Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
California Lawmakers Push Feds to Allow a Therapy That Pays Meth Users to Abstain
The approach, known as contingency management, has helped thousands of veterans kick the methedrine habit, but a federal government ruling has limited its use. California hopes to challenge that and make the treatment a Medi-Cal benefit. (Mark Kreidler, )
Sacramento Seeks To Mandate Housing For Homeless: The mayor of Sacramento on Wednesday announced a plan to legally obligate California’s capital city to house its growing homeless population. “I would rather have Sacramento bravely lead than follow,” Mayor Darrell Steinberg said. “When something really matters, we require it.” Read more from The Sacramento Bee, The New York Times and KCRA.
Covid Surges In California: The nation’s most populous state is averaging close to 1,000 additional cases reported daily, an increase of about 17% in the past 14 days. In L.A. County, there were 422 new cases Wednesday, more than double the number the county reported on June 15, the day most restrictions were lifted statewide. Read more from the LA Daily News and AP.
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:
Historic Northwest Heat Wave May Have Killed Hundreds
Hundreds of deaths in Canada, Oregon and Washington may have been caused by the historic heat wave that baked the Pacific Northwest and shattered all-time temperature records in usually temperate cities. Oregon health officials said late Wednesday more than 60 deaths have been tied to the heat, with the state’s largest county, Multnomah, blaming the weather for 45 deaths since the heat wave began Friday. British Columbia’s chief coroner, Lisa Lapointe, said her office received reports of at least 486 “sudden and unexpected deaths” between Friday and 1 p.m. Wednesday. Normally, she said about 165 people would die in the province over a five-day period. (Selsky and Morris, 7/1)
Sacramento Bee:
Evacuations Ordered For Salt Fire In Northern California
Evacuations are being ordered Wednesday as a new wildfire is burning in Northern California. The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post evacuations are taking place in the Lakehead area. Forest Service officials said an evacuation warning is in place for that area east of Interstate 5 to Riverview Drive. Shasta County deputies said the evacuation center is Central Valley High School on La Mesa Avenue in Shasta Lake. (Shaikh, 7/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
California Fire Season: Will My COVID Mask Work For Wildfire Smoke?
Since California’s recent pandemic reopening, many vaccinated residents have been shedding their masks. But in addition to rising concerns about the delta variant, there may be another good reason to hang onto them: wildfire smoke. Last season’s record-breaking wildfire season severely impacted Bay Area air quality, triggering a record number of Spare the Air days. And with extreme heat waves already descending and the state’s severe drought providing an abundance of parched fuel, experts say California is poised to see more catastrophic wildfires this year. (Hwang, 7/1)
Bay Area News Group:
Biden Raises Firefighters' Pay, Newsom Slams Trump's Wildfire Management
With California and much of the West facing serious drought, record heat and wildfire risk, President Biden on Wednesday announced he is raising the pay of federal firefighters, expanding the use of the National Guard to help fight fires and broadening efforts to use federal satellites to detect fires as soon as they start so crews can more quickly limit their spread. “The truth is, we’re playing catch up,” Biden said during a video meeting from the White House with Western governors, including California’s Gavin Newsom. “This is an area that has been under-resourced. But that’s going to change if we have anything to do with it. We can’t cut corners when it comes to managing our wildfires or supporting our firefighters.” (Rogers, 6/30)
San Francisco Chronicle:
California Fires 2021: What To Know About This Year's Wildfires
Wildfire season came early this year in the Bay Area after a meager rainy season left the landscape tinder-dry, offering an abundance of fuel for wildland blazes. In just the past few years, California has seen some of the largest, deadliest and most destructive fires in state history. Meanwhile, most of the state is in extreme or exceptional drought conditions, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a drought emergency in a majority of the state’s counties. All of these factors, plus the arrival of early extreme heat waves, have fire agencies and residents concerned that the state could again be headed into crisis conditions. (Hwang, 6/30)
San Francisco Chronicle:
California's Rain Year Just Ended - And The Data Shows We're In Trouble
California’s rain year officially ended Wednesday, and the data reflects what the dry landscape in much of the Bay Area already shows: It wasn’t pretty. Data shows that for many of the major regions of California, the July 2020-June 2021 rain year was one of the top 10 driest ever. Even more troubling is that the extreme dry spells are starting to stack up, especially in the Sierra Nevada watersheds that supply so much of the state’s water. (Hwang, 6/30)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Facebook Will Be Sending A Vaccination Truck Into Bay Area Neighborhoods
Facebook’s community vaccine efforts are going mobile. In an effort to get coronavirus vaccines to underserved communities, the company said it is partnering with Bay Area nonprofits to send a mobile vaccine truck to schools near its Menlo Park headquarters. The truck will show up at different schools on the Peninsula on Fridays and Sundays throughout the summer and can administer up to 40 doses per hour. (DiFeliciantonio, 6/30)
East Bay Times:
Mass Vaccination Site Moves To West Berkeley
Anyone who is at least 12 can now get a COVID-19 vaccination 5 days a week at a West Berkeley site that’s easy to reach on bike, bus, transit or car. Located just off San Pablo Avenue, the Berkeley Adult School site also has a testing kiosk for those who need testing for travel, workplaces, exposure or when experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. (6/30)
Orange County Register:
Coronavirus: Here Are Vaccination Percentages And COVID-19 Stats In Orange County As Of June 30
The OC Health Care Agency on Wednesday, June 30, reported 256,317 cases of the coronavirus since tracking began, including 51 new cases reported in the last 24 hours with 6,165 tests tests conducted. There were 56 patients in Orange County hospitals as of Wednesday, 10 of whom needed to be in an intensive care unit. (Snibbe, 6/30)
Sacramento Bee:
Should Employers Require COVID Vaccines? Poll Finds Divide
A new poll found most Americans think employers should require the COVID-19 vaccine — but don’t want theirs to do the same. The Kaiser Family Foundation poll released Wednesday found respondents were divided on whether they support employers requiring workers to get vaccinated but that a stronger majority don’t want their own to do so. The poll also found Americans were more likely to get vaccinated if their employers encouraged it or offered paid time off. (Aldridge, 6/30)
San Francisco Chronicle:
You Got The J&J Vaccine. With Delta Bearing Down, Do You Need A Booster?
The rise of the more contagious delta variant of the coronavirus is prompting many to ask how well the Johnson & Johnson vaccine works against it and whether those who got the shot should get a booster. Scientists don’t yet know the answer to either question, and many urge people to wait until data comes out, likely in the next few months, that could provide clarity. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not recommended booster shots for J&J recipients, who include Gov. Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Mayor London Breed — both of whom got the one-shot vaccine in April when officials were trying to build public confidence in it. (Ho, 6/30)
Fox News:
Pfizer To Request COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Approval For Kids Ages 5-11 By Fall
Younger children could become eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this fall, according to a top executive at Pfizer who noted plans to request emergency approval for use of its vaccine in kids aged 5 to 11 by September or October. Dr. Alejandra Gurtman, vice president of vaccine clinical research and development at Pfizer, appeared along with representatives from other major drugmakers to talk data and timelines behind pediatric clinical trials Thursday during a Johns Hopkins University-University of Washington virtual symposium. Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is currently authorized for use in individuals aged 12 and older. (Rivas, 6/30)
NBC News:
Common Cold Or Covid? Upper Respiratory Symptoms Are Growing More Prevalent, Docs Say
Doctors are beginning to notice Covid-19 cases that look more like a very bad cold, especially in areas of the country where the highly contagious delta variant is quickly spreading. While shortness of breath and other lung issues remain among the most worrisome Covid-19 symptoms, it appears upper respiratory complaints — marked by congestion, a runny nose and headache — may be increasing. (Edwards, 6/30)
Modesto Bee:
Delta Variant Face Mask: CDC Director Breaks On WHO Guidance
Vaccines mean face masks aren’t needed indoors in the United States against the Delta coronavirus variant, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. “If you are vaccinated, you are safe from the variants that are circulating here in the United States,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday on “Today.” The CDC will leave decisions on face mask requirements up to individual states, Walensky said. (Sweeney and Camero, 6/30)
Sacramento Bee:
El Dorado To California: Let Us Decide On Masks In Schools
With the support of several local officials, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution that urges California to allow local determination of whether children should wear masks to school in the fall. After hours of discussion and public comments, the board passed the resolution 4-1 Tuesday, with Supervisor Sue Novasel of District 5 voting against it. (Morrar, 6/30)
San Francisco Chronicle:
The Anti-Mask Mendocino Cafe Is Closing After New Landlord Asks For No 'Controversial Signage'
A Mendocino cafe that has repeatedly pushed back against public health mandates during the pandemic, including charging customers who wear face coverings a $5 fee, will close this weekend, owner Chris Castleman confirmed. He did not agree to Fiddleheads Cafe’s new lease offer, which requested that he comply with government mandates and no longer post “controversial signage or writings.” Castleman said he is being unfairly targeted due to his political beliefs. (Kadvany, 6/30)
CalMatters:
How California Kids Experienced COVID-19 Inequality
Of all the ZIP codes in Alameda County, 94603, home to Madison Park Academy, has been perhaps the most brutalized by the pandemic. Located in the part of the city sometimes referred to as deep East Oakland, it had a COVID infection rate eight times that of the ZIP code with the lowest infection rate, 94618, which covers the affluent North Oakland hills at the other end of the city 10 miles away. The blazing path COVID cut through deep East Oakland and similar neighborhoods around California — and the relative protection enjoyed by wealthier neighborhoods like the North Oakland hills — was set into motion long before reports of a worrisome new respiratory virus began trickling out in early 2020. (Weiner, 6/30)
CapRadio:
Roughly 30 Businesses Have Opened In Downtown And Old Sacramento Waterfront Area During The Pandemic
About 30 businesses have opened in downtown Sacramento and the old Sacramento waterfront area during the pandemic, according to the Downtown Business Partnership. They include restaurants, coffee shops, beauty salons, an escape room, a tattoo parlor, and other storefronts selling ice cream and flip flops. (6/30)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Kern Public Health Reports 1 New Coronavirus Death, 11 New Cases Wednesday
Kern County Public Health Services announced one new coronavirus death and 11 new cases Wednesday. There have been 1,407 coronavirus deaths in Kern since the pandemic began, and 111,060 cases. Last week, public health officials said they would no longer provide daily updates, but rather move to reporting each Monday, Wednesday and Friday due to a decrease in cases. (6/30)
Modesto Bee:
Stanislaus County Grapples With Long Ambulance Response Times
Stanislaus County leaders are directing attention to a faltering ambulance system in which responses longer than 35 minutes, or even 45 minutes, are happening too often, top officials said. “Fortunately, we have not had a major catastrophe, but it is waiting to happen if we don’t address it,” said Richard Murdock, assistant director of the county office of emergency services. (Carlson, 6/30)
Orange County Register:
Nurse Suspected Of Sexually Assaulting Three Women At Mission Viejo Hospital
Three patients reported being sexually assaulted at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo by a registered nurse, who was arrested Wednesday, June 30. Deputies took Paul Alden Miller, 56, into custody at about 10:30 a.m. at his home in San Clemente, Orange County Sheriff’s Sgt. Toddy Hylton said. He was booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of sexual elder abuse and sexual battery, and held in lieu of $100,000 bail. (Licas, 6/30)
Los Angeles Times:
Gerald Levey, Who Led Building Of UCLA Medical Center, Dies
Gerald Levey, the administrator who oversaw the construction of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after the Northridge earthquake damaged the university’s hospital building, has died at his home in Los Angeles. Levey, who died June 25, had Parkinson’s disease. He was 84. During his tenure as vice chancellor of medical sciences and dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA from 1994 to 2010, Levey also played a pivotal role in reshaping the medical school’s curriculum and led the building of five research buildings as well as the UCLA medical center in Santa Monica, according to the university. (Newberry, 6/30)
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:
San Jose Plans To Be First U.S. City Requiring Firearms Owners To Pay Back Taxpayers For Gun Violence
A month after a gunman killed nine workers at a rail yard in San Jose, the city is taking steps to become the first in the nation to require firearms owners to buy insurance and pay fees to relieve taxpayers of the costs of responding to gun violence. The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to draft an ordinance that would order gun owners in the city to obtain insurance and pay an annual fee to subsidize police responses, ambulances, medical treatment and other municipal expenses related to shootings, injuries and deaths. (Egelko and Mishanec, 6/30)
Los Angeles Times:
Anti-Asian Hate Crimes In California Jumped 107%
Anti-Asian hate crimes more than doubled in California in 2020, according to a report from the state attorney general, underscoring fears among Asian Americans about being targeted during the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, hate crimes reported to law enforcement rose 31% in the state last year, with attacks against Asians up by 107%, according to the report released Wednesday. (Do, 6/30)
Bay Area News Group:
In California, Anti-Asian Hate Crime Rose 107% In 2020
Anti-Asian hate crimes rose by 107% in California during 2020, an explosion fueled by incidents in March and April during the first two months of the coronavirus pandemic that lasted into 2021, state Attorney General Rob Bonta said Wednesday. At a press conference in the Chinatown section of Oakland with Oakland City Councilmember Sheng Thao and Chinatown Chamber of Commerce President Carl Chan, Bonta unveiled new data and new guidance for the public and law enforcement. He said the hope is to understand better the hate that 2020 generated against the American Asian Pacific Islander communities in order to stop it. (Hurd, 6/30)
Voice of OC:
Hate Crimes Increase Throughout California And OC, According To New State Report
Reported hate crime events are at their highest levels in California in more than a decade, according to a new report from state Attorney General Rob Bonta. Their 2020 Annual Hate Crime in California Report released Wednesday shows hate crime events increased 31% in the past year, jumping from 1,015 in 2019 to 1,330 in 2020. Hate crime offenses — involving murder, rape, robbery, assault, theft, arson, intimidation and vandalism — have increased by 23.9%. (Elattar, 6/30)
Voice of OC:
Some Warn Homeless People Are Getting Left Behind As Orange County Vaccinates And Reopens
As people get vaccinated for Coronavirus and Orange County reopens, homeless advocates warn those who are out on the streets may be getting left behind — potentially leading to more problems. County health officials, in a response to Voice of OC questions last week, say they held vaccination clinics at 34 homeless shelter locations throughout the county between March and April of this year, and that 841 homeless people got their shot over the course of them. (Pho, 6/30)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Bakersfield Homeless Center Adds 40 Beds For Homeless Women
The Bakersfield Homeless Center has finished a 40-bed expansion for single women. The center announced Wednesday that the expansion was funded by the city of Bakersfield through the Homeless, Housing Assistance and Prevention Program. “Every day there are women and families who become homeless in our community. Homeless women living on the streets are particularly vulnerable to violence and exploitation,” Louis Gill, CEO of the center, said in a news release. “They need shelter and services that are geared towards their unique needs. Thanks to the city of Bakersfield, this 40-bed expansion enables us to provide secure shelter for more women experiencing homelessness, then our professional staff can help them with the compassion and resources they need to get back on her feet and into their own home.” (6/30)
Berkeleyside:
Mayor's Budget Puts Focus On Cleaner Berkeley Streets, Climate Equity
Berkeley’s homeless encampments and the neighborhoods around them are poised to see biweekly cleanups in the upcoming fiscal year under the mayor’s proposed budget, which was just released Monday. The recommendation is part of a $2 million package put forward by Mayor Jesse Arreguín as part of an effort to cull through $10 million in council asks to determine the most pressing needs. In addition to $500,000 in homeless cleanups, the package includes $600,000 to fund a climate equity program for low-income residents; $200,000 in planning work designed to revive Berkeley’s Civic Center; $150,000 to improve traffic safety around Cragmont Elementary; and $100,000 for a new ambassador focused on Willard Park. (Ragusso, 6/28)
KQED:
Santa Clara, Contra Costa Top Bay Area Counties With Most Evictions During Pandemic
As California’s eviction protections neared their expiration on June 30 and concern rose about a wave of evictions, the governor signed legislation this week to extend the moratorium, allowing more time to get relief into the hands of struggling renters and landlords. But even as the state and local moratoriums have been in place during the pandemic, more than 1,000 Bay Area residents were evicted from their homes, according to an analysis of public records from sheriff’s offices in nine counties. (Baldassari and Solomon, 6/30)