Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
Eight months after California Healthline’s Heidi de Marco photographed LA under lockdown, she returned to the same iconic spots. Vehicle and foot traffic are up — as are coronavirus cases. (Heidi de Marco, )
Mandatory Curfew Begins Saturday: Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a mandatory overnight stay-at-home order that prohibits most nonessential activity outside the home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in counties in the purple tier (the strictest tier). The curfew begins Saturday and lasts through Dec. 21. Read more from the Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, Bay Area News Group and AP. Continued coverage, below.
State May Issue Emergency COVID Rules For Workplaces: California may soon issue emergency rules aimed at curbing workplace spread of COVID-19. A six-member board overseeing Cal/OSHA voted unanimously Thursday to advance a slate of workplace protocols. The new policy could take effect within a few weeks pending a review and comment period. Read more from the Los Angeles Times, KTLA and KCRA.
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
AP:
Pfizer Seeking Emergency Use Of Its COVID-19 Vaccine In US
Pfizer said Friday it is asking U.S. regulators to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine, starting the clock on a process that could bring limited first shots as early as next month and eventually an end to the pandemic -- but not until after a long, hard winter. The action comes days after Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech announced that its vaccine appears 95% effective at preventing mild to severe COVID-19 disease in a large, ongoing study. (Neergaard, 11/20)
Los Angeles Times:
Distributing Vaccine Will Be Biggest Health Operation In L.A. History. Can The Bureaucracy Pull It Off?
The scientists have designed the vaccine. Now, government bureaucrats must figure out how to quickly and fairly distribute the life-saving COVID-19 medication. For Los Angeles County, this effort has already included acquiring 16 ultra-cold storage freezers to be installed across the region. They can store tens of thousands of doses at temperatures as low as minus 86 degrees Celsius. (Cosgrove, 11/20)
Los Angeles Times:
Who Will Get The First COVID Vaccines? California And Other States Race To Decide
As the first COVID-19 vaccines move toward federal approval, California and other states are racing to finalize plans for who will get the first doses and how they will be distributed — critical decisions that have taken on new urgency as drugmakers prepare to ship vaccines in just a few weeks. State and federal health officials have largely agreed that frontline healthcare workers who have direct contact with COVID-19 patients should be vaccinated first, a vital step as infections soar this fall, filling hospitals across the country. (Levey, 11/19)
Politico:
CDC Urges Against Thanksgiving Travel
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday advised Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving and to limit gatherings to people within the same household as coronavirus cases continue to surge. The agency's guidance is at odds with recent messaging from the White House, including fierce criticism of state-level mitigation efforts from President Donald Trump's press secretary. But it lines up with a growing number of new state Covid-19 restrictions that are being imposed in response to record numbers of new cases and more than 250,000 U.S. deaths. (Ehley, 11/19)
NPR:
CDC Pleads With Americans To Avoid Thanksgiving Travel
The better bet, the CDC advised, was for people instead to spend Thanksgiving with the folks with whom they have been living for the two weeks leading up to the holiday. "If people have not been actively living with you for the 14 days before you're celebrating, they're not considered a member of your household," Erin Sauber-Schatz of the CDC said at a news briefing Thursday. "And therefore you need to take those extra precautions, even wearing masks within your own home." (Dwyer, 11/20)
Bay Area News Group:
California Reports Most Deaths In A Month, Daily Cases Reach New High
After another day of more than 10,000 new cases of COVID-19, California has reported more infections in the past week than any other seven-day period of the pandemic, and as transmission of the virus reaches a new high, more Californians are being hospitalized and dying from the disease, as well. On Wednesday, county health departments around California combined to report 11,646 new cases and 107 new deaths, according to data compiled by this news organization — the highest single-day death toll since Oct. 21 and just the third time at least 10,000 cases have been recorded on three consecutive days. (Webeck, 11/19)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. County Reports Over 5,000 New COVID Infections, A Record
Los Angeles County recorded nearly 5,000 new coronavirus cases Thursday, the most it has seen in any one day since the pandemic began, as the state announced that a new, limited stay-at-home order would be put in place starting this weekend that asks people to stay at home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., with certain exceptions. (Money, Lin II and Roberson, 11/19)
AP:
California Cities, Counties Split On Enforcing Health Orders
San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore on Thursday announced a “full-time law enforcement presence” to get more businesses to comply with California’s tightening coronavirus restrictions, joining one of the most aggressive enforcement efforts in the state. San Diego County, the state’s second most populous with 3.3 million residents, has issued 52 cease-and-desist orders since Monday, sternly worded letters demanding that violators start following health orders. The letters, issued by the county public health officer and posted online, bring unwanted publicity but carry little weight without law enforcement backing. (Spagat and Thompson, 11/20)
Bay Area News Group:
Some California Police Agencies Will Not Enforce New Stay-At-Home Orders, Is A ‘Last Resort’ For Others
Law enforcement officials throughout Southern California said they do not plan on arresting people or issuing fines to those who do not comply with the state’s new late evening curfews, which were ordered to begin Saturday amid a surge of coronavirus infections. Instead of incarceration or fines, the region’s largest law enforcement agencies said they plan to work with residents in educating them on the public health rules and are asking for people to voluntarily comply. (Valdez, 11/20)
Modesto Bee:
It’s Not Clear Who Will Enforce COVID-19 Curfew In Stanislaus Area
A state-imposed curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. will go into effect Saturday night in Stanislaus County and run through Dec. 21, as state health officials try to curb spiking coronavirus infections. Stanislaus is subject to the curfew because it’s one of the 41 counties that are in the most restrictive purple tier of California’s plan for slowing the coronavirus pandemic. (Carlson, 11/19)
San Francisco Chronicle:
‘The Virus Doesn’t Care — Day Or Night’: Is There Real Science Behind COVID Curfews?
Health officers across the Bay Area have repeatedly said that indoor gatherings, particularly those involving multiple households, are the main drivers of the recent local surge. But officials say enforcing rules against those types of gatherings is virtually impossible. Many of them also occur during the day, when the weather is usually more amenable to gathering. (Vainshtein, 11/19)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Oakland Events Space Slapped With Restraining Order For Violating Pandemic Rules
An Alameda County judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Humanist Hall, an events space in Oakland, for defying public health orders by holding large indoor events. The order came after the City Attorney’s Office filed a lawsuit on Oct. 28 with the Alameda County Superior Court arguing the events center is in “flagrant, knowing, and repeated violation” of the county health order that bans events. The lawsuit came after The Chronicle revealed that the Humanist Hall was hosting gatherings since at least July — some with more 100 people and many with maskless attendees. (Ravani, 11/19)
Fresno Bee:
Fresno’s Well Church Won’t Follow Purple Tier COVID-19 Rules
After Fresno slid back into California’s Purple Tier of COVID-19 restrictions, Fresno’s faith community responded in varying ways — from continuing to operate in-person to not opening doors at all. One church that reversed course is The Well Community Church, which will continue to have in-person services. The church previously followed shutdown orders. It has multiple locations throughout Fresno and Clovis and services in both English and Spanish with a congregation of thousands of people. (Calix, 11/20)
Capital Public Radio/KXJZ:
Filipino Population Is High-Risk For COVID-19, But Very Little Data On The Community’s Outcomes Exist
As California enters another surge of COVID-19 cases, Sacramento’s Filipino community is concerned. Dr. Ninez Ponce at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health said that there was early indication from social media and Filipino-specific COVID memorial sites that Filipino communities were being hit hard by the pandemic. Surveys indicated that Filipinos are at high risk for the virus because many work in the healthcare field or in nursing homes. But there’s imprecise data on the group, because they’re categorized under the larger umbrella of Asian and Pacific Islander. (Mizes-Tan, 11/19)
Bay Area News Group:
Oakland Hall Owner: Pandemic ‘Never Seemed Like A Real Thing,’ Venue Will Defy City Order To Close
The owner of an Oakland humanist hall said Thursday that he will not obey a city order to shut down during the latest COVID-19 surge, saying that “the pandemic never seemed like a real thing” and bemoaning the money he has lost thus far. On Thursday, the Oakland city attorney’s office obtained a temporary restraining order forcing David Oertel and the Fellowship for Humanity nonprofit, which operate the Humanist Hall venue on 27th Street. The order, granted by Superior Court Judge Paul D. Herbert, says the hall must comply with COVID-19-related public health orders around social gatherings and requirements for mask-wearing, social distancing and hygienic guidelines, or else present a case against doing so before a state Superior Court judge at a Dec. 15 hearing. (Kelly, 11/19)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
The Union-Tribune Wants To Know How You Are Coping With Pandemic Fatigue
Nine months into the coronavirus pandemic people are feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and, in many cases, scared by one of the worst public health threats in American history. San Diego County has just imposed new rules that limit where people can go and the size of gatherings. The restrictions come just before Thanksgiving, a holiday normally characterized by joy and togetherness. The Union-Tribune is asking readers to describe how the pandemic is affecting them on a personal level, and to let us know how they’re coping with the situation. Many of the responses will appear in a story that will be published on Wednesday, Nov. 25. (Robbins, 11/19)
Los Angeles Times:
COVID-19 Cases Spike At Partially Reopened L.A. Schools, But It’s Hard To Draw Conclusions
Coronavirus infections among staff and students at partially reopened L.A. County schools spiked in the past week, but incomplete data make it difficult to gauge whether educators and parents should be worried or assured during the unprecedented surge in community transmission. Last week, 164 schools in the county had reported coronavirus infections since the start of the school year. This week, that total jumped to 263. Last week a total of 169 staff and 63 students had been infected; one week later the cumulative numbers were 275 staff and 103 students, a 63% increase. (Blume, 11/20)
Sacramento Bee:
As COVID-19 Surges In Sacramento, Teachers Call For Stronger Safety Measures Before Reopening
In a letter to Sacramento County Public Health official Dr. Peter Beilenson and Sacramento County schools chief Dave Gordon, the leaders of 11 of the 13 Sacramento County teachers unions said California “cannot physically open schools for in-person instruction until it is safe.” Union leaders said they were concerned officials allowed Folsom Cordova Unified and St. HOPE Public Schools to reopen as the county entered the purple tier, the state’s most restrictive for reopenings. (Morrar, 11/20)
LA Daily News:
A Lot Of Questions, Concerns About LAUSD’s COVID-19 Testing Program For Student-Athletes
The plan included a requirement that all athletes and coaches be tested for COVID-19 through a program funded by the LAUSD. Schools also received a list of guidelines meant to keep coaches and athletes safe during the pandemic. The LAUSD gave the approval for schools to begin conditioning workouts on Nov. 9. Now, almost two weeks into the workouts, many school administrators and coaches say they have a lot of questions and concerns about the guidelines. They also fear there are major inconsistencies in the plan and that it doesn’t offer as much protection from the coronavirus as they expected. (Fattal, 11/19)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Narcan Training And Giveaway Set For Saturday In Taft
Narcan, also known as Naloxone, will be distributed Saturday in Taft in an effort by Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and Bakersfield Recovery Services to help people who may be at risk of an opioid overdose. The organizations have schedule a free drive-thru event, complete with training on how to use the medication, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the West Side Recreation Center, 500 Cascade Place. The first 100 vehicles to arrive can get a Narcan kit free of charge. (11/19)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Sober Living Home Permit Plan Wins Initial Support From Encinitas Council
A proposal to create a permit system for sober living group homes won initial, unanimous approval from the City Council Wednesday night over the strong objections of a half-dozen industry advocates who called it extremely discriminatory. The proposed ordinance, which is set to go back before the council Dec. 16 for final approval, will establish the city’s first-ever set of regulations for small group home operations in Encinitas, city principal planner Jennifer Gates said. These businesses will be required to obtain a city permit and to have a house manager on-site, among other conditions. (Henry, 11/19)
LA Daily News:
Rams’ Sean McVay Says Coronavirus Pandemic Is Driving Him ‘Crazy’
The Rams returned to practice and as close to normal as 2020 allows on Thursday after a player’s positive test for COVID-19 prompted them to cancel on-field work the previous day. Coach Sean McVay said the team’s first in-season bout with the virus brought “a heightened sense of urgency and awareness,” but disruption was “very minimal” for a team that got used to meeting by video conference or in their facility’s spacious outdoor tent during the offseason and training camp. (Modesti, 11/19)
Ventura County Star:
Winter Homeless Shelters In Simi, Conejo Valley, Ojai Adapt To COVID
Every year, the Conejo Valley Meal and Shelter Program relies on a rotating network of churches to provide shelter for the area's homeless individuals during the winter months. But with churches closed, outdoor only or remote due to the coronavirus, the program isn't providing shelter this winter. (Rode, 11/19)
Modesto Bee:
West Modesto Site Will Get 34 Homes For Veterans And Seniors
A vacant lot in west Modesto will get 34 rental units for low-income veterans and seniors. The one-bedroom homes are scheduled to rise by early 2022 on Vine Street just north of the King-Kennedy Memorial Center. The Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority has about $7.4 million in grants and loans for the construction. (Holland, 11/20)
Sacramento Bee:
Dignity Health Leader Harting To Retire From Sacramento Post
Laurie Harting, a longtime leader of the Greater Sacramento Division of Dignity Health, will be retiring Jan. 3 as part of a reorganization of corporate parent CommonSpirit Health. Marvin O’Quinn, president and chief operating officer for CommonSpirit, praised Harting in a news release issued Thursday, saying: “The contributions Laurie Harting has made to our ministry and our communities cannot be measured.” (Anderson, 11/19)
Sacramento Bee:
Rural California, Sacramento Hospitals Brace For Crush Of COVID-19 Patients. Are They Ready?
From rural hospitals in far Northern California to urban medical centers around Sacramento and across Southern California, facilities are bracing for an expected increase in COVID-19 patients. (Pohl and Sabalow, 11/20)
Modesto Bee:
California’s Curfew Blows, But COVID-19 Kills. Follow The Rules — Or Darker Days May Be Ahead
Last week, Sacramento County moved back to the “purple tier” of infections, the state’s most severe designation. Now, Sacramento County — like the majority of counties in the state — is under a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew from now until December 21. The “limited stay at home order” means Californians in the state’s 41 purple tier counties must stay home during these hours unless they’re walking dogs, grocery shopping, picking up takeout, going to work or responding to an emergency. (11/20)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
COVID Fatigue Collides With The Holidays
It may seem hard to find good cheer during the coming holidays as warnings of a seasonal surge in COVID-19 cases cast a pall over the region. Individuals are battling a sense of fatigue from pandemic guidelines, while business owners fight growing desperation now that they have been ordered to shut down indoor service once again. The pull of the holidays is expected to be too strong even for many who have followed the rules, luring them into letting their guards down for gatherings they have previously avoided. (Michael Smolens, 11/15)
Modesto Bee:
Stanislaus Will Beat COVID Only If People Take It Seriously
Blame Gov. Gavin Newsom all you want, but he didn’t shove Stanislaus County back to the state’s most restrictive COVID-19 purple tier. We did. Yes, his administration set the standard. Because of that, we knew exactly what the goal was. We knew exactly what our numbers must be to remain in the less-restrictive red tier or even improve. The standard was no secret, and we simply didn’t meet it. (11/18)
Sacramento Bee:
Gavin Newsom’s French Laundry Fiasco Harms COVID-19 Efforts
A meal at the famed French Laundry restaurant in Yountville costs around $350 per person, not including wine. It typically features nine courses, not counting the “amuse-bouche,” which is a ritzy French term for appetizers. We certainly hope Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, enjoyed their dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant on Nov. 6. Because it will end up costing a lot more than $700 in terms of damage to Newsom’s credibility in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nothing will launder the stain of stupidity from his reputation after this ill-conceived outing. (11/13)
The Wall Street Journal:
Gavin Newsom’s Covid Laundry
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been caught violating his own social-distancing rules by attending a birthday party at a Napa Valley restaurant with a dozen or so friends—even as some two million in his state are unemployed thanks to his strict virus rules. (11/15)
Bay Area News Group:
Block Warriors’ Plan For Allowing Fans In Chase Arena
As more California businesses are being forced to shut down again to control a third surge of coronavirus cases, the Golden State Warriors want to reopen Chase Center to fans. In a plan disclosed last week by ESPN, team owner Joe Lacob proposes filling the arena to 50% capacity, requiring every fan and worker to wear a mask and testing anyone who enters the building. (11/19)
Sacramento Bee:
California Is An Epicenter Of The Alzheimer’s Crisis. Here’s How We Can Help Solve It
One year ago today, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force came together to develop bold recommendations for how California can lead the nation in tackling the crisis of Alzheimer’s. On this day, we accomplish that mission, presenting the governor with 10 ambitious but commonsense proposals we urge the state to swiftly adopt as part of its Master Plan on Aging. (Maria Shriver, 11/19)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Californians To Homeless: No Room At The Inn
One of the few mercies of the coronavirus has been a burst of urgency to house some of California’s legion of homeless residents in hotel and motel rooms. Unfortunately, it took a once-in-a-century pandemic to push state and local governments to respond in a way that basic humanity should require. Worse, the leap from temporary relief to permanent rehousing will require overcoming the forces that gave the state its disproportionate homelessness in the first place: callous NIMBYism, counterproductive bureaucracy and a void of political will to produce the housing we need. (20/20)
San Francisco Chronicle:
The War On Drugs Destroyed People. But S.F.’s Passive Approach To The Drug Crisis Is Costing Lives, Too
Two bodies a day continue to arrive at the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office, laid to waste by drugs, usually fentanyl. With 516 people dying from overdoses through September, the city might hit 700 deaths by the end of the year, up from 441 last year and 259 the year before. (Heather Knight, 11/14)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Remote Workers Are More Likely To Experience Burnout. Here's How To Avoid It.
With this year’s pandemic-related shutdowns, we’ve all experienced changes in both personal and professional lifestyle. Traditionally high-energy office environments bustling with creativity have become dormant with the shift to remote work, communal kitchen coffee machines are collecting dust, and we’re all accepting the fact that holiday parties probably aren’t happening this year. Job titles and responsibilities as we once knew them have changed with the reduction in workforce for a lot of companies, and that has dramatically increased the workload for employees fortunate enough to remain active members of the workforce. They say that “with great power comes great responsibility,” but great power also brings increased stress and feelings of burnout that cannot go unacknowledged. (Diana Dix, 11/19)