70% Of Adult Californians Have Received At Least One Jab: One month ahead of the target date set by the Biden administration, California has now at least partially vaccinated 70% of its adult residents against covid-19. Clearing that hurdle is a vital development as the state prepares to fully reopen later this month. Read more from the Los Angeles Times.
State Legislators’ Plan Would Add Nearly $1B In Funds For Students With Disabilities: The Assembly and Senate budget committees on Tuesday jointly recommended adding $885 million in ongoing funding for special education — double what Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes — and would also add more money to address learning loss among students with disabilities during the pandemic. Read more from EdSource.
Below, check out the roundup of California Healthline’s coverage. For today's national health news, read KHN's Morning Briefing.
More News From Across The State
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Is The Pandemic Finally Winding Down? First Big SD Vaccination Center Closes
The first in the state to undertake coronavirus vaccination on a massive scale, UC San Diego Health put shots in arms for the last time on Tuesday at RIMAC Arena before closing the location for good at the end of the day. It’s quite a milestone for San Diego County and the university health system, which was the first in the state to go big with its vaccination superstation near Petco park. That operation was forced out of downtown in March as baseball season approached, leaving RIMAC as the university’s sole remaining high-volume vaccination location. (Sisson, 4/1)
The New York Times:
Some U.S. States Have Higher Vaccine Rates Inside Prisons That Outside.
While most of the United States’ prison systems have struggled to vaccinate inmates, those in California and some other states have outperformed vaccination rates among the general public. And experts say their success may offer clues about how to persuade skeptical people outside correctional facilities to get vaccinated. (Klein, 6/1)
Los Angeles Daily News:
LA County Promotes Vaccinations Anew As Coronavirus Case Rates Continue To Decline
With state and local incentives up for grabs, Los Angeles County health officials again urged residents on Tuesday, June 1, to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to continue downward trends in infections and deaths. “Our metrics continue to improve, and we continue to see declines in cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. “Vaccinations are saving lives and I ask each of you to continue keeping yourself, your friends and your family members safe by getting vaccinated if you haven’t done so already. We end this pandemic with vaccinations.” (6/1)
Orange County Register:
Coronavirus: L.A. County Reported 108 New Cases And Three New Deaths, June 1
Los Angeles County public health officials reported 108 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to 1,244,161 as of Monday, June 1. Officials reported three new deaths linked to the coronavirus, for a total 24,346 deaths since tracking began. There were 66 fewer hospitalizations reported since Thursday, decreasing the official count of hospitalizations to 259, with 19% in ICU. (Goertzen, 6/1)
Bay Area News Group:
COVID: Marin, Monterey Counties Advance To Yellow Tier
Marin, Monterey and San Benito counties have moved into California’s least restrictive COVID-19 tier just two weeks before the state phases out its color tiers entirely as part of a major easing of pandemic rules and restrictions. The three counties were moved to the yellow tier on Tuesday, indicating that the spread of the virus there is “minimal.” The change is a positive indication that efforts to control the virus have met some success. It also allows those counties to reopen for some indoor service bars that don’t serve food, as well as expanding indoor capacities for some businesses such as gyms, museums and water parks. (Castaneda, 6/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Marin County Moves To Yellow Tier - Solano County Finally Leaves Red Behind
Marin County, which fell short of a yellow tier placement in April due to a spike in new COVID-19 cases, is finally advancing to the least restrictive level of California’s pandemic reopening plan — just two weeks before state officials retire the system. Advancing into the yellow tier allows Marin’s restaurants, movie theaters, libraries, churches, family entertainment centers, gyms and fitness studios to expand capacity indoors. (Vaziri, 6/1)
CapRadio:
Sacramento, San Joaquin Counties Move Into Orange COVID-19 Tier
Sacramento and San Joaquin counties are finally moving to the orange tier of California's color-coded reopening system, which will allow some businesses to loosen restrictions only weeks before the state fully opens. Sacramento had been in the red tier since March 16 and San Joaquin since April 6, two of just eight counties still in the red tier before Tuesday. Nevada and Solano counties are also moving from red to orange. No counties are in the most-restrictive purple tier. (Hagan, 6/1)
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Sonoma County Stuck In The Orange Tier Until State Reopens In Mid-June
Sonoma County has run out of time to advance into the state’s most permissive yellow tier for COVID-19 restrictions, meaning it will remain in the more prohibitive orange tier until the state does away with the framework entirely on June 15. That’s the date when state officials are expected to allow counties to more fully reopen their economies. But with local transmission of COVID-19 continuing at a moderate level, Sonoma County’s status won’t change before that shift. (Espinoza, 6/1)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Kern Public Health Reports 16 New Coronavirus Cases Tuesday
Kern County Public Health Services reported 16 new coronavirus cases Tuesday morning, and no new deaths. That brings the county's case count since the pandemic began to 110,147. There have been 1,389 deaths. Public Health reports that 39,515 people have recovered from the illness, and 67,895 people are presumed to have recovered. (6/1)
Modesto Bee:
Target Reopens Fitting Rooms Shut By COVID
Target has reopened most fitting rooms nationwide after closing them during the COVID-19 pandemic. A coronavirus policy Q&A posted on Target’s site, revised Tuesday, says most fitting rooms at its 1,909 stores across the United States are now open. Only those being used for COVID-19 vaccinations will remain shut. (Sweeney, 6/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
'Hamilton' To Return To S.F. With '100% Capacity' Audiences
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s blockbuster musical “Hamilton” is set to reopen the Orpheum Theatre with a four-week run Aug. 10-Sept. 5, BroadwaySF announced Tuesday. The theater plans to offer tickets to all its more than 2,200 seats, which makes the Orpheum the first major indoor San Francisco theater venue to operate without audience capacity restrictions. (Janiak, 6/1)
Los Angeles Times:
This Is What Reopening Looks Like At The Music Center In DTLA: Joyful Dancing
About halfway through a tap dance performance on the Music Center plaza in downtown Los Angeles, the Department of Water and Power building behind the outdoor stage lights up like a lantern. Each empty office, blazing electric orange, is a reminder of how the city’s core hollowed out during the pandemic. On this Sunday night, however, the Music Center stages its cautious return to live performance with its fifth and final Dance at Dusk show featuring queen of tap Dormeshia. “The Super Villainz: A Tap Dance Act for the Modern Age” awakens L.A.’s cultural nerve center, which crackles with energy. (Gelt, 6/1)
Los Angeles Times:
Why Disneyland Lines For Locals Only Are In Flux Right Now
Grant and Stephanie Bush, a 23-year-old hotel office supervisor from San Diego, had ample time to make themselves queazy because capacity at the Disney parks in Anaheim, with tickets available for California residents only, was capped at 25% in compliance with pandemic safety guidelines. When Orange County entered the yellow tier in mid-May, Disneyland was given the go-ahead to raise its cap to 35%. That still means shorter wait times for attractions. But all good things must come to an end. On June 15, Disneyland will open to out-of-state visitors and there will be no capacity limits imposed by the state (though it’s unknown if staffing can be fully ramped up so quickly). This means ticketholders have a unique opportunity to experience a less-crowded theme park. (Carras, 6/1)
Los Angeles Times:
California To Reconsider Some Workplace Mask Requirements
A California workplace safety board on Thursday is scheduled to consider whether to relax mask and physical distancing rules for workers. The proposal would allow workers in a room to take off masks if everyone in a room is fully vaccinated and do not have COVID-19 symptoms. Masks would still be required if anyone in a room was not fully vaccinated, according to the proposal. (Lin II, 6/1)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Scripps Begins Notifying More Than 147,000 People Of Ransomware Records Breach
Scripps Health announced Tuesday that it has begun notifying nearly 150,000 individuals that their personal information was stolen by hackers during the ransomware attack that hit the local health care giant on May 1. In a statement, San Diego’s second-largest medical provider says that it is “beginning to mail notification letters to approximately 147,267 individuals so they can take steps to protect their information.” About 2.5 percent of those — nearly 3,700 — are said to have had their Social Security and/or driver’s license numbers taken. For those, the company said, it will provide “complementary credit monitoring and identity protection support services.” (Sisson, 6/1)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Resident Physicians At Kern Medical Asking For A 5 Percent Pay Increase
Kern Medical's residency program is the lowest paid in California, say its resident doctors. And after more than a year of working on the front lines of the pandemic, they are asking the east Bakersfield hospital for a raise. "We are the lowest paid residents in the state, 20 percent lower than the average California resident," Dr. Tyler Wheeler, a second-year psychiatry resident, said Tuesday. (Mayer, 6/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Lyme-Carrying Ticks Thriving On California Coast, Study Finds
Disease-carrying ticks, long considered something to fear in thick woods, are also prevalent in Northern California’s open coastal areas, a new study shows. The research, published after four years of field work in the Bay Area, indicates that the reach of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease is greater than previously thought and a concern that those headed to the beach or walking on a bluff should keep in mind. (Alexander, 6/1)
CapRadio:
California Child Mental Health Advocates Say Demand For Care Is Up During The Pandemic, But Services Are Lacking
A budget revision released in May by Gov. Gavin Newsomcould put more than $4 billion toward home visiting programs, school counselors, childhood trauma screenings and better Medi-Cal coverage for psychiatric care. Advocates say this is a substantial increase in funding for child mental health, and clinicians say it’s needed, especially given stresses that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The California Children’s Hospital Association found that two thirds of children with mental health needs don’t receive care, due in part to a lack of available providers. There are only 13 certified child and adolescent psychiatrists for every 100,000 children in the state, according to the group’s report. (Caiola, 6/1)
The Bakersfield Californian:
AIS Cancer Center To Host Survivors Celebration
The Adventist Health AIS Cancer Center will host a celebration in honor of all cancer survivors from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the center, 2620 Chester Ave. The first Sunday in June is National Cancer Survivors Day, and AIS Cancer Center is marking it a few days early. It is meant to "demonstrate that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality," according to a news release. (6/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
California Saw More Active Shooters Than Any Other State Over Past 20 Years, FBI Data Shows
California, the most populous state in the nation and home to some of its strictest gun laws, was also the site of the most active shooter incidents over the past two decades, according to a new FBI report. The Golden State saw 42 active shooter incidents between 2000 and 2019, a figure more than 50% higher than the 27 shootings recorded in Florida, the state with the second-highest number of such attacks. (Cassidy, 6/1)
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento Adopts New Use-Of-Force Policy For Police
The Sacramento City Council on Tuesday adopted a new use of deadly force policy for police, replacing the one it adopted less than a month ago. The language, proposed by the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission, is modeled after San Francisco’s policy. It reads: “A peace officer is justified in using deadly force upon another person only as a last resort when reasonable alternatives have been exhausted or are not feasible and the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that such force is necessary.” (Clift, 6/1)
CapRadio:
California Launches Task Force To Study Reparations For African Americans
Hundreds of years after slavery ended in America, a California task force of legislators, lawyers and civil rights leaders will begin studying how to pay Black people reparations. The nine-person task force was created following last summer’s social justice uprising in response to the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who authored Assembly Bill 3121 last year when she was part of the state legislature, said the work is built on an understanding of the persistent systemic racism and continued government exploitation of African Americans as a result of slavery. (Salanga, 6/1)
Los Angeles Times:
What Happens Next With California Reparations Task Force
The law says the task force will recommend how California will issue a formal apology, how to eliminate discrimination in existing state laws and how to establish new programs, policies or projects to address the group’s findings. The task force will also determine how any potential compensation should be calculated and who would be eligible, as well as additional forms of rehabilitation or restitution. (Luna, 6/1)
AP:
California Task Force Launches Study Of Slave Reparations
A first-in-the-nation task force in California to study and recommend reparations for African Americans held its inaugural meeting Tuesday, launching a two-year process to address the harms of slavery and systemic racism despite the federal government’s inaction. The nine members of the task force, appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders, include the descendants of slaves who are now prominent lawyers, academics and politicians. The group’s newly elected chair is a young lawyer who specializes in intellectual property, and their vice-chair is a longtime civil rights activist arrested with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at a lunch counter sit-in in 1961. (Har, 6/2)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Oakland's New Push To Stem Homelessness: Make RVs And Tiny Homes Legal Residences
Recreational vehicles and tiny homes on wheels would become legal residences in Oakland under a wide-ranging set of proposed planning and building code changes meant to combat the city’s escalating housing costs and the explosion in the population of unhoused residents. The set of Oakland ordinances, set to be announced Tuesday, would provide a “path to legalization” for a variety of housing types that are currently banned under city law but nevertheless have become prevalent in a city where the number of unhoused has jumped 47% from 2017 to 2019. At 940 per 100,000 residents. Oakland now has a slightly higher percentage of unhoused people than San Francisco or Berkeley. (Dineen, 6/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Mayor Breed Wants To Add More Than $1 Billion To Fighting Homelessness In San Francisco Over Next Two Years
Mayor London Breed is proposing more than $1 billion in new funding to address homelessness over the next two years — a staggering amount that she hopes will finally make a dent in San Francisco’s most vexing problem. That proposal, announced Tuesday as part of her wider plan for the city’s upcoming $13.1 billion budget, is on top of the $300 million or so already spent directly on homelessness each year. The investment reflects the intense pressure Breed and other city leaders are under to address the thousands living on the streets, in shelters and in unstable housing. (Thadani, 6/1)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Is 'Pandemic Rent Pricing' Already Over? Here's Where S.F. Stands Now
For renters in San Francisco and across the U.S., “pandemic pricing” is increasingly a thing of the past, a new report says — though the Bay Area isn’t rebounding quite as quickly as many other parts of the country. The latest rent report from Apartment List shows the national median rent price increased by 2.3% from April to May — the largest single month increase ever recorded by the listing service, which began its estimates in 2017. (Hwang, 6/1)