Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
Another Soda Tax Bill Dies. Another Win for Big Soda.
A bill that would have allowed California cities and counties to once again pursue taxes on sugary drinks was just shelved in the legislature without a hearing. Public health advocates blame the political — and financial — clout of the soft drink industry. (Samantha Young, )
Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmetic — And 'Rona? Recent coronavirus testing revealed 177 infections among staff and students at Los Angeles-area campuses poised to reopen, L.A. schools Superintendent Austin Beutner said Monday. Meanwhile, some parents have had difficulty getting tests at 43 campus-based sites across the LAUSD. Read more from the Los Angeles Times.
Families Protest San Marcos School Closures: Parents and students chanted “five days now” at a rally outside the San Marcos Unified School district offices on Monday. Ginny Merrifield, the executive director of the North County Parent Association, said parents are frustrated that nearby districts are reopening, but San Marcos has no plan in sight, even with a court order. Read more from KPBS.
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
Los Angeles Times:
COVID-19 Vaccines Rebound As L.A. Hopes To Boost Doses
Los Angeles County is expecting an uptick in its supply of COVID-19 vaccines this week, providing a welcome boost to the region’s inoculation efforts. The county’s latest allocation, pegged at approximately 362,000 doses, is up nearly 39,000 from last week, according to the Department of Public Health. That number is only one piece of the wider pharmaceutical pie. Allocations sent directly from the federal government to qualified health centers and pharmacies are expected to swell the region’s total haul this week to more than 600,000 doses. (Money, 4/19)
Bay Area News Group:
Santa Clara County Adds Thousands Of Vaccine Slots
In a stark turnaround from the shortages a month ago that forced cancellations of COVID vaccine appointments, Santa Clara County officials Monday announced thousands of new appointments available at multiple sites through this weekend. “We encourage everyone who is eligible to sign up for an appointment now,” said Dr. Jennifer Tong, Associate Chief Medical Officer for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. “This includes our community members who have already had COVID-19 and have recovered. The vaccines are our most critical and effective tools to protect you and your loved ones, especially with variants of the virus circulating in our community.” (Woolfolk, 4/19)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Drop In Vaccine Uptake Could Mean Less Supply Locally
After lobbying for more vaccine doses — and getting more — Kern County's future vaccine supply could be in jeopardy due to a slowdown in people signing up to get the vaccine even though only about one-third of the county's eligible population has been vaccinated so far. GV Wire, an online San Joaquin Valley news outlet, reported Thursday that Fresno County Department of Public Health gave back to the state a significant portion of 43,000 doses it recently received because of low demand. Only half of all appointments for the vaccine were filled, the outlet reported. (Shepard, 4/19)
Bay Area News Group:
What It Will Take To Get Hesitant Californians COVID-19 Vaccinated?
Eager Bay Area vaccine hunters have driven hundreds of miles, added their names to lengthy waitlists and refreshed appointment web pages dozens of times a day — all so they could snag what shots are available whenever and wherever .And as of Monday, most of those people are among the 55.7% of California adults 18 and older who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. By and large, they weren’t the ones who had to be swayed to get a shot. (Angst, 4/19)
Modesto Bee:
Stanislaus Officials Ponder Decline At COVID Vaccine Clinics
Stanislaus County may get away from regular hours with its coronavirus vaccination clinics because fewer people are showing up for the shots. The county’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics administered 3,237 fewer shots last week compared with the previous week, a 28 percent decrease. Officials attributed the decline to clinics held during weekday hours when people are working or attending school. Officials said mobile clinics could be used more often to bring vaccine to hard-to-reach residents. (Carlson, 4/19)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
New San Diego COVID-19 Panel To Focus On Vaccine Equity, Innovations Prompted By Pandemic
The San Diego City Council’s newly created COVID-19 response and recovery committee will focus on vaccine equity, the city’s use of federal aid, reviving tourism and promoting innovations prompted by the pandemic. The committee also will evaluate the effectiveness of city policies enacted during the pandemic, particularly regarding homelessness and small businesses, and whether they yielded any long-term lessons. The committee’s recently unveiled work plan says the panel will also focus on guiding San Diego’s recovery from COVID-19 and helping the city be prepared for future pandemics. (Garrick, 4/19)
Bay Area News Group:
Eager Bay Area Vaccine Hunters Have Gotten Their COVID-19 Shots. What Will The Rest Do Now?
Eager Bay Area vaccine hunters have driven hundreds of miles, added their names to lengthy waitlists and refreshed appointment web pages dozens of times a day — all so they could snag what shots are available whenever and wherever. And as of Monday, most of those people are among the 55.7% of California adults 18 and older who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. By and large, they weren’t the ones who had to be swayed to get a shot. (Angst, 4/19)
Fox News:
California Health Officials Under Fire After State Lab's COVID Testing Delays May Be Result Of Contamination
California parents are looking for answers from state health officials after COVID-19 testing delays from a state lab prompted the cancellation of football games for multiple schools. The Laboratory Field Services Division of the California Department of Public Health said in a press release back in February that a routine inspection by the agency in December found "significant deficiencies" at the Valencia Branch Laboratory operated by PerkinElmer. (Manfredi, 4/19)
Bay Area News Group:
Flouting COVID Rules An Open Secret In California’s Last Purple County
In the end, Merced County was the last purple-tiered county standing on California’s pandemic map, an ignoble distinction that signaled coronavirus remained widespread and indoor dining and bars were supposed to stay closed. But that’s not how things rolled here in this San Joaquin Valley county, home to miles of almond orchards and headquarters of Foster Farms, which briefly shut down its poultry processing plant after a COVID-19 outbreak last summer. Many restaurant owners have been welcoming patrons inside for weeks if not months, bars have been bustling and at a pool hall on Merced’s Main Street early last week, a billiards tournament was in full swing. (Sulek, 4/19)
Los Angeles Daily News:
LA County Officials Growing More Confident COVID Could Be Beaten
Two of Los Angeles County’s top officials expressed increased optimism Monday, April 19, that despite spikes in coronavirus cases in other parts of the country, L.A. County should have enough people vaccinated to stave off any potential resurgence here. “Our numbers are continuing to hold steady. The last thing we want to see, however, is the virus to come roaring back,” said L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Hilda Solis. (Rosenfeld, 4/19)
ABC7 San Francisco:
When Should California Lift Its Outdoor Mask Mandate? Health Experts Are Conflicted
As California makes progress in the fight against COVID-19, discussion is growing over if - or when - it might be time to ease the state's outdoor mask mandate. In Israel, the outdoor mask mandate was lifted over the weekend. And recent columns in Slate and The Atlantic ask if it's time to do the same thing here in the U.S. So, is it? (Kreutz, 4/20)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Cell Phone Data Shows Bay Area Remains Extreme When It Comes To Staying At Home During Pandemic
With vaccines now widely available and pandemic restrictions loosening, the U.S. is opening back up. But San Franciscans are moving more slowly to return to normal routines and get out of the house than residents of any other city in the country, according to mobility data. (Neilson and Sumida, 4/19)
AP:
California Allows Fans For US Opens If Vaccinated Or Tested
A limited number of spectators will be allowed at the U.S. Women’s Open in San Francisco and the U.S. Open in San Diego in June provided they are vaccinated or can show proof of a negative test for the coronavirus. The USGA announced the policy Monday after consulting with California health officials. (Ferguson, 4/19)
Sacramento Bee:
CA Bill Would Ban Sub-Minimum Wage For People With Disabilities
In California, home to $14 an hour minimum wage, thousands of workers are being paid as little as $2 an hour. And it’s completely legal. Under a program known as 14(c), companies can pay Californians with disabilities below minimum wage. Supporters of the program say it has provided employment opportunities for thousands of people who wouldn’t otherwise get hired. Opponents say the program is exploiting workers who could do the job just as well as others with the right training and support. (Park, 4/20)
Los Angeles Times:
Garcetti Seeks To Stem Poverty, Boost Social Justice In L.A.
Mayor Eric Garcetti offered his vision on Monday for helping Los Angeles emerge from the financial devastation of COVID-19, saying city leaders should commit to economic justice by pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into relief programs and ramping up initiatives that keep residents safe, employed and out of poverty. In his annual State of the City address, Garcetti promised to spend nearly $1 billion on initiatives for addressing homelessness and increase funding for gang intervention workers, sidewalk vending programs, arts activities and relief for businesses. (Zahniser, Smith, Alpert Reyes, 4/19)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Bay Area Restaurants Want To Reopen. A Nationwide Staffing Crisis Is Halting Plans
The Bay Area restaurant industry is in the middle of its biggest staffing crisis yet. The labor market was already tight pre-pandemic because of San Francisco’s notoriously high cost of living and relatively low wages. Then, the first shelter-in-place order hit and restaurants laid off workers, who have left the region en masse, started their own small businesses or found jobs in other industries. Although California just passed a law guaranteeing laid-off hospitality workers their old jobs, few actually want them, owners say. Now, to lure workers back as more restaurants reopen dining rooms, owners say they need to make changes. Immediately. (Bitker, 4/19)
San Francisco Chronicle:
In 'Seismic Shift,' A Lot Of Californians Want To Work From Home After Pandemic Ends
After living in lockdown for a year-plus and dreading the return of daily traffic, many Californians are happy to keep working from home once the pandemic ends, according to a statewide study released Monday. About 31% of adults who are working from home said they would prefer to continue telecommuting every day, the study, by the University of Southern California and the California Emerging Technology Fund, found. Just over 50% said they would like to split their time between home and the office. Among those surveyed, just 18% said they would prefer to return to the office full-time if allowed. (Bobrowsky, 4/19)
Los Angeles Times:
Nomination Of 'Dr. Drew' For Homeless Commission Is Pulled After Outcry
A celebrity doctor nominated to a local homeless commission has been pulled from consideration after community members objected and mounted a #DumpDrDrew Twitter campaign accusing him of promoting policies that criminalize homelessness. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced Monday evening that she had withdrawn her nomination for Dr. David Drew Pinsky, more commonly known as “Dr. Drew,” for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a 10-member commission appointed by city and county elected officials. (Cosgrove, 4/19)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Wiener Wants To Keep UC From Contracting With Hospitals That Limit Abortions, Transgender Surgery
The University of California has 15,000 medical students at seven campuses but can’t provide care in many areas of the state without affiliating with private hospitals, including religious institutions that refuse to perform abortions or transgender surgery or provide physician aid-in-dying. State lawmakers are considering a hotly contested bill by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, that would prohibit UC from agreeing to require its physicians and medical students to comply with those restrictions when they work at private hospitals, in urban as well as rural areas. The hospitals include St. Mary’s Medical Center and Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, both owned by Dignity Health, which was formerly known as Catholic Healthcare West and follows the church’s health care directives at most of its facilities. (Egelko, 4/20)
Lake County News:
Partnership HealthPlan Of California To Disburse Millions Of Dollars For Behavioral Health Projects In Lake County
Partnership HealthPlan of California reported that it will receive more than $36 million from the state of California to boost the integration of behavioral health services with other health care services, with a large portion of those funds set to come to Lake County. PHC, which administers Medi-Cal benefits for more than 590,000 members in 14 Northern California counties, will then disburse the funds to 30 grantee organizations within its provider network. (4/20)
Los Angeles Times:
Man Arrested After Threatening Olympic Athlete Sakura Kokumai
Weeks after police say a man threatened Olympic athlete Sakura Kokumai in an Orange County park, authorities allege he also attacked an elderly couple in the same place, leading to his arrest Sunday night. Orange police say Michael Vivona, 25, punched two Korean Americans in the face at Grijalva Park — the same site where Kokumai filmed a man harassing her nearly three weeks ago. (Pinho, 4/19)
AP:
Man Held For Allegedly Attacking Asian Couple In California
A man who said he hates Asians was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an elderly Korean American couple at a Southern California park after allegedly threatening violence against a Japanese American Olympic athlete, police said. Michael Orlando Vivona, 25, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of elder abuse and committing a hate crime, Orange police announced. (4/19)
AP:
Older Korean-Americans In LA Fearful Amid Anti-Asian Attacks
Yong Sin Kim, an 85-year-old Korean immigrant living in a senior apartment complex in downtown Los Angeles, says he rarely leaves home these days. When he does, he carries a whistle with him; at least he could call for help if he’s attacked. Three floors up in the same building, Hyang Ran Kim, 74, waits for her daughter to pick her up. She is temporarily moving into her daughter’s place in a quieter neighborhood in the suburbs. Kim says her daughter is worried about her safety. Amid a surge of anti-Asian violence, fear creeps in and alters the daily life of vulnerable Asian seniors. (Hong, 4/20)
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Sonoma County Holding First Spanish-Language COVID-19 Town Hall
Sonoma County officials on Wednesday will hold their first Spanish-language town hall during the coronavirus pandemic, part of an ongoing public health campaign to encourage more local Latinos to get vaccinated against the infectious disease. Health care workers say there’s reluctance among some Latinos to being inoculated, partly due to misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines. “We really need to get more outreach into the Spanish-speaking, Latinx community,” said Dr. Sundari Mase, the county’s health officer. “It’s good that we’re doing this in Spanish to reach more people. We need to get the word out about vaccinations.” (Espinoza, 4/19)
Modesto Bee:
Should California Reform Its Marijuana Laws? Why Advocates Want Cannabis Back On The Ballot
A new coalition of marijuana advocates wants to put cannabis back on the California ballot aiming to expand access for consumers just five years after voters legalized recreational use. Marijuana advocates argue that high taxes and recalcitrant local governments have led to legalization falling far short of what voters were promised with Proposition 64 in 2016. They’re working on a proposal that they argue would fix the problems created by the law. Most notably, the proposed ballot measure would strip local governments of their power to approve or deny cannabis licenses. (Sheeler, 4/20)