Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
Being Vaccinated Doesn’t Mean You Must Go Maskless. Here’s Why.
It won’t hurt to remain cautious, even as California reopens for business in response to mass vaccinations and diminishing cases of covid. (Bernard J. Wolfson, )
The Big Reopening Is Almost Here: Californians come Tuesday will largely return to a world most Golden Staters haven’t seen for nearly a year and a half. Limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings go away. So do the half-capacity limits on restaurants, theaters, gyms and places of worship. Read more from the Bay Area News Group and San Francisco Chronicle. More on the reopening, below.
California’s Economy No Worse Off During Pandemic Than ‘Open’ States, Data Show: Regulations aimed at preventing the spread of covid did not come at the expense of California’s economy, according to a new report that found states that took a more hands-off approach to the pandemic did not see an economic boost from their limited regulation. Read more from the Bay Area News Group.
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
CapRadio:
California Reopens June 15. Where Do You Need To Wear A Mask?
When California reopens on June 15, you might not need a mask in public places — but where and when depends. California’s masking guidelines on Tuesday will fall in alignment with those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says that fully vaccinated people can resume most activities without physical distancing or face coverings. The agency said that both indoor and outdoor events provide a minimal risk to fully vaccinated people, and that they have a reduced capability to transmit COVID-19 to others. However, the CDC does recommend that fully vaccinated people continue to wear face coverings when meeting with unvaccinated people, particularly those at high risk for COVID-19. (Salanga, 6/12)
San Francisco Chronicle:
When And Where Do I Need To Wear A Mask In California, Before And After June 15?
California is set to fully reopen its economy this week, which means nearly all COVID-19 pandemic restrictions will be lifted. Under the new “Beyond the Blueprint” framework, the state’s mask mandate will change — but some confusion has surrounded the rules, especially for the workplace. Here’s what we know about when vaccinated and unvaccinated people will need to wear masks in California, before and after the new rules take effect June 15. (Hwang, 6/13)
KQED:
Why Some Fully Vaccinated Californians Will Keep Wearing Masks After June 15
California will fully reopen for “business as usual”on June 15. That means, among other things, that fully vaccinated people will no longer be required to masks in most places around the state. But there are plenty of reasons you’ll still see some people in the Bay Area continuing to wear masks. We’ll tell you about some of them. (Katayama, Severn, Cruz Guevara, and Montecillo, 6/14)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Vaxxed Or Masked? What You Need To Know To Navigate San Diego's Reopening On Tuesday
For the last couple of months, San Diego County residents have grown accustomed to more relaxed pandemic regulations as they increasingly dine out indoors, catch the latest flick at the movie theater, ride a roller coaster and cheer on the Padres at Petco Park. So when California fully reopens on Tuesday — minus the state’s often bewildering, color-coded blueprint for daily life — the long-awaited moment is going to feel a bit anti-climactic. (Weisberg and Molnar, 6/12)
Orange County Register:
Pandemic Restrictions Will Largely Vanish This Week. Politics? Or Science?
At the stroke of midnight on June 15, the spell will break. Masks can fall. Churches and gyms and movie theaters can fill up. We’ll finally be able to tell a smile from a scowl, and sales of lip balm — and, perhaps, breath mints — will surely rise. As California stands on the precipice of normalcy after more than a year of pandemic drama and trauma, some worry. Are we really ready? Is the state that valiantly vowed to follow the science really following the science? (Sforza, 6/13)
Los Angeles Times:
What Eating At A Restaurant Will Be Like On June 15
At 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, California will retire many of the pandemic-related restrictions that crippled restaurants and other businesses for much of the last year. Restaurants will be able to return to 100% capacity, host parties larger than six at a single table and do away with social distancing requirements between tables and patrons. And self-service restaurants, such as buffets, can return to business as usual. The June 15 reopening of the economy comes as daily coronavirus case numbers in the state continue to drop and more people get vaccinated. (Harris, 6/14)
Modesto Bee:
When Will Modesto Entertainment Venues Reopen?
Entertainment venues and organizations in the Modesto region hope to get back to business as usual after the state’s planned reopening June 15. Capacity limits in place because of the coronavirus pandemic are expected to be removed for theaters and arts venues. (Clark, 6/14)
Sacramento Bee:
California Capitol To Lift COVID Restrictions For Public
As Californians shed COVID-19 restrictions and move toward reopening, the state Capitol will allow more access to the public starting next week. On June 15, the Capitol will allow 500 members of the public to be in the building at any given time, Legislative leaders announced Friday. (Korte, 6/11)
Los Angeles Times:
California Poised To Drop Mask Rules For Vaccinated Workers And End Distancing And Barriers At Workplaces
A California safety board will vote on a proposal Thursday that would allow most fully vaccinated workers in many workplaces to stop wearing masks and end physical distancing requirements for all workers. The proposal would also end the requirement to install the cleanable solid partitions designed to reduce viral transmission through the air — like the clear plastic barriers that separate customers and cashiers. (Lin II and Money, 6/14)
KQED:
Cal/OSHA to Consider Letting Employees Work Unmasked
The state agency responsible for creating safety rules for the workplace will meet on Thursday to consider adopting new guidelines around employee masking and social distancing. The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board released its updated guidance late Friday, which, if approved, would do away with most requirements involving masks and physical distancing for fully vaccinated workers. (Chang, 6/13)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Stanford Holds Bay Area's First Full In-Person College Commencement Since Pandemic Began
Stanford, which traditionally holds the last graduation ceremony of the season among Bay Area colleges and universities, was the first this year. Also, it was the only one to hold a fully live graduation ceremony with all the graduates seated in one place at one time. (Whiting, 6/13)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. Archdiocese To Drop COVID-19 Limits For The Vaccinated
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has issued new instructions to its more than 300 parishes to host full indoor masses without restrictions for vaccinated parishioners, such as social distancing and mask-wearing, beginning Saturday and June 20. Archbishop José Gomez sent out a letter over the weekend acknowledging “the significant progress in our fight against the pandemic” and established next weekend as homecoming dates for area Catholics. (Campa, 6/13)
Voice of OC:
Orange County Remembers Residents Who Died From Coronavirus In Countywide Memorial
More than 5,000 candles were lit Friday night vigil in the first memorial sponsored by county government to residents who died from Coronavirus. Cutouts of doves imprinted with the message “Forever loved forever missed” were placed around the lake behind the Costa Mesa Avenue of the Arts Hotel in the 7:30 p.m. gathering with more than 50 attendees. (Sanchez, 6/12)
Marin Independent Journal:
Marin Mandates COVID-19 Sick Leave At Small Businesses
Businesses with 25 or fewer employees in unincorporated Marin County must now provide paid sick leave to employees who miss work because of the pandemic. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt the mandate during its meeting on Tuesday. (Halstead, 6/13)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Kern Public Health Reports 11 New Coronavirus Cases Sunday
Kern County Public Health Services reported 11 new confirmed coronavirus cases Sunday. No new deaths were reported. That brings Kern's case count since the pandemic began to 110,604. There have been 1,400 deaths. Public Health reports that 39,859 people have recovered from the illness, and 68,276 people are presumed to have recovered. (6/13)
Los Angeles Times:
How Do We End The Pandemic And Return To Normal? Trust
Since the coronavirus invaded our lives 15 months ago, we’ve been on an emotional journey that took us through isolation and despair, anger and grief. Some of us felt envy when others got vaccinated before us, others encountered anxiety as the restrictions that kept us safe for a year were slowly lifted. Now, as we prepare for a full reopening in California on June 15, we must confront yet another emotional hurdle: our willingness to trust others. (Netburn, 6/14)
CNBC:
Novavax Says Its Covid Vaccine Is 90% Effective, Plans To Submit Data To FDA In Third Quarter
Biotech firm Novavax said Monday its Covid-19 vaccine was shown to be safe and 90.4% effective overall in a phase three clinical trial of nearly 30,000 participants across the United States and Mexico. Additionally, it said the two-dose vaccine was found to be 100% effective in preventing moderate and severe disease and 93% effective against some variants. The company said it plans to file for authorization with the Food and Drug Administration in the third quarter. (Lovelace Jr., 6/14)
NPR:
Novavax Says Its COVID Vaccine Is Extremely Effective
In addition to efficacy, the PREVENT-19 (the PRE-fusion protein subunit Vaccine Efficacy Novavax Trial COVID-19) trial showed the Novavax vaccine was safe for users. Like other COVID-19 vaccines, it caused headaches, chills and muscle aches after injection, but few of these side effects were considered serious or severe. The study involved 29,960 volunteers in the United States and Mexico. In the study, two-thirds of the volunteers received two shots of the vaccine and one-third received two shots of a placebo. (Palca, 6/14)
Southern California News Group:
How California Theme Parks Will Verify Visitors Have Been Vaccinated
Coronavirus guidelines call for Disney, Universal and other California theme parks to verify that visitors have been vaccinated once the state’s economy fully reopens on June 15 — but what does that mean and how are the parks supposed to pull off that massive undertaking? Fully vaccinated Californians will no longer be required to wear masks at the state’s theme parks on June 15, but people attending “mega events” must provide either proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. (MacDonald, 6/13)
Los Angeles Daily News:
Universal CityWalk Hosts Coronavirus Vaccination Clinic
Universal CityWalk teamed up with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to host a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination site over the weekend. It will open again Friday, June 18-Sunday, June 24. Walk-ups will be available and appointments can be made in advance at curative.com/sites. Self-parking is free if you make an appointment. The first 100 people getting shots each day will receive a voucher for a treat from Voodoo Doughnut. (6/13)
Orange County Register:
Coronavirus: Vaccination Percentages By Age In California On June 13
As of Sunday, June 13, the California Department of Public Health’s vaccine dashboard showed that 66.2% of those 65 and older have been vaccinated for COVID-19. The state’s dashboard also showed that 65.6% of ages 50-64 were vaccinated. (Snibbe, 6/13)
Los Angeles Times:
COVID Vaccine Passports In U.S.: What We're Getting And Why
The European Union is about to launch a digital pass system that will let residents prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, recovered from the disease or recently tested negative for the virus, allowing them to travel freely among all 27 member nations. For months, Israelis used a similar digital pass system, showing their vaccination status to enter restaurants, gyms and other venues. Australia has rolled out a digital proof of vaccination certificate, and Japan plans to issue one as soon as this summer. But don’t expect the United States to go that way. (Martín, 6/14)
Sacramento Bee:
New CA Rule Restricts Urine Tests For State Workers
A new California civil service rule limits the use of urine cannabis tests in disciplining state workers, finding that pee samples do not accurately reflect whether an employee is intoxicated at work by a drug voters legalized. The State Personnel Board issued a “precedential decision” in a case filed by a Caltrans worker contesting the department’s move to dismiss him over a urine test. The ruling says that merely testing positive for past marijuana use should not be grounds for discipline or dismissal for most public employees. (Sheeler, 6/14)
San Francisco Chronicle:
The Pandemic Hit LGBTQ Youth Hard. Many Turned To TikTok
Especially during the pandemic, TikTok — and the queer internet at large — have been lifelines for LGBTQ youth experiencing the most isolating effects of lockdown, according to research published last fall in the Journal of Adolescent Health and a more recent survey by the Trevor Project, which offers crisis services to LGBTQ youth. (Kannan, 6/14)
Los Angeles Times:
Flats Fire Forces Evacuations In Mountains South Of Palm Desert
A wildfire erupted Sunday in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, forcing a mandatory evacuation in the mountain community of Pinyon Crest, south of Palm Desert. San Bernardino National Forest officials said Sunday evening that the Flats fire, first reported about 11:15 a.m., was 10% contained after burning approximately 400 acres. (Smith, 6/13)
Orange County Register:
Heat Wave To Scorch Southern California, Elevate Wildfire Threat
A heat wave building across Southern California will peak either Tuesday or Wednesday, and may persist with triple-digit temperatures through the week in the Inland Empire and parts of Los Angeles County. A high of 91 in Anaheim topped a previous record set for Sunday’s date in 2007 by one degree, according to the National Weather Service. Elsewhere, temperatures rose to the upper 80s in the San Gabriel Valley that day, and into the 90s in the San Fernando Valley and portions of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, NWS Meteorologist Kathy Hoxsie said. A high-pressure system building from the south will continue to drive up temperatures at the start of the week. (Licas, 6/13)
Los Angeles Times:
Major Heat Wave Expected Across L.A. Region
A major heat wave featuring record-high temperatures is expected to sweep over the Los Angeles area this week, with the highest temperatures forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday. “Summer has definitely arrived,” said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The first official day of summer is June 20. (Rector, 6/13)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Contamination Prompts Warning To Stay Out Of The Water In South Imperial Beach
County health officials on Sunday urged surfers and swimmers to avoid contact with the water in south Imperial Beach due to sewage contamination from the Tijuana River. The closure affects about 2.26 miles of shoreline from the south end of Seacoast Drive down to the U.S.-Mexico border. The affected areas include Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Border Field State Park. San Diego County’s Department of Environmental Health and Quality issued the closure because ocean currents have brought contaminated water north from the Tijuana River, which is impacted by sewage, according to the department. (6/13)