Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
Unprecedented Lobbying Effort Scores Big Win for California Public Health
After years of unstable funding, California’s 2022-23 budget will include a dramatic new investment in public health. Insiders say a powerhouse lobbying campaign made all the difference. (Angela Hart, )
New Covid Cases On The Rise. Again. Since the state's June 15th reopening, new infections have increased more than 17%. While public health officials expected a bump once restrictions were lifted, they are carefully watching the numbers -- especially as concerns grow over the more transmissible delta variant. “Given that 4 million residents in L.A. County are not yet vaccinated, the risk of increased spread is very real,” Los Angeles' Department of Public Health said. Read more from the AP and San Francisco Chronicle.
Scroll below for more news on delta-driven cases and California's covid trends.
Wishing You A Safe 4th Of July: During a pandemic and a deadly wildfire season, Californians are urged to take precautions over the long holiday week -- especially with the fireworks. The fire risk during a drought is prompting officials to plead with people to skip home shows this year. And a new study finds such pyrotechnics spread hazardous materials in the air.
Also for the holiday, California Healthline's Daily Edition is off on Monday. We'll be back in your inbox on July 6.
More News From Across The State
Sacramento Bee:
CA Capitol Has COVID-19 Case Outbreak After Lifting Rules
The California Capitol is experiencing an outbreak of seven new COVID-19 cases, all within the same Assembly office, just weeks after it opened its doors to the public and began lifting certain pandemic rules. The cases have all been reported this week in memos that Assembly Rules Chief Administrative Officer Debra Gravert sent to staff and members. (Wiley, 7/1)
Los Angeles Times:
What Will Really Protect You From The Delta Variant?
A more transmissible coronavirus variant is spreading across the U.S., and it has led a range of authorities to give conflicting advice about the use of face masks and other protective measures.Worries over the Delta variant have prompted the World Health Organization to stress the continued importance of wearing masks — even for people who are vaccinated. (Khan, 7/1)
Southern California News:
The Last Time LA County Had This Many Daily Coronavirus Cases Was Mid-April
Los Angeles County reported its highest daily number of new COVID-19 infections since mid-April on Thursday, July 1, continuing an upward trend that began following the statewide lifting of health restrictions and could be driven in part by spread of a highly contagious coronavirus variant. According to numbers released by the county Department of Public Health, 506 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Friday, more than double the average daily number the county was reporting in mid-June, when the state and county virus restrictions were lifted. (7/1)
Southern California News:
In Final Daily Update Of COVID-19 Stats, Orange County Shows Uptick In Hospitalizations
Orange County saw a marked increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations reported Thursday, July 1. Hospitalizations jumped from 56 on Wednesday to 70 on Thursday, while the number of intensive care unit patients increased from 10 to 13. Andrew Noymer, a UC Irvine professor of population health and disease prevention, told City News Service, “I’m not over the moon about it, but it’s a little hard to say” if the increase is a cause for concern at this point. (7/1)
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Lake County Confirms Two Cases Of Delta Variant
The Lake County Health Services Department has confirmed two cases of the so-called delta variant of the coronavirus. U.S. and state health authorities characterize the variant, first identified in India, as a highly transmissible strain, more so than the one that began the pandemic. It is responsible for a growing share of the cases in California and elsewhere, almost all of them among unvaccinated people. (Barber, 7/1)
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento CA Region Gets Case Of Delta COVID-19 Variant
An El Dorado County resident has tested positive for the Delta variant of COVID-19, officials confirmed Thursday, in what appears to be one of the first cases of the contagious strain in capital region’s foothills communities. Carla Hass, spokeswoman for the county, said the Delta variant was found in a specimen that arrived at the county health department June 2. But it wasn’t until this week that tests showed it was the Delta variant, she said. (Kasler, 7/1)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Only One Case Of Delta Variant Identified In Kern County, But Not All Cases Are Sequenced To Detect Mutations
As rising levels of a more contagious coronavirus variant cause concern in neighboring counties, only one case of the delta variant has been identified in Kern. The announcement of Kern’s sole delta variant case came on June 15, and has not been repeated. However, not every COVID-19 test is sequenced to detect the delta variant, meaning the true community spread is unknown. (Morgen, 7/1)
Los Angeles Times:
Delta Variant Causes New Lockdowns And Coronavirus Restrictions Across The Globe
To many people, the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic appear to be over: The rescheduled Tokyo Olympics are set to begin next month — albeit with safety restrictions — countries have taken steps to try to restart their economies, and 3 billion doses of vaccines have been administered across the globe. But the highly contagious Delta variant is serving as a harsh reminder of the unrelenting nature of a virus: To stay alive, it adapts and mutates. (Tebor, 7/1)
CalMatters:
Breakthrough COVID Is Rare In California
About 7,550 out of more than 19.5 million Californians who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have contracted the disease, a minuscule percentage that provides strong evidence of the vaccines’ effectiveness, according to state data. The breakthrough infections through June 23 amount to 0.039% of vaccinated Californians — or one case out of every 2,583 vaccinated people. (Feder Ostrov, 7/1)
Los Angeles Times:
Delta Variant Impedes Biden's July 4 COVID-19 Vaccine Goal
Los Angeles County’s top public health official expressed growing alarm about increasing circulation of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, particularly as the region grapples with an uptick in new infections. While the situation in the nation’s most populous county is nowhere near as dire as over the fall and winter, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the increases seen recently are nevertheless concerning — and are at the heart of this week’s recommendation that even residents vaccinated for COVID-19 should resume wearing face coverings in public indoor settings as a precaution. (Money and Lin II, 7/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
J&J Says Its Vaccine Is Effective Against Contagious Delta Variant
Johnson & Johnson said Thursday its single-dose vaccine is effective against the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus. New data shows the vaccine generates a “strong, persistent” immune response to the fast-spreading variant, providing protection for at least eight months, the company said in a statement Thursday night. (Mishanec, 7/1)
Reuters:
U.S. West Faces Little-Known Effect Of Raging Wildfires: Contaminated Water
Early this spring, water bills arrived with notes urging Fort Collins Utilities customers to conserve. The Colorado customers may have thought the issue was persistent drought in the U.S. West. But the problem was not the quantity of water available. It was the quality. Utilities are increasingly paying attention to a little-known impact of large-scale fires: water contamination. (Bryson, 7/1)
AP:
Fires Threaten California Homes As Dangerous July 4 Looms
Wildfires fueled by bone-dry brush and timber surged through Northern California forests on Friday, burning several homes and forcing thousands to flee mountain communities even as authorities prepared for a hot, crowded Fourth of July weekend that could bring the threat of new blazes. Three wildfires near the towering Mount Shasta volcano an hour’s drive from the Oregon border had burned around 50 square miles of land — a relatively small figure compared to sweeping, deadly fires of years past that blackened thousands of square miles. But the blazes weren’t anywhere near being surrounded as they continued to threaten homes in nearby areas. (Chea and Antczek, 7/2)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Fire Season In Northern California: Here Are The Major Blazes Burning Now
Seventeen wildfires have started in California over the past week, fueled by powerful wind gusts, hot weather and dangerously dry conditions, according to state fire officials. Most have sprung up in Northern California, including three significant ones — the Lava Fire and the Tennant Fire in Siskiyou County and the Salt Fire in Shasta County. Collectively, those three fires burned nearly 32,000 acres in Northern California over the past week. (Fracassa, 7/1)
AP:
Newsom's Gamble: Recall Win Could Hinge On Jobs, Virus Cases
California Democrats gambled by accelerating the date for the state’s Sept. 14 recall election that could cost Gov. Gavin Newsom his job. Their hope is that during a relatively brief stretch of about 10 weeks, the economy will continue to rebound, coronavirus cases will remain low and the embattled Democratic governor can avoid any politically embarrassing missteps. The risk is that it doesn’t go that way. (Blood Ronayne, 7/2)
CapRadio:
California To Provide Health Insurance For Undocumented Residents Over 50 Following Toll Of COVID-19
Advocates say the COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to the need for a better safety net for undocumented Californians. This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers announced a budget plan that would expand Medi-Cal coverage to all income-eligible adults over age 50, regardless of immigration status. (Caiola, 7/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
California's New Round Of $600 Stimulus Checks Is Coming. How To Know If You'll Get One
A second round of one-time Golden State Stimulus checks could soon be on the way for many Californians. On Monday, state lawmakers approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to send $600 stimulus checks to low- and middle-income Californians as the state begins to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. (Flores, 7/1)
Sacramento Bee:
New CA Law Gives Students A Do-Over For Fs In COVID Year
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed a law to help alleviate the pandemic’s effect on grades and graduation credits by giving California students an opportunity to redo a grade level. Assembly Bill 104, now law, creates a range of grading options to accommodate K-12 students who struggled during the 2020-21 academic year, when distance learning disrupted classroom routines. (Bloom, 7/1)
KQED:
As Hate Crime Reports Rise, Attorney General Bonta Offers Multilingual Support
Speaking at a press conference in Oakland's Chinatown on June 30, California Attorney General Robert Bonta unveiled new resources to combat a surge in hate crimes over the past year. A special report also released on Wednesday by Bonta's office shows crimes targeting the Asian community in California increased by 107 percent from 2019 to 2020. (Hung, 7/1)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. Backs New Restrictions On Homeless Encampments
Over the objections of activists, advocacy groups and two of their colleagues, Los Angeles City Council members on Thursday approved a new package of restrictions on encampments near homeless shelters, day-care centers and an array of other public facilities. With some arguing the measure would further criminalize homelessness and others saying the city took too long to act, council members voted 13 to 2 to enact rules regulating sitting, sleeping and storing property near fire hydrants, building entrances, driveways, libraries, parks, elementary schools and several other locations. (Zahniser and Oreskes, 7/1)
Sacramento Bee:
How Republican Recall Candidates Want To Tackle CA Homelessness
Standing under Highway 160 in north Sacramento on Tuesday, amid discarded clothes, boxes and other random litter, gubernatorial hopeful Kevin Faulconer gave his pitch for fixing homelessness in California. “I feel very, very strongly that we have to change what we are doing as a state,” said the former San Diego mayor, steps away from the tents of homeless people who milled about as he addressed a small crowd of reporters. (Korte, 7/2)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Kaiser Adds Tri-City Medical Center To Its Options For North County Members
More than 185,000 Kaiser Permanente members living in North County now have an additional hospital option. Kaiser and Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside jointly announced an agreement Thursday that adds the facility as a health plan option for a wide range of services from emergencies and inpatient care to specialty procedures and surgeries. (Sisson, 7/1)
AP:
California Homicides Jump 31% In 2020, Most In 13 Years
Homicides in California jumped 31% last year, making it the deadliest year since 2007, and Black people accounted for nearly one-third of all victims as the nation’s most populous state struggled with the coronavirus pandemic and concerns over racial injustice, according to reports released Thursday. The 2,202 homicides last year were 523 more than in 2019, while the rate increased by a similar margin — from 4.2 to 5.5 homicides per 100,000 people. (Thompson, 7/2)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Here's How S.F. Plans To Tackle 'Unacceptable' Drug Crisis In The Tenderloin
A task force of police, prosecutors, public defenders and Tenderloin community members pulled together by the city to figure out how to stem the tide of drug-dealing released its recommendations this week after a year and a half of work. Here are the recommendations from the San Francisco Street-Level Drug Dealing Task Force, which were published in a report Wednesday and presented to the public at a virtual meeting Thursday. (Moench, 7/1)
Los Angeles Times:
Postpartum Depression On The Rise During COVID-19 Pandemic
Experts say more women are seeking out help since the pandemic began. Women of color are among the most affected, in part because of insurance issues. (Rivera, 7/2)
Southern California News Group:
Flea-Borne Typhus Cases Are On The Rise In Southern California
Cases of flea-borne typhus are on the rise in Long Beach, officials announced Tuesday, June 29. There have been 10 cases reported so far this year, more than double the four cases that had been reported this time last year. Typhus can cause high fever, chills, headache and rash and enters the skin through scratching a bite from an infected flea, which rats, cats, dogs, raccoons and opossums can carry. (Munguia, 6/30)
San Francisco Chronicle:
An 'Existential Crisis': Pandemic Debts Hang Over Bay Area Restaurants
Despite the optimism of this moment, with Bay Area restaurants able to return to full capacity, the financial pressures of the shutdown linger. Many restaurant owners say their recovery is far from certain: At least one restaurateur who spoke with The Chronicle faced eviction proceedings even though protections are in place to prevent that. Others worry whether ongoing debt will bring another raft of closures in the coming months. A recent survey of more than 100 restaurants found that 60% of the restaurants have amassed debt during the pandemic, compared to 34% in March 2020, according to small-business nonprofit SF New Deal, which conducted the study. On average, restaurants’ debt has nearly doubled, up from $62,000 to $114,000, according to the survey. (Kadvany, 7/1)
CBS New York:
14-Year-Old California Boy On The Mend After Having Extremely Rare Heart And Liver Transplant
Multi-organ transplants have always been pretty rare, especially in children and especially with a drop in donations during COVID-19 lockdowns. But now, a California teenager is recovering after receiving both a heart and a liver transplant, CBS2’s Dr. Max Gomez reported Thursday. It is a remarkable story of survival. Mark Trapp can’t wait to get back to playing sports now that he has a new heart and liver. (Gomez, 7/1)
The Desert Sun:
Palm Springs Sexual Health Clinic Offers Free STI Testing Through 2021
Access to sexual wellness services and testing for sexually transmitted infections will be free for at least the next six months at DAP Health in Palm Springs. The change starts Wednesday and coincides with the opening of the Orange Clinic, a separate sexual wellness clinic at the DAP Health campus. The Federally Qualified Health Center expects a surge in sexual activity as people emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. (Sestito, 7/1)
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento CA Cafe Helps Domestic Violence Survivors
In downtown Sacramento, tucked away on Capitol Mall, is a small cafe unlike any other.My Sister’s Cafe is a small business with a specific purpose: to support domestic violence survivors, giving them safe job training experience and an opportunity to become financially independent. Founded in 2014 by My Sister’s House, a shelter and resource center for domestic violence victims with a focus on Asian heritage, the cafe has become a success story. (Sullivan, 7/2)
Los Angeles Times:
Mask Confusion: The CDC And L.A. County Offer Conflicting Guidance. Who's Right?
Two weeks after the state lifted the mask mandate, Los Angeles County public health officials recommended that everyone put one back on when they enter movie theaters, grocery stores and other public places, even if they are fully vaccinated. Though COVID-19 cases in the county are still very low, they have been ticking upward exponentially in recent days, driven by the highly infectious Delta variant. But on Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention appeared to pour cold water on that guidance. In an interview on “Today,” Director Rochelle Walensky said that vaccinated people are safe from the Delta variant and confirmed that the CDC maintains its position that vaccinated people don’t need to wear masks indoors. (6/30)
Los Angeles Times:
Put Your Masks Back On, And Don't Whine About It
This is a little embarrassing to admit, but one of my favorite genres of videos to watch during the COVID-19 pandemic was “mask fights.” Whether at Walmarts, Home Depots, in airplanes or restaurants, anywhere people gathered could become a forum for angry outbursts. There was a moment, thanks to the inane politicization of masks by conservatives, when the furious, semi-coherent rants of mask opponents were regularly captured on cellphones. (Robin Abcarian, 6/29)
San Francisco Chronicle:
What California Can Learn From The Rise Of The Delta Variant
The first conclusion that can be drawn from the rise of the coronavirus’ delta variant is a familiar one that nevertheless bears repeating: Those who can get vaccinated should. While the variant has alarmed officials in Southern California and beyond, their concern is mainly for the unvaccinated. The vaccines are highly effective even against the variant, particularly in preventing it from causing serious illness. (6/29)
Modesto Bee:
Emerging From COVID, Don’t Forget Regular Health Checkups
After more than a year of Stanislaus County residents enduring sacrifices to keep ourselves and loved ones safe amid the most pressing public health crisis of a generation, our state has finally been able to safely lift most of its COVID-19 restrictions.California’s safe reopening was the hard-earned result of people doing their part to reduce or prevent the transmission of COVID-19 to family members, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. As we all celebrate the full reopening of California’s economy and gradual return to normalcy in time for summer, let’s not forget to schedule regular health care checkups for ourselves and our children. (Michael Schrader and Lakshmi Dhanvanthari, 7/2)
San Francisco Chronicle:
The COVID Lab Leak Theory Is Still Probably Wrong
Based on the recent ravings of such virological giants as Jon Stewart and Donald Trump, a casual observer might think critical evidence had emerged to support the notion that the novel coronavirus escaped from a Chinese lab — or to refute the suspicion that it entered the human population the way of countless predecessors, by naturally spilling over from bats or other species. But the recent resurgence of the so-called lab leak theory among journalists, politicians and scientists largely outside the relevant fields means less than it seems to. (6/27)
Los Angeles Times:
Telling Homeless People Where They Cannot Camp Will Not Stop Them From Being Homeless
As the Los Angeles City Council debated Tuesday how to handle homeless encampments, Council member Paul Krekorian offered a scenario he wanted to avoid: a police officer approaching a homeless disabled veteran on a sidewalk and saying, “You need to go into a shelter tonight. I know it’s midnight. But you need to pick up and go to a shelter, or you’re going to jail.” Krekorian asked his colleagues: “Is that the city we want?” Shortly after, the council voted 12 to 3 in favor of a proposal from Krekorian and five other members instructing the city administrative officer to come up with a strategy to deploy a massive citywide street outreach effort to offer homeless individuals shelter or housing before prohibiting sitting, sleeping and lying in different areas of the city. But it also asked the city attorney to come up with a new anti-camping ordinance. (7/1)
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento Housing Law Could Set National Homeless Approach
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg is ready to take a daring step to combat the homelessness crisis engulfing the region. He wants California’s capital city to be one of the first in the U.S. to establish a legal right to housing and shelter. This could be a breakthrough after years of insufficient homeless policies. The test will be if Steinberg’s newest proposal can achieve what he has been promising for years: moving enough of the estimated 11,000 homeless people in Sacramento out of squalor and into adequate shelter for it to make a difference in their lives and ours. Sacramento is ready for such an ambitious approach. (7/1)
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento Must Prioritize Housing Homeless Families, Kids
Zero children and families should be living on our streets. The number right now? In California, it was last reported at 25,777 families with children. Here in Sacramento, it’s 1,132 babies, kids, teens and parents.It’s outrageous, and it makes me angry. (Angelique Ashby, 6/30)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
A Concerted Effort On Homelessness Is Exactly What San Diego Needs
Homelessness has suddenly become a central theme of the state’s gubernatorial recall election and an urgent focus for an army of volunteers who will comb Downtown San Diego for the next month with the intent of getting more people off the street. Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a $12 billion plan to help California’s estimated 160,000 homeless residents. Then two of Newsom’s challengers, local Republicans John Cox and Kevin Faulconer, unveiled their own proposals this week. Meanwhile, people from Father Joe’s Villages, People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) and Downtown San Diego Partnership are flooding streets downtown to get chronically homeless people who have lived for years without shelter in one and to respond to mushrooming homeless encampments. (7/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
California's On Fire. The Newsom Administration Should Start Acting Like It
President Biden’s meeting with Gavin Newsom and other Western governors Wednesday made a high-profile gesture toward treating wildfires with the seriousness they require in a changing climate. But California and the country have hardly begun to back up symbolism with substance. There’s no need to debate the systemic threat in California, where fire “season” has long since become a misnomer and heat, drought and sprawl portend little relief from trends toward larger, more destructive wildfires. Biden said 36 major Western fires are already under way, 15 more than at this time last year. They include Northern California’s Lava Fire, which has forced thousands to evacuate their homes in Siskiyou County this week. (6/30)
Los Angeles Times:
Expect Hotter And Deadlier Heat Waves Every Summer
It is getting hotter. As astonishing as the deadly Pacific Northwest heat wave was, it was a direct result of global heating, and therefore not actually unexpected. Global heating is exactly what it sounds like, and many of the most devastating effects are obvious. On a heating planet, of course ice sheets melt and sea levels rise. How could they not? On a heating planet, of course fuel dries and wildfires engulf whole forests and the towns nestled within. On a heating planet, of course heat waves get hotter and deadlier. (Peter Kalmus, 7/2)
Los Angeles Times:
Walmart's Insulin Price: A Glimpse At A Rational Drug Market
For years, advocates of healthcare reform have been saying the market for prescription drugs is rigged, with powerful pharmaceutical companies setting prices at unreasonably high levels. Drug companies steadfastly have insisted they don’t do that. Thanks to Walmart, now we know for sure: They do. (David Lazarus, 6/30)
Los Angeles Times:
California College Students Often Struggle To Meet Basic Needs
There’s a running joke that college students eat instant ramen noodles to save money on food, but this joke has become a harsh reality for many students today. I know how hard it can be to afford college; I’m at Cal State Long Beach thanks in part to Cal Grant, the state’s financial aid program for low- and moderate-income students. Throughout my courses, I’ve heard shocking stories of students struggling to make ends meet. (Jireh Deng, 6/25)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Socializing In Reopened S.F. Is Kinda Fun, But Very, Very Frightening
Even before Juneteenth was finally made a national holiday, I knew I was going out. I didn’t know where, but I knew I had to do something. After all, I’d gotten my second Moderna shot in mid-May and still hadn’t properly left the house. California was lifting all COVID restrictions (save for letting unvaccinated folks go mask-free), and San Francisco — my birthplace and home of 40 years — was predicted to reach herd immunity soon. The least an S.F.-born Black man could do was celebrate in his hometown; especially since there are so few Black people left here. (Charles Lewis III, 6/27)