On March 13, 2020, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Santa Clarita reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19. This marked the beginning of the pandemic’s impact on the Santa Clarita Valley, leading to significant changes in daily life for the next several years.

The very same day, the City of Santa Clarita announced a local state of emergency, canceling or postponing all City events through the end of April in the face of a potential COVID-19 pandemic.

“The actions we are taking today are to protect our community and slow the spread of the virus. This is about preparedness and being proactive – not about panic,” said then-mayor Cameron Smyth. “As a community, we have had more than our fair share of emergency situations, and by being informed and united, we have been and will continue to be resilient.”

The news came on the heels of a March 11 mandate from the California Department of Public Health directing that all mass gatherings should be postponed or canceled to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Non-essential gatherings were limited to no more than 250 people, while smaller events could proceed only if organizers were able to implement social distancing of six feet per person.

In response, large-scale institutions temporarily closed down across Los Angeles County. Schools cancelled classes ahead of potential quarantine, and gathering places like theme parks scaled down operations.

“It goes without saying that we are in unprecedented times,” Smyth said. “Our community is no stranger to events such as earthquakes, fire or the unspeakable tragedy of the Saugus shooting.”

The same day the City Council announced the state of emergency, College of the Canyons officials announced that they would be suspending all in-person instruction beginning the next Monday in an effort to reduce potential exposure to the coronavirus.

“We have been monitoring the coronavirus outbreak since the very beginning to ensure the safety of our students and staff members,” said then-Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “The suspension of in-person classes will help us curb the spread of this virus throughout our campus communities and will give employees the time needed to transition to a remote-learning model.”

Also on March 13, Six Flags Magic Mountain stated that the thrill park would stay closed through at least the end of the month. The William S. Hart Union High School District and the various elementary school districts declared they would be shifting to online education until at least the end of spring break.

Meanwhile, in Omaha, Nebraska,  KHTS co-owner Carl Goldman received yet another positive test for COVID-19 as he entered week six of quarantine. Goldman, along with his wife, Jeri, had been guests on the unlucky East Asian voyage of the Diamond Princess Cruise ship, one of the first known outbreak sites of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

What should have been only a 10-day cruise turned into nearly a month under quarantine onboard the ship anchored in Japanese waters.

Though widespread lockdowns would not hit Los Angeles County, and by extension Santa Clarita, until March 19, the state of emergency was a significant date in local history. As of March 2025, more than 7 million people worldwide are estimated to have died as a result of COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)

Click here to view yesterday’s Today in History.

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