAMILIES TO CORONAVIRUS...AND -- IF YOU CAN'T GO OUT TOYOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP-- WHY NOT BUILD THOSE PLACES ATHOME??A LOOK AT THE SPECIAL WAY ALOCAL FAMILY IS MAKIN' IT INKERNCOUNTY DURING THE COVID-19PANDEMIC...ALLISON???23ABC NEWS AT SIX STARTS RIGHTNOW...WE BEGIN TONIGHT -- WITH THELATEST UPDATE ON THESTORM SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH KERNCOUNTY -- 23ABC'SMETEROLOGIST ALLISON GARGAROJOINS US NOW WITH THEFORECAST -- AND THE RECORD-BREAKING RAINFALL THISSTORM HAS BROUGHT OVER THE PASTCOUPLE DAYS...ALLISON??OUR LATEST WINTER SYSTEM HASBROUGHT RECORDBREAKING RAINFALL TOTALS FOR TWOCONSECUTIVEDAYS IN BAKERSFIELD.ON TUESDAY APRIL 7TH,BAKERSFIELD RECEIVED 0.91" OFRAIN, BEATING THEPREVIOUS RECORD OF 0.59" SETBACK IN 1967.

ON WEDNESDAYAPRIL 8TH, BAKERSFIELD RECEIVED0.62" OF RAIN WHICHPASSED THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF0.61" SET IN 1945.

SINCESUNDAY, BAKERSFIELD HASRECORDED 2.50" OF RAIN.

SO FARTHIS WATER YEAR, BAKERSFIELD'SRAIN TOTALS ARE OVER 100% OFNORMAL TO DATE.THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ISSLOWLY PUSHINGSOUTHEAST BY FRIDAY EVENING.LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS AREEXPECTED IN THE VALLEY, WE COULDPICK UP A FEW HUNDRETHSTO A TENTH OF AN INCH MORE.

ITLOOKS LIKE THE DESERT ANDMOUNTAINS WILL BE SEEING MOST OFTHE PRECIPITATIONOVERNIGHT AND THROUGH FRIDAYMORNING.

THE DESERT COULDPICK UP A QUARTER TO A HALF OFAN INCH OF RAIN.

CITIESABOVE 5,000 FEET COULD SEESEVERAL MORE INCHES OF SNOWOVERNIGHT.

THE WINTER STORMWARNIGN REMAINS INEFFECT UNTIL 11 PM TONIGHT.TEMPERATURES WILL RISE TOSEASONAL THIS WEEKEND ANDBAKERSFIELD LOOKS TO REACH THE80S BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXTWEEK.EASTER SUNDAY WILL BE PARTLYCLOUDY WITH A HIGH OF 76DEGREES IN BAKERSFIELD.NOW TO LATEST ON THE NUMBER OFCORONAVIRUS CASES IN KERNCOUNTY -- INCLUDING A THIRDDEATH ANNOUNCEDTODAY -- THE LATEST NUMBERSSHOWING THERE ARE NOW 337PEOPLE WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVEFOR COVID-19...330 ARE RESIDENTS -- 7 ARENON-RESIDENTS.AS MENTIONED --THERE HAVE BEENTHREE DEATHS FROM THEVIRUS.AS OF THE LATEST UPDATE... 33PEOPLE IN KERN COUNTY HAVERECOVERED.MORE THAN SIX-THOUSAND TESTSHAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED.SO FAR... MORE THAN 33-HUNDREDTESTS HAVE COME BACK NEGATIVE.AND MORE THAN 23-HUNDRED TESTSARE PENDING.ACCORDING TO PUBLIC HEALTH --THE MOST CASES, 136, ARE NOW INBAKERSFIELD EAST.127 CONFIRMED CASES ARE LOCATEDAT BAKERSFIELD WEST, 47 IN THEVALLEY REGION, 10 IN THE DESERTAND 10 IN THEMOUNTAIN REGION.RESIDENTS BETWEEN 18 AND 49YEARS OLD ACCOUNT FORMORE THAN HALF OF THE CONFIRMEDCASES.WE HAVE A DETAILED BREAKDOWN ONOUR WEBSITE...TURN TO 23 DOT COM.NEW DETAILS TONIGHT -- GOVERNORGAVIN NEWSOM TODAYANNOUNCED A NEW PROGRAM TOPROVIDE DOCTORS,NURSES AND OTHER CRITICALFRONT-LINE HEALTH CAREWORKERS ACCESS TO NO-COST ORLOW-COST HOTEL ROOMS.TAKE A LISTEN..."SOME OF THE NICEST AND FINESTHOTELCHAINS IN THE WORLD AREPARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM,PROVIDING DEEPDISCOUNTS TO THE STATE OFCALIFORNIA, AND WE WILL EXTENDTHOSE DEEPDISCOUNTS DIRECTLY TO OURCAREGIVERS.

AND IN OTHER CASES,AGAIN, FOR LOWINCOME WORKERS, WE'LL PROVIDE100% REIMBURSEMENTS SO THATTHEY'REALLOWED TO STAY CLOSER TO THEIRPATIENTS AND PROVIDE THEM THEOPPORTUNITY NOT TO WORRY ABOUTBEING OUT OF POCKET OR WORRYABOUTEXPOSING THEIR FAMILIES, OR GODFORBID, WORRIED ABOUT ANOTHERNIGHT'S SLEEPING IN THEIR CAR SOTHEY CAN STAY CLOSER, UH, TO THENEEDS INTHEIR COMMUNITIES."THE PROGRAM WILL PRIORITIZEHEALTH CARE WORKERS WHOCOME IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH ORARE SUSPECTED OF HAVING DIRECTCONTACT WITH COVID-19 PATIENTS,OR WHO TEST POSITIVEFOR COVID-19 BUT DO NOT REQUIREHOSPITALIZATION.NEWSOM SAID -- BY PROVIDINGHOTEL ROOMS IN CLOSE PROXIMITYTO MEDICAL FACILITIES, HEALTHCARE WORKERS CANAVOID POTENTIALLY SPREADING THEVIRUS ONCELEAVING THEIR SHIFT BY SELECTINGTO STAY IN ONE OFTHE PRE-IDENTIFIED HOTELS ACROSSTHE STATE.STARTING TOMORROW, CALIFORNIAHEALTH CORPSWORKERS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKERESERVATIONS THROUGH THEDEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES'SCAL-TRAVEL-STORE.THE STATE HAS ALREADY IDENTIFIED150 HOTELS THATHAVE OPTED IN TO PROVIDEDISCOUNTED RATES, AND MOREHOTELS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SIGNUP.U-S RESEARCHERS HAVE BEGUNTESTING ANOTHERMETHOD FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE.THEY'RE ADMINISTERING ASKIN-DEEP SHOT...INSTEAD OF THEUSUAL DEEPER JAB.RESEARCHERS WANT TO COMPARE THEEFFECTIVENESSOF THE TWO METHODS.THE VACCINE USES SYNTHETIC D-N-A-- WHICH IS NEWERTECHNOLOGY IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.IT WORKS BY MIMICKING THEGENETIC CODE OF THE VIRUS SO THEBODY CAN BUILD IMMUNITY AGAINSTIT -- BUT IS ACTUALLYHARMLESS.A SEPARATE STUDY SUGGESTED THATA SKIN-DEEP SHOTOF SYNTHETIC D-N-A SPED UP THEIMMUNE RESPONSE.MEANWHILE -- ANYONE SHOPPING ATA LOCALALBERTSON'S OR VONS TODAY MAYHAVE BEEN IN FOR A SURPRISE --ASTHE WAY CUSTOMERS ARE NOWSUPPOSED TO MOVE AROUNDTHOSE STORES HAS CHANGED...CAUTION TAPE AND STICKERS ON THEFLOOR OF A LOCALALBERTSON'S NOW GUIDE SHOPPERSON A ONE-WAY PATHTHROUGH THE STORE...IN AN OFFICIALS STATEMENT FROMALBERTSON'S THEY SAID THEYTOOK STEPS THIS WEEK TOIMPLEMENT THE NEXT PHASE OFMEASURES TO ESTABLISH SOCIALDISTANCING FOR THE SAFETY OFCUSTOMERS AND ASSOCIATES.THIS INCLUDES HAVING STORESPLACE DIRECTIONAL ARROWS ON THEFLOORS TO PROMOTE ONE-WAY FOOTTRAFFIC THROUGH STORES,INCLUDING UP AND DOWN AISLES.THIS IS IN ADDITION TO DECALSALREADY ON THE FLOORMARKING OFF 6-FOOT SPACES AT THECHECKSTANDSAND OTHER AREAS THAT CAN CAUSELINES TO FORM LIKE THE DELI,BAKERY, MEAT, SEAFOOD, ANDPHARMACY DEPARTMENTS.STAYING HOME IS NECESSARY BUTCAN BE HARD TO DO.... ESPECIALLYWHEN WE ARE SO USE TO RUNNINGDAILY ERRANDS AT OUR FAVORITESTORES... BUT ONE LOCAL FAMILYDECIDED THAT IF THEY CAN'T GOOUT TO THEIR FAVORITE STORES...THEY WOULD BUILDTHEM INSTEAD.

23ABC'S ALEX BELLSHARES HOW ONE FAMILY IS MAKIN'ITIN KERN COUNTY.NEED TO GO A TARGET RUN?

OR HOWABOUT GRABBING A LATTE?

...IN ANEFFORT TO STAY HOME... ONE LOCALFAMILYDECIDED TO BRING THEIR TWOFAVORITE PLACES INDOORS"NOW THAT WE HAVE ALL THISQUARANTINE STUFF GOING ONAND WE CAN'T BE RUNNING AROUNDAND PLAY OUT IN THE PARK - WEDECIDED TO BUILD HER SOMETHINGINDOORS.

AND A SMALL LITTLEPROJECT TURNED INTO A LITTLETHEME PROJECT." -DIEGOMILA AND MADILYN WOULD USUALLYSTROLL THE AISLES OF TARGETWITH THEIR MOM CINDY BUT NOWTHAT'S CHANGED..."WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKEHER OUT.

USUALLY THAT WAS OURPLACE TO GO WAS TARGET AND SHELIKED TO WALK AROUND ANDLOOK AT TOYS AND STUFF.

AND SHEALREADY KNOWS AT STARBUCKSSHE GETS HER CAKE POP." CINDYIN JUST TWO WEEKS THE FAMILYPAINTED, BUILT ANDPRINTED THEIR OWN MINI VERSIONSOF THEIR FAVORITEESTABLISHMENTS."IT MAY SEEM A LITTLE BIT EXTRABUT FOR ME AT THE END OF THEDAY WATCHING THEM PLAY AND ENJOYIT AND US KNOWING THATWE PUT IT TOGETHER AS A FAMILYMEANS EVERYTHING TOME.

" DIEGOMILA RECENTLY BECAME NEWESTEMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AT FAMILYRUN TARGET...THEIR STORE WASCUSTOMIZEDFROM A PLAYSET BUT THE NAMETAGSARE REAL... AND WEREGIVEN TO THE FAMILY FROM A LOCALSTORE IN BAKERSFIELD....AND .."SOME OF THE PLAY ITEMS ARE REALFOOD.

WE WANTED TO MAKEIT AS REALISTIC FOR HER SO WHENSHE GOES IN THERE AND PLAYSTHERE'S CHIPS THERE'S SNACKSTHERE APPLE JUICE " DIEGOTHE POPULAR COFFEE STORE WAS ACUSTOM BUILT JOB FROMMOM AND DAD ..."THE STARBUCKS IS FROM SCRATCH.THAT IS LITERALLY PIECES OF WOODFROM HOME DEPOT." DIEGOTHEIR STARBUCKS HAS A FULL MENUAND IF YOU WERE WONDERINGABOUT THOSE APRONS...."THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENTSTARBUCKS THAT WENT ABOVE ANDBEYOND AS WELL.

THEY HOOKED USUP WITH SOME APRONS.

SOTHOSE APRONS ARE FROMSTARBUCKS."... AND THE CUPSTOO - DIEGOAND MIA'S NEW DOLLHOUSE WASPURCHASED ON OFFERUP FORJUST A FEW BUCKS..

WITH A LITTLEPAINT AND LIGHTS..."ITS BEEN KINDA LIKE A LITTLEGETAWAY FOR HER WHERE SHE GETSTO GO IN THERE AND PLAY ANDDISTRACT HERSELF." CINDYBUT IT WASN'T JUST THE KIDS WHOENJOYED THEIR NEWSTORES... MOM AND DAD SAID ITWAS A GOOD DISTRACTION FORTHEM TOO..."ITS DEFINITELY BEEN SOMETHINGTHAT'S HELPED US OUT MENTALLYWITH EVERYTHING.

ITS SOMETHINGPOSITIVE ANDSOMETHING FUN AND EXCITING ANDSHE LOVES IT " CINDYAND FOR THIS FAMILY.... THEY SAYSHOPPING AT HOME HASN'TBEEN TOO BAD..."WE DON'T HAVE TO SEE IT AS ANEGATIVE ASPECT THAT WE HAVE TOBE INDOORS ALL DAY" DIEGOI'M ALEX BELL FOR 23ABC NEWSCONNECTING YOUAND WE WANT YOU TO TELL US HOWYOU'RE MAKIN IT DURINGTHESE TIMES.ARE YOU WATCHING MOVIES?DOING ACTIVITIES WITH YOUR KIDS?EMAIL US YOUR VIDEOS TO NEWS ATK-E-R-O DOT COM AND SEND USYOUR PICTURES TO OUR FACEBOOKPAGE.YOU MAY SEE SOME OF THEM RIGHTHERE ON 23 A-B-C FOR OURMAKIN IT SEGMENT.AND AS WE GET CLOSER TO EASTERWEEKEND -- THE CITY OFBAKERSFIELD IS ASKING EVERYONETO KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCING INMIND WHEN IT COMES TO MAKINGEASTER PLANS...SEVERAL CITY LEADERS RELEASINGVIDEO MESSAGES --URGING THE PUBLIC TO STAY HOMETO CELEBRATE THEEASTER HOLIDAY -- IN AN EFFORTTO PREVENT FURTHER SPREADOF CORONAVIRUS.THE MESSAGES CAME FROM MAYORKAREN GOH, CITYMANAGER CHRISTIAN CLEGG ANDDIRECTOR OF RECREATION ANDPARKS DIANNE HOOVER.HERE'S A LITTLE OF WHAT MAYORKAREN GOH HAD TO SAY..."WITH THE EASTER HOLIDAY WEEKENDAPPROACHING, I ASK US ALL TOHELP EVEN MORE.

EASTER IS AWONDERFUL TIME TOCELEBRATE TRADITIONS.

THIS YEAR,THINK OF NEW WAYS TO KEEP YOURTRADITIONS ALIVE, BUT STAY HOMEAND AVOID GATHERINGS."EACH CITY LEADER SAID AMENITIESAT LOCAL PARKS WILLBE CLOSED.

THAT INCLUDESRESTROOMS, PARK GROUNDSAND ANY PLAY EQUIPMENT.TRADITIONS ALIVE, BUT STAY HOMEAND AVOID GATHERINGS."EACH CITY LEADER SAID AMENITIESAT LOCAL PARKS WILLBE CLOSED.

THAT INCLUDESRESTROOMS, PARK GROUNDS AND ANYPLAY EQUIPMENT.OFFICIALS ENCOURAGED TO ATTENDAN ONLINE OR VIRTUALCHURCH WITH THEIR FAMILIES FOREASTER.TO WATCH EACH MESSAGE IN FULL --HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE -- TURNTO 23 DOT COM OR OUR 23ABCFACEBOOK PAGE.NEW DETAILS TONIGHT ON HOW LOCALLAW ENFORCEMENT ISWORKING TO HELP MAKE DOWNTOWNSAFER -- THE BAKERSFIELDPOLICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT ISTEAMING UP WITH TRANS-WESTSECURITY TO CONDUCT COURTESYCHECKS ON LOCALBUSINESSES..."OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS...""...TO DETER THEFT."ACCORDING TO A VIDEO POSTEDTODAY BY B-P-D, THESE CHECKSARE MEANT TO ASSIST BUSINESSESAND BETTER SECURETHEM AGAINST BURGLARIES.OFFICERS WILL LEAVE A COURTESYCHECK CARD FOR THEBUSINESS WITH SUGGESTIONS ON HOWTO IMPROVE SECURITY.THE CARDS OUTLINE THINGS SUCH ASUNLOCKEDDOORS, OPEN OR BROKEN WINDOWS,BROKEN LIGHTS,OR WINDOWS COVERED BY BUSHES ORTREES.B-P-D WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC TOKNOW THAT IF YOU SEE ONE OFTHESE CARDS ON YOUR BUSINESS, ITIS NOT A TICKET.

FOR MOREINFORMATION -- HEAD TO OURWEBSITE -- TURNTO 23 DOT COM.STILL AHEAD --