March 30, 2020

30Mar

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Coronavirus hits Stanislaus County families with health anxieties, unemployment

Modesto Bee

From the unemployed struggling to pay bills, seniors stressing about their health, to family members missing one other, Modesto area residents are trying to cope with upheaval.

 

Stanislaus County temporarily closing board meetings to public amid coronavirus outbreak

Modesto Bee

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors is temporarily closing its meetings to the public due to the coronavirus outbreak.

 

These Modesto, Valley restaurants are open for pickup, delivery during coronavirus crisis

Modesto Bee

Restaurants, one of the hardest hit local industries by the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent shutdowns, have switched to pickup and delivery only across Stanislaus County and beyond.

 

Modesto’s Gallo making hand sanitizer; donates to Stanislaus County to fight COVID-19

Modesto Bee

The world’s largest winery has switched one of its spirits production lines to make hand sanitizer for its employees to protect against COVID-19. The company donated several boxes of its self-made bottles to the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

Fresno Fairgrounds To Be Site Of Makeshift Hospital For COVID-19 Patients

VPR
The Fresno Fairgrounds will soon be the site of a makeshift hospital set up to treat potential COVID-19 patients whose cases are less severe. The effort is to take pressure off of local hospitals.

 

These Fresno stores considered ‘nonessential’ tried opening for business. The City noticed

Fresno Bee

The City of Fresno fined two “nonessential” stores that opened for business during the citywide shelter-in-place order. Two tobacco shops — the Cigarette Store in southeast Fresno and the High Society Smoke Shop 2 in central Fresno — both received $1,000

administrative citations.

 

Fresno County wants your masks, stat. Call goes out to public for medical supplies

Fresno Bee

The Fresno County Department of Public Health is asking the public for medical donations as supplies dwindle due to the coronavirus outbreak locally.

 

EDITORIAL: Fresno City Council reconsiders a vote, and this time supports public record transparency

Fresno Bee

Just over a week ago the Fresno City Council adopted a series of emergency measures in response to the growing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of them were reasonable. One was not. That was the suspension of having to produce information under Public Records Act requests.

 

Fact-checking Devin Nunes on coronavirus pandemic

Visalia Times-Delta

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) has received withering criticism this week for conservative talk show appearances on national TV and local radio. The Times-Delta/Advance-Register fact-checked some of Nunes’ statements.

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South SJ Valley:

 

Kern County Public Health Services announces local health emergency

abc23

The Kern County Public Health Services announced they had declared a local health emergency Monday morning. This allows for implementing plans and resources for health care needs. The Kern County Board of Supervisors will need to approve it Tuesday.

 

State:

 

California, you’re doing a great job staying home, tracking data show. (Except these places)

Fresno Bee

Overall, California received high marks for reducing movement. Unacast data shows Californians reduced their average distance traveled by a whopping 48 percent from late February to March 22.

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Parking lots in all state parks closed due to COVID-19

abc30

The California Department of Parks and Recreation announced on Sunday they are temporarily closing parking lots in all state parks.

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One Upside Of The Coronavirus Shutdown, Maybe? Fewer Voter Initiatives

Capital Public Radio

Initiative proponents have until the end of April to collect the signatures they need to put their ideas on the ballot — and with millions of Californians staying home, some campaigns won't have time to collect enough signatures.

 

California Nearly Halfway To Goal Of 10,000 More Ventilators Before Anticipated COVID-19 Surge

Capital Public Radio

The state’s goal is to get 10,000 more ventilators functional for its hospitals in anticipation of a surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the coming weeks. It currently has secured 4,252, but approximately a thousand of those are not in working condition.

See also:

 

As coronavirus upends California, question remains: Who’ll watch the kids?

Cal Matters

As schools, businesses, governments and most other venues go dark in the effort to restrict the pandemic, state officials are allowing child care centers to remain open, in an effort to support essential workers who can't leave their children otherwise.

 

Commentary: In coronavirus crisis, Gavin Newsom is California’s president. And he’s being tested

Sacramento Bee

In this moment of global uncertainty, Gavin Newsom is no longer just a governor. He is, more or less, California’s president. He must take responsibility – also known as blame – for a range of issues beyond the traditional scope of his office.

 

Walters: Virus crisis changes how we work

Cal Matters

Working life as Californians knew it has changed very radically and very quickly, leaving one wondering whether it’s just a temporary adjustment or the harbinger of a more permanent alteration.

 

Commentary: Should Californians fix Prop. 13 or the state’s whole system of taxation?

Cal Matters

One of the most important decisions facing Californians this November is whether to make any changes to Proposition 13. Prop. 13 passed in 1978, limiting yearly property tax increases to 2% as well as overall property taxes to 1% of purchase price.

 

Commentary: Coronavirus highlights the need to correct the state’s philanthropic inequality

Cal Matters

Growth in clientele, combined with consumers buying more than their fair share at the grocery store, has led to dire shortages at Central Valley food banks. Some organizations are halting operations altogether.

 

EDITORIAL: NRA’s lawsuit against California exploits coronavirus crisis to push agenda of death

Sacramento Bee

On Friday, the NRA sued Gov. Newsom, along with Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, demanding that gun stores be deemed “essential” despite stay-in-place orders that have shuttered most businesses.

 

Federal:

 

Trump adds 30 days to distancing guidelines as virus spreads

Fresno Bee

Bracing the nation for a death toll that could exceed 100,000 people, President Donald Trump on Sunday extended restrictive social distancing guidelines through April, bowing to public-health experts who presented him with even more dire projections for the expanding coronavirus pandemic.

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Trump uses wartime act but GM says it’s already moving fast

Fresno Bee

Twelve days ago, General Motors put hundreds of workers on an urgent project to build breathing machines as hospitals and governors pleaded for more in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

See also:

 

Google, Oracle and Trump cases are put on Supreme Court hold by virus

Fresno Bee

The coronavirus pandemic has put on indefinite hold a major portion of the U.S. Supreme Court's docket, including a multibillion-dollar clash between software giants Google and Oracle Corp. and cases that could affect President Donald Trump's reelection chances.

 

Most Americans don’t see Trump as religious; fewer than half say they think he’s Christian

Pew Research

President Donald Trump has often used religious language while in office, and he has surrounded himself with evangelical leaders and supported conservative Christian causes. But Trump’s personal religious beliefs and practices have not been as public.

 

‘America’s governors’: Andrew Cuomo and Gavin Newsom take the lead on coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

With COVID-19 spreading throughout the United States, Cuomo’s and Newsom’s profiles have grown exponentially across the country as their demands for action, pleas for aid and calls for shared sacrifice defined the Democratic response to the pandemic.

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Feinstein: We weren’t ready for coronavirus. Now we know what Washington has to do before the next outbreak hits

Los Angeles Times

The coronavirus presents a challenge for the United States the likes of which we haven’t seen in a generation, but one that has been warned of at least since 9/11.

 

Tom McClintock votes for $2.2 trillion stimulus package ‘despite all its flaws’

Sacramento Bee

Rep. Tom McClintock has big qualms about the $2.2 trillion economic plan that passed the House Friday, warning it’s inefficient, flawed and could badly “destabilize the fiscal structure of our federal government.”

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Despite widespread shortages, Trump hasn’t come up with a plan to get medical supplies where needed

Los Angeles Times

Even as President Trump ordered General Motors Friday to begin manufacturing ventilators, the president’s broader strategy to get desperately needed medical supplies to hospitals and doctors across the country remained shrouded in uncertainty.

 

Leon Panetta on coronavirus: ‘We’re paying the price’ of ignoring intelligence reports

PRI

The US military is increasingly assisting the US government's domestic response to the coronavirus pandemic. So far, the military is setting up field hospitals to Seattle and New York, and has put additional units on prepare-to-deploy orders.

 

Opinion: Fact check: Trump makes another round of misstatements during coronavirus briefing

CNN

President Donald Trump on Friday continued the false and misleading claims that have become a part of White House briefings on coronavirus, wrapping up a week in which the number of confirmed cases across the country topped 100,000.

 

EDITORIAL: Conducting a census during the coronavirus pandemic won’t be easy, but we have to get it right

Los Angeles Times

There’s never a good time for a pandemic, but it’s hard to imagine a worse time than in the middle of the decennial census.

 

Coronavirus Trackers:

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California

Covid19.ca.gov

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.

See also:

 

Elections 2020:

 

Post-ABC poll shows Trump and Biden in a competitive race for the White House

Washington Post

President Trump and former vice president Joe Biden are in a tightly competitive race for the White House in the November general election, with the president gaining ground on his likely challenger over the past month as the coronavirus pandemic convulses the country, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

 

Joe Biden calls for a national lockdown to contain the coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

Former Vice President Joe Biden is calling for an immediate nationwide stay-at-home order to contain the spread of the coronavirus, saying the main mistake that leaders can make in a pandemic is “going too slow.”

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Drip, drip: California Democrats gain again in post-election day count

San Francisco Chronicle

California’s slow count of the March 3 primary ballots has been bad news for GOP congressional candidates, who have seen their margins slip as millions of late-arriving votes were tallied.

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California campaigns, activists craft political messages for pandemic times

San Francisco Chronicle

Few people want to hear from a political campaign during a pandemic. But that’s not stopping some candidates’ backers and activists from sounding off — albeit in a different tone from what they would use in normal times.

 

Is the U.S. Headed Toward a Short British-Style Election?

New York Times

From the White House to the county courthouse, the coronavirus pandemic has drastically upended the 2020 elections. Many Democratic leaders now doubt their national party convention will take place as planned in July, while President Trump’s determination to hold the Republican convention could collide with life-and-death realities.

 

Opinion: Voting in a time of national emergency

Brookings

Now is the time to start preparing for COVID-19’s impact on the November 3, 2020 election. Voting rules should not disenfranchise Americans during the COVID-19 emergency.

 

Other:

 

NOT REAL NEWS: Debunking more false coronavirus content

abc30

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media.

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Commentary; Coronavirus shows the merits of being a career politician

Washington Post

It is now essentially expected that a candidate for high office will claim to be “an outsider” and “not a career politician,” as if these were self-evidently positive attributes. They promise a change from “the status quo” or “business as usual.” Donald Trump, who had never held elective office or worked in government, affirmed the appeal of such rhetoric in 2016, when he beat a former senator and secretary of state.

 

Coronavirus response highlights deepening partisan divide

Fresno Bee

The fierce tribalism that has characterized debates over immigration, taxes and health care is now coloring policy-making during a coronavirus outbreak that threatens countless lives and local economies across the nation.

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OPINION: How Epidemics Change Civilizations

Wall Street Journal

To put the coronavirus pandemic in perspective, consider what happened when the bubonic plague struck London in 1665. The onset of the disease could be sudden, says Yale historian Frank Snowden: “You actually have people afflicted and in agony in public spaces.” Trade and commerce swiftly shut down, and “every economic activity disappeared.”

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Women's History Month: Leaders share advice with young women hoping to achieve greatness

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County is fortunate to have several female leaders from various sectors who are role models for young women aspiring to achieve greatness like them.  The Californian asked several of these women two questions — what is one trait every strong leader needs, and what inspirational advice do you have for young women who aspire to a leadership position — in honor of Women's History Month.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, April 5, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: Does Granny (Flat) Have a Solution to the Housing Crisis? - Guests: Monica Davalos, Aureo Mesquita, and Adriana Ramos-Yamamoto from the California Budget and Policy Center. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, April 5, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: California’s Housing Crisis: Are Granny Flats the Answer? - Guests: Monica Davalos, Aureo Mesquita, and Adriana Ramos-Yamamoto from the California Budget and Policy Center; Matt Levin and Dan Walters with CALmatters; Dan Dunmoyer with California Building Industry Association; and John Myers with LA Times. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, April 5, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: Supervisión estatal de compensación de trabajadores: ¿maltratados y magullados? - Guest: Margarita Fernandez, Jefe de Relaciones Publicas de la oficina de la Auditora Estatal. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

'Essential' Status Means Jobs For Farmworkers, But Greater Virus Risk

VPR

Thousands of farmworkers are now carrying a new document with them on the road, in case they get stopped. The small card explains that the Department of Homeland Security considers their jobs to be part of the nation's critical infrastructure and that they need to get to work, despite California's order to shelter in place.

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California Leans On National Guard To Help With Food Banks

VPR

The coronavirus pandemic has put community charities in a tight spot. Volunteers are staying home, but demand for food assistance is soaring. A number of states have brought in the National Guard to help out, including California. NPR's John Ruwitch has this report.

 

Visalia Farmers Markets keeps providing community with essential services

Visalia Times Delta

Friends bumped elbows in place of a handshake while shopping for their locally-sourced produce Saturday morning at Visalia Farmers Market. After some uncertainty following Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home orders, residents breathed a sigh of relief as farmers markets were deemed an essential service. For many in the community, the farmers market is a vital source for produce, eggs and milk.

 

Modesto supermarket alternatives keep shelves stocked despite coronavirus shortages

Modesto Bee

If picked over shelves and crowded checkouts at supermarkets give you pause, you’re in luck. The Central Valley has many alternatives to find the food your family needs to get through the coronavirus crisis.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Will coronavirus pandemic free California prisoners? Gov. Newsom says no

San Francisco Chronicle

California has long struggled with an overburdened prison system. Now activists are sounding the alarm that the cramped conditions could foment an explosion of the coronavirus.

See also:

 

Gavin Newsom commutes prison sentences for 21 California inmates, pardons 5 more

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted sentences of 21 California prison inmates — including 10 convicted of homicides— and granted pardons to five others, according to a Friday announcement from the governor’s office.

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Stuck-at-home Americans get robbed less often, but fight more

Fresno Bee

With more than two-thirds of the U.S. population ordered to stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic, it's tougher for burglars to find an empty house to rob. But the cooped-up residents seem more likely to fight each other.

 

Valley agencies keep close eye on price gouging cases

abc30

The Tulare County District Attorney's Office says most businesses are doing the right thing by not raising the price of essential goods and services. But they have received at least 50 complaints of price gouging since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Child abuse concerns rise as school closures mean fewer eyes on kids

Bakersfield Californian

In the midst of a virus pandemic that has shuttered schools and workplaces and is creating financial and job-related stress for families, some social workers have another concern on their mind: child abuse and neglect.

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Public Safety:

 

Cybersecurity Lawyer Who Flagged The WHO Hack Warns Of 'Massive' Remote Work Risks

VPR

Large numbers of companies are rolling out mandatory work-from-home policies to help limit the risks posed by the coronavirus outbreak. But cybersecurity experts warn that those remote setups invite new hacking risks.

 

Officials Debate Whether Gun Stores Are 'Essential' During Coronavirus Outbreak

Capital Public Radio

Governors and mayors in some parts of the country are requiring them to close like many other businesses. Other officials are letting gun sales continue. Gun rights groups are on the defensive.

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Fire:

 

PG&E, a ‘killer company,’ admits to 85 felony counts. Now what?

San Francisco Chronicle

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. tried to avoid the stain of a criminal conviction over its geriatric power line that sparked California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire.

See also:

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

From Erna’s takeout to full-service gas, these Fresno-area businesses are staying active

Fresno Bee

A winery is selling alcohol for people who want to make their own hand sanitizer and retailers you may never have thought of are selling goods in high demand.

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As tourism slows down, how are these Three Rivers businesses faring?

Visalia Times Delta

As the gateway to the Sequoia National Park, businesses here, especially gift shops and restaurants, rely on tourism to help drive the local economy.

 

More than half of U.S. households have some investment in the stock market

Pew Research

Uncertainty driven by the current coronavirus outbreak has caused the U.S. stock market to wipe away three years of gains in weeks. A majority of American families (52%) have some level of investment in the market.

See also

 

Worries About Coronavirus Surge, as Most Americans Expect a Recession – or Worse

Pew Research

Americans are increasingly alarmed by the rapid spread of the new coronavirus, with sharply growing majorities saying the outbreak poses a major threat to the health of the U.S. population and the nation’s economy.

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Jobs:

 

Before coronavirus, Fresno and Valley were at near record employment, EDD data shows

Fresno Bee

The state of California released unemployment numbers on Friday that illustrated a strong economy in Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley — just before the coronavirus pandemic hit the country.

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Fever? Chills? Fresno County forces businesses to screen employees to slow coronavirus

Fresno Bee

With community spread of the coronavirus now present in Fresno County, the county’s Department of Public Health issued a pair of new orders Friday for businesses and medical providers.

See also:

 

Bitwise CEO Seeks To Hire 100-plus For Data Entry

Business Journal

The CEO of Bitwise is putting out a call to hire more than 100 temporary data entry contractors who will work from home. Irma L. Olguin Jr. said in a Facebook post Friday afternoon that the workers would support efforts of Bitwise Industries, its web development arm Shift3 Technologies and mobile restaurant ordering app Ordrslip in “building things to help feed the elderly, save restaurants from going out of business and to help folks who’ve lost jobs regain employment.”

 

Kern unemployment rate rose to 9.1% in February

Bakersfield Californian

A new report says Kern's jobless rate began rising even before oil prices plummeted and cases of the new coronavirus were reported in the county, though the data released by the state Friday show the second consecutive monthly decline was largely related to seasonal layoffs in agricultural..

 

Workplace cleanliness a critical issue for businesses still operating

San Francisco Chronicle

Once a routine part of office operations, cleaning has become a flashpoint for workers at businesses that remain open amid the coronavirus outbreak.

 

What a cost-analysis shows of going back to work during the coronavirus pandemic vs. California’s stay-at-home policy

CalMatters

First with a tweet, then a news conference and interviews, President Donald Trump showed that he is considering trading American lives in the coronavirus pandemic for a healthier economy:  “We can’t have the cure be worse than the problem.”

 

Gig Workers Would Get Unemployment Safety Net In Rescue Package

VPR
With very few people booking Airbnbs or taking Uber rides right now, millions of people in the gig economy are seeing their livelihoods abruptly upended. Take Ed Bell, in San Francisco, who rents out his in-law suite on Airbnb. That is his main source of income — he calls it this "gig" — supplemented by "side hustles" doing consulting work.

See also

 

New, emerging jobs and the green economy are boosting demand for analytical skills

Pew Research

In a changing U.S. labor market, new and emerging occupations – including those that are linked to a green economy or the adoption of newer technologies – are raising the importance of analytical skills, such as science, mathematics and programming.

 

COVID-19 will upend retail, but there are steps we can take to save it

The Avenue

Over one-fifth of Americans are directly employed in retail and hospitality, including stores, bars and restaurants, tourism, and entertainment. That’s more than 32 million people working in an industry that’s being hammered by widespread closures and layoffs.

 

‘White-Collar Quarantine’ Over Virus Spotlights Class Divide

New York Times

Child care options, internet access and extra living space leave a gulf between rich and poor in coping with disruptions to school and work.

 

The Postal Service Is Breaking Down

The Nation

As the coronavirus spreads throughout the United States, the Postal Service has struggled to maintain its crucial role in connecting the country, while also protecting its workers and customers.

 

U.S. Department Of The Treasury, Irs And The U.S. Department Of Labor Announce Plan To Implement Coronavirus-related Paid Leave For Workers And Tax Credits For Small And Midsize Businesses To Swiftly Recover The Cost Of Providing Coronavirus-related Leave

U.S. Department of Labor

Today the U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor announced that small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Central Unified extends school closures through the first weekend in May

Fresno Bee

Central Unified School District announced it will remain closed due to coronavirus concerns through the first weekend in May. The Board of Trustees voted during a special meeting Thursday night to extend the school closures and not reopen until at least May 4.

 

Free educational resources for Central Valley kids stuck at home

abc30

Looking for ways to keep your kids busy while they’re home from school during the COVID-19 outbreak? Check out our list of free educational resources and activities.

 

VUSD cuts through 'tension' extends closure; Tulare schools close until further notice

Visalia Times-Delta

Several area school districts moved to extend campus closures Friday, in light of no clear end date on the statewide stay-at-home order put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.


HR 6201 Requires K-12 & Community College Districts to Grant Paid Leave Due to COVID-19

AALRR

The US Department of Labor has again updated the Questions and Answers guidance to address additional scenarios/questions, including, of particular note, intermittent leave.

 

Walters: Dumbing down teacher license tests

Cal Matters

The abrupt and apparently prolonged closure of California’s public schools due to coronavirus fears is — or should be — a reminder of their vital societal role.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Did a Bakersfield nursing student really invent hand sanitizer?

Bakersfield Californian

Hand sanitizer has found itself at the top of everyone’s shopping list, and as Google searches for the product have grown, so too has interest in its origins. While the official story would have you believe hand sanitizer first made a splash in America in the 1990’s after Gojo Industries debuted Purell, one alternative history claims a Bakersfield student nurse invented the product around 30 years earlier.

 

College students leave campus life behind, adjust to online classes at home

San Francisco Chronicle

Many college students suddenly find themselves stuck at home taking classes online. They're reluctantly trying to adapt to an entirely new way of learning.

 

LAST WORD: Using ethnic studies as a portal toward peace in the Central Valley

Bakersfield Californian

“Gentefied,” co-created and directed by Bakersfield native Marvin Lemus, premiered on Netflix in February 2020. The 10-episode Spanglish series captures the ways gentrification and ongoing wealth inequality affects a Mexican-American family living in Los Angeles. Despite being centered in Boyle Heights, Lemus found pockets to bring Bakersfield to the forefront.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

How To Seek A Safe Respite Outdoors While Social Distancing

wbur

You're cooped up. You're feeling cut off from human contact. And it seems the only way to seek refuge these days is to head outdoors for a walk, jog, or some quality time on a park bench. But if your great escape to nature is interrupted by someone coughing as they pass by, you may be left wondering if you can be completely carefree outside.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Coronavirus cases top 100 in Central Valley. Here’s where increases are happening

Fresno Bee

The number of coronavirus cases in the central San Joaquin Valley climbed past 100 over the weekend, as Tulare County reported 11 more confirmed positive tests among its residents Saturday and Sunday. The county also reported its first death from COVID-19.

See also:

 

Up to 200K US deaths foreseen as more cities stricken

Fresno Bee

The coronavirus outbreak could kill 100,000 to 200,000 Americans, the U.S. government's top infectious-disease expert warned on Sunday as family members described wrenching farewells through hospital windows with dying loved ones.

See also:

 

Fresno Fairgrounds To Be Site Of Makeshift Hospital For COVID-19 Patients

VPR
The Fresno Fairgrounds will soon be the site of a makeshift hospital set up to treat potential COVID-19 patients whose cases are less severe. The effort is to take pressure off of local hospitals.

 

First Kern County coronavirus death announced by local health officials

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern County Public Health Department has reported the first coronavirus death, according to a news release from the department. There have been 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kern County residents and one in a non-resident.

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Pregnant Women Worry About Pandemic's Impact on Labor, Delivery and Babies

VPR

Among the people whose lives are being turned upside-down by the coronavirus are many pregnant women. As they prepare for one of the most intense and emotional experiences of their lives, they face the possibility of delivering babies in hospitals filled with COVID-19 patients — and plans they've made for where to give birth and who will be there with them are often now in question.

 

WHO Reviews 'Current' Evidence On Coronavirus Transmission Through Air

VPR
The World Health Organization says the virus that causes COVID-19 doesn't seem to linger in the air or be capable of spreading through the air over distances of more than about 3 feet. But at least one expert in virus transmission said it's way too soon to know that.

 

Coronavirus patients could suffer from post-intensive care syndrome. What is that?

Fresno Bee

Coronavirus patients who require treatment in an intensive care unit could suffer from post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), experts say.

 

Doctors and experts warn of the risks of using malaria drugs to treat COVID-19

Los Angeles Times

The prospect that a pair of malaria drugs will become go-to medications for treating COVID-19 before they’ve been rigorously tested is prompting new safety warnings from heart specialists and other doctors.

See also:

 

Column: Everyone is vulnerable to coronavirus. But seniors still need to take extra precautions

Los Angeles Times

Being a card-carrying member of the “most vulnerable” generation — old geezers — my hearing-challenged ears perked up when our governor announced that half of California’s coronavirus victims were between ages 18 and 49.

 

How do you take care of someone with coronavirus at home? Here’s some expert advice

Modesto Bee

Caring for those dependent upon you doesn’t stop if you have mild COVID-19. Household members, such as seniors, children and pets, continue to rely on the responsible adults in their lives.

 

I Have A Presumed Case Of COVID-19. This Is What The Past 10 Days Have Been Like

wbur

You’ve been sent home so coronavirus doesn’t spread. You’re bored and you want to socialize. It’s cool, but I want to share a little bit of wisdom with you first.

 

Human Services:

 

Fresno State experts offer 6 tips to reduce stress and anxiety

Fresno State Campus News

The unprecedented changes our society experienced in recent weeks due to the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, could lead to stress or fear over the unknown. These changes, undoubtedly, also have an effect on the Fresno State campus community.

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Before coronavirus, California let 1 in 4 of its public health labs close

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for “targeted testing” of the new coronavirus, arguing a strategic approach will help public health officials find hot spots and determine how and where the pandemic is spreading.

See also:

 

Coronavirus cases in California ICUs double overnight as manufacturers race to fill shortages

Sacramento Bee

The number of coronavirus patients in California intensive care units doubled overnight and manufacturers are stepping up to build equipment like ventilators to fill hospital shortages, Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Saturday.

See also:

 

Why It Takes So Long To Get Most COVID-19 Test Results

VPR
After a slow start, testing for COVID-19 has begun to ramp up in recent weeks. Giant commercial labs have jumped into the effort, drive-up testing sites have been established in some places, and new types of tests have been approved under emergency rules set by the Food and Drug Administration.

See also:

 

Relief package billions can’t buy hospitals out of shortages

Fresno Bee

The billions of tax dollars headed for hospitals and states as part of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus response bill won’t fix the problem facing doctors and nurses: a critical shortage of protective gowns, gloves and masks.

See also:

 

California Nearly Halfway To Goal Of 10,000 More Ventilators Before Anticipated COVID-19 Surge

Capital Public Radio

The state’s goal is to get 10,000 more ventilators functional for its hospitals in anticipation of a surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the coming weeks. It currently has secured 4,252, but approximately a thousand of those are not in working condition.

See also:

 

Are FDA Regulations Delaying the Delivery of Protective Equipment to the US?

KQED
Back in January, Jiayue He’s father in China asked her to mail him some masks. By the time they reached him, three or four weeks later, he didn’t need them anymore. Now, he's mailing them to family in Toronto.

 

Health insurance premiums could skyrocket: analysis

The Hill

Health insurance premiums could skyrocket because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to analysis released last week. Premiums could jump as much as 40 percent next year if the coronavirus ends up hospitalizing millions of Americans, state insurance marketplace Covered California’s analysis warned.

 

Coronavirus Threatens to Overwhelm Cities’ Social Safety Net

Wall Street Journal

The economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus is testing America’s safety net, and the people holding it aloft are feeling the strain. In Seattle, among the first U.S. cities where the virus was detected, a flood of people have flocked to homeless shelters, slammed suicide hotlines and packed food pantries.

 

COMMUNITY VOICES: Pandemic and famine: Historically related threats to consider in the age of COVID-19

Bakersfield Californian

Social distancing helps to “flatten the curve” to slow the spread of COVID-19 so our doctors and public health officials can make the most of the resources available to them. It also provides broader support in reducing the sometimes overlooked consequences of an epidemic or pandemic, such as famine.

 

Commentary: A mortality perspective on COVID-19: Time, location and age

Brookings

On March 22, 2020, at the time of writing, the total number of recorded deaths from the novel coronavirus stood at just below 14,000. This is a large number and is bound to increase, exponentially for a time, but it needs to be understood in context. It can be large or small depending on the time frame, the geographic scale, and the demographic composition of the population affected.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Hispanics more likely than Americans overall to see coronavirus as a major threat to health and finances

Pew Research

Hispanics are more concerned than Americans overall about the threat the COVID-19 outbreak poses to the health of the U.S. population, their own financial situation and the day-to-day life of their local community, according to a new survey.

 

DREAMers’ wake-up call: Pandemic puts DACA recipients on front lines

Visalia Times Delta

As the Supreme Court considers their fate, USA TODAY spoke with DACA recipients working in the health care field in California, Florida, Texas and in the suburbs of New York City, where the coronavirus has hit hardest.

 

Central America fears Trump could deport the coronavirus

Los Angeles Times

After barring foreign travelers and closing its borders and businesses to try to contain the spread of coronavirus, Guatemala earlier this month became the first nation to publicly refuse deportation flights from the United States.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

April rent, mortgage payments are due in days. If you can’t pay, here’s what to do

Fresno Bee

For many renters in the central San Joaquin Valley, the impacts of the coronavirus crisis could add a new crushing burden: homelessness. Today,  Gov. Gavin Newsom enacted an order that prohibits the enforcement of eviction orders due to nonpayment related to COVID-19 impacts.

 

California halts coronavirus-related evictions through May

San Francisco Chronicle

Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a two-month halt Friday on evictions for Californians who cannot pay their rent because of the coronavirus.

 

The Great American Migration of 2020: On the move to escape the coronavirus

Washington Post

Back home in Oakland, Calif., Lisa Pezzino and Kit Center built a life that revolved around music and the people who make it — the musicians who recorded on Pezzino’s small label and performed in places where Center rigged the lights and sound equipment.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Can Fresno County property tax deadline be pushed back during coronavirus pandemic?

Fresno Bee

Given how the coronavirus pandemic has shut down normal life for most people in Fresno County, the question posed by a Bee reader was logical: Can the county delay the April 10 property tax deadline?

 

Coronavirus threatens to wipe out California’s $21-billion surplus. And it could get worse

Los Angeles Times

For more than six years, through two governors and hundreds of lawmakers’ votes, California’s state government slowly built the largest cash reserve in its history — projected to total $21 billion by next summer. But there are growing fears that the fast-moving crisis sparked by the coronavirus pandemic could force it to be spent in a matter of months.

See also:

 

Commentary: Should Californians fix Prop. 13 or the state’s whole system of taxation?

Cal Matters

One of the most important decisions facing Californians this November is whether to make any changes to Proposition 13. Prop. 13 passed in 1978, limiting yearly property tax increases to 2% as well as overall property taxes to 1% of purchase price.

 

Unused vacation days give many CA state workers a cushion amid coronavirus

Sacramento Bee

As more people in California test positive for COVID-19, the disease from coronavirus, workers in many departments are pressing the state to expand use of administrative time off, a type of paid leave that the state sometimes offers in emergencies.

 

Who qualifies for the coronavirus stimulus payments?

Los Angeles Times

Congress has passed, and President Trump has signed, a $2-trillion economic stimulus package — the largest of its kind — designed to send money directly into Americans’ pockets while also aiding hospitals, businesses and local governments struggling during the pandemic.

See also:

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Turlock Transit offers early-morning rides for seniors shopping amid coronavirus

Modesto Bee

Turlock Transit will provide free rides to seniors looking to do early-morning shopping amid the coronavirus emergency. The extra service will run from 7 to 9 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays starting March 30. No end date has been set.

 

90% fewer passengers are flying than last year because of coronavirus

Stockton Record

Transportation Security Administration airport checkpoint numbers show the number of airline passengers fell below 200,000 on Friday and Saturday as a result of the coronavirus.

 

Governor, Legislature must help hydrogen power California’s clean transportation future

CalMatters

The Olympics have been postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the planning for the Tokyo Games has already delivered an instructive lesson about the future of clean transportation.

 

WATER

 

Largest US dam removal stirs debate over coveted West water

Bakersfield Californian

Plans to demolish four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath's lower reaches — the largest such demolition project in U.S. history — have placed those competing interests in stark relief. Tribes, farmers, homeowners and conservationists all have a stake in the dams' fate.

 

“Xtra”

  

What's Victor E. Bulldog up to during the coronavirus outbreak?

Fresno Bee

The most recognizable face at Fresno State is the school's mascot, Victor E III. With campus closed, the bulldog's schedule is open. Action News caught up with Victor to see how he's been sheltering in place at home.

 

STEVE FLORES: A perfect diversion from the boredom of social distancing

Bakersfield Californian

I have a great social distancing anti-boredom activity for adults. If you are sheltered in place, and want a new activity to take you mentally elsewhere, Kern County of Old can be your new happy addictive habit.

 

EDITORIAL: Kindness abounds in Modesto and throughout Stanislaus County despite coronavirus

Modesto Bee

At The Modesto Bee, we know more people are reading, seeking information on the coronavirus and its attendant disease, COVID-19. Many have sent notes saying they appreciate the many dozens of stories, photos and videos about the crisis, packed with helpful resources and data and ideas on where to go for help, and how to help.

 

 

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The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.

                                                     

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