Latest From California Healthline:
California Healthline Original Stories
COVID Vaccines Appear Safe and Effective, but Key Questions Remain
The federal government expects vaccinations to be available to everyone who wants them by summer — though glitches are inevitable. If enough of us get vaccinated, we could wave goodbye to the pandemic in 2021. (Bernard J. Wolfson, )
As the Terror of COVID Struck, Health Care Workers Struggled to Survive. Thousands Lost the Fight.
At least 2,900 health workers have died since the pandemic began. Many were minorities with the highest levels of patient contact. (Christina Jewett and Robert Lewis, )
Public health officials are pleading with Californians to avoid traveling this holiday season, hoping to mitigate the explosive growth of coronavirus infections brought on by mingling households.
In the Bay Area: Holiday travel continues, despite pleas for the Bay Area to stay home (Bay Area News Group)
In Los Angeles: Dire COVID warnings go unheeded as many insist on Christmas traditions (Los Angeles Times)
Doctors, Nurses Plead With Travelers: Hospitals plead for the public’s help to halt spread of virus (San Diego Union-Tribune); Doctors and nurses step up appeals for LA County to stay home amid record patient influx (Southern California News Group)
What About Airbnb? Tahoe-area officials ask Airbnb to stop vacation rentals amid stay-at-home order (Sacramento Bee)
Note to readers: California Healthline is going on holiday break. Look for it again in your inbox on Jan. 4. Happy holidays from all of us at KHN!
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
San Diego Union-Tribune:
First San Diegans Get Moderna Vaccine, With Scientists Urging Caution, Not Panic, Over New COVID Strain
While San Diego health care workers rolled up their sleeves for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, local scientists stressed that a new strain of the virus likely won’t outwit current vaccines. That’s good news for Dr. Caitlin Breen, a pediatric resident who got her shot Tuesday morning at Rady Children’s Hospital. A week ago, Breen found out that she’d cared for a woman in labor who later tested positive for the coronavirus. (Wosen, 12/22)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. Fire Departments Prepare To Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
Fire departments across Los Angeles County will soon receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, bringing relief to agencies whose ranks have been hit by the spread of the virus in the community. Emergency medical services personnel will be vaccinated in the first distribution phase, according to county health officials. The Los Angeles Fire Department expects to receive its first shipment of the Moderna vaccine Wednesday, then will begin vaccinating its sworn personnel, according to Capt. Erik Scott. The vaccine will be stored in refrigerators at a department facility. (Miller, 12/22)
LA Daily News:
How Will L.A. County Police, Fire Agencies Get Vaccinated? They’ll Enlist Their Own, Including Search-And-Rescue Paramedics
As COVID-19 infections surge across the region, Los Angeles County’s law enforcement and fire agencies are trying to figure out how they’ll distribute tens of thousands of vaccines to their employees on the front lines responding to the pandemic. (Cain, 12/22)
Los Angeles Times:
California's High-Risk Inmates To Get COVID-19 Vaccines
A state prison medical facility in the Central Valley has received some of the first coronavirus vaccines, which will be administered to inmates and employees. The California Health Care Facility, Stockton houses inmates with special medical needs. At least 150 of its 2,400 inmates are positive for COVID-19. Steve Crouch, director of public employees for the International Union of Operating Engineers, which represents prison maintenance and systems employees, said 65 inmates and employees volunteered to receive the vaccine Tuesday. Crouch said the employees who were vaccinated are in high-risk positions dealing with potentially infected inmates. (Winton, 12/22)
Bay Area News Group:
Next In Line For The COVID-19 Vaccine: The Aged, The Essential — Or Both?
California is poised to make a hard and controversial choice amid limited supplies of the coronavirus vaccine: whether to prioritize essential workers for vaccination over the elderly. Such a step, to be debated by a state advisory committee on Wednesday, would help return schools and many businesses to some semblance of normalcy. But it would delay protection for those at greatest risk of dying. (Krieger, 12/23)
Fresno Bee:
Fresno Doctor: Vaccine Is Exciting, But Too Late For Many Patients
Dr. Patrick Macmillan, a specialist in hospice and end-of-life care in Fresno, got a COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday morning, Dec. 22. He speaks of sadness for patients who have died and those who won't receive the vaccine in time to save their lives. (Sheehan, 12/22)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
UCSD Says COVID-19 Vaccines Should Work Against Scary New Strain Of Coronavirus
UC San Diego says the COVID-19 vaccines should be able to defeat the new strain of coronavirus that has spread through much of England, helping throw the country into a frustrating and fearful lock down. It is also possible that the strain, called B.1.1.7., could have entered the U.S., says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But there aren’t definitive signs that has happened. (Robbins, 12/22)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
California Health System Buckling Under COVID-19 Pandemic
California’s health care system is buckling under the strain of the nation’s largest coronavirus outbreak and may fracture in weeks if people ignore holiday social distancing, health officials warned as the number of people needing beds and specialized care soared to previously unimagined levels. (Jablon and Thompson, 12/22)
Fresno Bee:
Coronavirus Deaths Force Fresno County To Add Refrigerator Trailers As Morgue Space
Fresno County emergency medical services coordinator Dan Lynch talks on Dec. 22, 2020, about hospitals and the county coroner bringing in refrigerated trailers to provide more morgue space as COVID-19 deaths mount in the county. (Sheehan, 12/22)
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. COVID-19 Hospitalizations Spike, Bring Grim Projections
The pace of new COVID-19 hospitalizations is spiking so quickly in Los Angeles County that it is now literally off the charts, forcing officials to redraw the graphics used to illustrate the grim projections for what is ahead. In October, fewer than 150 patients infected with the coronavirus were being admitted daily into hospitals. By late November, that number had doubled to about 300 patients a day — as high as it’s ever been in the entire pandemic. (Lin II and Money, 12/22)
Orange County Register:
Coronavirus Spread In Orange County Reaches New Highs As Patients Pack Hospitals
There is no summit in sight as rampant coronavirus spread in Orange County drives pandemic metrics to new heights, according a state tracking system update on Tuesday, Dec. 22. Orange County’s rate of new coronavirus cases continued its climb this week, leaving any tier other than the most-restrictive purple far out of reach. The county’s case rate updated Tuesday was 51.8 new cases per day per 100,000 residents, up from 42.7 cases per 100,000 last week. Testing positivity – the share of swab tests coming back positive – grew to 15.2% and has surpassed summer surge highs, suggesting the coronavirus is more widespread in Orange County now than at any other point in the pandemic so far. (Wheeler, 12/22)
Ventura County Star:
Officials Warn Of Christmas Ventura County COVID-19 Surge
If Christmas looks too much like Thanksgiving, public health officials predict bad things could happen. "Then we're going to see this surge continue and get even worse," said Ventura County Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin, referring to gatherings that brought together family and friends from different households for turkey and fellowship. (Kisken, 12/22)
Ventura County Star:
Ventura County Jail Releases 76 Inmates After COVID Outbreak
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office began releasing 76 county jail inmates Tuesday afternoon due to a recent outbreak of COVID-19.The latest outbreak has led to 45 inmates as well as three jail staff members testing positive for the virus, none of whom required hospitalization, according to Capt. Eric Buschow, a spokesman for the agency. (Childs, 12/22)
Sacramento Bee:
Stay-At-Home Orders Aren’t Keeping Many In CA From Going Out
From Dec. 12 through Dec. 18, visits to California stores and restaurants were down an average of 31% compared to a January baseline. That’s only slightly different than the 27% decline in visits during the same week a month earlier — before the severe shutdown — and well short of the decline in visits seen during April. Visits to grocery stores and pharmacies were down about 12% from Dec. 12 through Dec. 18 as compared to a January baseline. They were down about the same amount a month earlier, showing little change with the new stay-at-home orders. (Reese and Bollag, 12/23)
Los Angeles Times:
COVID-19 Cases Surge At Malls As Holiday Shoppers Pour In
In this latest, most dire phase of the pandemic, as millions of Californians have been asked to stay home and avoid their families for the holidays, packed shopping malls have become a flashpoint. In recent weeks, Los Angeles County officials have banned outdoor dining, temporarily closed playgrounds and shuttered nail and hair salons. Yet, as case numbers continue to rise unabated and hospitals warn they may soon be forced to ration care, malls have continued to welcome holiday shoppers. Shopping malls and retail businesses deemed nonessential must limit occupancy to 20% of their maximum capacity, under county rules. But in the eyes of many, even public officials, they remain unsafe. (Karlamangla and Reyes-Velarde, 12/23)
Capital Public Radio/KXJZ:
As Placer County Sees COVID-19 Surge, Leadership Won’t Issue Emergency Health Order
Placer County is in dire COVID-19 straits: Cases are at an all-time high and the seven-day positivity rate is nearly 13%. But unlike counties in similar circumstances, Placer County has no local public health emergency in place — and has no plans to implement one. The county board of supervisors terminated its existing public health order in September, as the number of positive cases leveled off and hospital capacity improved. Bonnie Gore, Placer County supervisor and board chairperson, says the actions of residents matter more than an official emergency order. (Rodd, 12/22)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Newsom’s Restrictions On Indoor Religious Services Ruled Valid By Federal Judge
A federal judge says Gov. Gavin Newsom’s shutdown of indoor worship services in most of California is a valid measure to protect public health and protects religious freedom by allowing outdoor services, unlike the New York restrictions struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Harvest Rock Church of Pasadena and Harvest International Ministry, affiliated with 162 California churches, argued that Newsom’s orders violated the constitutional standards set by the high court in its Nov. 25 ruling on the New York case. (Egelko, 12/22)
LA Daily News:
LASD Announces COVID-19 Death Of Deputy
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday announced the passing of a deputy after battling COVID-19. The Sheriff’s Department announced the death of 20-year veteran Timothy Tellez of LASD’s Parks Bureau. (Wilson, 12/22)
Los Angeles Times:
Three 'Super-Spreader' Events Busted In L.A. County Last Weekend
Despite a surge in coronavirus cases and government orders to stay home as much as possible, people are still gathering for large parties. Last weekend, a man was fatally shot at an underground party in downtown Los Angeles, 67 people were arrested at a party in Compton and a third party in Los Angeles was shut down after a shooting, according to law enforcement officials. (Smith, 12/22)
LA Daily News:
LA’s MLK Hospital Slammed By COVID, Highlighting Virus Impact On Black Communities
Highlighting the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Black communities, the CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital said Tuesday that the small medical center is overloaded with patients, with 70 people being treated in a 29-bed emergency department. (12/22)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Memorial Hospital Unveils New Modular Building As A Part Of Surge Plan
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals, including Memorial Hospital, pitched tents outside their emergency departments to accommodate a surge in coronavirus patients. But this week, in lieu of a tent Memorial Hospital set up a brand-new temporary building in the parking lot outside the emergency department. (Gallegos, 12/23)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Drop In Cancer Diagnoses Masking An Urgent Health Concern
You’d think that a decrease in cancer diagnoses over the past few months would be good news. Dig deeper, though, and a more complex truth emerges: It means that preventive medical care has declined since the coronavirus pandemic began. (Wood, 12/22)
LA Daily News:
Community Refrigerators In Southern California Are A Source Of Aid, Activism And Sometimes Anxiety
Community fridges have sprouted up across Southern California as the coronavirus pandemic has squeezed local economies, increasing jobless claims and the number of those seeking food aid in many cities. The standalone refrigerators, which are mostly volunteer-driven, have provided some relief, becoming part of a growing movement of COVID-19-era mutual aid. Stocked with contributions from stores, restaurants, food pantries and even people’s homes and gardens, items in the community fridges are free for all who need help — no questions asked. (Rojas, 12/21)
Fresno Bee:
Teen Honored For Donating Organs At Fresno Hospital
The family of Justin Molina said their goodbyes to the 15-year-old at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno after authorizing his organ and tissue donation to save up to seven lives. The boy's life was cut short in a shooting. (Kohlruss, 12/22)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Free Training To Be Offered On Recognizing Child Abuse, Neglect
The Kern County Network for Children and Kern County Department of Human Services will hold a free training session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 8 on recognizing the signs of child abuse and neglect. Interested participants are asked to call Alexis Shaw at 636-4993 for Zoom meeting information. The session is designed for people in education, health care, faith-based communities, businesses and others serving children and families. (12/22)
San Jose Mercury News:
What Went Wrong With The COVID-19 Vaccine Trials
If there’s a common theme in the errors of the U.S. response to COVID-19, it’s been the astounding amount of squandering. Our leaders squandered time, as well as public trust and people’s economic and emotional resources. And they squandered the chance to do good science — testing drugs and vaccines in a way that serves the public interest rather than the interest of pharmaceutical companies. There’s no question that COVID-19 vaccines and therapies will save many lives. But we’re not doing the kinds of scientific studies needed to determine the best vaccines and therapies to maximize lives saved and minimize the weeks we endure unprecedented social and economic constraints. It’s not too late to change course. (Faye Flam, 12/23)
Los Angeles Times:
My Father Has COVID-19 And Is Captive In A Nursing Home. I Dream Of Breaking Him Out
For much of the fall, I’ve had nightly dreams about rescuing my father. Here’s why: COVID-19 had spread like wildfire through his nursing home in Wisconsin. A dozen patients died from it; he contracted it too. He was locked in his tiny room, alone except when nurses delivered meals and fed him. A television kept him company, tuned to CNN until his blood pressure spiked during the election and the nurses switched it to the Hallmark Channel. His room’s only window looks out on a courtyard set in the middle of the large care facility. “Why did we go with a courtyard view?” I asked my mother over the phone. “Because we thought it was better for your dad than looking out on a parking lot,” she said. (Carrie Friedman, 12/23)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Grocery Workers Deserve Hazard Pay During COVID-19 Surge
COVID-19 has made us more cognizant of routines that we no longer take for granted. It has also made us more appreciative of the workers who keep our vital routines intact, despite the risks to their health and their families. Thanks to these essential workers, neighborhood grocery and drug stores continue to remain open and stocked during the pandemic. While they enjoy recognition for their sacrifice, it should also be reflected in additional compensation. (John Nunes, 12/21)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Parent Group To SFUSD: Prepare To Open Our Schools
Fifth-grader Daniel Reyes’s last day of school at César Chávez Elementary School was March 13. Daniel, an English language learner, has since been attending 90 minutes a day of remote instruction from what his mother Olga describes as “unsafe housing.” She has stopped working in order to help him and his sister with their remote learning, even though she feels she lacks the academic preparation to provide them the education she desperately hopes will lead to a better life. With our district’s woefully inadequate reopening plan, Daniel and the vast majority of SFUSD students are unlikely to see the inside of a classroom before September 2021, a full year and a half without in-person instruction. We are failing Daniel and tens of thousands of children like him in San Francisco. (Meredith W. Dodson, Yvette Edwards, Kate Levitt, Laura Padilla and Clifford Yee, 12/22)
Sacramento Bee:
As COVID-19 Lockdown Worsens Hunger, California Must Increase Access To Food Benefits
As we enter Lockdown 2.0, my thoughts have turned to March, when we all hunkered down for what we thought would be three or four weeks, tops. Like most of us, I didn’t imagine that, nine months later, we’d be back in the same place we started. But then I realized that for many Californians this time isn’t the same. It’s much, much worse. We’ve heard countless stories about families dealing with layoffs, worrying about paying rent, caring for sick family members and — for far too many — not being able to afford enough food. (Jared Call, 12/23)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Yes, The Laws Of Supply And Demand Still Apply In San Francisco Housing
San Francisco has long made headlines for its sky-high rents, but now our rents are making news for plummeting more than any other city, reaching new lows not seen since the Great Recession. And yet, while story after story is being written about San Francisco becoming a renters’ market, it’s important to remember that even dramatically dropping rents aren’t really a news-making phenomenon — they’re simply the laws of supply and demand at work in our housing markets. And they’re the same laws that will continue to operate whether we’re living in a pre-pandemic, pandemic or post-pandemic world. (Todd David, 12/21)
Sacramento Bee:
Landlord Pursues Sacramento Evictions Despite COVID-19
In a stunning display of cruelty and heartlessness, the owner of one Sacramento residential hotel has decided to hand out eviction notices during the holiday season. If the Ezralow Company gets its way, dozens of paying tenants will soon be on the streets in the middle of winter — and during a raging COVID-19 pandemic. “Amid a severe surge in coronavirus cases and with Sacramento nighttime temperatures dipping into the 30s, dozens of tenants could soon be evicted from a River District residential hotel,” wrote The Sacramento Bee’s Theresa Clift. “The Calabasas-based Ezralow Co. sent notices to at least 38 tenants of the Hawthorn Suites on Nov. 16, saying they needed to leave so the hotel could be renovated or sold." (12/22)