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COVID-19 Digest: Updates from Cal Wellness

Produced by Sandra J. Martínez, Director of Public Policy

This ongoing digest summarizes developments in policies and public-health guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on California. It began as an internal update to staff to inform our response efforts, and we’re sharing it as a resource to others. We hope it’s useful to you.

Friday, September 18

Though the COVID-19 death toll has risen this week, California’s battle with COVID-19 is showing improvements through several metrics including the seven-day positivity rate and number of new cases, total patients hospitalized, and patients in intensive care units, which have all been dropping for weeks. The downward trend in coronavirus cases could move Los Angeles County down to a less restrictive tier for reopening as early as October.

National

  • This 5-minute podcast explores how the pandemic has delayed medical care for severe conditions for about 1 in every 5 households. In some cases, people were not able to find a doctor and in others, hospitals cancelled certain medical procedures to focus resources on COVID-19.
  • In New York, taxi drivers have very few passengers amid the pandemic. Some estimates show that demand for for-hire rides dropped 84% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Many drivers are able to earn a living by participating in an emergency home food delivery program that serves the city’s low-income families.
  • This op-ed urges colleges to not abandon the 1 in 5 college students who have children and have been stretched thin during the pandemic. Just 13% of childcare assistance goes to student parents, 53% of student parents face food insecurity and 66% experience housing insecurity.
  • There have been 6,767,453 people infected with the coronavirus and at least 200,643 have died in the United States.

State

  • California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) will develop emergency statewide standards with stricter precautions for workplaces against the “occupational health emergency” brought on by the pandemic. Through a fast-track process, the standards could be developed within a few months and Cal/OSHA will be hiring back retired inspectors to address understaffing.
  • In light of the pandemic, disaster aid has had to evolve to respond to large-scale disasters such as wildfires. Precautions include health screenings, staggered mealtimes, no group dining halls, no in-person counseling, and more hotel rooms to shelter survivors.
  • There have been 775,463 people infected with coronavirus and at least 14,810 have died in California.

Regional

Racial Equity

  • Mayors from cities across the country are taking notes from Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs as they consider guaranteed minimum income programs to alleviate poverty. The Mayors for Guaranteed Income group has swelled as the coronavirus pandemic exposed the economic fragility of households, particularly among Black and Latino households.

ICYMI

Thursday, September 17

With just two weeks remaining in the counting period, the census response rate in California is now higher than the 2010 response rate even though coronavirus restrictions prevented door-to-door outreach and many wealthy Californians retreated to vacation homes. The response rate in Los Angeles trails far behind the statewide rate.

National

State

Regional

Racial Equity

  • Structural issues with the Payment Protection Program left many small businesses – those predominantly owned by Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC)– out of the federal loan program. Even as BIPOC small business owners continue to struggle to keep their businesses afloat, many are still finding ways to support their communities.

ICYMI

Wednesday, September 16

Today the CDC unveiled a broad plan for distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine to all Americans for free, when it becomes available. However, the CDC Director reported that the vaccine would not be widely available until next year; also noting that the single most powerful public health tool for prevention, currently available, is wearing a mask.

National

  • Unemployment has skyrocketed during the pandemic and new data are showing that the impact on  young workers has been significant.  Even though young people make up less than a quarter of the labor force, they have accounted for about a third of the rise in the unemployment rate between February and April. There are also disparities by education and race, Black and Latino workers with lower levels of education have been hit harder compared to White and college-educated workers.
  • Weddings have been linked to outbreaks over the last few months and a recent wedding in Maine illustrates how easily COVID-19 can spread.  A wedding in Maine has now been linked to 160 coronavirus cases and five fatalities. Cases have occurred at nursing homes and jails, often introduced into those settings by staff who attended the wedding.

State

  • As fires continue to rage across California, many people are experiencing problems with breathing and have symptoms such as a cough and a sore throat, that mirror the symptoms of COVID-19. Hospitals and clinics in the regions hardest hit by the wildfires are reporting an increase in patients with these types of symptoms which are most likely due to smoke inhalation. Many of these facilities are already strapped for COVID-19 supplies, but have to rule out coronavirus, as a first step.
  • Today, during a weekly media briefing, the Director of Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly warned that Halloween would look quite different and that trick or treating is not advised this year. Many counties throughout the state are putting county-specific guidelines in place, as well.

Regional

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Not long ago the Scandinavian concept of Hygge-- creating home spaces and social situations that elicit comfort and coziness was trending. Now, some are turning attention to Norway and the concept of "friluftsliv," translated literally as “open air living.” This is a deeply ingrained cultural concept in Norway that means time spent outdoors is valued and enjoyed, regardless of the weather. Check out this article which explores this concept and how it might help us all manage the upcoming winter months amid the pandemic.

Tuesday, September 15

Earlier this year a number of European nations were hard hit by the coronavirus and endured lengthy lockdowns to manage outbreaks. Countries managed risks differently and new approaches to the pandemic are emerging including rather than shut down completely, learning to live with the coronavirus.

National

  • Last year median household incomes in the U.S.  grew by 6.8% to $68,700 and poverty declined to 10.5%, the lowest since in 1959, according to an annual report from the U.S. Census.  The pandemic hit and tens of millions of people have lost work and unemployment reached the highest levels since the Great Depression. The report also indicates median household income rose for every racial group.

State

  • The good signs surrounding COVID-19 continue with just over 3.5% of all COVID-19 tests in the state coming back positive. This is the lowest rate on record since the state started reporting this data in late March.
  • Many parents fearing distance learning, are having their children opt out of kindergarten and in some cases, stay in preschool another year. Kindergarten is optional in California and a number of the larger school districts are reporting big drops in enrollment compared to previous years. For students who qualify for subsidized early childhood programs like Head Start another year of preschool is not an option and those children may instead be at home with family.

Regional 

Racial Equity

  • Last Spring school districts across the country quickly pivoted to distance learning and as the pandemic has continued and negatively impacted state budgets, thousands of teachers have been laid off. This is occurring just as many districts have begun to hire more teachers of color. These lay-offs are hitting these teachers first as they often lack tenure, hurting the diversity of the teaching workforce.

ICYMI

  • Has the pandemic got you worried about what ingredients the best hand sanitizers contain? Do you wonder about the different coronavirus tests out there? Do you think about using face shields instead of a mask? To get some of your questions answered, check out Viral Questions, which is updated regularly.

Monday, September 14

No one know exactly when the novel coronavirus was circulating in the US but, the pandemic “officially” began in the United States, in mid-March. Now, six months later, the United States continues to grapple with the impact and uncertainty of the pandemic,  read more in Virus America, six months in: Disarray, dismay, disconnect.

National 

  • In spite of orders by the Governor of Nevada and in opposition to federal guidance, President Trump held a campaign rally indoors on Sunday. While masks were encouraged, few people wore them at the rally and participants did not observe social distancing guidelines.
  • There are numerous concerns about the negative impact the pandemic is and will continue to have on education systems. A report released last week from the Economic Policy Institute identifies some of the educational opportunity gaps that have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and also provides recommendations to begin to address some of the adverse impacts COVID-19 has had on the education system. The report can be found here.
  • There have been 6,565,500 people infected with the coronavirus and at least 194,200 have died in the United States.

State

  • Disparities in school re-openings are becoming a concern in California as school campuses in more affluent areas with lower infection rates begin to reopen. Other districts that serve largely low-income Latino students have begun the school year remotely.  Children in these districts are also less likely have needed devices and more likely to have limited or no Wi-Fi access.
  • There have been 764,136 people infected with coronavirus and at least 14,435 have died in California.

Regional

  • In a bit of promising news, daily hospitalizations due to coronavirus continued to decline over the weekend in Los Angeles County. Approximately 800 people were hospitalized with the virus countywide, 35% in the ICU a significant decline from previous weeks. The new numbers bring the numbers down to the pre-surge levels of the recent summer months.

Racial Equity

  • Many believe that pandemic has exacerbated the already existing inequalities in the U.S., including the extreme income inequality. A new working paper from RAND Corporation researchers estimates that over the last four decades there has been an upward distribution of $50 trillion that has not “lifted up all boats” in the United States.  Check out this thought provoking Op-Ed which explores this new research, how a more equitable distribution might have improved the situation for many during the pandemic, and what should be done to move forward and address these inequalities.

ICYMI:

Friday, September 11

Today, many in the country are remembering the events of September 11. In New York City they are commemorating 9/11 in the aftermath of last Spring’s COVID-19 outbreak and the continuing risks posed by the virus.

National  

  • Due to numerous questions about the integrity and independence of the vaccine process and approval of treatment protocols, a group of eight FDA career officials published an opinion column promising to uphold scientific integrity and following science to protect the public’s health during the pandemic.  
  • There have been 6,426,300 people infected with coronavirus and at least 191,800 have died in the United States. 


State 

  • During the pandemic there have been serious concerns about the increase in hunger, particularly among vulnerable populations. As shelter-in-place orders went into effect last Spring, many seniors in California began receiving food boxes of non-perishables or dried food items. At that time the federal government waived the requirement to include cheese, and allowed the use private companies for delivery, rather than require seniors pick up the boxes. In July, the waiver ended and now tens of thousands needy seniors have been cut off and California has seen an immediate 30% drop in the number of seniors receiving their monthly food aid through the program. 
  • The largest COVID-19 fine imposed on a business by the State was issued to Overhill Farms, located in Vernon California. The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed penalties of over $400,000 to two companies associated with Overhill Farms, stating that both companies “failed to install barriers, ensure workers practiced physical distancing and train employees on the dangers of the virus”.  
  • There have been 751,523 people infected with coronavirus and at least 14,100 have died in California. 


Regional 

  • This week Los Angeles County leaders together with the mayors of the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Pasadena unveiled a new contact tracing app to fight coronavirus. The mobile app, called Citizen SafePass is capable of notifying residents when they have been exposed to the novel coronavirus. Leaders assured the public that personal information used for contact tracing will remain private and is encrypted. 
  • After some initial excitement that schools might be able to reopen sometime this Fall in Los Angeles, the county public health director announced yesterday that schools in LA County will not be allowed to fully reopen until at least November. However, the small in-person classes announced last week for English language learners and students with disabilities will still move forward as announced with an estimated 200,000 students back on school campuses. 
  • The wildfires throughout the state have been incredibly challenging and in some places the air quality has been so bad that counties are making adjustments to pandemic-related orders. In Butte County, an emergency OK has been given to restaurants to reopen on a temporary basis due to the poor air quality and pollution caused by the wildfires.  


Racial Equity 

  • This week the Committee for Greater LA, USC’s Equity Research Institute and UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs released No Going Back: Together for an Equitable and Inclusive Los Angeles. The report focuses on the myriad ways COVID-19 has impacted Los Angeles with a focus on communities of color. The report proposes 10 guiding principles that advance an agenda focused on greater racial equity to “reinvent Los Angeles”, post COVID-19. 


ICYMI 

Thursday, September 10

National  


State

  • Varying financial resources and access to testing equipment is creating disparities in COVID-19 testing policies in California’s higher education institutions. Twelve of 23 Cal States do not have COVID-19 testing on campus meanwhile private universities such as USC are testing all undergraduates on campus weekly and Stanford will allow students to get tested twice a week.  
  • As school superintendents across the state debate how and when to reopen schools for in-person instruction, each region faces its own unique challenges. Fresno Unified has developed 19 different plans while the San Bernardino City Unified School District’s biggest challenge is transportation and other districts such as Oakland Unified and Calaveras Unified face an uphill battle with teachers that are hesitant to return to the classroom.  


Regional 


Racial Equity 

  • A new survey shows that nearly half of U.S. households are facing financial problems during the pandemic. The financial struggles are more acute among Black and Latino households where depending on the city, 50 – 80% reported serious financial problems such as inability to pay rent.  


ICYMI 

    • Many parents share that helping their children with Common Core math methods is more daunting than providing them with Zoom tech support during distance learning. The standardized teaching method rolled out in 2010 and parents are teaching their children the way they were taught or teaching themselves first via YouTube videos.

Wednesday, September 9

Orange, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Placer, and Amador counties were reclassified into a tier that allows for more businesses to ease restrictions and open in a limited capacity. Counties in the “substantial” tier can reopen indoor dining and movie theatres at 25% capacity, fitness centers at 10% capacity, and retail at 50% capacity. There are now fourteen counties in the “substantial” tier.

National  

  • New research shows that only 15% of students who qualify for free or reduced meals are getting the meals. With more parents returning to work, the most common problem is that students cannot get to the meal distribution centers when districts do offer the meals. The troubling research is worrisome as the lack of access to meals can lead to increased childhood hunger.  
  • The first ten minutes of this podcast explores the dangers of relaxing safety standards and approving a COVD-19 vaccine too rapidly. The World Health Organization has warned that a vaccine that is only moderately effective could worsen the pandemic.   
  • Advancements in contact tracing technology face a fundamental dilemma when it comes to protecting user privacy. Most contact tracing apps use location tracking technology and in countries where privacy is highly valued people are less likely to use the technology, making it less effective. Contact tracing apps have yet to be rolled out in a large scale in the U.S. 


State 


Regional 


Racial Equity 


ICYMI 

Tuesday, September 8

Even though many leaders urged Americans to avoid parties and large crowds over the Labor Day weekend, the end of summer nevertheless has many health officials worried about post-holiday outbreaks of coronavirus.

National  

  • As colleges and universities have begun reopening, a new wave of activism has emerged as many workers fight a return to campus due to COVID-related safety concerns. Employees have taken actions including filing lawsuits and engaging in protests to challenge decisions to reopen. 
  • There are increasing concerns about the potential collision of COVID-19 with this year’s flu season. The CDC has taken steps to provide more and purchased 9 million flu shots this year to provide to states, in typical years the number is 900,000.  
  • There have been 6,323,900 people infected with coronavirus and at least 189,900 have died in the United States. 


State 

  • With fires raging across the state and the ongoing COVID-19 struggles continuing, yesterday the state began sending out an extra $900 to those unemployed due to the pandemic. However, many of the unemployed will not receive the resources immediately and still others, don’t qualify at all for these resources. 
  • Meatpacking has long been considered an extremely dangerous job, where workers in the sector are 9.5 times more likely to die on the job and amputations happen on average two times per week. The pandemic has made the job worse for many workers, as worksites have often not adequately provided protective equipment or sufficient distancing between workers.  
  • There have been 740,512 people infected with coronavirus and at least 13,763 have died in California.  


Regional 

  • As more comes to light about the conditions giving rise to the COVID-19 outbreak at San Quentin, dental services are a focus of attention. Dentists working at the prison facility now say their pleas to reduce risk of COVID-19 spread were ignored. Shortly after the state’s shutdowns last spring, the California Dental Association ordered all dentists to suspend non-essential non-emergency procedures. However, dentists at San Quentin were ordered to continue routine screenings of inmates being transferred from jail; putting both inmates and dental staff at risk. 


Racial Equity 

  • Check out the latest Racial Data dashboard from the COVID Tracking Project. The dashboard includes topline data from the project’s race and ethnicity dataset, by state and territory, and is updated twice weekly.

ICYMI: 

  • There are lots of questions about COVID-19 and one of the most common involves if having it provides future immunity. Because it is so new it has been unclear if reinfection could occur and how the body might respond. Recently there have been at least two documented cases of reinfection that differed in impact on each individual. Check out this article to see what questions researchers are trying to answer about reinfection. 
  • Some experts have heightened concerns about the confluence of potential problems emerging this fall resulting from COVID-19, seasonal flu, other vaccine preventable illnesses and natural disasters. Check out this Op-Ed which provides some ideas for how the country can effectively plan for these potential challenges.

Friday, September 4

The unemployment rate fell in August in the U.S. to 8.4%, this is down from the previous month’s 10.2%. However, the economy has only recovered about half of the 22 million jobs that disappeared at the outset of the pandemic in early Spring.


National 

  • As the pandemic continues companies that employ office workers are rethinking how and where employees work, this is contributing to a meltdown of the service economy which is having the greatest impact on low wage workers.   
  • Gunfire is typically the highest cause of death while on the job for those in law enforcement, but this year, death due to coronavirus infection contracted while on the job is higher. Coronavirus has led to a confirmed 100 police officer fatalities and is on track to surpass the 9/11 attacks as the single largest incident cause of death for law enforcement. 
  • There have been 6,173,3000 people infected with the coronavirus and at least 186,800 have died in the United States. 


State  

  • A new analysis from the California Policy Lab reports that nearly 200,0000 unemployed Californians are missing out on the $300 benefit from the Administration’s Lost Wages Assistance Program. This is largely due to eligibility rules requiring unemployed workers receive at least $100 to qualify for the extra resources and many workers are receiving less than that.  The workers that do quality, are receiving $575 per week, which in California, is categorized as poverty-level benefits as the threshold for being very poor is $828.50 per week. 
  • With Labor Day weekend upon us concerns are heightened that a spike in new coronavirus outbreaks in California will follow. The outbreaks over the summer occurred following Memorial Day and the Fourth of July holidays. Health officials are hoping that these recent experiences will serve as reminders to Californians to be cautious over the long weekend. 
  • There have been 726,420 people infected with coronavirus and at least 13,499 have died in California. 


Regional 

  • Currently San Diego has coronavirus cases that are low enough to meet the state’s guidelines for reopening theatres, museums and indoor dining. This has put San Diego in a class by itself among California’s 58 counties where most remain in the highest tier of the state’s new color-coded system for reopening. 
  • The California Division of Occupational Health and Safety has ordered the dental clinic at San Quentin Prison closed citing unsafe practices that are increasing risk for COVID-19 for workers at the facility. More than 2,200 inmates as well as 300 employees have been infected by coronavirus and 26 inmates have died. 


Racial Equity 

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has brought issues of health and racial equity to the forefront. Check out this round-up of initiatives in different parts of the country, where health care, government and community organizations are working to dismantle racist systems and improve patient trust in health care systems. 


ICYMI: 

  • As we move towards Autumn more and more of our time is likely to be spent indoors. Check out this video that offers tips for how to protect yourself and minimize risk of contracting coronavirus.

Thursday, September 3

Vaccines seem to be the topic of the day  with one vaccine trial is showing early promising results around safety and efficacy and the CDC instructing public health departments to prepare for distribution as soon as late October. However, there are concerns about this timeline. Health officials worry the nation is not ready for a COVID-19 vaccine, and public health departments cite a lack of resources, personnel and tools to inform people effectively and distribute the vaccine successfully.

National 

  • During the pandemic hunger has increased significantly and more and more Americans are food insecure. Take a look at this moving photo essay from the New York Times exploring food insecurity among Americans across the United States. 
  • The pandemic induced recession and a surge in borrowing by the government has now put the U.S. on a debt path not seen since World War II. In spite of this, economists continue to encourage borrowing by the government to help fuel the economy.

State 

  • The current wildfires in California simultaneously occurring during the pandemic have brought to light the state’s reliance on prison labor to fight fires. Check out these remarkable stories shared with The Marshall Project from some former prisoners who have been fighting wildfires.  
  • Yesterday as Governor Newsom unveiled the new plan for reopening he mentioned that the state may be considering “equity” as a reopening requirement. Secretary of Health and Human Services Mark Ghaly further stated the health equity benchmarks would be made public soon.

Regional 

  • Earlier this week a plant in the Central Valley town of Livingston was closed down after a COVID-19 outbreak resulted in 392 workers testing positive and 8 deaths. However, there are concerns because the plant does not appear to have closed and the United Farm Workers, the union representing poultry workers at the plant, have issued demands for worker safety and threatened a strike. 
  • Los Angeles is moving towards reopening on multiple fronts. Schools in the county can open small in-person classes for students with disabilities and English language learners. Additionally, under newly released plans, hair salons can now open for indoor services  in LA County but malls and shops cannot.

Racial Equity 

  • COVID-19 is impacting communities of color in myriad ways –everything from rates of infection to school resources to access and participation in vaccine trials. Take 10 minutes to listen to Dr. Uche Blackstock break down racial disparities and COVID-19 here.

ICYMI: 

  • Due to the pandemic, this year’s election is posing challenges. Some states have gone the route of almost entirely mail-in processes and some states will continue with traditional in person elections or hybrid models. In most cases there will continue to be a need for poll workers and several states are facing shortages. To help with the situation Old Navy has announced that it will pay store employees to work election polls in November.

Wednesday, September 2

State and local municipalities have taken steps to stop evictions during the pandemic and now, the CDC has announced a temporary halt to evictions nationwide through December, for people who have become unemployed as a result of the pandemic. 


National 

  • Coronavirus spread across the Sun Belt over the last two months has caused more than 35,000 deaths. Even though cases are decreasing, concerns are emerging that infections could heat up again following Labor Day with school and colleges reopening and possibly, sports resuming. Experts are also warning the fall could be more bleak, suggesting families plan for Thanksgiving by Zoom. 
  • Testing for coronavirus has been done in most cases via nasal swab, an uncomfortable experience for most people. But alternatives are starting to emerge and two new studies have found that saliva tests can detect coronavirus infection. This will likely expand testing options as these tests could be administered more easily and wouldn’t need to be administered at a testing center. 
  • As schools begin to reopen, some parents are making different choices for their children about schools. An increasing number of parents are opting to move kids to private schools during the pandemic, this could cause public schools to struggle even more and exacerbate educational inequalities.  


State 

  • Following significant data challenges in the state which caused a distortion of test results, the state is planning to unveil a new COVID-19 reporting system in October. The state believes the new system will help close some of the current demographic information gaps. 
  • As California ventures into a new tiered system of reopening, the state is facing backlash by critics who believe the new system doesn’t take into account businesses that could operate safely even in counties with high numbers of cases.  


Regional 

  • There are many concerns about how to successfully hold an election during a pandemic. Orange County is going to try something new: drive-thru voting at the Honda Center arena in Anaheim.  The arena will serve as a one-stop voting center allowing residents to drop off ballots, vote inside or from their vehicles 


Racial Equity 

  • A recent study is underscoring the scale of racial inequalities in mortality and life expectancy in the United States. The study, is showing that racial inequality may be as deadly as COVID-19, finding that an additional 1 million White Americans would have to die this year in order for their life expectancy to fall to the best-ever levels recorded for Black Americans. 
  • Check out Harvard University’s effort to document the impact of COVID-19 on Black America, including an Instagram profile: Black COVID Tales . 

ICYMI: 

    • A new study out from the Journal of American Medicine has found that almost a quarter of people in the United States are experiencing symptoms of depression, nearly three times more than before the pandemic began. People with low-incomes or who have lost jobs or have lost a loved one are more likely to be exhibiting symptoms. To learn more, check out Pandemic’s Emotional Hammer Hits Hard.

Tuesday, September 1

Governor Newsom signed a bill banning evictions for tenants that did not pay rent as a result of the pandemic between March and August, but does not forgive missed payments. The bill also protects tenants from evictions through January 2021 if they pay 25% of the rent they owe. 

National 

  • Airlines are permanently dropping some fees as they attempt to lure customers back to air travel after seeing severe drops in revenue from the pandemic. Flight change fees can cost customers up to $200 and Delta and United have both pledged to drop the costly fee.  
  • Uber has required riders to wear face masks since May, but they will now be enforcing the policy more strictly. If a driver reports that a rider was not wearing a facemask during a trip, the rider will be required to submit a selfie wearing a face mask before they can take another trip.  
  • With many elderly people dropping out as poll workers over fears of contracting COVID-19, recruitment campaigns are working to recruit a new cohort of young poll workers, including many from college campuses. In some cities, flocks of people are voluntarily applying for the opportunity.  


State 


Regional 

  • In San Diego, indoor businesses began to reopen on Monday but new public health orders require business to keep logs of everyone they serve to facilitate future contact tracing. Some residents and local government officials believe the uneven nature of restrictions, which are based on risk-level, will hurt many businesses.   
  • UC Santa Barbara has scaled back its reopening plans this fall following outbreaks in colleges and universities across the country. UC Santa Barbara will not offer any in-person courses except for lab classes and on-campus housing will only be available to students with special circumstances.  
  • Kindergarten enrollment is down 14% in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The district superintendent cites that the largest drop in enrollment is in the lowest income households, signaling that the families may lack the ability to provide full-time support to young learners.  


Racial Equity 

  • Learning hubs are emerging as an alternative to remote learning; the hubs offer free childcare, Wi-Fi and help with schoolwork. This 8-minute podcast explores how students of color and low-income are mostly learning at home and are unable to access these types of options.  


ICYMI 

  • A picture of two young girls from Salinas Valley doing school work while sitting at a Taco Bell parking lot went viral last week; the image depicted the digital divide faced by low-income families across the country. Local school district officials have confirmed that the two students now have hotspots to access the coursework from home.

Monday, Aug. 31

On Friday, Governor Newsom unveiled a new plan to reopen the economy that scraps the state’s county watchlist. In its place is a color-coded tier system that offers guidance on business reopenings based on the number of new cases and positivity rates in each county.

National


State


Regional


Racial Equity

  • An op-ed in the California Health Report presents that a national strategy is necessary to help communities of color get through the pandemic, including access to health care, access to personal protective equipment and a national testing and tracing effort.


ICYMI

Friday, Aug. 28

On Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a rapid COVID-19 testing device that provides a generated readout similar to pregnancy tests. The sensitivity of the test is below the gold standard of COVID-19 tests, but the upside is that the new test is repeatable and can deliver results in minutes. The test will need to be administered by a doctor, nurse or occupational health professional.

National

 State

 Regional

 Racial Equity

  • Terence Layne, bus operator for over 20 years and shop steward, shares his story of how bus operators helped New York survive the coronavirus epidemic. At the height of the pandemic, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employees were dying at a higher rate than other New Yorkers. Blacks and Latinos make up two thirds of Local 100’s MTA employees.

 ICYMI

  • Office furniture is now on the list of COVID-19 fueled shortages. With a majority of students now doing distance learning, demand for office furniture has soared and parents have had to get creative with their classroom setups at home.

Thursday, Aug. 27

The labor department reported today another 1 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance benefits last week. There has only been one week so far since the pandemic begin in March, where there have been fewer than a million claims.

National

  • There are widespread concerns as a result of the pandemic there will be shortages of poll workers in states where in-person voting will be an option. Even in states where there is an expansion of vote-by mail there are concerns about the number of people who will still opt to go to polling places. To help address these challenges basketball star LeBron James is leading a multi-million effort to recruit poll workers for the 2020 elections.
  • Since the start of the pandemic employers have had to make adjustments to operations and many have been attacked on numerous fronts--everything from not enforcing social distancing or requiring masks, to not provide protective equipment to workers. Businesses fear being blamed for spread and potential litigation when infections do occur. To learn more, check out: Workers and customers are catching COVID-19. Should businesses escape blame?

State

 Regional

  • In San Bernardino, five elementary schools received their waiver to have in-person classes but have not yet reopened. San Bernardino County remains on the state watchlist so local middle schools and high schools remain closed for in-person instruction.
  • Contra Costa County and seven of the nine Bay Area counties continue to be on the state’s COVID-19 watch list. However, on Wednesday, gyms, massage studios in Contra Costa County got clearance to do business outside. The new order also includes nail salons, and other small businesses that were shut down due to COVID-19.

Racial Equity

  • Back in June the Morehouse School of Medicine received significant funding to take up the fight against COVID-19 with comprehensive approaches in the hardest hit communities. To learn more about this three-year effort, check out this article and interviewwith Daniel E. Dawes, director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse.

ICYMI:

  • Future forecasting and scenarios about the pandemic continue, and what is clear is this: the coronavirus is here and is part of our future. To learn more about what scientists are predicting for the next few months and years, take 11 minutes to read: How the pandemic might play out in 2021 and beyond.

 

Wednesday, Aug. 26

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its coronavirus testing guidelines and states that asymptomatic people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 do not necessarily have to be tested. The new guidelines have left doctors puzzled, given that the agency estimates that 50% of COVID-19 transmission occurs before symptoms appear.

National

  • Coronavirus outbreaks are happening in college campuses around the country. Though seen as reckless by many, a deep dive at psychological development shows that young college students depend on social connections to build their identities and are wired to be higher risk takers, which may explain why students continue to socialize amid the pandemic.
  • The pandemic has the potential to worsen child poverty and a generation of low-income children may bear the brunt of the economic crisis and chronic stress for decades. Child allowances may be one way to support the future of the coronavirus generation.
  • With Hurricane Laura making its way towards Texas and Louisiana, many residents are being ordered to evacuate immediately and seek shelter. Testing teams will be deployed to shelters and evacuees will be provided with personal protective equipment. An increased number of hotels will be used for shelter because of the pandemic.
  • COVID-19 cases from people that attended the 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally have been confirmed in eight states. The event attracted hundreds of thousands of people from across the country.

State

Regional

 Racial Equity

ICYMI

Tuesday, Aug. 25

After weeks of surges in different parts of the country, the tide is turning a bit on COVID-19, providing some hopeful news: new coronavirus diagnoses are on the decline in the U.S. However, there continues to be 1,000 deaths each day in the United States.

National

  • On Monday, as many schools began remote learning nationwide, outages hit Zoom causing technical issues across the U.S. with the greatest number of reports coming from the East Coast.
  • After an early summer surge hit much of the United States it now appears to be slowing, but officials warn of troubling Covid-19 signs across the heartland of the United States. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expressed concerns about this region getting “stuck” while other parts of the country begin to improve.
  • As some White House officials have spoken about the possibility of an early release of COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Anthony has warned against premature authorization of a coronavirus vaccine.  Dr. Fauci expressed concerns about the impact this could have efficacy and on the development of other vaccines.

State

Regional

 Racial Equity

  • Even in unemployment disparities persist. National survey data from the University of Chicago is showing that during the pandemic Black workers are more likely to be unemployed but less likely to get unemployment benefits. This inequity is more damaging because Black workers are more likely not be working in the current downturn and in past recessions.
  • Earlier this year there were reports about a hospital in New Mexico that was racially profiling Native American mothers and their babies by separating the mothers and testing them for coronavirus without appropriate consent. A federal investigation has now found the hospital violated patients’ rights.

ICYMI:

  • So many people are struggling economically during the pandemic, however many continue to lead with empathy and support for one another. One example occurred this past weekend in Long Beach, community members bought out the entire paleta (popsicle) inventory from a deaf Long Beach street vendor who could not continue working as a result of the pandemic.

Monday, Aug. 24

The pandemic has been full of surprises and the recent surge in cases caught many off guard and now, cases and deaths from COVID-19 are trending downward. Even though infection rates continue to be some of the highest in the world, people are wondering why cases are decreasing; experts say restrictions are working.

National

  • After last week’s announcement that the FDA had put blood plasma treatment on hold due to limited proven data, yesterday the President announced plasma treatment was authorized for COVID-19.  A Chief Scientist at the FDA said, “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”
  • A new study out from UC Davis is bringing to light that social distancing varies by income and leads to another coronavirus inequity: those who can afford to stay in place and those who must move to get to jobs to sustain their livelihoods.
  • There have been 5,721,900 people infected with coronavirus and at least 176,8000 have died in the United States.

State

  • There have been a number of coronavirus outbreaks at state prisons in California. Managing the spread of infection has been of concern for months and now California prisons are overwhelmed by COVID outbreaks and approaching fires. There are reports of heavy smoke and ash near multiple state prisons making breathing difficult and increasing pleas from many for evacuation.
  • Some Californians who are unemployed as a result of COVID-19 will receive an additional $300 weekly.  This new funding came after FEMA approved the state’s application on Saturday. California will receive $4.5 billion under the Lost Wages Assistance program.
  • There have been 670,716 people infected with coronavirus and at least 12,172 people have died in California.

Regional

  • Californians, particularly people with serious health conditions, are caught in a collision of crises: fires are generating dangerous smoke amid a heatwave, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. This collision of crisesis impacting the Central Valley, with many reluctant to leave home and escape the smoky air.
  • On Sunday, Orange County was removed from the State’s coronavirus watchlist. Now the county plans to work towards keeping state metrics to acceptable levels for the next two weeks and if able to do so, it is possible K-12 students could return to socially distanced classrooms after Labor Day.

Racial Equity

  • Many people have been organizing and mobilizing to increase access to parks and outdoor recreation opportunities in Black and Latino neighborhoods across the country. The pandemic is shining a light on the challenges many community members face in both accessing recreation activities and having adequate space to socially distance. Learn more about park inequities and health impacts in this article.

 ICYMI:

  • Today is Kobe Bryant Day in Los Angeles. A fan who was home during the mandated lockdowns created a website and Instagram account for those wanting to see the murals that have popped up over the city and beyond but are unable to venture out due to the pandemic. To learn more about this effort check out this article; and to see the murals go to kobebryant.com.

Friday, Aug. 21

As wildfires continue to rage in parts of California, there are increasing concerns about the potential for transmission of the virus at shelters for those forced to evacuate. In non-pandemic times those facing evacuation would go to the homes of friends or family but now, to minimize risk of exposure, many are choosing to shelter in cars.

National

  • On Thursday the federal government the numbers of people applying for unemployment climbed back up over 1 million last week. This rise is reflecting a still-struggling US economy and that employers are likely continuing to cut jobs even as reopening begins.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended for some time that every school have a nurse on site. As the new school year begins amid the ongoing pandemic, school nurses are finding themselves in demand on the virus front lines.
  • According to a report released earlier this week, 1 In 5 child care jobs were lost since pandemic started, and women are affected most. Women account for 95% of the child care workforce and they are 2 ½ times more likely than in the overall workforce to be either Black or Latina.
  • There have been 5,599,400 people infected with coronavirus and at least 174,300 have died in the United States.

State

  • The last few weeks have been difficult California in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.  Most notably California’s data failures have stymied efforts to curb the virus. This has impacted the more heavily populated counties which have relied on statewide electronic systems to help guide pandemic responses. Without knowing where the coronavirus was spreading tracing and tracking efforts were made more difficult.
  • California’s incarcerated population has plunged to a new low during COVID-19. In an effort to limit infections, more than 6,000 inmates have been released and by the end of July there were 33,5000 fewer people incarcerated, an 18% decline. Most prisons remain far above the 50% level recommended by public health experts during the recent San Quentin outbreak.
  • There have been 653,841 people infected with coronavirus and at least 11,860 people have died in California.

Regional

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

Thursday, Aug. 20

It seems like things couldn’t get more challenging in 2020, but this week California's wildfire and Covid-19 disasters have collided with almost 400 wildfires breaking out throughout the state and tens of thousands of people evacuated across Northern California.

National 

  • Meatpacking factories nationwide have experienced numerous outbreaks of coronavirus. Many companies claim that there is no way that companies could have prepared for COVID-19 but a new investigation has now brought to light that many meatpacking companies dismissed years of warnings from emergency planning experts for the food and agriculture sector at the Department of Homeland Security.
  • On any given night more than half a million people are experiencing homelessness in the United States. Even though there are well-understood risks and documented outbreaks of coronavirus in jail settings, ‘over-enforcement’ during the pandemic has driven more homeless into jails.
  • A strange thing has happened as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a shortage of coins that his hit retailers, laundromats, and the tooth fairy. The U.S. Mint and the treasury secretary have urged Americans to use coins or turn them into banks; unfortunately many retailers are not providing change and urging shoppers to use cards.

State

Regional

 Racial Equity

  • Eight months into the pandemic, there is more data available about who is being impacted and the picture is becoming even more clear— Blacks, Latinos and Native American people are nearly three times as likely to be infected with COVID-19 than their White counterparts. People of color are also more likely to die from the virus. Check out this article exploring which variables affect whether you will live, die or get help during the pandemic.

 ICYMI:

  • The pandemic is seemingly changing people’s transit choices. This is being driven in part by concerns about the potential for infection in public transit systems. People are looking at options like scooters, and bicycles and in some places, cars as alternatives. Take three minutes to listen to, or read The Pandemic Is Changing How People Get Around.

Wednesday, Aug. 19

National

  • In an effort to prevent vaccination rates from falling during the pandemic, the head of the Department of Health and Human Services announced today that pharmacists can give childhood vaccinations in all 50 states. The step was taken using emergency powers granted during the coronavirus pandemic, which was declared a public health emergency.
  • People who have survived coronavirus have been donating plasma to different research sites nationally to explore if the antibodies can be used as a treatment for those infected; the data are still emerging and clinical trials have not proven whether it can help people fighting the coronavirus. As a result, the F.D.A.’s emergency approval of blood plasma has now been put on hold.
  • Florida has been hit hard hit by the pandemic and is expected to meet the 10,000 COVID-19 death mark this week. Even though there are some school officials at the local level trying to delay reopenings, the Governor’s approach has been to liken reopening to a military operation, raising concerns about the effectiveness of this approach.
  • Recent cell phone data shows how Las Vegas is “gambling with lives” across the country. Researchers found that over a four-day period about 26,000 devices were identified on the Las Vegas Strip and some of the same smartphones showed up in every state on the mainland except for Maine, during the same span of days. Experts believe this is one reason the virus continues to spread in the U.S.

State

  • The Central Valley has been hard hit by the pandemic as California farming country buckles under COVID-19. Recently Governor Newsom has identified the Valley as his biggest area of concern and has dispatched “strike teams” to help local officials managing the crisis.
  • In California Latinos make up 39% of the state’s population but are now account for 59% of coronavirus infections and 47% of COVID-19 deaths. This has taken a toll on Latinos and funeral homes across the state.
  • There has been a statewide mask order for some time, however there is no statewide penalty for not wearing one. Many local municipalities have instituted fines for violations however, mask fines vary widely throughout California and many critics are concerned that enforcement will disproportionately impact people of color.

Regional

  • Many parts of California have been challenged in implementing testing programs for COVID-19. In Sacramento County cases began to surge in late July and as people began to seek testing, key bottlenecks scrambled COVID-19 testing, which reduced capacity and slowed down results.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • As many children face the new school year and begin the transition back to virtual classrooms and increased screen time, there are questions about how to care for the health of children’s eyes. For some useful tips, check out How to Protect Children’s Eyes During Remote Learning.

Tuesday, August 18

National

State

  • In a sign that California might be stabilizing, community spread appears to be falling and deaths hit a low for the month.  As California, is inching towards “turning the corner” Governor Newsom nears pivotal decision about reopening businesses such as gyms, churches and malls.
  • The State’s Office of the Inspector General issued a report on Monday saying that faulty thermometers and untrained screeners may have let COVID-19 into prisons. The report, which focuses on screening of prison staff and “essential visitors” (e.g. attorneys) also criticizes officials from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, for withholding key COVId-19 tracking data for months.

Region

  • As of Sunday, Kern County had the second-highest per capita coronavirus infection rate in California—coming in at 723 cases per 100,0000 people in the last two weeks; by comparison, LA County had 27 cases per 100,000 people during that same period. Kern County has had 26,570 confirmed cases and 204 deaths from COVID-19. A major challenge in this county has been increasing tensions between state and local elected officials creating  political battles, and confusion.
  • Even though there are state health orders in place some Southern California barbers, and salon owners have defied state health orders and opened indoors. Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles remain on the state’s watch list and salon owners in the region now face stiff fines and other consequences for deciding to open doors to customers.
  • On Sunday Los Angeles Unified School district announced a massive COVID-19 testing and tracing initiative for all students and staff. The district aims to create a path to safe reopening of campuses. If it proceeds as planned it will be the most sizable in the country to date, involving 500,000 students and 75,000 staff members and will cost roughly $300 per student over one year, totaling close to $150 million. UCLA, Stanford, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, Anthem Blue Cross and Health Net are some of the collaborative partners for this effort.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Summertime is often a time to enjoy live music at beautiful outdoor venues. The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, a historic venue, had to cancel its 2020 season due to COVID-19. However, the LA Philharmonic Association and KCRW, a local NPR affiliate,  just announced  on-air broadcasts of iconic Hollywood Bowl performances, from its annual World Festival series. The broadcasts will run on Sundays between August 23 and October 11 and can be found at on KCRW 89.9 and kcrw.com.

 

Monday, Aug. 17

State officials froze the COVID-19 watchlist for two weeks as it dealt with a massive testing backlog. On Monday, four rural counties were added to the monitoring list and will be required to close gyms, hair salons and other businesses. Santa Cruz County was removed from the watchlist and San Diego County may be removed later this week.

National

  • Interest in a guaranteed minimum income is growing following the economic hardship brought on by the pandemic. A group of 17 mayors, including mayors from Los Angeles and Oakland, have formed a coalition to support bringing a guaranteed minimum income to their communities.
  • State and city contact tracing programs vary widely but New York City is considered a bright spot, where contact tracing appears to have already prevented thousands of coronavirus cases. There are an estimated 41,000 contact tracers across the country and the CDC estimates that 100,000 contact tracers are needed to tackle the pandemic.
  • At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, public health officials and advocates feared that the virus would devastate homeless populations. Months later, the number of cases and deaths among the unhoused have remained lower than expected.
  • There are 5,382,125 confirmed cases and there have been 169,986 deaths in the United States.

State

  • Sweltering heat hit much of the Southwest and forced intermittent power shut offs over the weekend. The pandemic is exacerbating the crisis because Californians have few options to keep cool and the closure of businesses due to the coronavirus is threatening critical resources for the most vulnerable populations.
  • California school districts will be allowed to bring small groups of students with disabilities or “acute needs” back to school for in-person instruction. The California Department of Public Health is expected to issue guidelines for districts in the coming week.
  • There are 628,155 confirmed cases and there have been 11,277 deaths in California.

Regional

  • Though the South Bay in Santa Clara County remained largely locked down due to the coronavirus, it is among the top ten metro areas with the fewest jobs lost since March. The other top-ranked communities for regaining jobs lost due to the pandemic are in the Sun Belt but they reopened businesses much sooner than the South Bay.
  • Another massive house party in the Hollywood Hills was reported over the weekend. The home where the gathering took place had already received a warning for disturbing the peace. It is unclear whether law enforcement followed the mayor’s new directive to shut off utility services at homes that host large parties during the pandemic.

Racial Equity

  • Prior to COVID-19, Black families had fewer buffers to absorb economic shocks and faced severe health disparities such as higher rates of preexisting conditions like lung disease. A report from the Brookings Institute shows that these economic and health disparities have contributed to the high COVID-19 mortality rates for Black Americans.

ICYMI

Friday, Aug. 14

As the pandemic wears on and state and local municipalities continue to experience limited revenue and growing costs to pay for unemployment and health services concerns are growing. Economists are now warning the long-term risk of state and local budget pain could prove to be even more damaging than the recession of 2007-09.

National

  • Contact tracing capacity has been in the news lately as states attempt to adequately follow up with contacts of those testing positive for COVID-19. National Public Radio in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security has surveyed health departments in every state on three different occasions since April. The most recent survey asked about what information is being collected and what is being made public. Check out what’s been learned so far in: 14 States Make Contact Tracing Data Public. Here's What They're Learning.
  • Native Americans have been hit hard by COVID-19 and in eastern Arizona, the Apache nation has been infected more than 10 times the rate of people in the state overall. However, deaths from COVID-19 have been much lower and epidemiologists theorize that that intensive contact tracing is saving lives. The approach, which might offer a new strategy for addressing COVID in communities disproportionately impacted, is laid out by doctors from the Indian Health Service here.
  • There are 5,270,900 confirmed cases and there have been 167,300 deaths in the United States.

State

  • Even as evidence mounts that the spike in cases that began in May is beginning to slow down. California becomes the first state to pass 600,000 coronavirus cases.
  • Recent COVID data failures are creating new momentum and interest in modernizing the nation’s outdated public health data system.  In California, Sutter Health and UC Davis Health as well as 30 other provider organizations nationally, have launched a collaborative effort to improve data sharing on COVID-19 cases with public health departments.
  • There are 603,396 confirmed cases and there have been 11,022 deaths in California.

Regional

Racial Equity

ICYMI

Thursday, Aug. 13

A new analysis from the New York is estimating that the current data about deaths from COVID-19 have been incorrect and the true coronavirus toll in the U.S. has already surpassed 200,000.

National

State

  • Even though the pandemic death toll is now more than 10,000 California officials are expressing cautious optimism that coronavirus cases are moving in a downward direction, and California is ‘turning the corner’ on the second surge of the pandemic. Hospitalization rates are down 2% and ICU admissions are down over 14% in the past 14 days.
  • Many families have struggled to organize around remote learning and for some families with kids that have special needs the challenges have been multifold. This has resulted in young kids with special needs missing out on services and additional supports to access the curriculum.

Regional

  • There are numerous analyses are emerging about why some places have had such a serious resurgence of coronavirus cases. Los Angeles was viewed as a “model” in its response to the pandemic and as the curve flattened in early May, officials began to loosen restrictions. Staff from the LA Times have built a timeline and analysis of Los Angeles’ response to COVID-19, to learn more, read  How a rush to reopen drove Los Angeles County into a health crisis.
  • A recent research study reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic will exacerbate the already existing housing crisis in Kern County. To learn more about the findings, check out the Evicted in Kern handbook from Faith in the Valley.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

Wednesday, Aug. 12

Today U.S. coronavirus deaths once again topped 1,000 a day, as Florida, Georgia hit records, suggesting that the four-digit single day death tolls will continue for a fourth week.  In California new numbers are showing that weekly coronavirus deaths have doubled, with rural areas and suburbs hit hard, shifting the geography of this most recent outbreak.

National

State

Regional

Racial Equity

  • It is now more widely understood that COVID-19 has, and continues to disproportionately impact communities of in the United States. Of particular concern has been the impact on the Native American community who are at risk because of limited health access, poor housing, water supplies and infrastructure. These structural issues are rooted in history and the U.S. government’s failures in complying with treaty obligations such as providing basic services in exchange for tribal land.  Learn more about the challenges and some early successes and innovations in managing COVID-19 among Native Americans here.

ICYMI:

Tuesday, Aug. 11

California’s test data problems started making headlines last week amid reports that coronavirus cases were declining across the state. On Sunday, the state Director of Public Health announced that she was resigning and the Governor has hinted that her departure may be due to the testing issue. On Monday, the secretary of health and human services announced that the records backlog has been resolved.

National

  • Though deaths are still rare, over the last four weeks there has been a 90% increase in coronavirus cases among children. Severe symptoms are also still rare among children.
  • Drop boxes are gaining popularity as a voting option during the pandemic. With many voters afraid to vote in-person and concerned over mail delays, more states are considering drop boxes where voters can physically submit their absentee ballots. This voting option is also drawing criticism over fraud concerns.
  • Safer at home orders appear to be driving some businesses, such as gyms, underground. In this “prohibition-era” of gyms, fitness environments are likely to be less regulated and are more likely to spread coronavirus. With the end of summer looming, gym enthusiasts with less fitness options may be more likely to turn to speakeasy gyms.

State

  • Amid the testing backlog, retroactive data will be sent to county dashboards and that data will determine which counties remain or get added to the state’s coronavirus watchlist. As the backlog of tests get processed, school districts may be able to apply for waivers to reopen elementary schools for in-person instruction.
  • The pandemic is endangering an aging population already threatened by climate change. California oversees some 10,000 long-term care facilities and wildfire is a hazard for 35% of them. Few care facilities have emergency preparedness protocols in place and COVID-19 is complicating disaster planning even more.

Regional

  • The Inland Empire is seeing a drop in hospitalizations for COVID-19. The drop may be due to the reinstatement of safer at home orders, more control in high-risk settings such as nursing homes and the spread of the coronavirus among younger people, which tend to show milder symptoms.
  • Mayor Eric Garcetti is clashing with a police union over his directive to shut off the water and power at homes known to host large parties and are defying public health orders to curb COVID-19. A union spokesperson clarified that officers could respond to large gatherings with citations but officers fear that further involvement could spark further tension with residents.
  • Rent in Los Angeles luxury buildings appears to be dropping amid the economic downturn of COVID-19. Though rents at the low end of the marketplace also seem to be dropping, the largest discounts are in the top end of the marketplace.

ICYMI

Monday, Aug. 10

With talks of the next federal relief package at a standstill, President Trump announced four executive orders on Saturday to address the fragile economy amid the pandemic. On Sunday, the White House and congressional Democrats indicated that they would like to resume negotiations.

National

  • The ripple effects of grief from COVID-19 loss may linger for years. The sudden deaths, inability to be around for loved one’s final moments and even untraditional burial services, complicate and exacerbate grief. In addition to grief, many families are losing vital sources of financial, social and caregiving support.
  • Last week, an image of students walking in a packed hallway during their first week back in school went viral. Now the Georgia high school plans to pause in-person classes following confirmed COVID-19 cases among several students and staff.
  • City leaders in Sturgis, South Dakota approved a motorcycle rally that typically draws in hundreds of thousands of people even though 60% of residents were against the event. Health officials are closely monitoring this “super spreader” event which can lead to infections in the host city and other parts of the country when tourists return home.
  • Coronavirus cases are on the rise among young people in Michigan. Graduation parties, unofficial proms and other social gatherings where young people are letting their guard down are thought to be contributing to the rise in cases.
  • There are 5,064,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and there have been 162,600 deaths in the United States.

State

  • With an expired federal $600 weekly boost, unemployed Californians are struggling to make ends meet. From liquidating 401(k)s, forgiving landlords and side hustles, see how people are surviving while the federal government debates the next stimulus plan.
  • The Governor’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery has a roster of high-profile business titans yet little is known about the groups’ recommendations. Governor Newsom’s chief of staff says that Californians will see “concrete initiatives” form the group soon.
  • There are 561,379 confirmed COVID-19 cases and there have been 10,379 deaths in California.

Regional

ICYMI

  • Presidents from “Big Ten” colleges have reportedly voted to postpone Fall sports including football. Presidents from the Pac-12 universities, which include colleges from the West, are expected to vote on Fall sports on Tuesday.

Friday, Aug. 7

A bipartisan group of California legislators sent a letter to Governor Newsom demanding an overhaul of the Employment Development Department that oversees unemployment insurance. The legislators also demand that the governor commits to an earlier date to address the backlog of 1 million unemployment claims.

National

  • During a required protocol before meeting with President Trump, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine tested positive for coronavirus early Thursday. In a second test taken later the same day, the governor tested negative.  The two tests were different, and the discrepancy shows the problems and merits of both types of tests.
  • This 16-minute podcast from MDRC explores how subsidized jobs can help disadvantaged workers recover from the coronavirus recession. Subsidized employment programs have been used to address mass joblessness since the Great Depression.
  • Scam calls are on the rise and now many involve COVID-19. From robocalls about student loan relief to online phishing scams, there has been an unprecedented rise in scams during the pandemic and some 9% of U.S. consumers have been victims of fraud in the first wave of CPVOD-19.
  • A Florida man was arrested for harassing and spitting on the face of a child who was wearing a mask at a restaurant and refused to take it off.
  • There are 4,889,747 confirmed COVID-19 cases and there have been 159,623 deaths in the United States.

State

  • On Thursday Governor Newsom signed a law allowing counties to consolidate polling places for the upcoming election if they open polling sites earlier and extend operating hours. The state has had difficulty identifying polling locations that would allow for social distancing.
  • Once hailed a leader in addressing the pandemic, California is now the third state to surpass 10,000 coronavirus deaths.
  • There are 541,695 confirmed COVID-19 cases and there have been 10,029 deaths in California.

Regional

Racial Equity

ICYMI

  • Respiratory droplets that people spray when they talk, cough or sneeze may also spread through secondhand smoke from cigarettes or vaping. Smokers infected with coronavirus may blow droplets carrying COVID-19 when they exhale.

Thursday, Aug. 6

Last week, fewer Californians filed unemployment claims for the first time since the beginning of safer at home orders. Though first-time unemployment claims have been declining for the past two weeks, the nearly 230,000 unemployment claims from last week are five times higher than the unemployment average from January and February of this year.

National

  • The U.S. State Department lifted a travel advisory restricting U.S. citizens from traveling abroad. American travelers will staff face challenges with international travel as many countries, including all in the European Union, have blocked entry from U.S. citizens.
  • Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, has had to get security detail following death threats and harassment of his family. Dr. Fauci has frequently made statements in direct opposition to the federal administration.
  • People who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus may soon be permanently replaced by artificial intelligence and robots. Technology has made hundreds of thousands of jobs obsolete throughout the years but the push to introduce automation in order to protect employees and customers from coronavirus may be accelerating. Low-wage workers are expected to be hit hardest in the wave of artificial intelligence.

State

  • California is releasing inmates to curtail the spread of coronavirus in facilities where social distancing is nearly impossible. A federal judge recently announced a plan to release 17,600 inmates, 70% more than originally planned. Though advocates have been pushing for the release of prisoners, they are now left scrambling to find transportation, clothing and temporary housing for newly released inmates.
  • In between fighting fires, California firefighters are responding to calls related to COVID-19. Stress among firefighters is at an all-time high and that stress can lead to increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With wildfire season approaching, captains are looking for ways to have open dialogues with their teams and create more opportunities for connectedness.
  • Though California has flexible voting options that allow voting by mail, election officials are scrambling to identify new polling places and provide a safe in-person voting experience to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Regional

  • Some school districts in more sparsely populated counties are reopening schools for in-person instruction this Fall. The only schools that may reopen are those not on the state’s COVID-19 watch list; some 164,000 students live in the 20 counties not currently on the watch list.
  • Southeast Los Angeles, home to a large working-class Latino population, has emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot in Los Angeles County, with 19% of new infections and only 12% of the county population.

Racial Equity

ICYMI

In the age of COVID-19, the allure of the outdoors is booming. Whether you are thinking about camping for the first time or you are a veteran camper, National Geographic has some tips on how to safely sleep under the stars.

Wednesday, Aug. 5

Test lab information may not be reaching county and state public health departments and the technical issues may be causing underreporting of COVID-19 testing in California. As a result, the reduced positivity rate reported on Monday may be inaccurate.

National

  • State eviction moratoriums expired at the end of May in about thirty states and the federal eviction moratorium expired at the end of July. With the expiration of supplemental $600 unemployment benefits last Friday, some 23 million Americans are at risk of being evicted.
  • As public health experts continue to urge Americans to wash their hands regularly to control the spread of coronavirus, two million Americans lack access to safe and clean running water. Even when water and sanitation services are available, millions are unable to pay their water bills. Prior to the pandemic, nearly 14 million U.S. households struggled to pay for water.
  • An assessment from the RAND Corporation ranked California as one of the states with “flexible voting policies” that will allow voters to minimize their exposure to the coronavirus. The assessment shows that 25 million Americans live in twelve states with few alternate voting methods for the upcoming presidential election.
  • Mississippi is on track to be the new COVID-19 hotspot. While Florida appears to be slowing down, Mississippi has the second highest number of cases per capita than any other state.
  • In Georgia, a second grader tested positive after the first day of school, forcing his teacher and classmate to quarantine at home for two weeks. Pictures taken at a nearby high school shows that students are crammed in packed hallways and few are wearing masks. School districts across the state are handling the reopening of schools through different models.

State

Regional

  • With few options, people are flocking to parks for social and recreational activities. In San Francisco, city staff drew large circles at a popular park to encourage social distancing. Now experts believe the circles may be a health hazard as the boundaries encourage groups of friends to sit close together and many forgo masks when outdoors.
  • With bars and nightclubs closed, people are turning to private social gatherings. In recent weeks, the Los Angeles Police Department has responded to nearly 25% more house party calls in the Hollywood Hills. The Los Angeles City Council will consider a motion to increase penalties for property owners who defy building safety laws and ordinances.

Racial Equity

ICYMI

  • In this podcast episode from The Atlantic, an immunologist discusses how the immune system works and helps decipher COVID-19 and antibody test results.

Tuesday, Aug. 4

Though California leads the country with coronavirus cases, the state just recorded the lowest new confirmed cases within a seven-day period in the past twelve weeks.

National

State

Regional

  • A Superior Court judge has upheld an eviction moratorium in San Francisco for renters that are unable to pay rent due to COVID-19. The ordinance prohibits late fees, but renters may have to pay the rent back in the future if landlords pursue back rent in small claims court.
  • While it appears that the Bay Area is seeing less unemployment overall, workers in some key industries are continuing to experience layoffs. Airline workers have been hit especially hard; American Airlines will cease operations at the Oakland airport in October and will be cutting 756 jobs including some at the San Francisco airport.
  • Biotech and life science companies in San Diego raised a record amount of venture capital between April and June. The nearly $1.3 billion raised in the second quarter marks the highest quarter of venture funding in the region since 2014. Outside of biotech and life science, the only other tech firms that continue to be well funded are those that have benefitted from COVID-19 behavioral shifts.

ICYMI

Monday, Aug. 3

The pandemic has created unprecedented multiyear budget crises for nearly every state. The CARES Act provided relief to local and state governments, but the funds were for coronavirus-related expenses only. With revenue down for 46 states, many state lawmakers are hoping the next federal stimulus bill includes financial aid they can use to plug holes in state budgets.

National

  • Recruitment of poll workers has slowed amid the pandemic. Senior citizens typically make up the majority of the volunteer force but vacancies from this vulnerable population has left states scrambling. The lack of volunteers may lead to the consolidation of polling places.
  • There are 4,649,102 confirmed COVID-19 cases and there have been 154,471 deaths in the United States.

State

  • With average daily COVID-19 cases doubling from 4,006 in June to 8,669 in July, California became the first state to surpass 500,000 coronavirus cases.
  • California’s unemployment department has come under fire for leaving claims in limbo and for a backlog that is impacting an estimated 1 million applicants. Governor Newsom has deployed a strike team to investigate the department and provide improvement recommendations.
  • There are 512,849 confirmed COVID-19 cases and there have been 9,400 deaths in California.

Regional

  • The Los Angeles Unified School District and teachers have reached a tentative agreement on distance learning. According to the agreement, students will have more structured school days than they had in March when schools first closed. The deal still needs to be approved by the United Teachers Los Angeles union and the Board of Education.
  • From haircuts and manicures in Manhattan Beach to a Skid Row shelter recovering from an outbreak that left 100 residents and staff sick, this article captures life in Los Angeles amid the pandemic. The coronavirus has hit pockets of the city in starkly different ways; an analysis shows that someone living in Pico-Union is seven times more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than someone living in Agoura Hills.
  • A popular hiking trail in Ventura County has been temporarily closed due to coronavirus concerns. The new restriction is a response to increased foot traffic making social distancing almost impossible.

Racial Equity

  • The CARES Act provided relief aid to colleges and universities based on the number of full-time students enrolled at each institution. Advocacy groups warn that this distribution method disproportionately impacted students of color and low-income students because they are more likely to be enrolled on a part-time basis at community colleges.

ICYMI:

·       “Good Morning Zoom,” a parody of the popular children’s book by Margaret Wise Brown, will be released in October. Book proceeds will be donated to COVID-19 relief charities.

Friday, July 31

Coronavirus deaths continue to mount in the United States and many believe this second U.S. coronavirus surge has hit a plateau, scientists are not celebrating as cases are rising in 30 states overall.

National

  • Earlier today Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed cautious optimism that a COVID-19 vaccine will be widely available over a period of time in 2021.  Dr. Fauci appeared before a House panel investigating the U.S. response to the pandemic; he also reported that more than 25,000 people have signed up for vaccine trials and urged others to sign up at coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org.
  • Contact Tracing has been a key strategy for public health when responding to disease prevention and mitigation. However, coronavirus contact tracing is failing in many states. This is being attributed to major lags in testing and increasing community spread in many places.
  • This week health professionals from across the country released an open letter imploring decisionmakers to respond to the pandemic and “Shut it down, Start over, Do it right”.
  • There are 4,502,500 confirmed cases and there have been 152,4000 deaths in the United States.

 State

 Regional

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

 

Thursday, July 30

The U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) shrunk nearly 33% between April and June during the peak of the first wave of the coronavirus. This drop in GDP is nearly three times the previous largest drop in a single quarter.

Nation

  • Following the announcement that Texas Representative Louie Gohmert tested positive for COVID-19, Capitol officials issued new mask mandates that went into effect Thursday. Representative Gohmert is now the 10th member of Congress that has tested positive for COVID-19.
  • With districts across the country announcing that schools will not reopen in the fall, a coalition of advocates is calling on the federal government to address food insecurity among schoolchildren and their families. To date, waivers provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowed for schools and community groups to offer free meals through federal nutrition programs.
  • Oportun, Inc., a personal loan lender, announced that it will cap interest rates and drop thousands of lawsuits on borrowers that fell behind on payments during the pandemic. Oportun’s clients are predominantly Latino immigrants.

State

  • Though coronavirus cases continue to rise across the state, California’s testing task force is severely diminished with volunteer terms ending. Members of the task force believe  private industry players were critical in the early work of the task force and the departure of many of those volunteers means a loss of creative problem solving. Former members believe that the task force is not adequately preparing for testing in the Fall.
  • The scope of contact tracing in California appears to vary by county. While most counties attempt to reach everyone that may have been exposed to a person who tests positive for the coronavirus, some only notify high-risk people and one only notifies employers and health care providers.
  • Since the start of the pandemic the California National Guard has deployed “rapid medical strike teams” across the state to help with coronavirus surges. National Guard soldiers are assisting with everything from nursing home care to pop-up testing sites. With violent National Guard presence at protests across the country, some nursing homes are reporting that soldiers make things more “intense” and residents are put “on edge.”

Region

  • A San Diego gym that had been ordered to close by public health officials remained open and is now linked to a coronavirus outbreak. The outbreak may help county staff make a case to the Board of Supervisors for more staff to improve enforcement efforts and contact tracing.
  • Modoc County confirmed its first cases of coronavirus on Tuesday. With two new cases confirmed, there are now coronavirus cases in each California county.

Racial Equity

  • With virtual health care becoming the new normal during the pandemic, the digital divide is disproportionately impacting people of color and those with limited English proficiency. Health care providers are discovering that digital literacy and web-enabled devices are requisite for high-quality care.

ICYMI:

Wednesday, July 29

With the expansion of federal unemployment benefits ending at the end of July, state legislative leaders unveiled a plan on Monday to extend benefits to Californians if the federal government cuts or does not renew the benefits in its new stimulus plan. The expansion of the benefits would extend to January 2021 and is part of a $100 million stimulus plan.

Nation

  • Children with developmental challenges have seen their struggles exacerbated by having to attend school at home due to COVID-19. The shift to school from home has taken a toll on the parents and caregivers who now must provide structure for children whose anxiety over major changes can tend to create sleeping and eating problems, among other challenges.
  • A charity benefit concert made headlines over the weekend for its egregious social distancing violations. The drive-in concert took place in New York even though non-essential gatherings of more than 50 people are still banned in the state.
  • An impending storm in Florida is forcing the state to close coronavirus testing sites beginning Thursday evening. The Florida Department of Health announced that testing sites would reopen next Tuesday, at the earliest, but expect some sites to remain closed for longer.

State

  • California has once again broken its single-day record for coronavirus deaths. The new record from Tuesday is 5.7% higher than the previous record of 158 deaths.
  • The California Department of Public Health has released regulations that will require health agencies to ask sexual orientation and gender identity information from COVID-19 patients. Advocates have been pushing the state to collect the data so that they can better track how the pandemic may be disproportionately impacting the LGBTQ community.
  • The surge of coronavirus cases in the Central Valley shows the value of collecting occupational data from COVID-19 patients. Most of the coronavirus outbreaks in the Central Valley have taken place at workplaces such as packing plants and agriculture. More information at the occupation or industry level may prove critical to protect employees as more businesses reopen.

Region

  • Following the announcement that the state will provide additional funding to combat the coronavirus in the Central Valley, Governor Newsom will be withholding funding from two cities in the region that are defying the state’s public health orders.
  • Street vending in Los Angeles was decriminalized in 2017 but during the pandemic, unlicensed vendors face misdemeanor charges and fines up to $1,000. Most street vendors were not eligible for federal relief programs due to citizenship status, and as a result are forced to vend to survive economically. Since the pandemic began there have been increased acts of violence against vendors and community members are now arming vendors with pepper spray for protection.

Racial Equity

  • A poll by the Public Policy Institute of California shows that Latinos are more worried than other demographic groups that they or someone from their family will become infected with the coronavirus. Latinos also reported more worry about the financial impact of the pandemic than other groups.

ICYMI:

  • Frontline will be hosting a free virtual event featuring the filmmakers of “COVID’s Hidden Toll” which highlights the cost that the pandemic has on immigrants and undocumented workers.
  • As the pandemic has forced everyone to reduce social gatherings, this 14-minute podcast explores the concept of solitude and how it may actually help regulate our moods.

Tuesday, July 28

Interhouse tensions between California lawmakers have been swelling during the pandemic. The pandemic has driven lawmakers to work under a compressed timeline which has forced them to limit the number of bills they bring forward. The tension culminated on Monday when Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced that Tuesday hearings would be cancelled to address the "imbalance of bills yet to be considered in each house."

Nation

  • Higher education is experiencing a “coronavirus swirl” leading to the highest rates of student movement between two and four year institutions. Surveys show that many recent high school graduates are opting to attend community college in the Fall as a cost saving measure and to stay closer to home.
  • Robert O’Brien, President Trump’s national security adviser, has tested positive for coronavirus. O’Brien, who is currently self-isolating, is the highest-ranking White House official who has tested positive for the virus.
  • Though Florida has had less than 10,000 new coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day, hospitalizations are on the rise and the state reported its highest one-day death count on Tuesday.
  • Arkansas has reported their one-day record in COVID-19 deaths. Twenty of the new cases are from folks in corrections facilities; currently, over 10% of active COVID-19 cases in the state are from people in prisons.

 State

  • With the highest average of new cases per day and average death rates rising, Governor Newsom implored Californians to begin taking the pandemic more seriously. The governor’s watchlist of counties with concerning coronavirus trends now includes 37 of California’s 58 counties.
  • Coronavirus outbreaks in prisons across the country have resulted in many deaths among inmates, including 19 at the San Quentin State Prison. Demonstrators calling for mass inmate releases chained themselves to Governor Newsom’s home fence on Monday.

 Region

  • The eight-county region that makes up the Central Valley has a coronavirus positivity rate that is well above the state average. As a response, the Governor has committed $52 million in federal funding to the region to support with testing and contact tracing and will dispatch strike teams to help curb the spread of the virus.

 Racial Equity

  • An analysis of the middle class shows that even with economic rebounds from May and June, Black-owned small businesses are down 19% compared to white-owned small businesses. Similarly, while white college graduates have made gains, jobs for Black college graduates are down 12%. These losses threaten the gains that have been made by the Black middle class.

Happening Tonight!

Monday, July 27

Many who lost work due to the pandemic were able to manage because of supplemental checks provided as part of congressional stimulus package. This weekly support is set to end in just a few days. There are currently efforts at the federal level to continue financial support for those who remain out of work; but there are questions about whether or not agreement will be reached. To learn about what is being considered check out, Here’s How Congress Might Replace the Extra $600 Weekly Jobless Benefit.

Nation

State

  • Early on in the pandemic California was seen as a leader in its management of COVID-19, however  July has been rough for the state. Things seem to be improving and California is desperate for signs of a turnaround after stunning coronavirus setbacks.
  • As the pandemic wears on students in many parts of the state are facing a new school year with remote learning as the primary mode of instruction. Concerns are growing about increasing levels of depression and anxiety among California’s children. In an attempt to prepare, even as the state faces budget challenges schools want to hire more counselors, to better meet the needs of students.
  • There have been 453,036 confirmed cases and 8,455 deaths in California.

Region

Racial Equity

  • Late last week the Centers for Disease Control issued a strategy document pledging steps to reduce COVID-19 racial disparities and achieving health equity. Included is a focus on contact tracing, isolation options and preventive care. In addition, the CDC is vowing to expand program and practice activities to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and work to build a diverse public health workforce that is reflective of the U.S. population. The strategy document can be found here.

ICYMI:

Saturday/Sunday, July 25-26

Coronavirus infections continue to grow worldwide with more than 16 million cases and 645,195 deaths. Parts of Europe are experiencing jumps in cases, with French infections on the rise, and Spain cracking down on nightclubs.  Brazil has the second highest death toll in the world, and the Amazon and the indigenous communities living alongside it are being devastated by the pandemic. Read more in: The Amazon, Giver of Life, Unleashes the Pandemic

National

  • While the cases of coronavirus are on the rise nationally, the surge has been greatest in primarily four states. On Friday, the White House coronavirus response coordinator said California, other states ‘are essentially three New Yorks’.
  • Coronavirus has moved the country into what is being referred to as a “pandemic-induced” recession. This has hit businesses of all types and sizes; but less attention has focused on the nonprofit sector, which is the third-largest private employer in the country, and employs approximately 12.5 million people. A new analysis is suggesting that tens of thousands of nonprofits are likely to close without any relief, causing many to believe if there is going to be a pandemic safety net, nonprofits need their own.
  • Many have questioned the effectiveness of the numerous stay-at-home orders many states, counties and cities put in place at the outset of the pandemic. However new data suggests the more we stay home, the less the coronavirus spreads. Here’s the evidence.

State

 Region

  • There are 52 counties in California and 36 of those counties are on the State’s watchlist. Some counties have been reluctant to implement restrictions and have managed to stay off the watchlist. However, with cases increasing, counties like El Dorado face a coronavirus reckoning this week.
  • In the last two weeks, Imperial County has had the highest mortality rate in the state and has been averaging 900 infections per 100,0000 people, by comparison LA County has averaged 371 per 100,000. To meet the high demand and not overwhelm to two health care facilities in the region, medical air teams work around the clock to move COVID-19 patients.

Racial equity

  • The federal response to the pandemic included relief through increased unemployment benefits and protection from evictions. According to a new U.S. Census Bureau survey, 24 million Americans fear missing next rent payment as benefits dry up. The survey also indicates that a disproportionate share of those households in danger are Blacks and Latinos, two of the groups hit hardest by the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.

ICYMI:

Friday, July 24

The tide is turning on mask wearing, according to a new AP-NORC poll: 3 in 4 Americans back requiring wearing masks.

National

 State

  • In June the number of coronavirus cases slowly began to increase just as the state began to ease up restrictions. With coronavirus surging, California workplaces come under greater scrutiny, and concerns about community spread are increasing as workers come home sick and infect others in their homes.
  • Four prisons in California have experienced major outbreaks of COVID-19. Since the onset of the pandemic more than 7,200 inmates have tested positive and 42 have died. Now California prisons must set aside space for COVID-19 patients, judge orders.
  • Housing affordability has been a problem statewide for some time, particularly when comparing housing costs and incomes. Not surprisingly, people of color, immigrants and those with the lowest incomes have been most affected and are also some of the same populations hardest hit by the pandemic.  To learn more, check out Staying Home During California’s Housing Affordability Crisis, a new report from the California Budget and Policy Center.
  • There have been 431,290 confirmed cases and 8,208 deaths in California.

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • The questions swirling around schools reopening are numerous and the decisions institutions and families will have to make are complex. Much of the research offers unclear and somewhat unsatisfying answers. To learn about what is understood, check out What Scientists Know About How Children Spread COVID-19.

Thursday, July 23

Confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States have officially surpassed 4 million. The total number of deaths (~144,000) has already surpassed one research model projection that predicts the U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic.  Worldwide coronavirus cases jumped about five million in the span of one month. The United States, Brazil and India are the only countries reporting over 1 million cases. Unemployment rates in California continue to trend upwards while the nationwide average appears to be leveling off. Last week, nearly 300,000 Californians filed for unemployment insurance.

National

  • Problems with COVID-19 testing reveals that the system requires a systemic overhaul. People are frequently turned away from testing centers and when they do get tested, they often face a severe lag in obtaining results. People that get tested just for reassurance can help by only seeking tests when they have symptoms or know they have been exposed to the virus.
  • Twelve cities, including San Jose, California, are on the federal coronavirus task force’s watch list for a disturbing rise in cases.
  • After spending several weeks planning for the Fall semester, many colleges and universities across the U.S. have made the decision to reverse their plans and go fully virtual. Other schools are charging ahead with their plans to host in-person classes and some 300 schools have yet to notify students about their plans for the Fall.
  • Workers across the country are grappling with the new reality of working from home. A survey of tech workers from San Francisco shows that two thirds would leave the city if they continue to have the option to work remotely. The real estate market in rural New York is booming due to city-dwellers’ new freedom to work from home and increasing desire to leave the crowded city.

State

Regional

  • Preliminary data shows that COVID-19 is on track to be a leading cause of death in Los Angeles County between January and June of this year. Coronavirus is now second only to coronary heart disease in leading cause of death.
  • San Diego will be launching a “Safe Reopening Compliance Team” to better respond to egregious health order violations and to update businesses on ever-evolving operating regulations. The compliance team is one strategy the region is using to get off the Governor’s COVID-19 watch list that would allow the reopening of several businesses.
  • The food vendors in San Francisco’s legendary Ferry Building had been struggling with low foot traffic prior to the pandemic. Now with frequent changes to public health orders, businesses have adapted but many have already closed their doors. After the pandemic the Ferry Building may shift from a retail space to an event space where the public can engage with chefs, nonprofit leaders and food policy activists.
  • Public transit ridership has declined sharply during the pandemic. While not known for its extensive public transportation network, Metro in Los Angeles is seeing one of the smallest ridership declines; Metro is at about 36% of ridership while other cities are seeing a ridership of 10% of regular levels.

Racial Equity

  • The federal government distributed economic impact payments to millions of Americans beginning in April. Almost 74% of non-Hispanic whites received their payment by mid to late May while only 68.6% of non-Hispanic Black adults and 63.7% of Hispanic adults received their payments in the same time frame.

 ICYMI:

  • Musician Dave Grohl, whose mother was a public school teacher, weighed in on the debate to reopen schools in the Fall. In his account, Dave shares the concerns that his now retired mother has for children, their teachers and faculty should they be forced to return to school in the Fall.

Wednesday, July 22

As the pandemic continues across the country concerns are mounting about the imminent loss of financial support, those unemployed due to the pandemic, have been receiving.  As the coronavirus continues to hold the country in economic limbo a big question has emerged: What happens to the U.S. economy if the $600 federal unemployment benefit ends?

National

  • At the national level some leaders have pointed to an increase in testing as the cause of the growing number of coronavirus cases in the U.S.  However, a new analysis from the NY Times is showing the rise in testing is not driving the rise in U.S. virus cases.
  • Everyone is trying to figure out ways to return to “normal” but the coronavirus poses some particular challenges in terms of managing the spread and increasingly, as more is understood the silent spread of the virus keeps scientists grasping for clues.
  • There has been some analyses of the larger loans distributed to the nonprofit sector as part of federal stimulus Paycheck Protection Program. However there has been less attention to the overall PPP loan universe as a whole and the impact on the sector.  Check out what was learned here about how nonprofits fared under the program, and how the PPP has impacted employment in the nonprofit sector.

State

Regional

  • There is an emerging critique about the lack of a coordinated response at the national and state level to the pandemic. This approach has left some regions unable to respond effectively to this current rise in cases. Early on in the pandemic, Santa Clara County was seen as a leader in responding; now its top health official laments ‘uncertainty,’ piecemeal reopening approach.

Racial Equity

  • The pandemic caused 60 percent of child care programs to shut down and according to data from the Labor Department, 93 percent of child care workers are women and 45 percent are Black, Asian or Latino. Black and Latina mothers are more likely to be family breadwinners, have low-paying jobs and struggle accessing childcare. To learn more about the current and impending challenges related to child care, check out 'Crashing down’: How the child care crisis is magnifying racial disparities.

ICYMI:

 

Tuesday, July 21

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) studied antibody tests from 10 cities and determined that reported cases are underestimating the prevalence of infections.  The CDC predicts that coronavirus infections in the U.S. are likely ten times higher than the number of reported cases which currently stands at nearly 4 million.

Nation

  • As school districts across the country debate the reopening of schools, very little is known about transmission between children and from children to adults. Data from across the globe seems to suggest that transmission among older children is higher than among younger children. Early reports indicate that countries that reopened schools saw low transmission among school-age children.
  • As school closures seem imminent across the country, Latino families are concerned about access to technology and Wi-Fi. The digital divide has driven low-income Latino students to seek out public hot spots at local libraries and restaurants and in some cases, children have completed assignments on their parent’s cell phones.
  • With the $600 weekly unemployment benefit boost set to expire by the end of the month, economists warn that the absence of additional support could have devastating effects on the economy for years to come.

State

  • According to a poll conducted by the California Health Care Foundation, 76% of nursing home staff in California have worked at facilities with suspected or known COVID-19 cases among staff, and 60% have worked at facilities with suspected or known COVID-19 cases among residents. The rates of suspected or known COVID-19 cases are higher in facilities with a large proportion of Black and Latino residents.
  • Many state employees have been reassigned from their usual jobs to become COVID-19 “contact tracers” and the state met its goal of training 10,000 tracers by July 1. While several counties are saying that they do not have enough tracers, many state employees who have been trained have yet to be assigned a tracing role.

Region

  • Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti warned that the city may be put under a second stay-at-home order if coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise. No other city in the country has reimposed an order after reopening.
  • Though the Bay Area reported zero coronavirus deaths on Sunday, California still had its deadliest weekend since the beginning of the pandemic. Sunday marked the first day in over a month without a coronavirus death in the area.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • NBA players, staff and media have been inside their Florida “bubble” for two weeks. From “proximity monitors” to “approved fun,” take a look at how the NBA is navigating the remainder of the season. One of the challenges for those inside the bubble will be mental health but some teams have brought on an on-site mental health provider and the NBA is providing a clinical sports psychologist to all players.

Monday, July 20

As states continue to battle the pandemic an exclusive White House document shows 18 states in coronavirus red zone. The document, dated July 14 and prepared for the White House Coronavirus Task Force but not made public, advised these states revert to more stringent measures including limiting gatherings, closing bars and gyms and having residents wear masks. This information was originally obtained and made public by the Center for Public Integrity.

Nation

State

Region

Racial Equity

  • For many essential workers, racial injustice has been a daily reality and COVID-19 has put them at increased risk for health and safety.  Earlier today, across the country, essential workers went on strike for Black lives. Those who couldn’t strike the whole day walked off the job for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time a white officer kept his knee on George Floyd’s neck, before he died.  

ICYMI:

  • A recent study has found that Kimchi, may protect against COVID-19! Kimchi a staple of Korean cuisine, consists of salted and fermented vegetables including cabbage and radish. To learn more about the study and its findings, check out Kimchi protects against COVID-19, a study says.

 

Saturday/Sunday, July 18-19

On Saturday the World Health Organization reported 260,000 new coronavirus cases, a record number. Global coronavirus deaths have surpassed 600,000, with the U.S. accounting for nearly a quarter. Currently the U.S. is reporting approximately 5,000 deaths each week.

Nation

State

  • As more and more places reopened in the state, cases have also increased and now coronavirus cases are spiking in California child care facilities. This is of concern because child care workers are primarily women and the majority are Black and Latina, and they more often than not receive low wages with little to no health care benefits. Childcare facilities are now reporting five times as many cases this past week as a little over a month ago; however, the number of cases remain small overall.
  • Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California’s Surgeon General has focused her career on the well-being of children and families of color. Check out this conversation with her to learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), how they impact education, what schools can do to lessen toxic stress, and how the pandemic is affecting student well-being.

Region

Racial Equity

  • There are growing concerns about the ability of businesses owned by people of color to survive the pandemic and data is now indicating that more than half of Black-owned businesses may not survive COVID-19.  New research at UC Santa Cruz and a report by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 41 percent of Black owned businesses have been closed due to the pandemic compared to just 17% of white-owned businesses.

ICYMI:

 

Friday, July 17

More than 75,000 new coronavirus cases were reported on Thursday, the most in a single day, prompting drastic measures as death tolls set records. Texas reported 10,000 new cases for a third day in a row and Florida reported nearly 14,000 new cases.  

Nation

  • Masks have been contentious nationwide and as mask rules expand across the U.S. clashes over the mandates intensify. Masks will now be required at some retailers including Walmart, Target and CVS.
  • With ongoing debates about the susceptibility of children to COVID-19 there are concerns about the safety of opening up schools in the fall. Check out this article to get a closer look at what scientists know about children and COVID-19 and what can be currently understood about the potential risk of sending kids back to school.
  • There are 3,626,000 confirmed cases and 138,700 deaths in the United States.  

State

Region

Racial Equity

  • More is now being understood about how chronic stress can wear on the body and increase risk for other health problems like depression, diabetes and hypertension. The pandemic has brought to the forefront the elevated levels of some pre-existing conditions among communities of color that has increased risk for COVID-19; but there’s more to the story. To learn more check out, How the stress of racism can harm your health—and what that has to do with Covid-19.

ICYMI:

Thursday, July 16

There are now more than 13 million confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, and there have been over 580,000 deaths. Confirmed US virus cases have risen amid new global restrictions, including new lockdowns and virus checks at border checkpoints.

National

State

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Even though there have been claims that COVID-19 deaths are not rising, the COVID Tracking Project is seeing something very different happening over the last few weeks. Read this somber article about the predictability of the pandemic, the confusion about the numbers and the need to look at data honestly.

 

Wednesday, July 15

On Tuesday afternoon it was announced that the administration had stripped the C.D.C. of control of coronavirus data. Beginning today, hospitals have been instructed to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and send all COVID-19 information directly to a central database in Washington.  Concerns have emerged about accessibility of the data for research, media and the public. In an Op-Ed in the Washington Post also on Tuesday, four former CDC directors issued a critique of the administration for "sowing confusion" amid the pandemic.

National

 State

  • On Tuesday, California recorded 11,142 coronavirus cases in one day, shattering the previous record. The state now has reported at least 9,000 new cases in a day, five times since July 7, and there are more than 6,7000 patients hospitalized.
  • Latinos continue to be hard hit by coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. Latinos make up about 39% of California’s population but 55% of COVID-19 cases. Some attribute the elevated number of cases among Latinos to being more likely to live in dense neighborhoods and be employed as essential workers, others believe California is failing to protect Latino workers.

Region

Racial Equity

  • As the pandemic continues to expose health gaps more and more people are acknowledging the significant role racism plays in health and wellness. To learn more read Too Many Black Americans Are Dying from COVID-19 from the editors of Scientific American.

ICYMI:

  • Is the pandemic making you feel overwhelmed and disillusioned about the future? Check out what Dr. Manuel Pastor has to say in Reimagine a Post Covid Future from Podship

Tuesday, July 14

There are jumps in coronavirus cases in many parts of the country but Florida, Texas and California are fueling the surge of new COVID-19 infections. There are concerns about upcoming events including NBA basketball, and the Republican National Convention. To learn more about what’s happening in Florida, listen to today’s episode of the CNN podcast, Coronavirus: Fact v. Fiction.

Nation

  • Just as the cases are growing again nationally, ‘Hero’ pay raises are disappearing for many essential workers. Amazon, Kroger and Albertson’s have ended pandemic-related pay raises, though some continue to provide bonuses. Many retail workers also now have to enforce mask and social distancing orders which has in some cases, increased risk of confrontations.
  • Check out this feature story (with audio) from the NY Times magazine looking at how chronic underfunding of public health is putting the U.S. response to the pandemic on track to be the “worst response in the developed world”.

State

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • The pandemic has caused 40 million Americans to lose jobs and the CARES Act provided an opportunity, perhaps imperfect, to see how providing cash might be a powerful way to support those who are unemployed during this public health crisis. According to some preliminary data, the pandemic has proved that cash payments work.

Monday, July 13

Nationally many states are turning back orders and re-instituting regulations. With California averaging more than 8,000 new cases per day as of Sunday, the Governor has ordered statewide re-closure of indoor dining, limits on church services, salons. Governor Newsom also ordered thirty counties to close gyms, churches, hair salons, offices for non-critical sectors and malls.

National

State

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Many are wondering what California can do about the pandemic-induced job crisis. In California local workforce boards might be one answer, check out this essay about how these boards might provide one path to get people back to work.

 

Saturday/Sunday, July 11-12

It is now estimated that over 12.4 million people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19. With more than 3.1 million cases, the United States has become the worse affected country. In different parts of the U.S cases continue to grow at alarming rates. Florida set a one-day record with over 15,000 new COVID cases, more than most countries and in Houston Texas, ‘all the hospitals are full’. Overwhelmed ICUs leave COVID-19 patients waiting in ERs.

National

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ICYMI:

 

Friday, July 10

After a steady decline nationally, the daily virus death toll has risen in some states. On Thursday the seven-day death average in the U.S. reached 608, up from 471 earlier in July. However, this is still much lower than the 2,200 deaths averaged in the country back in mid-April.

Nation

  • After an open letter from scientists was published earlier this week, the World Health Organization is acknowledging indoor airborne spread of coronavirus is possible.
  • The congressional stimulus that created the Paycheck Protection Program allowed nonprofits to participate as long as they had fewer than 500 employees. An investigation into the program has found the Catholic Church lobbied for taxpayer funds and were able to get at least $1.4 billion. The Associated Press investigation found the program was aggressively promoted, which helped affiliates such as Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools and other ministries received approval for at least 3,500 forgivable loans.
  • There have been 3,164,700 confirmed cases and there have been 133,499 deaths in the United States.

State

  • On Thursday, the state set a one-day record with 9,816 confirmed case and 137 deaths. Half of California counties are now on the state’s watchlist.
  • Throughout the state there are record number of COVID-19 tests being administered, however the recent virus jump has also caused an increased demand for testing. This overwhelming test sites and creating concerns about potential supply shortages. Mark Ghaly, the state’s health and human services secretary has urged labs to prioritize test results for those with symptoms and those in institutional settings.
  • The economic impact of the pandemic has been significant with nearly 1 in 5 Californians out of work. With the pandemic continuing and limited options in sight, many have had to think creatively about how to make ends meet. Check out the stories of 10 Californians who lost work and are finding ways to make the best of their situation and position themselves for a better future.
  • There have been 302,940 confirmed cases and there have been 6,862 deaths in California.

Regional

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • The significant social and economic impacts of COVID-19 are being felt profoundly by women. Women are more likely to be responsible for caregiving, are often economically insecure, and are at greater risk for domestic violence. To learn more about what can be done to support women, read, Women are most affected by pandemics — lessons from past outbreaks.

 

Thursday, July 9

Since the lockdowns in March and April, jobs have returned and unemployment claims are falling, but 1.3 million people still applied for assistance last week.  Additionally, nearly 14.4 million people claimed pandemic benefits in 47 states; an increase of over 1.5 from last week.

Nation

State

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Racial Equity

ICYMI:

 

Wednesday, July 8

Following up on the Administration’s vow to terminate participation, the U.S. notified the UN of withdrawal from World Health Organization. This follows the Administration’s earlier criticism of the WHO’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The exit will not take effect until next year.

Nation

California

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Racial Equity

ICYMI:

 


Tuesday, July 7

As the coronavirus surge continues nationwide with public health experts proclaiming we are still “knee deep in the first wave”  and cases top 3 million, the President announced today he will pressure governors to reopen schools for the fall.

Nation

  • In recent weeks the Sunbelt has been hard hit by the pandemic. In some states, new measures are being taken to reimpose restrictions as hospitals approach capacity, following the holiday weekend where images surfaced of widespread disregard for public health guidance on mask wearing and distancing.
  • Data continues to emerge about the various ways communities of color are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. New information is surfacing about the challenges of getting tested and locations of testing sites; not surprisingly Latino, and Black neighborhoods struggle with test disparities, as well.
  • As a result of pressure, the federal government recently revealed that lobbyists, law firms and trade groups took small-business loans from the Paycheck Protection Program. The program authorized nearly $520 billion for nearly 5 million mostly small businesses and nonprofits to provide relief from the economic fallout of the pandemic. Check out this article to learn about seven unlikely recipients.
  • To get a deeper understanding of the current surge of COVID-19, check out this 30 minute interview between Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health.

State

Regional

Racial Equity

 ICYMI:

  • Recent research is confirming that coronavirus is airborne and by some accounts can remain afloat in tiny air that is stagnant. Many questions are emerging, to understand more check out Airborne Coronavirus: What You Should Do Now.

Monday, July 6

Questions about the exact ways coronavirus is transmitted have gotten much attention with the World Health Organization contending that it is spread by large respiratory droplets, that once expelled drop quickly to the floor; however 239 Experts are asserting one big claim, the virus is airborne. In an open letter to be published next week, the scientists from 32 countries outlined evidence showing smaller particles can infect people, and calls for the WHO to revisit the issue.

Nation

 State

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Racial Equity

ICYMI:

 

Thursday, July 2

In a bit of good news, after June job gains, there is still a ‘Deep Hole,’ and new worries are emerging with the recent surge in coronavirus cases. Even still, there were still nearly 15 million fewer jobs in June than in February before the pandemic forced shut downs across the country.

Nation

State

  • During the pandemic California has been viewed as model for managing the coronavirus, however in recent days that has changed. Some now believe leaders underestimated how much reopening orders would also mean that people might not comply with public health measures. Learn more in: How California went from model student to pandemic problem child.
  • In an effort to slow the spike in coronavirus infections, Governor Newsom rolled back reopenings in a good number of counties across the state. To understand the details, check out: What to know as California halts indoor dining, shutters other businesses.
  • Today there are 241,076 confirmed cases and there have been 6,192 deaths in California.

 

Region

 

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • For final projects this year industrial design students from the Pratt Institute In New York were asked to design solutions to problems that have emerged because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out a few of the concepts that were designed here.

 

Wednesday, July 1

Nationally there are concerns rising as coronavirus cases climb in different states. New York has seen a decline in cases but has just announced a halt to indoor dining, because of concerns of virus rise in other states. Health officials are now urging Americans to celebrate 4th of July at home and at least 80 percent of fireworks displays in large cities and towns have been cancelled.

Nation

  • Masks continue to be a flashpoint across the country and fighting over masks in public seems to be a new American pastime. This has also given essential workers and businesses owners a new job responsibility, enforcement.
  • Public Health departments across the country have played a very important role in the fight against COVID-19, but according to Kaiser Health News and the Associated Press, over the last 10 years spending for state public health departments has dropped by 16% per capita and spending for local health departments has dropped by 18%. To learn more check out the KHN/AP investigative report:  Hollowed out public health system faces more cuts amid virus.

State

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • With no experience living through a pandemic many of us couldn’t quite understand what reopening might mean for COVID-19 cases. As states, counties and cities begin to open up and cases increase and in some instances don’t, it can be confusing. To try and make sense of it all read this interview with Jennifer Nuzzo an epidemiologist at the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She and her colleagues created a data visualization tool that combines new COVID-19 cases and deaths, with the dates that reopening policies have been implemented in each state. Check it out the tool here.

Tuesday, June 30

Today at a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee focused on the latest efforts by federal agencies to contain the spread of coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed dismay about people congregating in crowds, not wearing masks and inadequate attention being paid to guidelines on reopening. He also warned Congress that new US coronavirus cases could rise to 100,000 a day.

Nation

  • Frontline workers have been re-defined during the pandemic to include those who caring for seniors and those living with disabilities. However, these workers largely Black and immigrant women, have become indispensable and victims of COVID-19. For a thoughtful take on the challenges they are facing, read The Invisible Essential Workers.
  • Today the European Union barred travelers from the United States citing concerns about coronavirus. Officials cited epidemiological reasons, the prevalence of coronavirus and the number of deaths, as the reason to bar travelers from certain countries.

State

Region

  • On Sunday, in Riverside County hospitals hit 99% capacity for ICUs. However, some officials believe a greater challenge might be limited staff numbers to meet the increased need.
  • On Monday Imperial County announced it was stepping back its reopening plan amid the coronavirus surge.  The county now plans to: limit non-essential retail stores to curbside pickup only, shutter public parks and prohibit any nonessential gatherings, including churches and other places of worship if they meet indoors.
  • Nineteen counties representing 72% of the state’s population are now on the state’s watch list which focuses on counties that are experiencing an increase in: confirmed cases, or hospitalizations and ICU patients, or outbreaks in congregate settings (e.g. skilled nursing facilities, prisons) or community transmissions in settings such as churches, workplaces or agriculture or specific populations experiencing disease in a disproportionate manner.

 Racial equity

ICYMI:

Monday, June 29

The world continues to battle the pandemic and has hit some significant milestones with many fearing the worse is yet to come.

National

State

  • After ordering bars and breweries closed in numerous counties Gov. Gavin Newsom today threatened to reverse California reopening. The state has experienced a 45% increase in coronavirus cases in the last seven days. The state is also monitoring and working with 19 counties that have failed to meet guidelines for hospitalizations, transmission of the virus, or sufficient testing for at least three days.
  • California had been viewed by many as successfully managing the pandemic, however the state has slid from coronavirus success to danger zone. Many believe this began on Memorial Day, based on estimated incubation of the virus and the upswing of coronavirus hospitalizations which began around June 15.
  • Today there are 222,059 confirmed cases and there have been 5,975 deaths in California.

Region

  • Today L.A. County coronavirus cases surged past 100,000 with a record one-day tally of 2,903 new COVID-19 cases and an additional 22 deaths. This is the largest single day number of new infections int the county.  Officials are now warning that 1 in 140 residents are likely infected without knowing it; a significant increase from last week’s projection of 1 in 400.  Today officials also revealed that after orders were lifted on June 20 more than 500,000 people visited LA county’s reopened bars, breweries, wineries and similar businesses. The county has issued a dire warning due to what are being characterized as “rapidly deteriorating” conditions.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Lucy Jones, trusted scientist has a new podcast! It’s called Getting Through It. Check out, the first episode, Surviving the Pandemic with Science.

Saturday/Sunday, June 27-28

This weekend coronavirus cases surpassed 10 million worldwide. The total number dead from COVID-19 is now approaching 500,000.

National

State

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • This weekend marked the 50th Anniversary of the first Pride Parade commemorating the rebellion at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 in New York City.  Because of the pandemic, this year’s celebration was different, to find out how check out: How the Virus and Protests Changed a 50-Year Celebration of Pride.
  • The pandemic has caused much concern about how the November 2020 election will happen during this global pandemic.  In California the plan is now a bit clearer—every registered regular voter in the state can expect to get a ballot in the mail before the  election, whether it’s been requested it or not. To understand more about how it will work, check out: California’s 2020 all-mail election explained.

Friday, June 26

With more than 120,000 deaths and nearly 2.5 million confirmed cases, the Trump Administration filed a late-night brief on Thursday asking the Supreme Court to strike down Obamacare.  There are roughly 24 million people out of work collecting unemployment benefits; for this group of people the Affordable Care Act’s health care marketplaces and expansion of Medicaid, is providing options to access health care.

Nation

State

  • When stay-at-home restrictions were eased there was an expectation that case counts would rise in the state, however new infections and hospitalizations are rising faster than anticipated and in different parts of the state. Now, as COVID cases spike, California shifts its strategy. Yesterday, Governor Newsom  made public the coronavirus models the state is using to inform public health orders.
  • Interested in hearing what Dr. Anthony Fauci and other statewide leaders have to say about California’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic? Watch this 60-minute moderated discussionhosted by the Sacramento Press Club.
  • Today there are 201,289 confirmed cases and there have been 5,807 deaths in California.

Region

  • Although less widely reported of late procuring critical COVID-19 protective equipment is still challenging for health care facilities. In the Bay Area it has been particularly challenging, read more about why,

Racial Equity

  • Infections among Latinos have outpaced many in the nation and some believe that because Latinos make up a good number of essential workers, many Latinos couldn’t stay home. and now virus cases are soaring in the community. According to a NY Times analysis, in the last two weeks counties nationwide where a quarter of the population is Latino have recorded an increase of 32 percent in cases compared to a 15 percent for all counties.

ICYMI:

Thursday, June 25

For the 14th week in a row more than one million workers filed new claims for state unemployment insurance last week. An additional 728,000 filed for benefits from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program which covers self-employed and independent contractors that don’t qualify for traditional unemployment. This is keeping  unemployment offices busy, and making recovery seem likely to be a ‘Long Haul’.

National

State

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Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Are you bored with escapist binge watching? Do you need quality reality TV? Check out this article to learn more about a Netflix documentary centered on a New York doctor who fought coronavirus while pregnant.

Wednesday, June 24

After a six-week downward trend, cases in the United States have been surging for more than a week. On Tuesday the U.S, reported 34,700 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest level in two months.

National

State

  • An alarming spike in coronavirus carses is sparking fears in California. It is unclear how much worse the situation will get before officials move to slow down the reopening of the economy. The latest projections from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation have estimated that California might see more than 15,100 deaths by Oct. 1, a 170% increase from the current death toll.
  • In California, Latinos have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, with recent data suggesting Latinos are getting COVID-19 at alarming rates. According to the California Department of Public Health, since mid-May more than 42,000 Latinos have been diagnosed with coronavirus and Latinos make up the majority of Californians, ages 18-64, who have died from the virus.
  • There has been an increase in coronavirus hospitalizations in the state with four suburban California counties behind this dangerous rise. 

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

Tuesday, June 23

European countries are rushing to reopen economies and borders and currently are reviewing two potential lists of acceptable visitors bringing to light that the European Union may bar American travelers citing failures on virus.

National

  • With millions left unemployed by the coronavirus pandemic, concerns are mounting about the numbers of people who have also lost health benefits along with their jobs. Check out this survey from the Commonwealth Fund that takes an early look at the potential implications of the COVID-19 on health insurance coverage.
  • On Tuesday Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed cautious optimism for a vaccine by the end of 2020 or early 2021. However, he also warned the next few weeks would be important to watch, monitor and address surges in hotspots around the U.S.
  • As school begin to plan for school in the fall and how to reopen amidst the ongoing pandemic, many are overwhelmed with the potential expense with an average school district needing about $1.8 million to make social distancing possible. The potential impact on budgets is putting limits on social distancing options for schools.

 State

Region

Racial Equity

  • The economic impact of COVID-19 has also disproportionately impacted communities of color. A new analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows the extent to which families have lost earning power during the pandemic and what that means for meeting basic needs.  Check it out here.
  • New data from the CDC is showing that the death rates among Blacks and Latinos are much higher than for White people in all age categories, confirming that at this time race gaps in COVID-19 are even bigger than they appear.

ICYMI:

  • Many people are making a choice to avoid summer travel and others are going forward with plans for vacations. This raises questions about whether or not it is safe to fly or drive for travel, read this article to see what five health experts have to say about it.

 

Monday, June 22

Even as the country continues on the journey of reopening, and new virus and daily counts of new cases in the U.S. are highest they have been in more than a month, many public health experts, are suggesting we are still in the first wave of the virus. In California, Governor Newsom soberly reported a jump in hospitalizations from COVID-19, including a 16% increase over the last two weeks, and more than 46,000 new cases.

National

  • In spite of opposition from businesses who depend on foreign workers including major tech companies and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the federal government announced it would suspend H-1B work visas and others through end of year. This effort is being touted as an part of the Administration’s effort to protect U.S. workers suffering from the economic crisis tied to the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Today there are 2,296,000 confirmed cases and there have been 118,000 deaths in the United States.

State

Region

  • A number of health directors nationwide and throughout California have been targeted with personal attacks and threats of physical harm. Today, LA County announced press briefings will be reduced to once weekly and the health director revealed she has received death threats over coronavirus rules.

 Racial Equity

  • In California, African Americans are much more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than Whites and their share of deaths from COVID-19 are about 1.5 times greater than their share of the population. Read more about racial disparities in COVID-19 mortality in this report from the Public Policy Institute of California.

ICYMI:

  • Hand sanitizer has become a must-have during the pandemic, the FDA has just issued a warning about nine brands which may be toxic. Read more about it here.

Saturday/Sunday, June 20-21

Cases of coronavirus in the United States account for approximately a quarter of the world’s cases. Infections disease experts are expressing alarm at the rate of new infections in several states, including a COVID-19 surge in the South, and the Southwest of the United States.

Nation

State

  • There is growing concern that the stress of the pandemic and the associated isolation that can come with lockdown orders, could cause a collision of epidemics, as fewer people addicted to drugs are receiving treatment and an increase in relapses are being seen.

Region

Racial equity

ICYMI:

Thursday, June 18

Even though the economy continues to open up and many workers are returning to jobs, unemployment claims exceeded one million for the 13th week in a row. Some economists worry that continued layoffs could signal an ‘economic scarring', suggesting the crisis is reaching deeper into the nation’s economy.

National

  • The country is now facing what has been warned by public health experts--loosening restrictions while the virus is still circulating, could lead to more infections. According to the COVID-19 Tracker from STAT, the country is adding about 20,000 new cases daily and cases are surging in in about half of the states. These rising Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations underscore the challenges ahead for the nation.
  • With recent in surges in cases, many have wondered if we are seeing the second wave of COVID-19; according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, ‘we are still in the first wave of coronavirus’. Read about what else he has to say in his conversation with staff of the Washington Post here.

State

Region

Racial Equity

  • The pandemic has forced many businesses to shut down and early evidence is suggesting coronavirus is hitting black business owners hardest.
  • Check out the COVID Tracking Project’s Racial Data Dashboard, providing the latest race and ethnicity data from every state and territory that reports it. The dashboard can be found here.
  • Despite protections enacted to support renters during the coronavirus lockdown, landlords seek to evict tenants in Black and Latino areas of South L.A. New analysis by the LA Times has found landlords are still trying to get rid of tenants by locking them out of their homes, turning off utilities and using other illegal methods.

ICYMI:

  • The pandemic has caused the cancellation of many milestone events including graduations and proms. Check out the 2020 virtual prom, complete with pictures, a playlist and feelings from high school juniors and seniors.

Wednesday, June 17

As of June 15, according to Johns Hopkins University,  COVID-19 cases have exceeded eight million worldwide. More than 435,000 people have died and approximately 3.8 people have recovered from the disease.

National

State

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Do you have a lot of unanswered questions about COVID-19? Do you wonder about the long-term effects of having COVID-19 or what herd immunity actually means?  Check out Viral Questions a series of short articles answering some of the most commonly asked questions about the coronavirus pandemic.

Tuesday, June 16

There have been more than 2 million coronavirus cases and at least 115,000 deaths, in the United States. The pandemic has had an impact; check out six charts showing how Americans have been affected by COVID-19.

Nation

  • A new report from the federal government is now confirming the coronavirus death rate is higher for those with chronic illnesses. The report released on Monday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights the increased risk posed by heart disease, diabetes and conditions of the lung.
  • The early data and modeling for COVID-19 indicated that for every person who died of COVID-19, another 11 would be hospitalized. Now many are realizing that ratio was too high and decreased over time, as more information about disease and how to treat it became clear. Read more how America’s hospitals survived the first wave of coronavirus here.

State

  • Even though cases continue to move upward and California deaths from COVID-19 have exceeded 5,000, some are questioning Governor Newsom’s choice to allow counties to ease stay-at-home orders.  The Governor is defending reopening rules citing concerns about the impact of ongoing isolation on overall well-being for Californians.
  • Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, more than 2.2. million Californians were self-employed, accounting for 11.7% of the state’s total employment. These workers have been impacted by the pandemic with self-employment falling by nearly a million between late April and mid-May. Check out this post about the economic toll of COVID-19 on self-employed workers, from the Public Policy Institute of California.

 Region

Racial Equity

  • Many testing locations for coronavirus have been designed as drive-thru sites to make the process simple and efficient. COVID-19 testing is illustrating inequities in car use, and public health experts are concerned that it has the potential to create testing gaps along racial and socioeconomic lines.

ICYMI: 

  • There has been growing concerns about people missing important and timely health care appointments. At the outset it was fear of COVID-19 that made many apprehensive, now, for many newly unemployed, health care has become unaffordable. Read more about it here.

Monday, June 15

As the nation continues to feel the impact of the economic damage the pandemic has caused, there are growing concerns about the long-term economic ramifications as new data suggests that One-Third of U.S. Job Losses Are at Risk of Becoming Permanent.

 National

State

  • Contact tracing is one critical way to manage spread of coronavirus, through careful communication with all the people a person who is COVID-19-positive has come in contact with.  By July, the State has committed to training 20,000 contact tracers; state and county workers have stepped up including  librarians and tax assessors.
  • Today there are 155,126 confirmed cases and there have been 5,108 deaths in California.

 Region

 Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Coronavirus hasn’t gone away but many are behaving as if it has, which can be confusing. Read the transcript or listen to Why the Virus Is Spreading So Unevenly, part of the Social Distance podcast series. This features an update on the state of the coronavirus with Alexis Madrigal who tracks coronavirus data with the COVID Tracking Project.

Saturday-Sunday, June 13-14

Over the course of the last nearly five months, some leaders predicted the pandemic would die down with the heat. Now as summer is upon us and the virus continues to circulate. In some places it is on the rise, other places it is decreasing and in some places it’s remaining steady. To learn more about what is happening across the country, read The US is done with COVID-19. COVID-19 isn’t done with America.

Nation

State

  • Farmworkers in California were deemed essential workers from the beginning of the pandemic and have continued to work. Farmworkers are low wage workers and many of them fear coronavirus might spread in the crowded housing situations they must live in to make ends meet.

Region

  • Vernon is an industrial city with a number of coronavirus outbreaks tied to eight factories. The city also is not new to health concerns tied to factories—the Exide battery recycling plant was shut down after polluting and endangering the health of residents in the city and surrounding communities. With over 350 confirmed cases, Vernon has more coronavirus cases than residents and that worries its neighbors.

Racial Equity

  • The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on African Americans has become more and more clear; but the actual impact may never truly be known due to consistent gaps in data on race and ethnicity. These gaps persist four months into the pandemic and there are concerns that this missing data veils coronavirus damage to minority communities.

ICYMI

  • More people are trying to figure out how to travel and adequately social distance. Road trips in rental R.V.’s are gaining in popularity, read more about it here.

 

Friday, June 12

As the nation continues to relax restrictions on activities, a new poll finds that most Americans are maintaining virus precautions and aren’t ready to abandon all of the behaviors recommended by public health professionals, including mask wearing and maintaining six feet distance when out in public. Today the CDC also posted long-awaited tips for minimizing everyday risk.

Nation

State

Region

  • As the state continues on the path of reopening, you might be wondering, where are California’s outbreaks and why?   A new resource from the California Department of Public Health allows the public to follow along and see what counties are being monitored for outbreaks, the likely causes and the steps being taken to address and mitigate them. That resource can be found here.
  • Check out this three part series on the link between COVID-19 and crowded housing conditions:

Part 1 Close Quarters: California’s Overcrowded Homes fuel spread of coronavirus among workers;

Part 2 Close Quarters: The Neighborhoods where COVID collides with Crowded Homes and

Part 3 Close Quarters: How we analyzed the link between COVID-19 and crowded housing in California.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Much is still not understood about the novel coronavirus and there are still outstanding questions about how long it stays in the body and, is reinfection possible. To learn more read: How long does the coronavirus last in the body?

Thursday, June 11

On Thursday the Labor Department reported more than 1.5 million Americans filed new unemployment claims, lower than previous, but far above typical levels. Following this sobering jobs outlook coupled with the U.S. reaching 2 million coronavirus cases and surges of patients in many states, stocks posted their worst day since March.

National

  • The conversations about a vaccine continues and some believe it could happen in 2020; others are not too sure. But there is some agreement on what needs to be in place, read more about what it will take here.
  • As U.S. businesses begin to reopen there are growing liability concerns. As a shield to prevent lawsuits many salons, gyms and offices are posting disclaimers or asking customers, and staff to sign waivers first.

State

Region

  • Even though community health centers provide medical care for 1 in 6 Californians, the coronavirus shutdown has had a huge impact, closing more than 200 clinics since March. The pandemic is battering the finances of some of the most treasured health care centers in the state for African Americans. Read about how the Marin City Health and Wellness Center is meeting the challenges of the pandemic here.
  • LA County officials announced gyms, museums, hotels, day camps, and arena sports will be able to reopen on Friday.  According to officials, strict infection control directives will be in place and visitors and staff will be required to practice distancing and wear cloth face coverings.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

 

Wednesday, June 10

In a sign of a long recovery from the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, today the federal reserve indicated that it would likely keep interest rates near zero through 2022, and is projecting years of high unemployment.

National

  • As the nation continue to open up, more than a dozen states and Puerto Rico are recording their highest averages of new cases since the onset of the pandemic. There has also been a rise in coronavirus hospitalizations in several states following Memorial Day.
  • Vaccines take time to develop and rarely has one been developed in less than five years. The development of antiviral drugs are equally challenging; yet, everyone is hoping for a vaccine in 12 to 18 months. The NY Times assembled a virologist, a vaccine scientist, an immunologist/oncologist, a biotech scientist/inventor and the former head of the FDA in a virtual roundtable to discuss the vaccine efforts underway and whether or not a vaccine can be developed in record time.
  • A British study published on Wednesday indicates that widespread mask-wearing could prevent COVID-19 second waves. The study suggests that lockdowns alone will not stop a resurgence and even a homemade mask can dramatically reduce transmission, if adopted by enough people in public.

State

 Region

Racial Equity

  • COVID-19 has hit Chicago’s communities of color hard. More than 70% of the first coronavirus deaths there were among African Americans and while the numbers have declined, Black residents continue to die at a rate two to three times higher than White residents. Now the number of people who have contracted the disease is the highest in Chicago’s Latino communities. Read more about how Chicago is tackling COVID-19 in Black and Latino neighborhoods here.

ICYMI:

Summer is upon us and many trails and national parks are opening. Some are wondering whether or not it is safe or ethical to go hiking this summer. Learn more here.

Tuesday, June 9

As the United States continues to move into this next phase of the pandemic, the world is also reopening, despite skyrocketing coronavirus cases. This week the number of cases worldwide soared past seven million with 136,000 new infections reported on Sunday, the highest single-day total since the onset of the pandemic.

Nation

  • A group of economists are now suggesting the current U.S. recession actually began in February, just as the pandemic was hitting the nation, marking the start of a downturn after nearly 11 full years of economic growth. The committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research broadly defines a recession as “a decline in economic activity that lasts more than a few months”.
  • The COVID-19 crisis required hospitals to get ready for a potential “surge”, and most hospitals cancelled surgeries and appointments and moved to virtual models, when possible.  However, the implementation of these new systems has been difficult and exposed limitations rural regions are facing. There is an emerging concern that rural hospitals may not survive COVID-19.

State 

  • California is now home to the worst coronavirus outbreak to hit a prison system in the country. In three weeks Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in the eastern part of Riverside County went from having no confirmed cases to nearly 1,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a span of three weeks.
  • State education officials released recommendations for how California’s more than 10,000 public schools will reopen in the fall.  There are some fairly significant recommended changes including such as hybrid learning approaches. To learn more in written and visual form read this article.
  • California is moving quickly into reopening mode and on Monday the state released new guidelines to accelerate reopening including reopening movie theatres in most counties as early as Friday. The new rules limit the number of guests in a movie to 25% of total theatre capacity or a maximum of 100 guests, whichever is lower.

 Region

Racial Equity

  • The recent protests have brought to light the glaring inequities facing the Black community. Some believe a chronic U.S. economic racial gap coupled with COVID-19 is creating a “perfect storm”.

ICYMI:

  • During the pandemic all of us have learned a lot and had to change and adapt new behaviors, and in some cases created new rules for day-to-day living. As things begin to open up, more changes are coming and there is lots of uncertainty. Luckily there are lots of people thinking and writing about it; for one take, check out 5 Rules to live by during a pandemic.

 

Monday, June 8

With the country reopening there are understandably concerns about the unknown territory we are all about to enter. Though businesses are opening and people are protesting it feels as if America is giving up on the pandemic, even while coronavirus is still circulating.

National

  • The economy is slowly beginning to show signs of life, with businesses reopening however the economic devastations is increasingly becoming clear as many who believed a quick return are now losing hope of getting back their jobs.
  • The conversation about reopening and people returning to work has met perhaps the biggest challenge, childcare. With hopes to come out of the pandemic induced recession, many are finding childcare is the missing ingredient for a fast economic recovery.
  • As New York begins to reopen after the experiencing the deadliest outbreak in the country, ‘all eyes’ are on New York.
  • Today there are 1,950,000 confirmed cases and there have been 109,000 deaths in the United States.

 State

 Region

Racial equity

ICYMI:

Saturday/Sunday, June 6-7

There have been concerns about the recent racial justice marches creating new outbreaks, but COVID-19 cases were already rising before the George Floyd protests. Many attribute this to recent easing of stay-at-home orders and travel during the Memorial Day holiday.

Nation

  • During the pandemic, certain sectors of workers have been deemed essential and have worked in the face of risk.  Postal workers have been sometimes overlooked, even though they have been facing dangers from coronavirus and Trump,  they have kept delivering mail.
  • The data continue to shed light on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19, with coronavirus killing Blacks at twice the rate of Whites. Even before the pandemic the disparities in health outcome between Black and White people in the U.S. were staggering. Health experts believe there are concrete steps that can be taken, this article sheds light on what can be done.

State

  • California officials announced on Friday that counties could begin opening gyms, day camps, bars and some professional sports by as early as next Friday.  Guidelines are forthcoming and re-openings will be based on local conditions and regions with fewer cases, like some rural counties, would likely begin opening these businesses first.
  • More than 4,000 people have died from coronavirus in California. The Los Angeles Times through a partnership with USC and the Pulitzer Center, has been documenting some of the lives lost. Learn about some of them here.

Region

  • Even though Los Angeles has been the epicenter of the pandemic in California, it is being less cautious than the Bay Area with relaxing stay at home orders and reopening businesses. To get insight about why, check out this article.

Racial Equity

  • Many Black protesters, when asked have acknowledged the risk of protesting during the COVID-19 pandemic; however also on their minds is a racist health system. Read more about what ProPublica reporters learned from 18 protesters here.
  • Friday’s labor report provided a glimmer of hope but not for everyone, 16.8% of the African American labor force was out of work in May, up from 16.7% in April. To learn more, check out There’s a Black job crisis. Coronavirus is making it worse.

ICYMI:

  • In 2012 and 2016 the Supreme Court issued two rulings that said young people who were sentenced to life as teenagers could have their sentences reviewed.  As a result, hundreds of youth seen their prison terms cut short or were released. However nearly 1,000 are still awaiting a court hearing and facing a growing fear: that they will die from COVID-19 before getting a chance at freedom.

 

Friday, June 5

Coming as a surprise to many, the May jobless rate fell to 13.3%, this after it soared to 14.7% in April. However, the data also show that Black workers are being left out.

Nation

  • Following months of criticism, federal health officials announced on Thursday that laboratories will be required to report race, ethnicity data and other information about each person tested for the coronavirus beginning on August 1.
  • The Navajo Nation has been hit hard by the coronavirus with approximately 5,4000 people testing positive and nearly 250 people dying from COVID-19. Members of the Navajo Nation have been overwhelmed and unprepared for the outbreak.
  • Today there are1,869,000 confirmed cases and there have been 106,000 deaths in the United States.

State

  • Because of the economic fallout from the pandemic, there are predictions about a surge in Medi-Cal enrollment, however the actual numbers, are not yet clear. Check out this short analysis from the Public Policy Institute of California which looks at pre-pandemic enrollment coverage patterns to gain some insight.
  • Today there are 123,065 confirmed cases and there have been 4,458 deaths in California.

Region

Racial equity

  • Check out this new viewpointwhich was just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that recommends a future health care system emerging from COVID-19 that is rooted in health equity and racial justice.

ICYMI:

Thursday, June 4

Even as businesses begin to reopen the strain on the economy as a result of the pandemic continues.  On Thursday the Labor Department reported that nearly 1.9 million Americans filed new claims for state unemployment benefits. Since the onset of the pandemic in mid-March, 42.6 million jobless workers have applied for aid.

National

State

Regional

  • Massive protests in regions throughout the state have given rise to concerns about a new wave of coronavirus cases. Experts are concerned that because test sites were closed during the protests, it could exacerbate the spread of COVID-19.

Racial Equity

  • Listen to Jelani Cobb examine the connection between George Floyd’s death and the coronavirus pandemic in Race, Police and the Pandemic on the Frontline Dispatch podcast.

ICYMI:

Six months into the pandemic and three months into stay-at-home orders, many who can,  have pivoted to digital platforms for nearly everything, including work and social celebrations. To keep up with the evolving etiquette check out this article.

Wednesday, June 3

The Centers for Disease Control has long been seen as a world’s leading health agency.  The scope and scale of the pandemic has presented numerous challenges and the CDC has made a number of missteps which has lessened confidence, nationally and internationally. Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic many are wondering, what went wrong and how to move forward.

National

  • Testing for COVID-19 has been touted as key to getting through the pandemic; however some tests, like serologic tests, only reveal so much and could give a false sense of security. This has led to efforts by the Food and Drug Administration to try to rein in the ‘wild West’ of COVID-19 blood tests.
  • The pandemic and associated shelter-in-place orders has changed the nature of work. Working from home has, in many cases highlighted and compounded the heavier domestic burden carried by women. As offices begin to reopen, concerns are emerging that the pandemic could scar a generation of working mothers.

State

  • People are becoming more comfortable with venturing out as more and more cities and states “open up” but there are lingering concerns about a potential “second wave” of infections. In fact, California is one of about 20 states where new cases have been increasing over the last five day. Many are worried about a surge and a  second wave of coronavirus, even as first wave is far from over.
  • As a means to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Governor Newsom today  ordered new California in-person voting rules for the November election. The Governor’s executive order gives counties permission to limit in-person voting operations for the November 3 election; however only if these counties also offer three days of early voting.

Region

  • As the second largest school district in the country, there is anticipation about how LAUSD will bring students back to the classroom in the fall. In a live-streamed address on Wednesday, the LAUSD superintendent shared that the return to LAUSD schools was still uncertain but could be online/in-person hybrid instruction, depending on the availability of testing and the trajectory of COVID-19.
  • Today the Southern California chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement indicating kids should be in school despite coronavirus risk. The group of approximately 1,500 doctors pointed to research that suggests the risk of transmission is lower for children and that keeping children away from in-person instruction would have negative consequences.

Racial Equity

 ICYMI:

Tuesday, June 2

Six months into the pandemic and people are beginning to reflect; check out Monster or Machine? A Profile of the Coronavirus at 6 months and check out this series of short articles reflecting on what is known about the coronavirus.

National

 State

Region

Racial Equity

There is more clarity today about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Blacks than there was at the outset of the pandemic. Now there is growing clarity about the impact of racism on the lives of Blacks. These three articles help to provide good insight about the layered complexity of the current moment:

ICYMI:

Monday, June 1

As the nation continued to be confronted with ongoing protests, violence and curfews, concerns remain about the impact of mass gatherings and the ability of public health officials to adequately manage and track COVID-19 infections. This, and a general erosion of trust is upending coronavirus control.

Nation

  • The country was making steps to re-open but much has changed in the span of the last week. There is confusion about how bad the pandemic actually is, and many are asking the question: Is America’s pandemic raging or waning? The short answer, yes.
  • As the country moves into the third month of the pandemic and testing is more readily available contract tracing is becoming more necessary. As states and counties begin to reopen, hiring a diverse army to track COVID-19 is needed.
  • Today there are 1,797,000 confirmed cases and there have been 103,000 deaths in the United States.

State

Region

 Racial Equity

 ICYMI

Saturday/Sunday, May 30-31

The weekend was filled with protests in at least 75 cities nationwide, knocking COVID-19 from the headlines for the first time in months. However, concerns emerged about risk and transmission a potential uptick in cases and a virus rebound.

Nation

State

 Region

  • Santa Cruz County took early and quick steps to address the pandemic and met the moment, but officials worry about the long-term cost.

Racial equity

  • Racial disparities and coronavirus has been the focus of much talk in the last month, but sometimes it is hard to understand what it actually looks like, particularly when the data are limited or missing altogether. NPR analyzed COVID-19 demographic data collected by the COVID Racial Tracker Project, to learn what they found, check out What do coronavirus racial disparities look like state by state?

ICMYI

Friday, May 29

As coronavirus cases continue to grow in parts of the country that are beginning to reopen, Americans are spending less; this is clouding the outlook for recovery from the pandemic.

Nation

  • As concerns related to community spread increased during the pandemic, many office buildings closed and employees who could, began working remotely. The Centers for Disease Control has announced guidelines for employers related to office buildings. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the recommendations point to sweeping changes to American offices.
  • New York has been the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic and much of the state has begun to take steps to reopen. New York City is beginning the process and is looking to June 8 for first phase of reopening.
  • Today there are 1,733,000 confirmed cases and there have been 101,000 deaths in the United States.

State

Region

Racial Equity

  • As the pandemic continues to impact black people at alarming rates, protests in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this week have given voice and laid bare systemic inequities that are ever present. Read Of course there are protests. The State is failing black people to understand why in this pivotal moment, left with limited options, people are enraged.

ICYMI:

  • The easing of social distancing guidelines has caused new questions to emerge about what is safe and not safe. One question that I’ve seen posed is about housecleaners; today Roxane Gay is your work friend and she is tackling the question “Is it safe to keep employing a cleaner?”

Thursday, May 28

As pandemic-induced jobless numbers continue to grow, with 2.1 million more added, unemployment claims now exceed 40 million in the United States.

Nation

  • With experts continuing to stress the risks posed by mass events the Boston Marathon has been cancelled for the first time in its 124-year history. Organizers announced they would be holding a virtual marathon instead, with participants running the 26.2 miles remotely.

State

  • Nursing homes have been the focus of numerous outbreaks of coronavirus. By one estimate, about half of all coronavirus deaths in California have been linked to nursing homes. The California Health Department has issued new instructions, now requiring universal testing at nursing homes.
  • The California Senate has just released its plan for the state budget. To make up for the shortfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic the California Senate plan would reject most of the Governor’s cuts and instead take more money from reserves and delay payments to school districts.
  • Due to the COVID-19 crisis, California is facing a projected budget shortfall of tens of billions of dollars. Governor Newsom’s proposed Medi-Cal budget cuts will worsen health outcomes. This table from the California Budget and Policy Center highlights how key cuts to Medi-Cal will impact Californians.

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Many have been holding out hope that herd immunity for coronavirus will be achieved and then things can go back to “normal”. Herd immunity is the threshold at which a virus can no longer spread widely. However, a slew of new studies is showing that the world is still far from herd immunity even in places where the coronavirus has hit hard.
  • There are numerous questions we all have when it comes to managing day-to-day risks. Questions continue to arise about the risk of touching surfaces that may have been touched by someone with COVID-19. To learn the latest read What’s the Risk of catching coronavirus from a surface?

Wednesday, May 27

Today the United States reaches the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from coronavirus.

Nation

State

Region

  • Allowing people of faith to worship together has been a point of contention as social distancing orders are lifted. Claiming that the Governor’s rules are too restrictive for megachurches, and counter to state health authority orders, Orange County Supervisors have deemed in-person church ‘essential’.
  • As school districts begin to plans for reopening, to allow for social distancing and sanitizing, many things at schools will have to change. In LA County school re-opening guidelines, published today include things like one-way halls, lunch at desk and playing alone.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

Monday, May 26

The gradual reopening of the country coincided with a warm, sunny holiday weekend in many parts of the United States. Many enjoyed the time and good weather to get out however concerns have emerged in some places as scenes of crowds in Missouri went viral and caused public health officials to call for participants to self-quarantine; and in California large crowds at one hiking trail caused the location to be shut down until June.

Nation

  • Retail and grocer workers nationwide have been deemed essential workers but protections for these workers have come in stages and many have fallen ill. This story looks at the impact of COVID-19 on these front line workers.
  • Two-months ago Congress set up an emergency program to provide food to children, to compensate for the fact that school lunches were not being provided during shelter-in-place. With hunger rising nationwide, the program’s slow start is leaving millions of children waiting.
  • Today there are 1,671,000 confirmed cases and there have been 97,000 deaths in the United States.

State

  • California was the first states to move aggressively and shut down to confront coronavirus. The numbers have begun to level and are moving downward, however, the unemployment rate has reached 20 percent, and the $54 billion state budget deficit are a testament to the financial costs of the pandemic. To learn more, read The Price of a Virus Lockdown: Economic ‘Free Fall’ in California.
  • Much more is now understood about how coronavirus is transmitted and now concerns are emerging about asymptomatic individuals or ‘silent spreaders’, and whether or not they are becoming a bigger risk as California reopens.
  • As California continues its reopening, there are signs that parts of the state are moving into the third phase of reopening. Today, Governor Newsom announced that hair salons and barber shops can reopen.
  • Today there are 99,090 confirmed cases and there have been 3,806 deaths in California.

Region

Racial Equity

  • Many keep asking why African Americans are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, often pointing to “lifestyle” and higher prevalence of certain diseases and conditions. Some are pointing directly at historic conditions as the reason. In It’s Not Obesity. It’s Slavery ,Sabrina Strings examines this more directly.

ICYMI:

Friday, May 22

As deaths from COVID-19 inch closer to 100,000, more lives have been lost than a number of national tragedies including Sept. 11th and the entire Vietnam War. There is a growing critique about the lack of acknowledgment of the lives lost by leaders, and concerns about the little sense of shared grief.

Nation

  • When a disaster or crisis occurs, the US disaster response system has had an army of volunteers ready to help with food, clothing and housing relief. The coronavirus crisis has exposed a weakness in this system, most of the volunteers are older people at higher risk for the virus so not able to participate in person at this time. This is exposing weaknesses in the U.S. disaster response.
  • After weeks of delay the CDC released detailed guidelines for re-opening schools and businesses shut down due to coronavirus. The document provides guidance for reopening child care centers, schools, businesses, restaurants and public transit.
  • Today there are 1,576,000 confirmed cases and there have been 93,000 deaths in the United States.

State

Region

  • Though rates of hospitalizations and deaths are on the decrease, Los Angeles continues to be the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in California. On Thursday the death toll surpassed 2,000, representing about 60% of all deaths in the state.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • In New York, particular zip codes, have been hit disproportionately hard by COVID-19. ‘Lord Have Mercy’: Inside one of New York’s Deadliest Zip Codes, a 12-minute video, provides a snapshot of the experiences and deeply-felt grief of health care workers in one hospital.
  • Check out this column for some thought-provoking insight on how Universal Basic Income could help many impacted by the pandemic.

Thursday, May 21

Today the federal government reported another 2.4 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits bringing the total number to 38.6 million in a span of nine weeks. There is growing concern that as layoffs continue, many jobs may vanish forever.

Nation

  • Nursing homes nationwide have been the site of numerous outbreaks, making up at least 20 percent of the country’s COVID-19 deaths. New analysis is emerging that suggests, like the virus itself, there is a striking racial divide in how COVID-19 has hit nursing homes.
  • There has been ongoing discussion about why rates of coronavirus infection rates have been significantly higher in some parts of the country. A new study suggests that if the country had implemented social distancing guidelines even two weeks earlier 54,000 deaths could have been prevented.

State

  • In California, there has been a moratorium on most mid to large size gatherings, including religious gatherings, during the pandemic. A group of Pentecostal pastors have signed on to defy state coronavirus orders and hold in-person services for Pentecost on May 31st.

Region

Racial Equity

  • Much has been made about how the pandemic has impacted everything from food and health care systems to cities and how they are planned. Check out Coronavirus is not fuel for urbanist fantasies, an insightful and sharp commentary on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and how it should be used to create more inclusive, relevant and racially equitable cities and communities.

ICYMI

  • There continues to be confusion about antibody testing for coronavirus and testing for COVID-19 and whether receiving a positive antibody test proves immunity. This article can help you make some sense of what antibody testing will and won’t tell you.

 

Wednesday, May 20

As concerns mount about the economic toll of the pandemic, and steps are being taken to slowly reopen in different states, new concerns about the risks of reopening are emerging; governors are learning to balance existing risk with new ones.

Nation

  • With the economy in crisis and no concrete end in sight, ideas that once seemed impossible are now being discussed widely. One of those ideas Universal Basic Income is getting a lot of attention amid the crisis, many are starting to see a monthly paycheck from the feds doesn’t seem crazy anymore.
  • Today there are 1,544,000 confirmed cases and there have been 92,000 deaths in the United States.

State

  • California continues to make progress to address the outbreak of coronavirus in the state. Cases are declining and public health officials are cautiously optimistic and leaders are starting to feel that California is finally winning the battle, even as deaths keep rising.
  • As the state takes further steps towards reopening, with a big push to reopen restaurants, malls and gyms as soon as possible. However, many warn it’s not that simple.
  • Today there ae 85,728 confirmed cases and there have been 3,485 deaths in California.

Region

  • For weeks rural counties have been pushing for shelter-in-place guidelines to be relaxed, and the Governor has moved in that direction. However, some rural counties have not met the health criteria set by the state but would like to reopen. One county Tulare, is vowing to defy the Governor, despite many coronavirus deaths.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • This pandemic is not the first, but past pandemics can provide some insights to what is happening now. In past pandemics, the people at greatest risk were often already marginalized and the pandemics themselves affected social inequality by reinforcing existing power structures. This article looks back at history to help make sense of what’s happening now.

Tuesday, May 19

Today the Treasury Department Secretary and the Chair of the Fed made a joint appearance before the Senate Banking Committee and warned of irreparable damage and offered divergent solutions to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

National

  • As the pandemic has evolved and as the nation begins to open up, experts believe contact tracing will be key to opening up the economy. Many are looking at innovations in technology as one way, however public health professionals say you don’t need invasive technology for successful contact tracing.
  • There has been much criticism aimed at Amazon during the pandemic, for everything from how much it pays workers, to a slow response to risks in the workplace. There has been limited coverage about outbreaks inside Amazon warehouses, this article explores the biggest outbreak of at least 100 people, in one of its facilities.

State

  • In California, one large-scale effort undertaken was to use hotel rooms to shelter homeless individuals to decrease risk and minimize spread of coronavirus. California leased 15,000 hotel rooms for Project Turnkey, now half of those sit empty.
  • In the span of about a week the state is suddenly relaxing previous guidelines to open up the economy. The rapidly changing rules are at times, confusing to understand. Read this article to understand more details and learn about what it means for California.
  • Small businesses with small profit margins have been hit hard by the pandemic. Check out this report The Economic Toll of COVID-19 on Small Business, from the Public Policy Institute of California, which examines this topic, and why policy efforts that support these businesses will be important for California’s economic recovery.

Region

  • The Bay Area recently experienced a two-day break without COVID-19 deaths. However, that break came to an abrupt end today, when health officials added nine more deaths in San Mateo and Alameda counties.
  • On Monday afternoon Los Angeles County leaders warned that social distancing and activities guidelines must be obeyed or the path to fully reopening would be difficult. This warning emerged after complaints and photos surfaced of crowds at Malibu beaches and some local parks over the past weekend.

 Racial Equity

  • Understanding of the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the Latino community is growing; check out the latest installment of the American Medical Association Prioritizing Health Equity YouTube Series: COVID-19 & Latinx Voices in the Field.

 ICYMI:

  • As social distancing restrictions are loosened there are many questions about how to calculate risk and how and under what circumstances, to engage with friends and family.  COVID Care: A Way Forward lays out a framework for assessing our own risks and our communities’ needs and risks.

Monday, May 18

Today’s the World Health Organization convened its annual meeting in Geneva. A primary focus of the conversation is the WHO’s response to COVID-19.

National

  • There are currently eight coronavirus vaccines worldwide that have begun human testing. Moderna, a Massachusetts biotechnology company announced encouraging early results today from its first human tests. The results have not been published in a scientific journal and are only a preliminary step towards proving the vaccine is safe and effective.
  • While the focus of attention has been in the regions of the country impacted most seriously by COVID-19, new concerns are emerging about parts of the nation where chronic health conditions and coronavirus could collide.
  • As numerous states continued to relax social distancing guidelines, the death toll for deaths due to COVID-19, surpassed 90,000 in the United States.

State

Region

  • By beginning to ease social distancing regulations, more of California is reopening. Specific guidelines for reopening are in effect in San Mateo, San Francisco and Marin counties.
  • Like much of the state, the coronavirus infection rate is falling in Los Angeles, but officials warn the county is still in the danger zone.

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

Saturday/Sunday, May 16-17

This weekend brought the news that coronavirus cases and deaths have slowed nationally. Experts continue to urge caution, noting much of the progress was a result of social distancing; making progress, tenuous and uncertain.

Nation

  • There continues to be a focus on the necessity of a vaccine to be able to adequately manage the spread of coronavirus.  But a leading public health expert is warning that a vaccine this year is far from a ‘sure thing’
  • Nursing homes continue to be a focus of outbreaks and deaths due to COVID-19.  A new report shows that one of the largest chains in the country continued to violate federal standards designed to stop the spread of disease, even after start of the pandemic.
  • Today there are 1,480,000 confirmed cases and there have been 88,000 deaths in the United States.

State

  • Many service workers in different parts of the country have been deemed ‘essential’; and in some place, like California, a good percentage of these workers are Latinos. This article explores the impact coronavirus is having on Latino essential workers.
  • To mitigate against potential outbreaks in jails and prisons, cities counties, and the state have taken steps to decrease the numbers of inmates, with a focus on those with non-violent offenses and/or nearing parole dates. While this has been welcomed by many, it has also emptied thousands into a world changed by coronavirus.
  • Today there are 79,836 confirmed cases and there have been 3,240 deaths in California.

Region

  • Prisons and jails continue to be sites of outbreaks of COVID-19. This weekend the California Institute for Women at Chino was put on quarantine after an outbreak of coronavirus, where 47 inmates tested positive. This occurs just on the heels of an outbreak at the California Institute for Men at Chino where 431 inmates have tested positive and five have died from COVID-19.
  • Even though gatherings of any size are currently prohibited, in Butte County a person who attended an in-person Mother’s Day religious service has tested positive for coronavirus. The service had 180 people in attendance. Butte County is one of 22 counties that has certified to the state that it meets the standards for re-opening of some businesses.
  • California has moved into phase two of California’s four-phase process of reopening, to see what it means and looks like, check out these photos from Southern California.

Racial Equity

  • Studies have found low income communities of color are exposed to higher levels of pollution and also experience higher levels of lung disease and ailments. Scientists are now trying to understand if this long-term exposure is playing a role in the coronavirus crisis. To learn more about this emerging issue, check out In the Shadows of America’s Smokestacks, Virus is One More Deadly Risk.
  • Because of the pandemic, graduates this year are feeling the pain of not being able to celebrate this achievement. This weekend, President Obama delivered a commencement address for graduates of historically black colleges and universities and decried the racial impact of COVID-19 deaths.

ICYMI:

Friday, May 15

Countries worldwide have begun to open up and relax social distancing guidelines. However, outbreaks have emerged in South Korea, China and Germany, raising concerns about moving to open up too soon. Sweden chose a different route and stayed open, and new numbers are showing the toll it has taken on that country.

Nation

  • Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic retail businesses have seen progressive declines in sales, reaching 16.4 percent decline in April.  With these losses and so many unemployed, questions have emerged about whether businesses will survive and what will be left, at the end of the crisis.
  • The COVID-19 crisis is forcing changes in multiple workplaces, including Congress. On Friday evening the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote to allow remote voting and virtual hearings for the first time in its 231-year history.
  • Today there are 1,425,000 confirmed cases and there have been 86,000 deaths in the United States.

 State

  • As stay at home restrictions are beginning to be relaxed in the state, California coronavirus cases exceeded 75,000. Nearly half of all the cases and more than half of the related deaths were among residents in Los Angeles County.
  • Today there are 75,040 confirmed cases and there have been 3,052 deaths in California.

Region

  • In recent days coronavirus cases have been rising in Orange County. On Thursday the county recorded its highest daily case count since the beginning of the pandemic.
  • This week marks the reopening of beaches in LA County.  New rules require beachgoers wear masks and remain active—such as swimming, walking, or running. Sunbathing and picnics will not be allowed and many bike paths, parking lots and piers continue to be closed.

Racial Equity

  • With increased focus on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color there is greater exploration of racial disparities. Check out this article exploring with Black clinicians and experts, the intersection of housing location, employment options, health care access, and historic distrust, as contributing factors to the racial disparities that are becoming evident during the pandemic.

ICYMI:

  • With safer-at-home orders in place, many people during the pandemic have only seen friends and family via videoconference. As restrictions begin to be relaxed, some are wondering if they can see friends again--this article offers some answers.
  • All of us are wondering when the pandemic will end and how we will get back to some semblance of normalcy. Historians say pandemics usually have two types of endings—medical, and social; check out this article to learn a bit about how previous pandemics have ended, and how COVID-19 might end.

 

Thursday, May 14

The economic devastation of COVID-19 continues with job losses mounting while re-openings continue throughout the nation. Nearly three million new unemployment claims were filed last week, bringing the total to 36.5 million in a two-month period.

Nation

  • There is a divide emerging between elected officials and public health authorities about how best to manage the coronavirus pandemic.  In Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers brought a legal challenge against state health officials over social distancing orders, and on Wednesday the Wisconsin’s Supreme Court overturned safer-at-home orders.  The ruling also mandates that future statewide restrictions related to coronavirus be approved by that state’s legislature’s rule-making committee.
  • The rapid development and dissemination of a coronavirus vaccine has been identified as a key strategy ending the pandemic. However, concerns have emerged about the anti-vaccine movement growing networks undermining efforts to end the coronavirus pandemic.
  • As states begin to relax stay-at-home orders and as the economy reopens, experts warn large workplaces vulnerable to coronavirus super-spread.

State

Region

  • Imperial County, a county with less than 200,000 residents, has the highest per capita rate of coronavirus hospitalization in California. As of Wednesday, approximately 31 out of every 100,000 residents are being hospitalized for the virus. The county has experienced 14 deaths, all of them were Latino residents.
  • In an effort to help lift stay-at-home orders, on Wednesday night Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced all Angelenos, except for small children and those with certain disabilities, would be required to wear face coverings when venturing outside. Details on the rules can be found here.

 Racial Equity

  • Restaurant workers and other service workers, have been severely impacted as a result of the pandemic. It is estimated that there are upwards of 20 million “tipped workers” in the United States; 70% are women and are disproportionately women of color. Check out this COVID-19 and Race Commentary from Saru Jayaraman, looking at the inequities in the service industry and the opportunities for reshaping the sector.

ICYMI:

  • Children may be processing the pandemic in different ways that might be unexpected for adults and parents around them; this might include: acting out, regressing, defiance or seeming content.  To learn more about how to help children manage read How to Keep Children’s Stress from Turning into Trauma.

Wednesday, May 13

The economy at many levels is reeling. This week, after the Chair of the Federal Reserve indicated the outlook for the economy was uncertain and more government support might be needed to restore prosperity, stocks fell with the dollar.  California, which began 2020 with a budget surplus, is facing a growing deficit. The coronavirus, joblessness and weak tax receipts are creating the perfect budget storm.

Nation

  • As the coronavirus crisis unfolded, workers in retail jobs deemed “essential” continued to work and many retailers, began paying hazard pay. As the nation begins to “open up” retailers are taking it back, even though workers claim the risky conditions have not changed.
  • Today there are 1,383,000 confirmed cases and there have been 83,000 deaths in the United States.

State

  • Prison overcrowding has long been an issue in California, and with an increasing number of inmates testing positive statewide, there is increased attention on this issue. Check out this new Data Hit from the California Budget and Policy Center, exploring how measures to reduce overcrowding in state facilities, have been insufficient to reduce overcrowding, putting many Californians’ health at risk.
  • A new poll From the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies released today is documenting the impact of the pandemic has found most California voters believe coronavirus is increasing inequality, especially among blacks.
  • Restaurants with dine-in options were some of the first businesses that were closed in response to the pandemic. On Tuesday, Governor Newsom and the California Department of Public Health issued new guidance for dine-in restaurants. The Governor also announced new rules for malls and offices in counties that meet state standards for testing and success at reducing coronavirus cases.
  • Today there are 72,506 confirmed cases and there have been 2,934 deaths in California.

Regional

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • Millions of Americans have lost jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasingly people are looking to innovations such as Universal Basic Income or UBI. Soomi Lee, a professor at the University of La Verne believes an emergency UBI could ease economic pain right now, read more about it here.

 

Tuesday, May 12

Earlier today the House Coronavirus Task Force Members testified at the Senate Health Committee, the first major hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic. The speakers, at times contradicted the Administration and painted a bleak picture of the Pandemic; six takeaways from the hearing can be found here.

Nation

 State

Region

Racial Equity

  • The pandemic may leave communities of color undercounted in the census—and cost them billions about census and redistricting which features grantee – California Call’s Black Census and Redistricting Hub. Might be useful to include in the update.
  • Some believe that changes in attitudes about stay-at-home orders began to change once people began to hear about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color.  Read this thought-provoking opinion piece from Derrick Johnson of the NAACP about the shift in attitudes on COVID-19.
  • The pandemic is bringing to the forefront, and worsening the conditions that many children of color have been living with for years. I’m sick of Asking Children to Be Resilient explores the idea of using this crisis to transform resiliency “from an individual trait to one that describes a community—and society—that cares for everyone”.

 ICYMI

  • The Associated Press is collecting stories of the those that have died due to COVID-19 around the world. Check out Lives Lost: Virtual Scrapbook, a moving tribute to some of the people who have died during the pandemic.

Monday, May 11

Worldwide there are over 4 million confirmed coronavirus cases and there have been 280,000 deaths. The pandemic has hit those living in poverty profoundly and some are predicting the economic devastation could ultimately kill more people than the virus itself.

Nation

  • The economic impact of COVID-19 is increasingly becoming evident as millions of people are out of work and small businesses unable to operate. Some states are coming out of lockdown even as most have not met minimal criteria for safely reopening; and with cases increasing in some states, scientists are now fearing a coronavirus comeback.
  • As businesses begin to re-open, employers are looking to apps that check for symptoms and fever screening cameras for employees. As employers rush to adopt virus screening, concerns have emerged about privacy and accuracy of these tools.

State

 Region

Racial equity

ICYMI:

Friday/Saturday, May 9-10

As states continue to take steps to move towards relaxing stay-at-home orders and open up economies, public health experts say many states are opening too soon to do so safely.

Nation

  • As the nation reels from the economic impact of COVID-19, the treasury secretary indicates the jobs picture will get worse before it gets better. Latinos have been hit particularly hard with a staggering 18.9% unemployed.
  • While children have been largely untouched by coronavirus, last week a number of children presented with COVID-related illnesses in New York and a few other places in the country. On Sunday, health departments across the country were put on alert about this mystery coronavirus illness after three children die.
  • Some 29 million Americans rely on community health centers for primary care services.  The coronavirus pandemic has impacted community clinics as patient visits have come to a near-halt. Unable to bill or seek reimbursement for care, community clinics are suddenly on life support.
  • Today there are 1,322,000 confirmed cases and there have been 79,192 deaths in the United States.

State

 Region

Racial Equity

  • The last six weeks has brought to the forefront that Blacks and Latinos and in some parts of the country, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.  Read this insightful piece that explores how the pandemic has exposed the “bitter terms of our racial contract, which deems certain lives of greater value than others”.
  • As the data becomes clear about the impact of COVID-19 on Blacks, there is an rush to begin to study why this happening. For Black Angelenos coronavirus triggers fear of another Tuskegee.

ICYMI:

  • Since the beginning of the pandemic, because of the risks, older Californians have been told to stay at home to stay safe. Many are finding ways to give back to community and make their mark during COVID-19 pandemic.

Friday, May 8

Today the Labor Department reported that 20.5 million jobs were lost last month as a result of the pandemic and the jobless rate soared to 14.7%, the highest level since the Great Depression; these staggering employment numbers show almost every job is at risk.

National

  • Epidemiologists around the U.S. are noticing a disparity that is unsettling--Latinos are contracting the virus at higher rates than the population overall. This is raising additional concerns about the best ways to control the spread COVID-19.
  • Today there are 1,266,000 confirmed cases and there have been 76,262 deaths in the United States.

 State

Region

Racial Equity

 ICYMI:

  • Masks have become part of daily living in the U.S. and worldwide. In Latin America masks have become a form of self-expression.
  • Health care workers have been hit hard by COVID-19 with many lives lost. Lost on the Frontline a project of Kaiser Health News and The Guardian, tells the stories of some of those lives.

Thursday, May 7

Nearly 3.2 million more Americans filed for jobless claims last week as a result of coronavirus-related shutdowns of businesses, deepening the economic crisis in the country. This brings the total number of people who filed for jobless aid to 33.5 million in the last seven weeks.

Nation

 State

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI

  • Drive-in movie theatres and drive-throughs were popular businesses for many years, particularly in Southern California. In more recent years these businesses have fallen out of favor and many have closed down. Social distancing and the closing of many public spaces as a result of coronavirus is giving these businesses a lifeline.

Wednesday, May 6

To date, the coronavirus pandemic has infected over 3.6 million people and at least 260,000 people have died worldwide.

Nation

  • A new  study released on Tuesday is showing how badly Black Americans have been hit by COVID-19, including disproportionately higher deaths taking place in primarily black communities. The study, the work of a dozen scientists and researches and six organizations and universities, is still under peer review by a medical journal.
  • During the course of the pandemic, Americans perspectives on the crisis, how it is being handled and what should be done are changing regularly. Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape , one of the largest ongoing public opinion surveys ever conducted, recently expanded its survey to better understand how the outbreak is influencing the lives and perspectives of Americans. Check out the survey here.
  • Today there are 1,219,000 confirmed cases and there have been 72,476 deaths in the United States.

State

Region

  • In a state as vast as California there are particular challenges with lifting stay-at-home orders because some parts of the state have been hit harder than others. Nineteen rural counties have no confirmed deaths and some suburban areas the numbers are relatively low. This has some experts wondering if reopening will bring more coronavirus deaths.
  • Los Angeles County has not yet eased stay-at-home orders, but today officials announced some retail stores will be permitted to reopen for pick-up and some recreational sites will also be open. These are the first steps towards easing lock down orders.

Racial Equity

  • In the last month of the pandemic, more focused attention is being paid to how race, class and increasingly place are intersecting with COVID-19. Check out How Race and Class Fuel a Pandemic, a report from Race Counts highlighting the disparate impact, the COVID-19 pandemic is having on people of color, and the poor.
  • Check out this sobering Op-Ed from Teen Vogue that explores how the organized efforts to lift lockdown orders and liberate America, are rooted in white entitlement.

ICMYI:

  • The coronavirus pandemic has made Dr. Anthony Fauci a household name in the United States. As the Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly 40 years, he has been at the forefront of managing numerous outbreaks. Read this interview  with Dr. Fauci to learn what he thinks about the rush to re-open states and offers tips for handling information overload.

Reopening the economy means that movie theatres and retail business will be opening but will have to make changes. How will these businesses look and will they survive? This article examines these question.

Tuesday, May 5

While many states are moving forward and relaxing stay at home orders across the country, some experts are expressing reservations. There has been a drop in cases in New York, however other cities and smaller communities are seeing upticks in numbers, amounting to 25,000 new cases, or a 2 to 4 percent daily increase in the United States.

Nation

  • Scientists have identified a now-dominant strain of coronavirus that appears to more contagious than the original. Details about this study were shared on a website used by researchers to share work before it is peer reviewed, to facilitate collaborations between scientists working on vaccines or treatments.
  • COVID-19 has increased concerns about rising hunger and has turned the food industry upside down.  However, the network of food producers, distributors, retailers, service providers and advocates have been scrambling to find new solutions and perhaps a new way forward. Read more about how, here.
  • Today there are 1,197,000 confirmed cases and there have been 70,558 deaths in the United States.

State

  • In an effort to build an army of 20,000 people to test, trace and isolate people who may have been infected by the coronavirus, the Newsom Administration is teaming up with UCLA and UC San Francisco to train employees to become “coronavirus detectives".
  • Today there are 58,303 confirmed cases and there have been 2,364 deaths in California.

Region

Racial Equity

  • Questions of race and to some degree, class have come to be a focus of attention during the pandemic and is shedding light on historic inequities of the United States. In COVID-19's Race and Class Warfare, the myriad ways people of color are being impacted by the pandemic is explored.

 ICYMI:

Monday, May 4

As California nears its seventh week of state-mandated stay-at-home orders, tallies of coronavirus cases continue to climb. Over the past week, the state averaged 1,603 new cases and 70.7 deaths per day.

Nation

State

Region

  • Homeless individuals unable to abide by stay-at-orders are at increased risk for coronavirus infection. Recently homeless activists have stepped up efforts in Los Angeles calling on leaders to use emergency powers to seize hotel and motel rooms to house at-risk unhoused populations.
  • In some parts of the state businesses have planned to, or already have opened, in defiance of coronavirus stay-at-home orders.

Racial Equity

  • Disasters and crisis tend to exacerbate inequality and COVID-19 is exhibiting this tendency.  What We Know About the COVID-19 Race Gap explores the lack of reliable COVID-19 racial data, how unequal the toll looks and why the work can’t stop focusing or inequity.

ICYMI:

Many are beginning to forecast how work and workplaces will change as a result of the pandemic. Some are forecasting a few hallmarks like the 40-hour work week and open floor plans in offices may become a thing of the past.

Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3

This was the first weekend that approximately a dozen states relaxed stay-at-home orders; however experts believe the coronavirus outbreak is far from quelled.

National

  • In 1994 Laurie Garrett wrote the bestselling book The Coming Plague which is about a pandemic very similar to this one. Read this interview exploring what can be expected in the next few years of the pandemic.
  • The Navajo nation continues to be ravaged by COVID-19. On Saturday 166 new coronavirus cases were reported, bringing the total cases to 2,307 and total deaths to 73. On Friday all roads into the town of Gallup New Mexico were closed for the weekend; Gallup has over 1,000 confirmed cases.
  • “Because the pandemic pauses the present, it forces us to live in the future”. Check out this article about how pandemic will change the retail sector and the economy.
  • Today there are 1,153,000 confirmed cases and there have been 67,172 deaths in the United States.

State

  • In California about 31 percent of the deaths from COVID-19 have been in nursing homes. The pandemic is shedding light on the problems in the industry: for-profit business models, overworked and underpaid employees and a mixed record of compliance with infection control requirements.
  • Anti-vaccination proponents have become a visible and growing presence at protests against government efforts to manage the coronavirus crisis. There is growing concern that this overlapping and vocal group of people could harm future acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccination.
  • Today there are 54,799 confirmed cases and there have been 2,213 deaths in California.

Region

Racial Equity

  • As many try to find ways to address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, some are also looking to interim steps that can be taken before any long-term structural changes can be made. This article examines some grass roots efforts to address testing currently underway, and describes interim technology-based steps that can be made to address equity in care.

ICYMI:

Friday, May 1

Today is International Workers Day, historically a day to honor workers with marches and celebrations. COVID-19 has impacted workers in profound ways and because of the pandemic, many activities related to May Day, are not possible this year.  However, you can still honor workers today by learning a bit more about today’s strike by essential retail workers; read Martin Luther King Jr. Predicted this Moment, an evocative opinion piece; mull over 10 Ways you Can Honor International Workers Day While Remaining Safe at Home, or listen to this impressive cover of Bulls on Parade.

Nation

State

Region

 Racial Equity

  • Many states in the country are beginning to open up citing economic reasons, even though many have increasing numbers of coronavirus cases, and insufficient testing options. Bioethicist Dr. Reuben C. Warren believes this is a false choice between health and economics, and for Black communities increases distrust. Questions of race, health, ethics and coronavirus are explored with him in this interview.

 ICYMI:

  • Stay at home orders have hit restaurants deeply and many restaurants, unable to operate with little to no profit, are opting to close their doors. Others are trying to creatively support frontline workers, seniors, schools and others in need. To understand more what restaurants are experiencing and doing, read this thoughtful reflection from Chef Hugh Acheson.

Thursday, April 30

At midnight tonight, federal social distancing guidelines will expire and tomorrow a number of states will begin to reopen, and lift stay at home orders.

Nation

  • Unemployment numbers continue to climb; last week, 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment in the United States. This brings the total number of people seeking unemployment to 30 million in the last 6 weeks.
  • Health care workers worldwide have been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic and many nurses have died from COVID-19.  Approximately 150,000 nurses in the United States are Filipino, and in some regions, they account for a much larger share of caregivers. This article explores the outsize impact on Filipino American health care workers.
  • Today there are 1,064,000 confirmed cases and there have been 62,545 deaths in the United States.

State

  • The Governor announced a four-stage plan to reopen the state and many are eager for restrictions to be lifted and the economy to begin moving. However, many are predicting it will be an arduous task, require changes and won’t be quick.
  • With 150,000 unhoused individuals, California has the highest number of homeless people in the country. Homeless Californians are at increased risk for contracting coronavirus. Cal Matters set out to learn more about these individuals and how they are trying to survive the coronavirus pandemic and produced a video, which can be found here.
  • Today there are 50,129 confirmed cases and there have been 2,029 deaths in California.

Region

 Racial Equity

ICYMI

  • Should you talk to your child about the pandemic?  A child education specialist explains why it’s important to have an honest conversation with your child here.
  • Travel is something that has been relatively easy for those with the benefit of resources and time. The coronavirus pandemic has shifted attitudes and elevated fears about travel; this article explores how travel might change as a result of the pandemic.

 

Wednesday, April 29

As the impact of the coronavirus on the economy continues to become evident, today it was reported that the U.S. gross domestic product fell at a 4.8 percent annual rate in the first quarter. This is the first decline since 2014 and the worse contraction since 2008.

Nation

State

 Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

  • As conversations continue evolve about re-opening and what “normal” might look like in the future, schools seem to be a focal point. This article lays out what schools might look like when they re-open; and this one describes what was observed in Denmark when elementary schools re-opened a little over a week ago.
  • Deep investments in the development of a vaccine for COVID-19 have been made with the hopes to address coronavirus infection and transmission quickly. Vaccines are complex and often misunderstood, but if you want to learn more and go a little deeper, check out this graphical guide on the race to develop a coronavirus vaccine.

Tuesday, April 28

Today confirmed cases in the United States exceeded 1 million, more than any other country in the world.

Nation

State

  • Governor Newsom released a new plan for a “phased-in” ending of the state shutdown; with a second phase that includes potentially opening some childcare centers and schools by mid-summer. The plan carries a number of caveats and regional variations for implementation.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the challenges the health care system is experiencing in caring for patients during this surge of cases. A new report released by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative is urging leaders to take steps to address the physician shortage in California before a second wave hits.
  • An estimated 1 million people in California lack access to clean drinking water, primarily in rural regions. COVID-19 has added another layer of struggle for these Californians.
  • Today there are 46,032 confirmed cases and there have been 1,862 deaths in California.

Region

Racial Equity

  • Pre-existing racial disparities has made COVID-19 particularly deadly for African Americans, illustrating that when it comes to this disease, race matters.
  • Yesterday the American Medical Association announced a new online resource hub aimed to shine a light on structural issues contributing to and exacerbating health inequities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

ICYMI:

  • For many, finding joy in small things has been key for managing time in isolation and for others a small chance to interact has brought about moments of happiness. This moving photo essay brings to life some of those instances from around the world.
  • Are you having trouble sleeping during the pandemic? Are your dreams incredibly vivid? The pandemic is reportedly causing sleep patterns to change and strange dreams to linger. Read about why this might be the case here.

Monday, April 27

Monday afternoon the White House released a blueprint for states on testing for COVID-19. The document lays out where the Administration see the boundaries between state and federal responsibilities. As social distancing guidelines from the federal government are set to expire on Thursday, the White House is reportedly reviewing expanded guidance on how to open up society.

Nation

  • As more is understood about COVID-19, clarity about things like disease progression, symptoms and related risks are being identified all the time. Today, the Centers for Disease Control added six new symptoms for the novel coronavirus.
  • Testing continues to be touted as key to making inroads with COVID-19. Antibody testing has generated excitement, but experts are now saying antibody testing are not reliable enough to guide policy on lockdowns and re-openings, but can help model the spread of the virus.
  • As the federal government readies the Paycheck Protection Program to reopen with new funds, troubling issues have emerged from the first round of relief for small business; including reports that  troubled companies got bail out money and tech starts-ups got money and used it not for day-to-day survival but, to “buy time”.
  • Today there are 983,000 confirmed cases and there have been 55,573 deaths in the United States.

State

  • With millions of Californians rendered jobless, turning to the state for unemployment assistance has proven frustrating for many, as understaffing and technology glitches hampers California’s efforts.
  • Over the weekend, the first heatwave of the year hit Southern California and thousands flocked to beaches, few masks were seen and little social distancing observed, raising concerns from experts.
  • Stay-at-home and public health orders have been a primary strategy to protect oneself and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, however for those that are homeless, this isn’t possible. Check out this newly released report from the California Budget and Policy Center showing that health risk is even more severe for homeless individuals who are older, and African American.
  • Today there are 44,949 confirmed cases and there have been 1,776 deaths in California.

Region

Racial Equity

ICYMI:

Saturday/Sunday, April 25-26

As the weekend warmed, in spite of warnings, beaches and recreational spaces in many places were swarmed. On Sunday Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator said Americans should expect social distancing to continue for months.

Nation

  • This weekend marked the first foray into “opening the economy” in some states and counties in the U.S and many are watching to see how this unfolds. This “memo”, based on conversations with experts worldwide, identifies seven lessons that should not be ignored as leaders begin to reopen economies.
  • The economic cost of coronavirus has been staggering and there is renewed interest in non-traditional financial interventions such Universal Basic Income. This article co-published by Newsweek and Capitol & Main explores whether or not the U.S. is ready for UBI.
  • Today there are 959,056 confirmed cases and there have been 54,363 deaths in the United States.

State

 Region

Racial Equity

  • The Navajo Nation has the third highest coronavirus infection rate in the country and an infection rate 10 times of neighboring Arizona. This compelling opinion piece explores the COVID-19 explosion in the context of the historic exploitation and federal mistreatment of the Navajo Nation.
  • Much has been written about the lack of consistent data about people of color during the COVID-19 crisis. A new issue is emerging-- Native Americans are not being accurately counted and are being mislabeled as “other”.

ICYMI:

  • The coronavirus has dramatically changed work in this country. Many have lost work, many are working in jobs that pose increased risks, and many are at home trying to manage new realities of working from home while caring for loved ones. How will the pandemic change the way work happens?  This article from the Harvard Business Review, explores this issue.
  • There have been many “how-to” articles and guides published during the pandemic—everything from how to unpack groceries to how to make an effective mask. Many questions have emerged about food and whether or not cooking it kills the coronavirus. This interview with an infectious disease specialist explores this topic.

Friday, April 24

Even as states and municipalities begin to open up businesses and services, the death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 50,000 today in the United States. In California, the vast majority believe the stay at home orders should be kept in place for as long as needed, according to a newly released poll from the California Healthcare Foundation.
National

 State

  • The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been felt at every level of government. California cities are anticipating a $7 billion collective revenue shortfall over the next two years, and are urging the Governor to establish a stabilization fund for cities.
  • In March, California’s unemployment rate jumped from a historically low 3.9% to 5.3%. Early data suggests industries hit are those that employ women, Latinos and young people. This report from the Public Policy Institute of California provides preliminary analysis on the economic impact of the pandemic in the state.
  • Today there are 39,620 confirmed cases and there have been 1,531 deaths in California.

Regional

Racial Equity

  • Stronger than This is a new podcast of candid conversations focused on COVID-19 from the Heinz Endowments. Two to check out: Redirecting Anger to Action with Monica Ruiz, Executive Director of Casa San Jose; and The Moral Lessons of COVID-19 with author and scholar Dr. Andre Perry from the Brookings Institute.

Finally

  • There is so much information, data and resources flowing on COVID-19 and there is much analysis and data to absorb. This fact sheet from Health Access California provides a relatively simple overview of federal and state responses to the COVID-19 crisis.

Thursday, April 23

The numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths from COVID-19 continue to climb. In California over the past week the state has averaged 1,509 new cases and  78.4 new deaths per day.

National

 State

Regional 

 Racial Equity

  • There is increased discussion about data and race and COVID-19 and in particular, the lack of reliable data. Check out this week’s Code Switch podcast The News Beyond the COVID Numbers focused on the importance of tracking the coronavirus’s impact on different racial groups and how to translate data into actual health improvements.
  • Data continues to point that communities of color are being hit hardest by COVID-19 across the country. Check out this analysis of data that are available, from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Finally

 

Wednesday, April 22

Since the virus first emerged and was documented in late December there have been 2.5 million cases of COVID-19 reported to the WHO and there have been 160,000 total deaths.

National

  • After presenting the idea in various forms over the course of a few days, late Wednesday afternoon President Trump issued an executive order limiting immigration. Many questions are emerging about what it means and who it impacts, this article provides some clarity.
  • Today there are 826,936 confirmed cases and there have been 42,103 deaths in the United States.

State

  • Although there have been signs that California is bending the curve, public health officials are now warning that a second wave of infections could be far worse than the current wave.
  • It has become increasingly clear that people who have the virus but don’t have symptoms can unknowingly transmit the coronavirus to others. This is particularly worrisome in settings that are now considered high-risk, such as nursing homes or prisons. In an effort to intervene, California has lifted some restrictions to allow testing for those who are asymptomatic.
  • Small businesses have been devastated by the economic fallout related to coronavirus. There are reports that California’s small businesses received the fewest number of federal relief loans in the nation. A new survey from the Small Business Majority reveals the many challenges small businesses are facing in California. The survey results can be found here.
  • Today there are 37,343 confirmed cases and there have been 1,419 deaths in California.

Regional

Racial Equity

Finally

Tuesday, April 21

Testing for coronavirus is getting a lot of attention in the last few days; in part because availability of testing might help to lead to relaxing stay-at-home orders.  Today the FDA granted emergency approval for an in-home test for the coronavirus that will be available to consumers, under a doctor’s order. Priority will be given to health care workers and first responders who may have been exposed.

National

  • Amazon has become an essential lifeline for many during the pandemic, however this has also brought to light some of the negative impacts of its business model. This has brought   invigorated organizing efforts to push the company to change the way it does business.
  • Nationwide nursing homes have been the of site of countless outbreaks and deaths. Nursing homes care for 1.5 million seniors nationwide, and often run on very thin profit margins. To respond to the crisis, nursing homes have had to spend considerably more for care which some believe may wipe out the industry.
  • Today there are 799,717 confirmed cases and there have been 39,995 deaths in the United States.

State

  • In an effort to engage residents who might have interest in, and be able to offer help, Governor Newsom announced the launch of CaliforniansForAll.ca.gov . A volunteer corps to match Californians with safe volunteer opportunities.
  • The California Employment Development Department began increasing call center hours this week to process and manage requests for assistance in response to more than 2.7 million new jobless claims filed in the last month. Even though EDD has shifted over 1,300 workers to manage increased work, the call center is still struggling to meet the demand.
  • Today there are 35,634 confirmed cases and there have been 1,298 deaths in California.

 Regional

  • Rural regions experience challenges with resources and access to services. The coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the daily struggles of the poor, mostly Latino and immigrant working class communities of the eastern Coachella Valley.
  • There are approximately 1,300 community clinics and health centers across California serving 7 million patients. In the Bay Area where lock-downs were first implemented, clinics have been hit hard and because they are unable to see patients, are struggling to stay afloat.

 Racial Equity

  • An emerging issue in different parts of the state is the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Latinos. In San Francisco newly released data is suggesting Latinos account for 25% of coronavirus cases, despite representing 15% of the total population.
  • Los Angeles County officials recently began releasing data on race and COVID-19. Data are showing that African Americans make up 17% of the deaths in the county despite representing 9% of the population. Today in an act of solidarity more than 50 leaders announced a set of demands to public officials to meet the needs of Blacks in Los Angeles.

Finally

  • With all the talk of testing for coronavirus it’s helpful to understand the different two different types of tests available in the United States. Read this article to understand what the two types are, what they test for and how they might be used by clinicians and public health systems.
  • Masks have become part of everyday life for nearly everyone, but for some populations it creates bigger challenges or fears. For those who are deaf and hard of hearing masks can create confusion and limit access to vital information because it prevents lip reading. For children masks can create fear by making people unrecognizable.

Monday, April 20

Although there are promising signs that cases are beginning to level off, the coronavirus threat continues to grow in some regions and states. Clusters in workplaces are on the rise and nursing homes and prisons continue to be hotspots nationwide. A prison in Ohio has now become the largest source of virus infections in the United States; 73% of the inmates tested positive.

National 

  • The conversation continues about when stay-at-home orders will be lifted, and some states are making plans to open up as soon as the end of this week even though many health experts believe the country is nowhere near ready. This article describes five things to know about the COVID-19 peak and under what conditions people might be able to go back to school and work safely.
  • During the pandemic charitable giving has gone up to respond to the coronavirus crisis. This article provides some insight about the shifts occurring in philanthropy in response to this pandemic.
  • Today there are 772,524 confirmed cases and there have been 37,321 deaths in the United States.

 State

 Regional

  • San Francisco was one of the first cities to implement stay-at-home orders and has kept coronavirus infections relatively low. However, outbreaks among homeless populations have caused concerns and now questions have emerged about how the city and county is addressing homelessness.
  • Many community health centers in California have had to adjust services during this time and make serious shifts in how care is provided. This article tells the story of one clinic in San Diego.
  • Essential workers statewide are bearing greater risks than the general population. This story focuses on those living and working on the front lines in the Bay Area.

Racial Equity

  • Troubling data continues to emerge about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 among African Americans. Missouri, has reported that, all the deaths from COVID-19 in St. Louis have been of African American.
  • To understand the scope and scale of COVID-19 accurate data on testing and mortality are needed. In this insightful post, Dr. Nancy Krieger pushes for addressing COVID-19 with a health justice lens and a commitment to publicly report data on how it is affecting different populations and social groups.
  • One in three jobs held by women has been deemed “essential” and women of color are more likely to be in an essential job than anyone else. These jobs are ordinarily undervalued and underpaid, this article explores this contradiction and what it means moving forward.
  • Check out COVID-19 Comes for Communities of Color in today’s Coronavirus in California: Stories from the Front Lines podcast.

 Finally

  • Disease forecasting models are one method used to predict infection rates and guide strategy and decision around COVID-19. However, these models are dependent on reliable data and which are often not reliable. This article gives you five things to know to make sense of infectious disease models.

Saturday-Sunday, April 18-19

Cases and deaths continue to climb worldwide with over 2 million cases and over 160,000 deaths. In California the number of cases continues to climb with the state averaging 1,200 new cases and about 73 deaths per day. There are now cases in 53 of California’s 58 counties.

National

  • As more and more conversations emerge about when the country will “open up” the question of testing availability inevitably emerges. Researchers at Harvard warn that testing must ramp up to at least 500,000 per day for the economy to open back up and stay that way.
  • The meat and poultry processing industries have been hit by a number of outbreaks nationwide. Last week the Smithfield pork plant in South Dakota became the latest hotspot and was shut down after 644 confirmed cases were connected to the plant.  The outbreak is now considered the biggest in the country.
  • For weeks many have been touting antibody testing as the way forward, however many questions remain about the utility of antibody testing; new questions have emerged, raising alarms.
  • Today there are 749,203 confirmed cases and there have been 35,793 deaths in the United States.

 State

 Regional

  • Many cities and counties are facing significant deficits resulting from the coronavirus pandemic that will likely result in cuts in services, furloughs and staff reductions. This article looks at California’s 10 biggest cities to see how they’re responding to the fallout.  Check out this
  • During this crisis, non-profit organizations are stepping up and responding to the great need. In Los Angeles, gang intervention workers are working daily to meet needs, inform and keep residents safe.

 Racial Equity

 Finally

  • About a month ago a writer from The New Yorker had a conversation with a professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health about how epidemiologists understood the novel coronavirus. Earlier this week the writer called the professor back to ask what has evolved and been learned in the last month. Read what was learned this time, here.
  • There are so many questions about transmission of coronavirus—is it on my clothes? My shoes? My hair? The NY Times asked experts about all the places the virus lurks and this is what was learned.

Friday, April 17

The novel coronavirus has now infected more than 2.1 million and killed more than 140,000 people worldwide.

 National 

  • Since the outset of the coronavirus pandemic senior citizens have been identified as a population at risk; and the first confirmed outbreak was at a nursing home in Washington. What has emerged in the six weeks since then, are multiple outbreaks in similar facilities nationwide, and little to no support or protective equipment for staff at these facilities. Data now suggests that about one fifth of all the deaths in the U.S. are linked to nursing home facilities.
  • Today there are 694,520 confirmed cases and there have been 32,365 deaths in the United States.

State

  • Even as the spread of coronavirus appears to be slowing in California, the death toll has surpassed 1,000 in California. Los Angeles County now accounts for an outsize number of deaths in the state in the state.
  • The Governor’s revision of the budget is set to be released in May and the Legislative Analyst has issued a warning to the legislature to prepare for a “fairly substantial downward revision”.
  • To begin to address what he termed as the “pandemic-induced” recession, Governor Newsom announced the formation of the Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery to help guide California’s economic recovery.
  • Hundreds of lives, throughout the state, have been lost in California,  with larger metropolitan areas hit hardest. Here are some of the stories of the lives lost in California.
  • Today there are 9,175 confirmed cases and there have been 1,041 deaths in the California.

 Regional

 Racial Equity

  • The last few weeks there have been numerous accounts about Black communities in the U.S. experiencing highest fatality rates from COVID-19. This Brookings Institute article maps racial risk factors to show where risk might be highest in the United States.

 Finally

  • With masks becoming more and more a part of everyday life for the foreseeable future, figuring out which mask is the best for regular use is important. Here’s a handy guide about different kinds of masks, what to consider and what’s needed if you are going to make a mask.

Thursday, April 16

The economic toll of the coronavirus continues to be felt worldwide. Today’s economic news is sobering and many are now realizing that prior to the pandemic, even when the economy was “good,” many Americans were living close to the edge.

National 

  • Unemployment numbers continue to be grim on the national level. In the last week 5.2 million people applied for unemployment benefits. This brings the total who have sought unemployment benefits since March to 22 million, a record loss of jobs.
  • New studies are indicating that obesity appears to make coronavirus more dangerous and perhaps deadly, in the United States. Released this this week, two studies point to obesity as a previously unrecognized risk factor for COVID-19. This new development could help doctors predict which COVID-19 patients who are not senior citizens, might run a higher risk of critical illness and hospitalization.
  • Today there are 663,260 confirmed cases and there have been 30,296 deaths in the United States.

State

  • This afternoon Governor Newsom announced an executive order granting two weeks of supplemental paid sick leave to food workers in California who have been infected with COVID-19, exposed to the novel coronavirus or who are ordered to quarantine or isolate. The order includes, farmworkers, grocery and fast food and delivery service workers.
  • Today there are 27,634 confirmed cases and there have been 951 deaths in California.

 Regional

 Racial Equity

 Finally

  • With the pandemic forcing so many small businesses to close and people to lose work, many want to find ways to help ease the pain for those struggling financially. This article provides a useful overview of the various ways to help during this time.

Wednesday, April 15

The coronavirus pandemic has had an enormous impact on workers nationwide, and California is no different. Today Governor Newsom announced efforts to provide help to the unemployed, independent contractors and immigrants affected by the pandemic.

 National

  • Health care workers on the front lines are dying in record numbers, in some states accounting for 20% of coronavirus cases. This series, a collaboration between The Guardian and Kaiser Health News, documents the lives of healthcare workers who die from COVID-19 and examines why so many are dying during this crisis.
  • Today there are 632,656 confirmed cases and there have been 28,160 deaths in the United States.

State

  • Immigrant workers, regardless of status contribute immensely to California’s economy. In an unprecedented move today, California became the first state to provide financial assistance for undocumented immigrant workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. A portion of these resources are coming from philanthropic entities.
  • The Governor yesterday announced one of the milestones needed to  open up the state was access to testing. Many believe this will be difficult to achieve in California, which was very slow to offer testing; even in parts of the state where the numbers of COVID-19 tests were increasing.
  • One in six Californians rely on community health centers for their care. Read this NY Times article exploring why during this crisis, community clinics are struggling to stay afloat and survive.
  • Today there are 26,868 confirmed cases and there have been 864 deaths in California.

Regional

Racial Equity

  • Many are trying to make sense of how to move forward given the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. In Coronavirus and Human Value Angela Glover Blackwell and Michael McAfee offer a framework to view the pandemic; and argue that an inclusive recovery will require a radical re-imagination of broken systems.
  • Because the data on race and COVID-19 is hard to track and quantify consistently and because what is emerging are differences based on race, the COVID Tracking Project has partnered with American University’s Antiracist Research & Policy Center to launch the COVID Racial Data Tracker. More information can be found here.

 Finally

  • Figuring out who is immune to viruses is a complex science and COVID-19 is a  “new” coronavirus and is not yet well-understood. Read this illuminating Op-Ed from an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist exploring decisions that have to be made based on “glimmers of data.”

 

Tuesday, April 14

Although tallies continue to climb in California, the numbers are far below the epicenter, New York, where there are nearly 200,000 cases and there have been nearly 10,000 deaths.

National

 State

 Regional

 

Racial Equity

  • Black doctors are speaking up about the disparities and racism present in the health care systems. Read this blog about what the pandemic means for Black Americans, from one doctor currently working at an urgent care center in Brooklyn.

Finally

  • The pandemic has exacerbated already existing challenges health care providers face on a daily basis and has taxed many front-line health care providers.  This essay explores why the needs of this essential workforce should not be ignored.
  • Are you wondering how to say thank you to the essential workers you come in contact with? Check out this useful article that provides guidance on how to show your appreciation.

Monday, April 13

Over half a million people in the United States have confirmed cases of coronavirus and on Saturday the death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 20,000, which is now the highest in the world.

National

  • With shortages in needed equipment, doctors, researchers and entrepreneurs are stepping in to confront these shortages, which some are calling “Apollo 13” efforts; a reference to NASA’s rescue of a damaged spacecraft heading to the moon in 1970.
  • Today there are 576,774 confirmed cases and there have been 23.369 deaths in the United States.

State

  • The impact of COVID-19 in prisons and jails continues to grow in California. Though the numbers do not compare other parts of the country, there are 99 adult jails and prisons in the state, housing about 150,000 inmates. Conditions in those facilities are putting tens of thousands are at risk.
  • On Monday, Governor Newsom announced a “regional pact to recovery” for California, Oregon and Washington, the effort will work together to lift restrictions and open up the economy on the West Coast. This comes at the same time as six states on the East Coast have come to a similar agreement.
  • Despite the current risks health care providers are facing, 86,000 people signed up for the California Medical Corps as of last week. While there excitement about this new program, there are also concerns about the potential risks, particularly for retired clinicians who have registered.
  • Today there are 24,139 confirmed cases and there have been 727 deaths in California.

 Regional

Racial Equity

  • As the pandemic continues to impact more and more people the racial disparities are stark and clear. Read How to Save How to Save Black and Hispanic Lives in a Pandemic, from the editorial board of the New York Times.
  • Many recent conversations about the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color seem to focused on risk factors such as pre-existing conditions, lack of appropriate information and being more likely to work in jobs deemed essential. Read this Op-Ed which looks at the inherent risk of being a person of color in this country.

Finally

  • Check out the moving video, The Fight for New Yorkfrom the Associated Press which follows a group of residents over 24 hours as they live, work and survive, in a city under siege by a pandemic.
  • Given the complexity of COVID-19 it is hard to imagine how we exit from the shutdown. One answer is hiring an army of public health workers, check out what it might take, here.

Friday, April 10

As world leaders urge social distancing over the upcoming holidays, confirmed cases worldwide reached 1.5 million and the death toll topped 100,000. Economists warn that the U.S. economy is unlikely to recover as rapidly as it has collapsed.

 National

State

 Regional

Racial Equity

 Finally

  • Check out this fact sheet from the California Budget and Policy Center about how much Cal Fresh is needed in every part of the state, and even more so during this crisis.
  • With over 10 million residents LA County is the largest and has the most confirmed coronavirus cases. Earlier this week California Healthline talked with Barbara Ferrer the head of LA County’s Department of Public Health. Read the interview here.
  • There are a number of cities and counties that now recommend cloth face masks when in public. Beginning today, the City of Los Angeles mask order goes into effect, here are the five things you need to know.

Thursday, April 9

The coronavirus pandemic continues to grow nationwide with outbreaks raging in Detroit and New Orleans and cases rising in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. On Thursday the death toll surpassed 15,000 in the United States.

National

State

  • The coronavirus crisis is having a devastating impact on the California workforce.  According to a report issued on Thursday, more than 2 million California residents have filed for unemployment in recent weeks suggesting one out of every nine workers in the state have recently lost their jobs.
  • Today there are 19,691 confirmed cases and there have been 538 deaths in California.

 Regional

Racial Equity

Finally:

  • Check out Coronavirus in California: Stories from the Frontline a new podcast from the L.A. Times, hosted by reporter Gustavo Arellano.
  • Recently two dozen high school students gathered virtually with an LA Times reporter to talk about coronavirus, their education and their futures. Read the questions that were received and the answers here.

 

Wednesday, April 8

The fight against coronavirus continues. The last few days have been dramatic with the death toll in the U.S. growing by well over a thousand per day. Scientists are now saying the drastic shifts in behavior are having an impact worldwide and ‘glimmers of hope’ can be seen, but caution against drawing sweeping conclusions, at this time.

National

State

  • In light of gathering evidence about the impact of COVID-19 on Black communities, today Governor Newsom announced the California Department of Public Health began gathering data to analyze COVID-19 data on the basis of race.
  • Many are asking when stay at home orders will be lifted in California and many believe the state  will not be lifting stay at home orders anytime soon.
  • Today there are 18,830 confirmed cases and there have been 498 deaths in California.

Regional

Racial Equity

 Finally

  • The COVID-19 Relief package is huge and overwhelming to understand for all of us. UNIDOS US put together a series of videos explaining COVID-19 relief for Spanish speaking Latino families. Check it out here.
  • In response to the toll coronavirus is taking on the country, Spain will be the first country in Europe to implement Universal Basic Income.

Tuesday, April 7

In a move designed to protect the health of workers in Los Angeles, late Tuesday afternoon Mayor Eric Garcetti announced an order requiring all residents wear face masks when visiting essential businesses. The order takes the additional step of requiring businesses to provide face masks (or reimburse the cost) and allow for hand washing breaks every 30 minutes.

National

  • Earlier today New York Gov. Cuomo said that 731 people had died of the virus since Monday, the highest one-day total to date. The death toll in New York today stands at 5,489.
  • Seniors are one of the groups most at-risk for coronavirus and are being urged to stay indoors. Nationwide, Meals on Wheels provides food to hungry and isolated seniors using volunteers, many who are seniors, as well. Read this article to learn about how this organization is struggling and quickly adapting to this new reality.
  • Today there are 395,090 confirmed cases and there have been 12,786 deaths in the United States.

 State

Regional

 Racial equity

Finally

Monday, April 6

There is so much that is unknown about COVID-19 and every day new information emerges about the ways in which the pandemic is affecting communities throughout the country.  Over the last few days numerous articles have emerged about the disproportionate impact the pandemic is having on people of color across the country. To help make sense of this emerging issue we have added an additional section focused on racial equity to today’s update.

 National

 State

Regional

 Racial Equity

Finally

  • Questions about the value of social distancing remain for many. During the flu pandemic of 1918 some cities that went “all in” on social distancing and fared better. Read about it here.
  • What will it take for the U.S. to return to some form of “normal”? To find out what a group of economists think, read this article.
  • This news analysis looks back at how previous crises have allowed for change to happen and explores how the coronavirus pandemic will change America.

Saturday-Sunday, April 4-5

With roughly 90 percent of the country implementing stay-at-home orders, on Sunday the U.S. Surgeon General and Dr. Anthony Fauci warned this would be a hard week. Surgeon General Adams stated this could be the “hardest and saddest week of most Americans’ lives” comparing it to 9/11 and the attack on Pearl Harbor.

National

  • The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is overwhelming funeral homes, particularly in places like New York where the death toll has surpassed 4,000.
  • Much is still unknown about COVID-19 however it has become clear that underlying health conditions, increase risk. Native Americans suffer disproportionately from hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and heart and cardiovascular disease and many are seriously concerned about the impact on this population.
  • Today there are 332,308 confirmed cases and there have been 9,498 deaths in the United States.

 State 

  • California acted quickly to try and reduce the impact of the coronavirus crisis--this timeline is a great resource to see the steps that have been taken to address this pandemic.
  • Nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the state are continuing to see a surge in coronavirus cases. In Los Angeles County alone, the department of public health is currently investing 321 cases of coronavirus among staff, residents, and guests at 67 institutions.
  • As California enters a third week of stay-at-home orders, school-aged children have entered a new world of distance learning with varying levels of access.  With nearly 13% of California’s 6.2 million students receive special education services, schools are still determining how and whether they will be able to continue services for students with special needs.
  • Today there are 14,812 confirmed cases and there have been 344 deaths in California.

 Regionally 

Finally:

  • The impact on workers of all types has been immense, hear from workers, in their own words, how their lives have changed in the very moving We are the Silent First Responders.
  • More than 64 million Americans live in multi-generational homes. Read herehow some families are managing ‘social distancing’ under one roof.
  • Small businesses have been hit hard by this crisis, particularly those in communities of color. Read hereabout how coronavirus threatens the progress that has been made in South Los Angeles.

 

Friday, April 3

This has been a week where the numbers of the unemployed grew to staggering levels as well as the number of cases worldwide. Today coronavirus claimed 1,000 lives in one single day in the United States.

In the last few days there has been a change in guidance around wearing of masks in public. On Thursday Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti recommended wearing masks and Governor Newsom indicated it was a good idea but did not mandate it. At the end of the day today the CDC issued new guidance advising Americans to wear masks made of cloth or fabric. The California Department of Health has offered this guidance, stressing however that it does not substitute for the existing guidance around hand washing and social distancing.

National

State

  • Yesterday, Governor Newsom made a promise to help small business through a reprieve in paying sales taxes, extending the sales tax deadline, and a $50 million investment in the state’s infrastructure bank for micro-lending for those not eligible for the federal SBA program.
  • Governor Newsom also announced the launch of OnwardCA.org a new collaboration between Bitwise Industries, the Kapor Center and the state, to connect displaced workers in California with job opportunities in industries deemed critical.
  • Senate leadership announced today that California legislature will not return to reconvene on April 13, it is unclear when the Legislature would resume. It is believed to be the first time this has happened in 158 years.
  • There continue to be serious concerns about the risks of coronavirus to homeless populations. Advocates complain that movement is ‘too slow’ and relatively few homeless have been moved indoors.
  • Today there are 12,573 confirmed cases and there have been 285 deaths in California.

Regional

Finally:

  • Read this eye-opening Op-Ed about the potentially devastating impact of COVID-19 on African American communities.
  • How does coronavirus travel through air? Read about how scientists are trying to figure this out, here.

Thursday, April 2

Coronavirus cases topped 1 million worldwide today but the numbers of deaths and infection are widely believed to be higher for a number of reasons including differing ways in which numbers are counted, unreported cases, and testing shortages.

National

 State

 Regionally

Finally

  • Check out this essay from Zocalo Public Square, about how epidemics have shaped life as we know it.
  • Now that the guidance is changing, you can look here to find different ways to make a mask to use (including one that requires no sewing!).

Wednesday, April 1

As the coronavirus crisis spreads and projections of fatalities grow, some economists are predicting the economic downturn will likely be deeper and longer than expected, and exceed the Great Recession of 2008-09.

National

State

Regional

 Finally:

  • This week Bay Area counties extended stay-at-home orders and added clarification and restrictions.  Here is a handy Q & A to help you understand the changes.
  • The coronavirus pandemic is challenging non-profits, this article explores what many nonprofits are facing in the wake of COVID-19.
  • The team at Cal Matters asked therapists for tips to managing mental health during this time of uncertainty, read what they recommended, here.

 

Monday, March 30

The numbers of cases and deaths continue to climb nationwide and stay at home precautions and federal guidelines are extended. In California over a three day period, from Friday to Monday the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 doubled.

National

State

  • Today the Governor announced a new initiative the California Health Corps to rapidly grow the health care workforce to respond to COVID-19. The state is calling on health care providers with an active license, public health professionals, medical retirees, medical and nursing students, or members of medical disaster response teams in California are all encouraged to join.
  • The Governor also signed an executive order that will temporarily expand the health care workforce and allow health care facilities to staff at least an additional 50,000 hospital beds the state needs to treat COVID-19 patients. The Governor’s executive order can be found here.
  • Today there are 7,413 confirmed cases and there have been 146 deaths in California.   

Regional

Finally

  • Economics, Health and COVID-19, check out this very useful new resource from the California Budget and Policy Center.
  • Little Free Libraries, those little boxes in neighborhoods where people swap books have quickly been re-purposed and become Little Free Food Pantries; read here about how public library staff and community volunteers in the City of Glendale are working to support those in need during the coronavirus crisis.

Sat.-Sun., March 28-29

Today confirmed cases of coronavirus continue to increase in every state in the country with more than 2,000 deaths. On Sunday, while speaking on CNN Dr. Anthony Fauci the top infectious disease expert in the country said the U.S. could expect millions of cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, and a possible death toll between 100,000 and 200,000.

Nationally

State

Regionally

Finally

Friday, March 27

This week, the coronavirus crisis continued as more and more cities and counties across the country are facing increasing numbers of cases and taking measures to both try to prevent the spread of the virus and treat those that are falling ill from COVID-19.

Nationally 

  • Following this morning’s vote in the House, President Trump signed into legislation a $2 trillion stimulus bill, the largest emergency aid package in U.S. history.
  • After announcing he was invoking the Defense Protection Act and ordering General Motors to produce ventilators needed to address the crisis, President Trump then announced the federal government would be purchasing thousands of ventilators from a variety of sources.
  • Today there are 101,657 confirmed cases and there have been 1,581 deaths in the United States.

State

Regionally

Finally:

  • Today’s episode of The Daily a NY Times podcast is for the kids. Science writer Carl Zimmer answers questions about coronavirus submitted by children.
  • What’s the difference between an outbreak, an epidemic and a pandemic? Find out here.

Thursday, March 27

Today the United Sates became the country with the most known coronavirus cases in the world surpassing both Italy and China. Worldwide there are 529, 591 confirmed cases and there have been 23,970 deaths.

Nationally

 

State

 

Regional

 

Finally:

  • Nearly 50,000 people tuned in to an Instagram conversation between Dr. Anthony Fauci and Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry. Topics included the importance of social distancing, the development of tests and a vaccine and how prevent future pandemics. A video of the conversation can be found here.
  • Check out this analysis published by USC’s Program for Environmental and Regional Equity that explores the impact that this crisis is having on certain vulnerable populations in Los Angeles including, the elderly, the undocumented, renters and children on the other side of the digital divide.
  • This very practical article can help as you head to the grocery store during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Wednesday, March 25

New York continues to grow as the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, however California cases are growing at a rate on par with New York. California’s Secretary for Health and Human Services, Mark Ghaly stated earlier today that if cases continue at this rate hospitals could see a surge in patients in one to two weeks.

Nationally

State

Regionally

Finally

  • Denmark is taking a different approach to address the impact of the coronavirus crisis by “freezing” its economy. This article explores what that means for that country.
  • This article provides an overview of Universal Basic Income and describes how and why it might help during this pandemic.

Tuesday, March 25

Nationally

  • New York is now considered the “hot zone “of the coronavirus with numbers now appearing to double every three days. It is now estimated that 60 percent of all new cases originated in the New York City region.
  • In a complete turnaround from yesterday, stocks jump as a stimulus bill was on the horizon.
  • Today there are 53,740 cases and there have been 706 deaths in the United States.

State 

Regionally

Finally:

  • Check out this short film which explores how inventors and innovators are working to create equipment that medical professionals are in need of during this crisis.
  • This article describes the tough choices workers are making between their health and a paycheck.

 

Monday, March 23

With increased testing capacity in numerous places in the country the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continue to rise. In California there ae now cases in 42 of the state’s 58 counties. Currently, the five counties with the highest number of confirmed cases are: Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Diego, San Mateo and San Francisco.

Nationally

  • It is estimated that 1 in 4 residents in the United States are currently living under some type of shelter in place order.
  • Despite efforts from the federal reserve to shore up business and keep financial markets moving the stock market closed the day in the red.  Businesses are struggling --General Electric announced it would cut 10 percent of workers in the aviation unit and Nordstrom announced its cash has diminished and the company had to draw down $800 million in credit.
  • Today there are 43,847 confirmed cases and 557 deaths in the United States.

State

Regionally

Finally:

  • The numbers of positive coronavirus cases among young adults are increasing. This is an eye-opening op-ed from a young woman who was hospitalized with COVID-19.
  • Due to mandatory closures in California the food and beverage industry has taken a huge hit. California’s restaurant industry is the largest of any in the country with over $70 billion in revenue. This article lays out the challenges workers and businesses are facing during this crisis.
  • Even Snoop Dogg has joined the Governor to encourage Californians to stay home to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Saturday-Sunday, March 21-22

This weekend we all continued to witness the exponential growth of the coronavirus pandemic.  Nationally, leaders continued to plead with people to stay home and two more states issued stay-at-home orders.

Nationally

  • New York continues to be a focal point for the pandemic in the United States and currently accounts for nearly 5% of the world’s cases.
  • Louisiana and Ohio joined six other states and numerous cities and counties nationwide that have issued some type of stay-at-home or shelter-in-place order.
  • Today there are 26,747 cases and there have been 340 deaths in the United States.

California

  • In California, residents flocked to beaches and hiking trails, the state’s Public Health Officer and the Director of the Department of Public Health updated its Stay Home Except for Essential Needs page to reinforce social distancing guidelines and clarify what is included in the executive order.
  • This weekend, the state put in motion efforts to strengthen the health care system and increase capacity to meet the growing demand for services. This included: directing more than $42 million in emergency funding to expand the health care infrastructure and secure equipment and services to respond to COVID-19; an executive order to expand health care capacity in clinics, mobile care units and adult day health facilities. The order can be found here.
  • Today there are 1,605 cases and there have been 30 deaths in California.

Regionally

  • This weekend, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced two more deaths on Saturday and one on Sunday, as well as 71 more cases, bringing the total number of cases in Los Angeles to 409 cases and deaths to 5.
  • There are growing concerns about the speed with which this pandemic is turning into a job crisis particularly for those in the service sector and the arts. In the Bay Area where the first shelter in place orders were enacted, many are struggling and quickly trying to adapt to this new reality.

Finally:

  • Here is a really good reflection about how historic “social distancing” in the form of segregation, discrimination and devaluation make low-income people of color more vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic.
  • Here are a number of articles, resources and ideas for parents managing at home with children during the pandemic (in English and Spanish).

 

Friday, March 20

The coronavirus pandemic continues to grow throughout the country. Leaders nationwide are instituting policies to help prevent the spread of the disease. As testing becomes more widely available, there is growing concern about health care system's ability to manage the growing number of cases.

Nationally

  • Earlier today both New York and Illinois issued orders for residents to stay at home. The Governor of Connecticut also issued a similar order and the Governor of New Jersey has reported that he will issue a similar order in the coming days. On Friday New York reported it was nearing 8,000 positive tests, approximately half of the total cases in the United States
  • The Treasury Secretary announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic the tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15.
  • Today there are 18,563 cases and there have been 227 deaths in the United States.

California

  • Many on Friday woke up to the news of the Governor’s stay-at-home order.  Questions remain for many Californians as they began to make sense of the new rules.  
  • The Governor announced the launch of the Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign which will use the National Guard in the short-term, to help distribute food through food banks and protect the most vulnerable and isolated in the state.
  • Today there are 1,241 cases and there have been 24 deaths in California. 

Regionally

  • The numbers of people testing positive for coronavirus are increasing in every region of the state. On Friday Los Angeles reported 61 new cases bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 294.  In Silicon Valley 8 people have died with Santa Clara County reporting 196 cases. San Mateo County now has 100 confirmed cases and Contra Costa County reported its first death. San Diego announced a third cluster of patients with COVID-19; confirmed cases jumped from 80 to 105.  
  • Today, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced that two state prison employees have tested positive for coronavirus; however, no inmate cases have been confirmed. One of the employees was at San Quentin and the other at California State Prison in Sacramento. There is serious concern about conditions in jails and prisons, and the ability to contain transmission due to overcrowding and the inability to engage in proper forms of social distancing.

Finally:

  • I found this article to be useful in understanding how the current pandemic will have devastating impacts on low-income workers, just as workers have achieved numerous gains in recent years.
  • The Public Policy Institute of California published a report today forecasting how coronavirus will affect California’s economy and what industries and regions are most at risk.
  • All Birds, the San Francisco-based sustainable shoe company announced on Friday they are offering free shoes to anyone working in healthcare on the front lines fighting COVID-19.

 

Thursday, March 19

Another extraordinary day today in the United States.  The number of coronavirus cases continues to climb nationally, in California and in all regions of the state. This evening  Governor Newsom issued a mandatory order that all Californians stay home. The order allows residents to continue to visit gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores, food banks, convenience stores, take-out and delivery restaurants, banks and laundromats. People will also be allowed to leave their homes to care for a relative or friend or seek health care services. These are the first mandatory restrictions placed on all 40 million Californians. There is no timeframe for when the order would lifted. The executive order can be found here.

Nationally

California

Regionally

Finally:

  • To share the number of coronavirus cases, I have been using numbers from the California Department of Public Health, local public health departments  and credible media and coronavirus tracking systems. However, because testing is happening all the time, depending on when the numbers are collected and I send this out there will be slight differences in confirmed cases.
  • Here is a good article on which workers are most vulnerable to the economic costs of coronavirus.
  • I found this article to be an easy to understand informative overview on social distancing and why it’s effective and necessary.

Wednesday, March 18

The coronavirus crisis continues to grow in nearly every region in the country. Currently, New York with 2,495 confirmed cases, has the highest number, followed by the state of Washington with 1,076 confirmed cases, and California with 869 cases. In California there are reported cases in 34 of the state’s 58 counties. Numbers have increased largely due to the wider availability of testing; however a growing share are being attributed to community spread.

Nationally

  • On Wednesday evening Trump signed into law the latest coronavirus aid package. This is the second package within the last few weeks. This legislation passed will provide paid sick and family leave for some workers impacted by the disease, expands unemployment assistance and increases resources for testing. It also suspends evictions in federal public housing and foreclosures until the end of April. The Senate also approved another round emergency funding earlier in the day. There will likely be a third larger relief measure that could total $1 trillion.
  • Stock market continued to be extremely volatile. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted more than 1,334 points at the end of the day following President Trump announced emergency steps to be taken to address the coronavirus crisis. The NY Stock Exchange also announced it would temporarily shift to all-electronic trading beginning on Monday March 23, 2020.
  • Today there are 7,769 confirmed cases and there have been 118 deaths in the United States.

California

It has been a busy few days for Governor Newsom with major announcements protecting renters and homeowners, emergency funding to address homeless populations in California, safety net services, and education.

  • Renters and Homeowners. Governor Newsom issued an executive order authorizing local government to halt evictions, slow foreclosures and protect  against utility shut offs responding to concerns many are already experiencing with wage loss and layoffs that will make it hard to pay rent, mortgage and utility bills.
  • Homelessness. Late Wednesday, the Governor also announced $150 million in emergency funding to quickly move homeless people indoors , to protect this vulnerable population and the larger medical system that will need to respond and is at risk of being overwhelmed as crisis grows in California. Of the total, $100 million will go directly to local jurisdictions to boost shelter capacity and increase emergency housing.
  • K-12 education. An executive order was signed to suspend standardized testing for students for the more than 6 million K-12 students in the state.
  • Safety Net Services. The Governor also issued an executive order today to extend the eligibility period for important safety net services. The order waives eligibility re-determinations for 90 days for Californians participating in the following programs:
  • Medi-Cal health coverage
  • CalFresh food assistance
  • CalWORKS
  • Cash Assistance for Immigrants
  • In-Home Supportive Services
  • There are 869 cases, 17 deaths, 11,900 people who are self-monitoring in California.

Regional

Different parts of the state are seeing an increase in numbers of confirmed cases.

  • On Wednesday Orange County reported 42 cases, up from 29 on Tuesday.
  • The numbers in Los Angeles continue to grow, on Wednesday there were 46 new confirmed cases, bringing the total of confirmed cases in Los Angeles to 190.
  • Late Wednesday Mayor Garcetti announced the city would convert 42 recreation centers into temporary shelters for homeless residents to try and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Finally:

  • New CDC data on coronavirus is showing that there is a risk of coronavirus to adults of all ages. Nearly 40% of those sick enough to be hospitalized were between the ages of 20-54, however the risk of dying was significantly higher for older people.
  • If you like to geek out on economics and health here is a short and very understandable article about the economic rationale for a strong response to  COVID-19.

Tuesday, March 17

Things continue to evolve in the state and nation. As of today, Tuesday, every state in the nation has reported a case of coronavirus and deaths have surpassed 100. California cities and counties have passed some of the most serious public health measures in the country with an estimated 8 million Californians living under shelter in place orders.

Nationally

  • The White House is pushing an economic stimulus package that will include checks to all Americans. Details on the proposed package can be found here.
  • The federal government also announced that an extra 90 days will be given to pay your taxes.  Filing day remains the same but if taxes are owed, payment will not be required until the new deadline.  Details can be found here.
  • Today there are 6,362 confirmed cases and there have been 108 deaths in the United States.

California

  • Ten counties and one city have shelter in place orders (Counties: Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito; City: Palm Springs). Ventura County has a shelter in place order for those 75 and older.
  • A summary of what is happening throughout the state can be found here.
  • There are 473 cases, 13 deaths, 11,750 people who are self-monitoring in California.

Regional/Local

  • Los Angeles is seeing increasing numbers. According to Dr. Barbara Ferrer today there are 144 cases in Los Angeles, with 75 new cases in 48 hours. This is largely due to increased availability of testing. A week ago 30-35 people a day were being tested now, hundreds a day are being tested.
  • The LA City Council today passed 101 motions, 56 of them were related to COVID-19—some of the motions were:
    • a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for non-payment,
    • motions to support workers and protect workers, boost sick pay and support those most affected economically
    • street vending restrictions (permit money will be refunded),
    • formally request for stores in the city to provide hours  for seniors, pregnant women and people with disabilities to shop for the first hours;
    • meal delivery for seniors due to closure of senior centers,
    • motions to reduce risk among the homeless population; and
    • measures to minimize harsh responses to non-compliance with new rules in place (e.g. arrest is a last resort).
  • The City of Los Angeles is also taking steps to request the federal government to extend the census count by 6 months due to concerns about getting an adequate count due to the current crisis.
  • Orange County has joined the growing number of counties to restrict restaurants and bars. On Tuesday, the health officer issued new restrictions for its more than 3 million residents, directing the bars and other alcohol-serving establishments that don’t serve food closed. The order also prohibits restaurants form providing on-site dining, allowing only curbside and takeout.  Orange County’s order can be found here.

 

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