Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
New Laws Keep Pandemic-Weary California at Forefront of Health Policy Innovation
Gov. Gavin Newsom approved many consequential health care bills by his bill-signing deadline Wednesday, including a ban on the sale of menthol and other flavored tobacco products, the creation of a state generic drug label and better coverage for mental health disorders. (Samantha Young and Angela Hart, )
Newsom Bans Some Police Choke Holds: California will ban certain police choke holds and establish independent investigations for some law enforcement shootings under legislation Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Wednesday — the remnants of what activists once hoped would be a far more ambitious overhaul of policing practices. Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle, AP and Politico.
UCSF Testing New COVID Treatment: UCSF researchers are testing a promising COVID-19 drug that could lessen symptoms and keep people out of the hospital. The drug, called a monoclonal antibody, could eventually work on coronavirus much the way Tamiflu reduces flu symptoms. It is being rolled out in a clinical trial at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, one of many U.S. sites that are enrolling volunteers for the study. Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California Healthline wants to hear about workplace COVID testing policies. Does your job require you to show up in person or is it transitioning away from remote work? Share your experiences here.
Below, check out the roundup of California Healthline’s coverage and the best of the rest of the news.
More News From Across The State
San Francisco Chronicle:
Air Quality In The Bay Area Deteriorating As Smoke From Glass Fire Moves In
Air quality in the North Bay and parts of the East Bay was “deteriorating significantly” Wednesday afternoon and was expected to worsen in the next few days as firefighters battle the Glass Fire in Napa and Sonoma counties amid hot, windy conditions, air-quality officials said. Most Bay Area cities had good air quality Wednesday morning, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. But by late afternoon, air quality in Napa, Vallejo, Vacaville, Concord and Antioch was unhealthy — two steps below hazardous — according to the district’s air quality index. Many East Bay cities, San Jose and Gilroy recorded moderate air quality. (Sanchez, 9/30)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Glass Fire: How To Help Bay Area Wildfire Survivors And Firefighting Crews
This record-smashing wildfire season has challenged the Bay Area and California like never before. Most recently, the Glass Fire in Napa and Sonoma counties has destroyed many homes, wineries and businesses and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. If you’re looking for ways to help fire survivors and firefighting crews, here are some options. (Hwang, 9/29)
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Public Health Officials Concerned About Potential COVID Exposure Among Evacuated Residents Of 2 Nursing Homes
Residents at two east Santa Rosa nursing homes that for months have successfully kept their patients free of COVID-19 were forced to evacuate their residents, sending them to evacuation centers, family homes and other facilities during the Glass fire earlier this week. (Espinoza, 9/30)
Sacramento Bee:
Placer County CA School District Students Have Coronavirus
Just one week after students in Rocklin Unified School District returned to in-person instruction, three high school students have tested positive for coronavirus. The three students who tested positive for COVID-19 attend Whitney High School, the district said Wednesday. As a result, 15 additional students and one teacher are now in quarantine. (Morrar, 9/30)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A.-Area Ralphs And Food 4 Less Stores Fined For Coronavirus Violations
A state agency responsible for protecting the health and safety of workers hit five grocery stores in Los Angeles and Culver City with coronavirus-related citations, it announced Wednesday. California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, found that a Ralphs in Culver City as well as one in Sherman Oaks each failed to report a worker’s death from COVID-19. A Food 4 Less store allowed too many customers inside, preventing workers from maintaining a recommended six feet of physical distance and putting them at risk for serious illness, the agency said. (Hussain, 9/30)
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Free COVID-19 Oral Testing Site To Open In Northern Sonoma County
A COVID-19 mobile screening site opens Thursday morning, offering residents oral tests free of charge at locations in northern Sonoma County through Friday evening. Results come back within 48 hours. (Fixler, 9/30)
LA Daily News:
Depression Increase Among New Moms During Coronavirus Era Prompts South Bay Mental Health Expansion
A 5% surge in cases of depression among new moms this year has prompted Providence Southern California to expand a model maternal mental health program that started in Orange County to the South Bay and San Fernando Valley, the medical provider said. Usually about 15% of mothers are diagnosed with post-partum depression, but this year doctors are seeing depression in 1 in every 5 mothers at its dozen hospitals in the region. (Green, 9/30)
The Bakersfield Californian:
County Urges Residents To Get Flu Shots In Midst Of Flu, COVID-19 Seasons
With flu season officially here, the Kern County Public Health Services Department is guarding against a potential surge of influenza cases coupled with an anticipated rise in COVID-19 cases. The department is urging Kern County residents to get a flu shot in the immediate future to help curtail a possible “twindemic” in the fall and winter months. (9/30)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Adventist Health Bakersfield Holding Drive-Thru Flu Clinic Oct. 3
Adventist Health Bakersfield is offering free drive-thru flu shots on Saturday, Oct. 3 at its downtown location at 29th Street and Chester Avenue. (9/30)
Fresno Bee:
First COVID-19 Outbreak Has Struck The NFL. All Eyes Are On What Happens Next
From air quality alerts to stoplights, governments use color-coded systems to keep people safe in many different settings. Last month, California added another color-based system to communicate about a public health threat: the COVID-19 pandemic. (Bollag, 10/1)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Demand Swells For Housing Assistance In Kern County
Kern County’s 2-1-1 information and referral service received more than 1,300 calls about rental and mortgage assistance during the program’s first week of availability, indicating a strong demand for the financial aid. In fact, so many people called in to inquire about the funds, 2-1-1’s weekly call volume increased by roughly 40 percent, according to James Burger, spokesman for Community Action Partnership of Kern, which operates the phone line. (Morgen, 9/30)