Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
Stanford vs. Harvard: Two Famous Biz Schools’ Opposing Tactics on COVID
While the Harvard Business School gently chided returnees to be on their best behavior, Stanford deployed green-vested enforcers and campus police who sometimes threatened students if they violated the rules. Both, apparently, succeeded. (Mark Kreidler, )
1 Million Cases In California … And It All Started With One Woman: Back in January, when Patricia Dowd became sick with flu-like symptoms and had to cancel plans to go to a funeral, it would be impossible to fathom what her illness foretold for California and the rest of the nation. Read more from the Los Angeles Times. Continued coverage, below.
Voters Approve Stem-Cell Research Ballot Measure: California’s stem cell agency will receive an infusion of $5.5 billion in new research funding after voters approved Proposition 14. The ballot measure had been leading since the Nov. 3 election before it was called by the Associated Press on Thursday night. Read more from the Los Angeles Times and KQED.
Note to readers —
Helping COVID’s Secondary Victims: Grieving Families and Friends: COVID-19 is taking a devastating toll — not just on patients but also their families. Judith Graham, author of KHN's Navigating Aging column, will talk with experts and take reader questions during a Facebook Live event on Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. ET. Watch here and submit questions now.
Below, check out the roundup of California Healthline’s coverage. For today's national health news, read KHN's Morning Briefing.
More News From Across The State
KQED:
Inside California's Pandemic Election: How COVID-19 Changes Could Shape The Future Of Voting
Election officials across California are breathing a sigh of relief: An election that combined unprecedented changes and unmatched scrutiny amid a global pandemic resulted in historic levels of participation and few widespread issues. Some features of this year's vote will hopefully go down as historical aberrations, like poll workers in protective gear and masked voters physically distanced in voting locations stocked with hand sanitizer. (Marzorati, 11/13)
Los Angeles Times:
California Hits 1 Million Coronavirus Cases As L.A. County Urges Travel Quarantine
Coronavirus infections in California are racing upward at a level not seen since the summer, with the state surpassing 1 million cases on Thursday, and health officials are warning dire action must be taken to stop the spread of the illness. If the surge continues in Los Angeles County, “additional actions” could become necessary to bring the rate of transmission back under control, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. (Money, 11/12)
Bay Area News Group:
Coronavirus In California: 1 Million Infections In Perspective
California recorded its millionth infection Thursday of the new coronavirus that has unleashed a devastating pandemic since January, a staggering milestone for the disease once again surging throughout the nation. Roughly one in 40 Californians — or about the entire population of San Jose — have tested positive for the virus, and more than 18,000 have died. Dr. Sara Cody, who led the Bay Area in the nation’s first major lockdown in mid-March to corral the burgeoning contagion, said Thursday she could not imagine the state would see so many infections when she announced the region’s first case in January. “Not in my wildest dreams — or nightmares,” Cody said. (Woolfolk, 11/12)
Los Angeles Times:
COVID Spreads Like 'Fire' As California Faces Grim Winter
Coronavirus is again on the rise in California, and the big question is: How bad it will get? With the holidays approaching, state officials have already rolled back reopenings in some counties as case numbers surge. Officials now fear more hospitalizations and deaths, and they are debating whether more intense measures will be needed to slow the infection rate. (Dolan and Money, 11/12)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Charts Show Why S.F. Is At Opposite End Of Coronavirus Tier System From L.A., San Diego
Amid a recent coronavirus surge across the U.S., San Francisco occupies a unique place in California's least restrictive reopening tier — in sharp contrast with the state’s two largest counties, Los Angeles and San Diego. San Francisco is one of only six among California’s 58 counties in the yellow “minimal” tier and the only large metro area in the state with that distinction. (Hwang, 11/12)
Capital Public Radio/KXJZ:
Several California Counties Have Appealed Their COVID-19 Status, But Very Few Have Had Success
When it comes to the gradual reopening of schools and businesses, California counties hang on the words of state health officials. Each week, they give counties approval to restart different sectors of the economy or not, based on the COVID-19 case rate and test positivity threshold established by the state’s color-coded tiering system. Whether or not a county can move up depends on several factors, such as how many people live there, how many tests are being administered, and whether there are outbreaks at schools and nursing homes. During the past two months, 10 counties have contested their tier status using the state’s readjudication process, which allows counties to request a reassessment when they’ve been moved back a tier. But the state only approved four of those requests. (Caiola, 11/12)
San Francisco Chronicle:
California Nursing Homes See Surge In Coronavirus Cases Amid Statewide Spike
The number of new daily coronavirus cases at the state’s skilled nursing facilities has more than doubled since the start of November — from 42 on Nov. 1 to 101 on Nov. 10 — after a relatively steady decrease since August, according to state data. The figures are seven-day averages of new daily cases. One Bay Area facility, San Tomas Convalescent Hospital in San Jose, appears to be part of this wave, reporting 30 new cases among residents on Nov. 4, according to state data. (Ho, 11/12)
The Bakersfield Californian:
After COVID-19 Outbreak Subsides At Mesa Verde, ICE Seeks To Remove Court Restrictions
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to remove a court order that was issued after more than half of the detainees at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center contracted coronavirus in August. Citing consistently negative tests among the general population and seemingly low rates of COVID-19 in Kern County, ICE says the court order is no longer needed. (Morgen, 11/12)
Orange County Register:
Disneyland To Remain Closed Until 2021, Disney Official Says
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are expected to stay closed for the rest of 2020 and not reopen until 2021 while large California theme parks remain shuttered under state guidelines, according to Disney officials. “We currently anticipate Disneyland resort will remain closed at least through the end of the fiscal first quarter,” Disney Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy said. (MacDonald, 11/12)
Orange County Register:
SeaWorld And Legoland Trim Operations As San Diego Moves Backward In Coronavirus Fight
SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland California will be forced to reclose their indoor aquarium exhibits after San Diego County moved into a stricter COVID-19 tier in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. San Diego County’s backward move into the state’s most restrictive purple/widespread tier 1 risk level starting on Saturday, Nov. 14 will shutter indoor aquarium exhibits at SeaWorld and Legoland. (MacDonald, 11/12)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Kern County To Hire Temporary Workers To Do COVID-19 Outreach In At-Risk Communities
Kern County public health will hire temporary workers to be deployed to disadvantaged areas of the county starting next week under a plan announced Tuesday to provide COVID-19 outreach and education to vulnerable populations. The decision appears to be a stopgap measure after supervisors three weeks ago refused to award a $1 million contract to Building Healthy Communities Kern, a coalition of grassroots community groups that work in outlying valley communities and was recommended by Kern County Public Health Services Director Matt Constantine’s office to do the work. (Shepard, 11/12)
Modesto Bee:
Limiting Indoor Capacity To 20% Can Greatly Reduce COVID-19 Infections, Study Says
Limiting the number of people who are close together indoors for an extended period of time — such as in gyms, hotels, cafes, religious centers and restaurants — can reduce new coronavirus infections by about 80%, according to a new study from Stanford University. Researchers tracked the movements of 98 million Americans with anonymous cell phone location data in 10 major cities from March to May through half a million indoor establishments. They then developed a computer model that accurately predicted the spread of COVID-19 by analyzing where people went, how long they stayed there and how many people shared the same space at the same time. (Camero, 11/12)
Fresno Bee:
Fresno-Area TV Anchor Who’s Been Off Air For Week Reveals Positive Test For COVID-19
Add another Fresno television anchor to the list of those who’ve recently caught the coronavirus. Megan Rupe, a morning anchor on CBS-47 Eyewitness News, announced Thursday on social media that she tested positive for COVID-19. (Anteola, 11/12)
Fresno Bee:
How’s Fresno Mayor-Elect Jerry Dyer’s COVID Recovery Coming? He Shares Latest
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Gov. Jerry Brown both reached out with best wishes for Fresno Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer as he recovers from coronavirus. Dyer received his positive test result for COVID-19 earlier this week. Dyer said he is deeply grateful for all those who have reached out with advice and said they’re praying for him and his family. (Calix, 11/12)
Orange County Register:
OC Couple Has Been Married 71 Years And, Together, Beat The Coronavirus
When he goes out, which is rare these days, he catches himself muttering to passersby. “Wear a mask,” the elderly man grumbles to the maskless in his Huntington Beach retirement community. His wife of 71 years keeps her mouth shut, which is not something she often does. (Sharon, 11/12)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Parents Say San Diego Unified Mask Policy Discriminates Against Students With Disabilities
Erin Coller’s 5-year-old son, who has an intellectual disability and autism, is not allowed to go to school because he can’t wear a mask. Cadman has sensory defensiveness, which means he is hypersensitive and overreacts to certain stimuli. He especially doesn’t tolerate anything on his head or face, not even a hat, and he rips off masks in seconds, Coller said. Cadman’s school, Hawthorne Elementary in San Diego Unified, has invited him to come to school to work with a teacher for up to 30 minutes a week. It’s part of San Diego Unified’s Phase One reopening, which so far has provided about 3,000 students with in-person support sessions. (Taketa, 11/12)
Modesto Bee:
Here’s How Modesto Area Health Officials Feel About Sending Children Back To Campus
Some schools in Stanislaus County are offering only distance learning, a few have begun in-person learning and others are offering a hybrid model with a mix of the two. Nearly all districts are giving the choice to parents. But it’s difficult for parents to know what the “right” choice is, with so much conflicting information about the risks and benefits of in-person classes, such as better learning and access to school-based services but higher risk of COVID-19 exposure, and the opposite for distance learning. (Mink, 11/12)
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Infectious Disease Experts Urge People To Stay Home For Holidays
With the coronavirus resurgence in many parts of the state and country, area infectious disease experts strongly urge Sonoma County residents to stay home over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays rather than travel for gatherings of family and friends. Traditionally, people hit the road or fly (Espinoza, 11/12)
Bay Area News Group:
Contra Costa County Declares Racism A Public Health Crisis, Establishes Equity Office
Calling attention to a history of unequal access to public health services among different racial communities, Contra Costa County supervisors have declared racism itself a health crisis and unanimously approved establishing an office of “racial equity and social justice. ”At a meeting Tuesday, the board agreed that racism has worked its way into the distribution of local health care, creating disparities in who can receive medical treatment and preventative care. Board Chairwoman Candace Anderson noted that the problem extends to COVID-19, which has disproportionately affected Black and Latinx communities, but added that disparities existed long before the current pandemic. (Mukherjee, 11/12)
LA Daily News:
Nearby Snow Resorts Announce Opening Dates; Mountain High Delays After Positive COVID Tests
It’s a winter wonderland at local mountain resorts, with most getting lifts ready to take snowboarders and skiers to their slopes. But Mountain High in Wrightwood announced Thursday, Nov. 12, it had postponed its opening day because four employees have tested positive for coronavirus. The delay showcases complications snow resorts may face as they prepare to welcome thousands of visitors to their mountain playgrounds. Mountain resorts across the state and country, including Mountain High, have put measures in place to meet COVID-related regulations and limit virus transmission, officials have said. (Connelly, 11/12)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
First Legal Cannabis Business Opens In Chula Vista
The first legal marijuana operation in Chula Vista opened for business last week. Grasshopper Delivery, which delivers cannabis products to South County residents, officially opened its doors Nov. 1. This is the first business to open since the city created a recreational cannabis ordinance and voters approved a special sales tax measure in 2018. (Solis, 11/11)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Universal Design And Dementia: Creating A Safe And Happy Home
Home – it’s a sanctuary for many of us, a place where we don’t have to think, we can just be. But for a person living with dementia, the idea of “home” can get a little complicated. You are probably well aware of this if you’ve ever heard someone say they “want to go home” when, from what you can see, they are home, and in a house they have lived in for decades. What must it be like for a person when a place they knew like the back of their hand now feels foreign, where nothing is where it should be or works how it should work? And what can we do to help? (Brooke Silveria, 11/9)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
VET Tv Strives To Turn Mental Hell Into Mental Health
Preventing veteran suicide is the newest mission of retired San Diego Marine Capt. Donny O’Malley. To do it, he’s capitalizing on a theme popularized by the long-running TV series “MASH” — military humor. Except O’Malley’s humor is not only irreverent, it is very dark and directly targets post 9/11 veterans. (Bell, 11/9)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Critter Drive-Ins, Pet Pen Pals, Zoom And Window Watching Combat COVID Blues
As San Diego zooms into the dreaded purple tier, further isolating residents, a just-released study estimates that half our seniors won’t take part in family get-togethers or holiday events this season. Even as this chilling news was in the making, folks at the Helen Woodward Animal Center have been thinking “outside the pen” to bring some animal joy to the hardest hit segments of our population. Since late April, staff and volunteers have instituted three new programs and tweaked a fourth to reach out to seniors and children shut-ins in hospitals, assisted living facilities, memory care units and mental health centers. (Bell, 11/11)
LA Daily News:
Inglewood Parents Hope, Pray Daughters Receive Bone Marrow Transplant
Kimora and her sister Kylie, 8, were already living with sickle cell anemia and in need of a bone marrow transplant. Sickle cell anemia is a potentially fatal disease of the blood. It has been a horrible year for the Van Scivers, and the horror has nothing to do with COVID-19. When Kimora went into the hospital, they canceled their wedding. They each declined their work promotions. And they agreed to delay buying a house. (Sharon, 11/12)
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento Got State Funding To Turn A Hotel Into Homeless Housing. The Project Was Nixed
A controversial plan to convert a River District hotel into housing for the homeless has been nixed. Sacramento had scored funding from a competitive state program called Project Homekey to convert the Hawthorn Suites into 100 units of homeless housing in a part of the city where the homeless crisis is dire. (Clift, 11/12)
San Francisco Chronicle:
The Affordable Care Act Might Survive The Dumbest Case Against It Yet
A majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared ready during arguments this week to reject the latest and silliest legal assault on the Affordable Care Act, edging away from the brink of plunging the nation’s health care system into chaos and themselves into farce. If the forces of reason do indeed prevail in the case, California vs. Texas, Americans should feel relief at the outcome but dismay that such a deeply frivolous claim came to be considered by the nation’s highest court. (11/12)
Los Angeles Times:
The Case Against Obamacare Is So Laughable, Even Conservatives On The Supreme Court Balked
The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit seeking to throw out the entire Affordable Care Act because Congress made it less coercive in 2017 than it was when the law was passed in 2010. It’s a ridiculous abuse of the court system, made even worse by the very real harm it could do to millions of Americans who rely on the ACA for health coverage today, with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting a record number of cases in this country. (11/10)
Bay Area News Group:
Pfizer Vaccine Shows Promise, But Remain Vigilant
Pfizer’s announcement Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective is cause for optimism. But the results are preliminary. This is no time for complacency, especially given the holiday season is fast approaching. Pfizer’s results have not been peer reviewed. Long-term safety and efficacy results have not been collected. Even under a best-case scenario, the vaccine would be available to only about 15 to 20 million people by January, or roughly 5% of the U.S. population. And there are no guarantees that Bay Area residents would be among those first in line to be vaccinated. (11/11)
Los Angeles Times:
COVID-19 May Be Teaching The World A Dangerous Lesson: Diseases Can Be Ideal Weapons
The devastation COVID-19 has wrought on the U.S. population is staggering. Yet the risks it poses to our national security are also chilling: Diseases are, in many terrible ways, ideal weapons. Many high-level national security leaders have contracted the virus, including the president. In October most of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and two other high-level military leaders were in quarantine after coming in contact with the vice commandant of the Coast Guard, who tested positive for the disease. A number of White House aides have been infected. (Christine Parthemore and Andy Weber, 11/12)
San Francisco Chronicle:
In San Francisco And Across California, Cautious Coronavirus Policies Are Saving Thousands Of Lives
Eight long months ago, San Francisco joined five Bay Area counties in ordering the nation’s first shelter-in-place order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, and Mayor London Breed’s administration has been even more conservative than the rest in easing restrictions. The city has also suffered fewer coronavirus deaths by population than any of the nation’s major cities. (11/13)
Bay Area News Group:
Keep High School Sports Shut Down During COVID-19 Pandemic
The California Interscholastic Federation should abandon any notion of allowing high schools to start football practice Dec. 14 with the intent of playing games in January. The latest COVID-19 surge in the Bay Area and throughout the state makes the risk far too great for players, coaches and their families. (11/13)