How Did The First Week Back To School Go In LAUSD? About 3,000 students tested positive for covid and another 3,500 are in quarantine for possible exposure during the first week back to school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. And about 1,000 employees, out of 60,000, missed at least one day of work because of an infection or because they were in close contact with an infected person. Read more from the Los Angeles Times and Southern California News Group.
Family Of Guard Who Died From Covid Sues State Prison Officials: The family of Sgt. Gilbert Polanco, a San Quentin State Prison guard, blames a botched prisoner transfer and subsequent covid outbreak for his death. They have filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials. Get more details from the Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times and Bay Area News Group.
More News From Across The State
CalMatters:
California COVID Cases: Is It Getting Better Or Worse?
What in the world is going on with California’s struggle against COVID-19? The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday published an article declaring that COVID-19 hospitalizations in Los Angeles County appeared to be leveling off, only to update the story hours later to acknowledge an uptick in new patients. The Mercury News found that average daily reported new cases appear to be plateauing in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and the state as a whole — even as breakthrough infections of fully vaccinated people rise in Los Angeles County. Meanwhile, COVID hospitalizations are breaking records in six California counties and are increasing statewide, though the average number of daily deaths is decreasing statewide. Reading through all these stories and combing through the dizzying array of data points that at times seem to contradict each other, it’s difficult to know whether the state is gaining or losing ground in its battle against COVID-19. (Hoeven, 8/25)
Los Angeles Times:
After Signs Of Leveling, L.A. County COVID Hospitalizations Up
After promising indications of leveling hospitalization numbers, Los Angeles County on Tuesday reported another uptick in new COVID-19 patients. There are now 1,747 patients in county hospitals, according to the latest state figures, up from 1,724 on Monday. (Smith, 8/24)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Local Hospitals Struggle To Keep Up With Latest COVID-19 Surge
Local hospital executives worry they might not be able to staff enough beds to meet official projections that COVID-19 cases in Kern County will continue rising through early October. Although the volume of cases remains below its peak early this year, hospital staffing levels have plummeted as more and more employees burn out, retire or leave the state. Executives say those who remain are overworked and that contracted nurses from outside the area have become much harder to find. (Cox, 8/24)
The Mercury News:
Has Bay Area Summer COVID-19 Infection Wave Crested?
The summer spike of COVID-19 infections driven by the highly contagious delta variant may have hit its peak in the Bay Area and even California as a whole. Average daily reported new cases in the Bay Area and Los Angeles region appear to be leveling off, and a closely watched model at the University of Washington indicates the state is turning the corner away from a July surge in cases that spurred renewed mask mandates and vaccine requirements across the state. (Woolfolk and Oh, 8/24)
Associated Press:
California Epidemiologist 'Hopeful' Coronavirus Surge Is Abating
A summer coronavirus surge driven by the delta variant is again straining some California hospitals, particularly in rural areas, but the trend shows signs of moderating and experts predict improvement in coming weeks. The pattern is similar to the infection spikes California experienced last summer and much more severely over the winter when intensive care units were overflowing. But this time the moderation is coming without the shutdown orders that previously hobbled California's economy, businesses and schools. (Thompson, 8/24)
Los Angeles Daily News:
COVID-19 Cases Jump Among LAPD Officers, Outbreaks Ongoing In LAFD Stations
New cases of COVID-19 among Los Angeles Police Department employees nearly doubled over the last week, causing concern among officials who are trying to make it as easy as possible for officers to get access to vaccine doses. LAPD Chief Michel Moore in Tuesday’s Police Commission meeting said there were 84 new cases in the department. The week before, there were 45 new cases. (Cain, 8/24)
Sacramento Bee:
COVID Testing Demand Surges In Sacramento Amid Delta Variant
As the highly contagious delta variant continues to rage throughout Sacramento County, residents are scrambling to secure COVID-19 tests, putting added stress on health systems and community test sites. “We have surpassed the numbers for the summer surge of July 2020 and we are on track to either reach or even exceed the numbers for the winter surge,” said Sacramento County Public Health Officier Dr. Olivia Kasirye last week on a call with reporters. (Yoon-Hendricks, 8/24)
Modesto Bee:
COVID-19 Testing Sites Are Busy In Stanislaus County
Now that the FDA granted full approval of the coronavirus Pfizer vaccine, will it instill confidence for more unvaccinated people in Stanislaus County to get the shots? County health officials did not release any special plans Monday for offering the fully approved vaccine to those who have sat on the fence, waiting for more evidence the vaccines are safe and effective. Monday, the public health locations that were visibly attracting residents were testing sites, as the delta variant of COVID-19 continued to make people sick. (Carlson, 8/24)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Is 'Close Contact' Still 6 Feet For 15 Minutes? Experts Say COVID Guidance May Be Outdated
The delta variant has forced a quick pivot on key pandemic public health recommendations, including the return of universal indoor masking and the green light for vaccine booster shots. There’s another long-standing core guideline, however, that experts say could use new scrutiny: the definition of “close contact” with an infected person, which dictates at what point someone exposed to the coronavirus should get tested or self-isolate. (Vainshtein, 8/24)
Orange County Register:
Coronavirus: L.A. County Reported 2,600 New Cases And 39 New Deaths, Aug. 24
Los Angeles County public health officials reported 2,600 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to 1,388,143 as of Tuesday, Aug. 24. The total number of cases represents 13.8% of Los Angeles County’s population. Officials reported 39 new deaths linked to the coronavirus, for a total 25,114 deaths since tracking began. The total number of deaths represents 0.25% of Los Angeles County’s population. (Goertzen, 8/24)
Orange County Register:
Coronavirus: Orange County Reported 517 New Cases And Six New Deaths As Of Aug. 24
The OC Health Care Agency reported 517 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, Aug. 24, increasing the cumulative total since tracking began in the county to 281,609. There have been 9,772 new infections reported in the last 14 days. (Goertzen, 8/24)
The (Santa Rosa) Press Democrat:
Sonoma County Reports Three COVID-19 Deaths, Boosting Pandemic Toll To 347
Sonoma County public health officials Tuesday reported three more deaths due to the coronavirus, boosting virus-related fatalities in August to 12 and the pandemic death toll since March 2020 to 347. The fatalities are part of an ongoing summer surge of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations driven by the highly contagious delta strain of the virus. (Espinoza, 8/24)
Bay Area News Group:
San Jose Passes New Vaccination Mandate Despite Disruption From Maskless Protesters
In a chaotic scene that forced San Jose City Council members to temporarily evacuate the chambers, dozens of unmasked protesters stormed the council meeting Tuesday afternoon to denounce a proposed vaccination mandate. Despite the disruption and fierce opposition, the council unanimously voted later in the evening to require attendees and staff of events with 50 or more people held at city facilities, such as the SAP Center, Convention Center and Center for Performing Arts, to show proof that they’re fully vaccinated before entering. A negative COVID-19 test would not get them in. (Angst, 8/24)
Bay Area News Group:
What You Should Know About San Jose Proof Of COVID Vaccination Requirement
In a chaotic scene that forced San Jose City Council members to temporarily evacuate the chambers, dozens of unmasked protesters stormed the council meeting Tuesday afternoon to denounce a proposed vaccination mandate. Despite the disruption and fierce opposition, the council unanimously voted later in the evening to require attendees and staff of events with 50 or more people held at city facilities, such as the SAP Center, Convention Center and Center for Performing Arts, to show proof that they’re fully vaccinated before entering. A negative COVID-19 test would not get them in. (Angst, 8/24)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Unmasked Anti-Vaccine Protesters Storm San Jose Council Meeting
A group of unmasked protesters swarmed a city council meeting on Tuesday, protesting a proposal by Mayor Sam Liccardo that would require attendees of events with 50 or more people at city-owned facilities — including venues such as the SAP Center and San Jose McEnery Convention Center — to show proof of vaccination. Once the meeting proceeded, an organized group of anti-vaccination activists filled the public comment segment on Zoom with threats to recall council members and scripted screeds against the COVID-19 vaccines that have been proven to control the spread of the virus and reduce the severity of the disease. “God’s given us natural immunity to fight infection. What’s going to happen when we can’t shop?” said one protester. (Vaziri, Beamish, Tucker and Fracassa, 8/24)
NPR:
An LAFD Captain Is Under Investigation After An Anti-Vaccine Mandate Video Rant
A Los Angeles City Fire Department captain who railed against the city, the department and his own union leaders over an imminent vaccine mandate for all city workers is under an internal investigation. "I am so hopping mad right now, you have no idea. My head could pop," Capt. Cristian Granucci told viewers as he launched into a 12-minute video rant on Monday in which he threatened to sue the local firefighters union and the city. (Romo, 8/25)
CNBC:
White House Covid Officials Urge Employers To Mandate Vaccines: 'Now Is The Time'
White House Covid officials called for private employers to mandate vaccines at a briefing Tuesday, one day after the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to Pfizer for its coronavirus vaccine. Many companies have responded to this summer’s surge in Covid cases by rolling out vaccine requirements for all or part of their U.S. staff, including Google, Facebook and United Airlines. But others have avoided vaccine mandates, both to give the FDA time to approve a full license and to keep vaccine-hesitant workers from leaving. (Towey, 8/24)
AP:
From CVS To Goldman Sachs, FDA Move Prompts Vaccine Mandates
From Walt Disney World to Goldman Sachs, a flurry of private and public employers are requiring workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 after the federal government gave full approval to the Pfizer shot. And the number is certain to grow much higher. For the past eight months, coronavirus shots were dispensed in the U.S. under emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Some workers and unions objected to getting the vaccine — and some employers were reluctant to require it — because it had yet to receive FDA full approval. That happened on Monday. (Wiseman and Pisani, 8/24)
Modesto Bee:
Disney, Royal Caribbean Now Require Covid-19 Vaccines
Disney and Royal Caribbean cruise lines announced Tuesday they will require U.S. travelers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before hopping on a ship. The cruise lines said the new requirement would apply to trips scheduled to depart from Florida starting in September. (San Juan, 8/24)
The Washington Post:
Coronavirus Vaccines Remain Highly Effective At Stopping Severe Disease Amid Spread Of Delta, L.A. Data Show
Unvaccinated people in Los Angeles County were five times as likely to become infected with the coronavirus and 29 times as likely to be hospitalized as people who were fully immunized, newly released data from California show. It is the latest evidence that vaccines continue to reduce significantly the risk of severe illness — their fundamental purpose — despite the spread of the more contagious delta variant. The report, published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also demonstrates the limits of vaccines. They are not an impenetrable barrier against the virus. Some inoculated people are continuing to develop covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. But the vast majority of “breakthrough” cases among vaccinated people do not require hospitalization. (Achenbach and Nirappil, 8/24)
CapRadio:
UC Davis Study Sheds Light On COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness
A recent UC Davis Health study shows how quickly COVID-19 infections were reduced among health care workers when vaccines were first distributed late last year. Researchers examined the incidence of COVID-19 in UC Davis Medical Center employees before and after vaccines were first made available. The data showed a single dose of their Pfizer or Moderna vaccines decreased the risk of contracting COVID-19 by 48%, while a second dose decreased the risk by 83%. (8/24)
Stat:
As Delta Spread, Covid Vaccine Effectiveness Against Infection Fell To 66%
The effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines at preventing infection fell in one study of U.S. frontline workers from roughly 90% to 66% as the Delta variant emerged and became dominant in the country, an updated report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Tuesday indicated. The study, known as HEROES-RECOVER, includes more than 4,000 health care workers, first responders, and other frontline workers in eight locations across six states, all of whom have been tested weekly for infection with SARS-CoV-2. More than 4 in 5 were vaccinated, and the vast majority of them received the mRNA vaccines from either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. (Joseph, 8/24)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Public Health Releases Data Showing Vaccine Effectiveness In Kern County
As COVID-19 infects more and more Kern County residents each day, vaccination continues to be the best method against illness and hospitalization. New data released by Kern County Public Health Services shows a stark difference between infections in the county’s vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. The data comes on the heels of the first approval of a COVID-19 vaccine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Morgen, 8/24)
Los Angeles Times:
Pfizer COVID Vaccine Has FDA Approval. What Does That Mean?
In a milestone for the battle against pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval Monday to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. “While this and other vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” said the acting FDA commissioner, Dr. Janet Woodcock. (Roy, 8/24)
Modern Healthcare:
Medicare Payments Increased For At-Home COVID-19 Vaccinations
The Biden administration on Tuesday increased the amount providers will get paid for administering COVID-19 vaccinations to multiple residents where they live. Providers will receive up to five times the typical payment when they administer COVID-19 doses to fewer than 10 Medicare beneficiaries on the same day at one location, such as smaller group homes, assisted living facilities and other group living accommodations. That could translate to $35 more per vaccination. (Christ, 8/24)
Politico:
NIH Director: Vaccine Approval For Kids Unlikely Before Late 2021
One of the federal government’s top public health experts on Tuesday predicted it is unlikely children under the age of 12 will be eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine before late 2021, contradicting the speedier timelines offered by other Biden administration officials. Vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna are currently studying the shot’s safety and efficacy in younger children and infants, with Pfizer expected to deliver the results of its trials for 5-11-year-olds to the Food and Drug Administration sometime in September. (Forgey, 8/24)
The Wall Street Journal:
Some Parents Push To Give Covid-19 Vaccine To Children Under 12, Against Government Guidance
Some parents eager to vaccinate their children under 12 against Covid-19 are hoping that the Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s vaccine could make that happen even before the FDA authorizes shots for emergency use for that age group. But the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have emphasized that the safest thing for this group of children is to wait for more data to be analyzed. (Schwartz and Chaker, 8/24)
Los Angeles Times:
Data Breach At Cal State Chico Reveals Vaccine Exemptions
Officials at California State University, Chico, are investigating a data breach that exposed confidential information from 130 students who requested religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine. The records, which included students’ names and email addresses, were breached Aug. 15 and published on an anonymous internet message board, said university officials. Officials were not aware of the breach until a reporter from the Sacramento Bee, which first reported the story, contacted the university Monday. (Estrin and Hernandez, 8/24)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Back On Campus With New Rules, Bay Area Colleges Are Laboratories For 'Normal' Life In COVID Era
As colleges and universities resume face-to-face instruction for the first time since early 2020, Bay Area campuses are emerging as laboratories for learning whether people can push forward with normal life while coexisting with the risk of COVID-19. Students are packing into college dorms. They’re dining in the student union and partying at the frat house. They’re also required to be tested for the coronavirus, wear masks indoors and upload vaccination cards to the school databases to show they got their shots. (Asimov, 8/25)
Los Angeles Times:
For College Students In California, The Only Common Ground Is Uncertainty
We asked over 60 college students how they feel about their schools' approach to physical and mental health as classes resume. (Parker, 8/25)
CalMatters:
Quarantined: A New Law Is Disrupting California School Reopenings
As classes resume, a new state law governing independent study is worsening staff shortages, threatening school budgets and forcing quarantined students to relive last year’s school shutdowns. (Hong, 8/25)
Orange County Register:
Santa Ana Unified To Consider Testing All Students, Staff For COVID-19 Every Week
The Santa Ana School Board is scheduled to vote Tuesday, Aug. 24, on a plan that would have every student and staff member tested weekly for COVID-19. Santa Ana Unified is believed to be the first district in Orange County to consider the testing, following in the footsteps of its larger neighbors to the north, the Los Angeles Unified and Long Beach Unified school districts. (Kopetman, 8/24)
Orange County Register:
With O.C. Schools Open, Rules On How To Handle COVID-19 Are Works In Progress
With most Orange County school districts welcoming students back to campus in recent weeks, reports of COVID-19 connected to schools are starting to trickle in, with some high schools confirming 10 or more cases. In response, school officials are asking students who have been exposed to COVID-19 to stay home and quarantine. But who is asked to stay home, and for how long, depends on a number of variables, ranging from symptoms and whether the person exposed has been vaccinated to whether both the infected and exposed person were wearing face masks. (Kopetman, 8/24)
Modesto Bee:
Pandemic Gave Modesto Educators Window To Families In Need
As students and their families face pandemic-related challenges from online learning to economic hardship, Modesto school administrators are offering aid as the circumstances have raised their awareness. Over the past 18 months, Sue McHann, principal at Shackelford Elementary School, said she and her colleagues have been able to connect with families in need of assistance in a much more proactive way than before. (Briseño and Karisch, 8/24)
AP:
House Passes $3.5T Biden Blueprint After Deal With Moderates
Striking a deal with moderates, House Democratic leaders have muscled President Joe Biden’s multitrillion-dollar budget blueprint over a key hurdle, ending a risky standoff and putting the party’s domestic infrastructure agenda back on track. The 220-212 vote Tuesday was a first move toward drafting Biden’s $3.5 trillion rebuilding plan this fall, and the narrow outcome, in the face of unanimous Republican opposition, signaled the power a few voices have to alter the debate and the challenges ahead still threatening to upend the president’s agenda. From the White House, Biden praised the outcome as “a step closer to truly investing in the American people.” He said at a news conference that he had called to congratulate House leaders for the work. (Mascaro and Freking, 8/24)
The Washington Post:
Biden Receives Inconclusive Intelligence Report On Covid Origins
President Biden on Tuesday received a classified report from the intelligence community that was inconclusive about the origins of the novel coronavirus, including whether the pathogen jumped from an animal to a human as part of a natural process, or escaped from a lab in central China, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The intelligence community will seek within days to declassify elements of the report for potential public release, officials said. (Nakashima, Abutaleb and Achenbach , 8/24)
AP:
China Accuses US Of Politicizing COVID-19 Origins Research
China went on the offensive Wednesday ahead of the release of a U.S. intelligence report on the origins of the coronavirus, bringing out a senior official to accuse the United States of politicizing the issue by seeking to blame China. Fu Cong, a Foreign Ministry director general, said at a briefing for foreign journalists that “scapegoating China cannot whitewash the U.S.” “If they want to baselessly accuse China, they better be prepared to accept the counterattack from China,” he said. (Moritsugu, 8/25)
Los Angeles Times:
Supreme Court: Biden Can't End Trump's 'Remain In Mexico'
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Tuesday upheld a Texas judge’s order that would require the Biden administration to follow President Trump’s so-called Remain in Mexico policy. That program sought to deter Central American migrants from seeking asylum in the United States by requiring them to stay in Mexico until their cases were heard in the U.S. (Savage, 8/24)
Los Angeles Times:
Biden Approves Wildfire Disaster Declaration In California
President Biden late Tuesday approved a major disaster declaration for areas affected by the Dixie and River fires in Northern California, opening up federal funding for grants, temporary housing, repairs and other relief efforts as multiple blazes continue to sweep across the Golden State. The action makes federal funding available to affected residents in Lassen, Nevada, Placer and Plumas counties, according to a statement by the White House. The assistance will include grants to help individuals and business owners recover from the fires. (Yee, 8/24)
Sacramento Bee:
Tahoe Air Quality The Worst In Country Due To Caldor Smoke
Areas in and around Lake Tahoe and Reno are posting the worst air quality readings in the country as smoke from the Caldor Fire makes skies look Mars-like. Currently, AirNow shows parts of Lake Tahoe are experiencing hazardous levels — which means an air quality index reading of over 300 — of particulate matter 2.5. The Reno area has similar poor air quality, with readings between 200 and 300, and the area around Carson City is affected by unhealthy air as well, according to AirNow. (Jasper, 8/24)
San Francisco Chronicle:
As Caldor Fire Smoke Chokes Lake Tahoe, A Northern California Paradise Reels
Smoke and ash pouring into the Lake Tahoe basin from the Caldor Fire turned this alpine paradise Tuesday into a place not to be enjoyed but endured. The skies, typically as blue as the lake, were a yellowish gray and the normally pine-scented air reeked. (Echeverria and Cabanatuan, 8/24)
Los Angeles Times:
A Summer Of Terror, Heartbreak For Those In Path Of California Wildfires. ‘The Worst’
Across the northern half of California, a relentless series of uncontrolled wildfires have burned more than a million acres and destroyed entire communities in one fell swoop. Exacerbated by the interplay of drought, heat and global warming, extreme fire behavior has profoundly changed the lives of those who live on the doorstep of California’s wildlands. For many, summer has now become a time of fear, and the canopy of trees that once shaded their homes and streets is now seen as an existential threat. Similarly, smoky skies have become a harbinger of terror, causing residents to wonder when they might be ordered to flee — and whether there will be anything left when they return. (Wigglesworth, 8/25)
CapRadio:
Amid Compounding Environmental Crises, Organizers Offer 'Resilience Hubs' As A Potential Solution
This past year has put small community centers like Lanare’s to the test. They’ve become sites for COVID-19 response as people rely more on county fairgrounds and neighborhood spaces throughout the state. These issues lie atop the state’s pre-existing efforts to provide relief to communities during crises, like respite centers during severe weather. These concerns fueled environmental advocates during this year’s legislative session, prompting a push for funding toward permanent relief shelters from environmental crises that advocates call “resilience hubs.” (Secaira, 8/24)
Modern Healthcare:
Patients And Providers At Odds Over Digital Health Tools' Future
Patients want the same efficiency and convience in healthcare that they find in other consumer experiences, a new study finds. But providers seem less confident in being able to offer those experiences. Consumers over 18 years of age who received care services over the past 12 months were surveyed by consulting firm, Experian Health, which released a white paper Tuesday with the results. (Johnson, 8/24)
Bay Area News Group:
Intuitive Surgical Huge New Campus In Sunnyvale Makes Progress
Intuitive Surgical has cleared a key hurdle for its plans to build a huge new campus that bids to be a dramatic addition to Sunnyvale and enable the maker of a cutting-edge surgical robot to expand in Silicon Valley. The company has proposed the development of a two-building office and research tech hub on Kifer Road in Sunnyvale that would total about 1.21 million square feet. The Sunnyvale Planning Commission has approved the development, a unified campus with addresses of 932, 945, 950 and 955 Kifer Road. (Avalos, 8/25)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Multicultural Health Foundation Chosen As 2021 Nonprofit Of The Year
As COVID-19 swept through California, a nonprofit called the Multicultural Health Foundation connected independent doctors and healthcare workers with low-income and minority residents in San Diego County. The organization, founded in 2012, partnered with San Diego County to launch the Together Against COVID campaign in September, a marketing and education effort to reach Black Americans who were hesitant to get tested and vaccinated against the virus. Black healthcare professionals, local elected officials and pastors spearheaded the campaign. (Durham, 8/25)
Associated Press:
Auditor Says California Bungled COVID-19 Funds For Homeless
The California Department of Housing and Community Development did not properly distribute federal relief funds meant to help homeless residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the mismanagement was so prolonged that local organizations might lose the money because of missed deadlines, auditors said Tuesday. After receiving $316 million under the federal CARES Act to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on unhoused people, the department “did not take critical steps to ensure those funds promptly benefited that population,” the state auditor’s office said in a report. (8/25)
CalMatters:
How California Is Leveraging Sports Arenas For More Housing
To help alleviate the state’s housing shortage, California recently began tracking publicly owned lots that could be turned into affordable homes. In its first year, the state housing agency has cited two major sports arenas—Angel Stadium in Anaheim and Pechanga Arena in San Diego—for cutting backroom development deals with developers that shortchanged the public on affordable units. The agency is now investigating Oakland Coliseum in Oakland. (Paz, 8/24)
CapRadio:
Sacramento County Extends Motel Program Sheltering Hundreds Of Homeless Residents Through November
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to extend a motel program that’s sheltered approximately 1,600 older and medically vulnerable homeless residents during the pandemic. The extension keeps the county’s three Project Roomkey motels open through Nov. 30 instead of closing them this month. About 360 homeless residents remain at the motels, according to county figures. (Nichols, 8/24)
Associated Press:
Earlier Diabetes Tests Recommended For Overweight U.S. Adults
Overweight and obese Americans should start getting screened for diabetes earlier, at age 35 instead of 40, according to updated national guidelines published Tuesday.The new advice stems from rising rates of both obesity and Type 2 diabetes, and research showing health benefits of prevention methods and early treatment. Three out of four U.S. adults is overweight or obese, which increases their chances for developing diabetes. (Tanner, 8/24)
Sacramento Bee:
CA Reports Seven Salmonella Cases In Cross-Country Outbreak
Put away your charcuterie boards, at least for now: Investigators at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are looking into salmonella outbreaks, and California is currently reporting the highest number of sick individuals in the country. More than 30 people from 17 states are sickened with salmonella infections likely caused by Italian-style meats commonly found in charcuterie and antipasto such as salami and prosciutto, according to CDC. California has reported seven known cases, the most out of all 17 states. Arizona has the next highest number with five, though CDC said infection numbers across the country may be higher than what’s currently reported because some people recover without medical care. (Jasper, 8/240
San Francisco Chronicle:
A 14-Year-Old Teen Died At Home. Concord Police Are Investigating Whether A Fentanyl-Laced Pill Caused An Accidental OD
Concord police are investigating the death of a 14-year-old Concord High School student who is believed to have ingested a pill that may have been laced with fentanyl or another toxic substance, officials said. The teen died at home Saturday and police said that although the cause of death is not yet known they said there are indications the teen died of an accidental overdose after swallowing a pill, and police are warning the community about pills that have caused deaths in other areas. (Hernandez, 8/24)