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California Healthline Original Stories
In Debate, Pence and Harris Offer Conflicting Views of Nation's Reality
During this, the first and only vice presidential debate of the 2020 election season, Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) clashed over the coronavirus and other health care issues, as well as a range of other topics. ( )
Harris Makes History In Debate: Democratic vice presidential nominee and California Sen. Kamala Harris chastised Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday for his handling of the pandemic, calling it “the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country.” Harris — the first woman of color to appear at a vice presidential debate — looked into the camera and said, “They knew what was happening and they didn’t tell you. ... They knew and they covered it up.” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle. See more on the debate below and in KHN’s Morning Briefing.
Thousands Of Bay Area Health Workers Go On Strike: More than 3,000 nurses and health care workers began a weeklong strike at East Bay hospitals Wednesday to protest what they characterized as unsafe working conditions, mismanagement and persistent short staffing. The strike is targeting the Alameda Health System, a government agency that operates the county’s public hospitals. Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Below, check out the roundup of California Healthline’s coverage and the best of the rest.
More News From Across The State
San Francisco Chronicle:
Kamala Harris Vs. Mike Pence Takeaways: Coronavirus, ‘I’m Speaking’ And California’s Cameo
The good news is that the vice presidential debate was nothing like last week’s unlistenable cacophony between President Trump and Joe Biden. The bad news is that it was too much like most other debates. Even though voters could hear what the candidates were saying, it often hardly mattered. The candidates answered the questions they wanted to Wednesday night instead of the ones they were asked. Aside from the historic nature of Sen. Kamala Harris’ appearance — she was the first woman of color to appear at a vice presidential debate — the event in Salt Lake City was so civil that the social media star of the evening was a fly that landed on Vice President Mike Pence’s hair and lingered for more than two minutes. (Garofoli, Kopan and Wildermuth, 10/7)
Los Angeles Times:
Takeaways From The VP Debate Between Harris And Pence
For well over a year, Democrats have drooled at the prospect of California’s former attorney general on a debate stage prosecuting her case against the Trump administration. She was tough and firm, but didn’t exactly mop the floor with her Republican rival. Harris set an accusatory tone with her very first response, to a question about the COVID-19 pandemic. “The American people have witnessed the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country,” she asserted. (Barabak and Rainey, 10/7)
AP:
Pence, Harris Spar Over COVID-19 In Vice Presidential Debate
Trading barbs through plexiglass shields, Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Kamala Harris turned the only vice presidential debate of 2020 into a dissection of the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, with Harris labeling it “the greatest failure of any presidential administration.” Pence, who leads the president’s coronavirus task force, acknowledged that “our nation’s gone through a very challenging time this year,” yet vigorously defended the administration’s overall response to a pandemic that has killed 210,000 Americans. (Peoples, Ronayne, Price and Colvin, 10/8)
Politico:
Harris And Pence Return To The Jab And Move Debate
The most effective line of attack Democrats have against Trump is his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and Harris bludgeoned Pence for the White House’s halting and at-times chaotic response to the virus. To Harris, it is "the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country.” To Pence, it was an early intervention that saved lives. (Siders, 10/7)
NPR:
Harris Would Be ‘First in Line’ For A Vaccine Approved By Scientists, Not The White House
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris said she would be “first in line” to take a coronavirus vaccine if it had widespread approval from the scientific community. But Harris maintained that President Trump’s handling of the virus made her wary to trust any presidential endorsement of a vaccine. “If the public health professionals, if Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, if the doctors tell us to take it, I’ll be the first in line to take it. But if Donald Trump tells us to take it, I’m not taking it,” Harris quipped when asked whether she would trust a vaccine approved under the Trump administration. (10/7)
San Jose Mercury News:
In Pence's VP Debate Interruptions Of Harris, Women See Sexist Norms
Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate didn’t descend into the widely panned chaos of the first presidential debate, which featured Donald Trump repeatedly interrupting his Democratic challenger Joe Biden and the moderator. But the one and only meeting of California Sen. Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence did rub some people the wrong way. Specifically, women. (Emily DuRuy, 10/7)
Los Angeles Times:
Trump Rejects The Idea Of A Virtual Debate With Biden
President Trump rejected the idea of remotely debating former Vice President Joe Biden, shortly after the Commission on Presidential Debates announced on Thursday that the next event would be held virtually. “I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate. That’s not what debating is all about,” Trump said to Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business. (Megerian, 10/8)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Nine Dead, 61 Positive In Coronavirus Outbreak At Santa Cruz County Nursing Home
Nine people have died and another 61 have tested positive for the coronavirus in a “serious outbreak” at the Watsonville Post-Acute Center, according to Santa Cruz County public health officials. The county did not say when the outbreak started, but it announced five of the nine deaths among residents on Wednesday. The outbreak is responsible for nearly half of the 19 total COVID-19 deaths in Santa Cruz County. (Hernandez, 10/8)
Bay Area News Group:
Deaths From COVID-19 At Santa Cruz County Nursing Facility Rises To 9
An outbreak of COVID-19 cases has caused another five deaths at the Watsonville Post-Acute Center, a skilled nursing facility. As of Wednesday afternoon, 46 residents and 15 staff at the nursing facility have tested positive for COVID-19. The five deaths raise the total deaths at the facility related to COVID-19 to nine. (10/8)
LA Daily News:
LA County Endures Sharp One-Day Spike In Coronavirus Cases
Los Angeles County reported its highest daily number of new coronavirus cases in six weeks on Wednesday. Oct. 7. Public health director Barbara Ferrer said the one-day spike — 1,645 new cases — should not immediately sound alarms. The number is the highest daily total since Aug. 22. “While one day of a high number of cases does not indicate a trend, this is something we need to watch closely,” Ferrer said. (10/7)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. County Has Highest Daily COVID-19 Case Count In 6 Weeks
Los Angeles County on Wednesday reported its highest daily count of coronavirus infections since Aug. 22, highlighting the continued dangers of the virus even as more businesses are opening up.Health officials have been warning that another coronavirus wave is possible this fall even as numbers of new cases and deaths have been declining since a serious summer spike. (Shalby, 10/7)
Bay Area News Group:
Coronavirus: Deaths Dip In California, But Not Bay Area
Counties around California reported dramatically fewer deaths Tuesday than seven days ago, lowering the state’s daily average for the past week to its lowest point in months. The Bay Area, however, saw no such progress. There were another 81 fatalities from COVID-19 reported statewide, including 18 in the Bay Area, according to data compiled by this news organization. That means, for the first time since the week that ended July 6, there were fewer than 500 fatalities from COVID-19 in California over the past week; the 470 total, or about 67 per day, was about 20% fewer than two weeks ago. (Webeck, 10/7)
Bay Area News Group:
Inspection Finds Santa Rita Jail COVID-19 Compliant, But Activists Aren’t Convinced
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office is doing a decent job of keeping on top of COVID-19 at the Santa Rita Jail, an independent consultant found — but activists are not convinced. Sabot Consulting released its report from a random spot-check of the jail on Aug. 25, finding that the jail was following recommendations by the CDC and Alameda County health officials. (Ruggiero, 10/7)
LA Daily News:
Shoppers Delight As LA County Malls Reopen Indoors
Shopping malls throughout Los Angeles County received the OK to resume indoor operations Wednesday after shuttering for months because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But don’t expect the malls to be packed, even with the holiday season right around the corner: Health rules require malls to be at 25% customer capacity and for any congregation areas, such as food courts, to remain closed. Food could still be purchased to go in some places, but many vendors had not yet reopened. (Rosenfeld, Lee and Bermont, 10/7)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Special Permits Will Allow Churches, Youth Sports To Take Place In City Parks
The city of Bakersfield will allow religious services, fitness classes and youth sports to temporarily take place in city parks under a new program similar to one that allows restaurants to expand dining onto sidewalks and parking lots due to COVID-19 restrictions on indoor seating. (Shepard 10/7)
Sacramento Bee:
‘We're Going To Be Stubborn About It.’ Gavin Newsom Says Theme Parks Won't Reopen Anytime Soon
Disneyland, and other large theme parks in California, won’t be reopening any time soon. That’s the message California Gov. Gavin Newsom sent when asked about it during a press conference on Wednesday. The question came in the context of Disney Chairman Bob Iger’s recent departure from Newsom’s COVID-19 economy recovery task force. (Sheeler, 10/7)
LA Daily News:
Disneyland Layoffs Include 1,800 Security Guards And Attraction Operators
“We initially hoped that this situation would be short-lived, and that we would recover quickly and return to normal,” D’Amaro said in a letter to employees. “Seven months later, we find that has not been the case. And, as a result, today we are now forced to reduce the size of our team across executive, salaried and hourly roles. ”Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and other California theme parks closed in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remain shuttered while they await reopening guidelines from the state. (MacDonald, 10/7)
Bay Area News Group:
Coronavirus: Bay Area Barbershop Owner Who Refused To Shut Down Faces Loss Of Business License
A Vacaville barbershop owner who gained national attention for opening up his shop during California’s shelter-at-home order now has his barbering and business licenses on the line. Juan Desmarais, owner of Primo’s Barbershop on Dobbins Street, received a letter from the California Attorney General’s Office advising him the state would request a legal hearing to consider revoking his licenses for not remaining closed when other barbershops were during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Sestanovich, 10/8)
San Francisco Business Times:
Vir, GSK Move Covid Antibody Drug Into Late-Stage Clinical Trial
In the six months since the San Francisco company and its partner announced their Covid-fighting collaboration, they will take this monoclonal antibody into a 1,300-patient Phase III study and move another potential Covid treatment into a Phase Ib/IIa study. (Leuty, 10/6)
Los Angeles Times:
California Parents Mostly Disapprove Of Distance Learning
As most public and private school students in California continue to study from home, a majority of voters say the state’s schools are not prepared to offer high-quality distance learning, although they are more positive about their own local schools, according to a poll released Thursday. Parents worry that if children are at home for the rest of the year, it will result in learning loss for all students, but especially for the most economically vulnerable who suffer from hunger or housing insecurity. Low-income parents, in particular, worry that prolonged distance learning will mean they won’t be able to get back to work, according to a poll commissioned by EdSource, a nonprofit education news organization. (Freedburg, 10/8)
Politico:
California School Districts Spurn 'Back-Patting' Trump Food Box Letter
The superintendent of the nation’s second largest school district on Wednesday accused President Donald Trump's administration of possibly violating the Hatch Act by inserting a letter in food boxes for distribution at schools and pantries just weeks before Election Day. Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner said that the district, which enrolls more than 600,000 students, will not include a “back-patting” letter from Trump inside of food boxes that are part of the Agriculture Department’s Farmers to Families Program. The program redirects meat, dairy and produce to low-income families instead of the restaurants and other food-service businesses that normally receive them. (Mays, 10/7)
Sacramento Bee:
Canada Places New Import Rules On Salinas Valley Lettuce
Growers in California’s Salinas Valley have long called it “The Salad Bowl of the World” but one major customer is now pushing away from the table. Canada is levying stringent new import standards on Salinas Valley-grown romaine lettuce and mixed salads containing romaine beginning Wednesday until year’s end on concerns over a potential E. coli outbreak this fall. The decision announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency a week ago and reported by the Monterey Herald has rattled local leaders who say the move effectively shuts down romaine exports to Canada from the Salinas Valley. (Smith, 10/7)
San Francisco Business Times:
High Demand For 'Contact Tracers' Leads UCSF, Salesforce To Launch Free Online Course
The free, 3.5-hour course allows participants to earn a certification "badge" and can move on to more in-depth training as part of a public health army reaching out to people potentially exposed to the Covid virus. (Leuty, 10/6)
LA Daily News:
LAFC Vs. Rapids Postponed Tonight; Colorado Staffer Tests Positive For COVID
The Los Angeles Football Club’s road game on Wednesday night against the Colorado Rapids was postponed due to another positive COVID-19 case among the Rapids’ staff. LAFC was at its practice facility and had not yet departed for Colorado upon receiving the news. Road teams have to travel on the day of the game for all road games. (Calhoun, 10/7)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Healing Through Scuba Diving? Yes, Say Local Volunteers Who Teach Diving To Disabled Vets
U.S. Army combat veteran Josh Conner has known fear. The Bakersfield resident saw it close-up and faced it head-on while serving with the 1st Infantry Division in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004 and 2005. He came home with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder as well as physical injuries. (Mayer, 10/7)
San Francisco Business Times:
Mental Health Telemedicine Startup Cerebral Raises $35M To Hire Executives, Clinicians And Hundreds Of Employees
This startup has been growing fast to meet the demand for virtual mental health treatments since it launched in January. (Rinker, 10/7)
Fresno Bee:
What It’s Like Being Pregnant During COVID-19 Pandemic
The first major change to Payan’s pregnancy came when her clinic told her that her husband would no longer be allowed at her visits to monitor the pregnancy. As a result, he never got to see a live ultrasound. As the number of those infected with COVID-19 continued to rise, her doctor’s office eventually moved her appointments to phone consultations only. This meant she was not getting monthly ultrasounds or in-person updates on her baby’s growth and development. (Jiselle, 10/8)
Bay Area News Group:
Bay Area Mayor Threatens To Sue California Over Homeless Housing
When Santa Clara County won nearly $30 million in coveted homeless housing funding from the state, county officials were practically jumping for joy. But in Milpitas — where the new housing project will be located — it’s a different story. Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran is threatening to sue the state, the county, and anyone else involved in plans to turn the city’s Extended Stay America hotel into long-term housing for homeless residents under Project Homekey. He argues the project, which is exempt from the city’s usual permitting process, was rushed through without input from Milpitas officials or community members. (Kendall, 10/7)
Fresno Bee:
Moving Homeless Into Hotels Helped Limit COVID-19 Spread, Washington Study Finds
Early on in the coronavirus pandemic, some cities in King County decided to move people out of homeless shelters and into hotels. Researchers with the University of Washington conducted a study with the King County Department of Community and Human Services and determined the initiative helped limit the spread of COVID-19, according to a news release from the university. (Wolford, 10/7)