SACRAMENTO, Calif. — ABC10 is following the latest coronavirus statistics and vaccine news for the Sacramento region and the state of California.
This blog will be updated throughout the day with the latest COVID-19 news. Click HERE to learn when and where you can sign-up to get the coronavirus vaccine near you.
California to eliminate vaccine tiers in a few weeks, Gov. Newsom says
Governor Gavin Newsom says more Californians will soon be able to get vaccinated for COVID-19 after the state's vaccine tier system is expected to be eliminated in early May.
“We’re anticipating within 5 ½ weeks where we can eliminate all the tiering so to speak, and make available vaccines to everybody across the spectrum because supply will exponentially increase," Newsom said at a press conference in San Francisco Friday.
While vaccine eligibility seems to continue expanding, some say the supply cannot keep up. As of mid-March, more than 200,000 people in Sacramento county had received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, leaving about one million unvaccinated adults according to US Census population figures.
Plumas officials to administer 800 COVID-19 vaccines at Fairgrounds in Quincy
A COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Fairgrounds in Quincy is vaccinating up to 800 people on Saturday.
Plumas health officials say they only have about 550 people currently signed up for appointments. They estimate they will have about 200 vaccines for those who are 18 and older.
Appointments are first-come, first-served, but all the morning slots are filled so officials recommend arriving after 11 a.m.
Officials advise preparing for the weather because people will have to wait outside. There is no guarantee for those who arrive that they will get the vaccine.
COVID variant first found in UK now detected in Placer County
The coronavirus variant first discovered in the United Kingdom has been found in Placer County, public health officials said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this was the variant predicted to become the dominant strain in the United States by the end of March. It was first reported in the US at the end of December 2020 in Colorado.
High school sideline cheerleading now allowed in California
In an update on youth sports, the California Department of Public Health overturned a ban on sideline cheerleading, saying in a press release on Friday that it is an allowable sport.
CDPH said that sideline cheer at youth sports games is comparable to competitive cheer as a moderate-contact sport, and so should follow all requirements of other outdoor sports in this category.
State launches coronavirus outbreak data dashboard
California law requires employers to report COVID-19 outbreaks to local health departments., and now there is a dashboard on the California Department of Public Health website to show people exactly which industries are hardest hit.
Since the beginning of 2021 until March 1, a total of 4,311 confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks and 39,526 outbreak-related cases were reported. The most common settings for these outbreaks were residential care facilities (21.7%), restaurants (7.0%), skilled nursing facilities (4.2%), hospitals (3.9%), grocery stores (3.5%), and construction (3.5%).
Cal Expo vaccine clinic will no longer be run by Sacramento County Public Health
Instead, the county's partner Curative, will begin running the mass vaccination site starting Monday, March 22. Curative also runs the drive-thru site at McClellan Park.
Sacramento County Public Health said that during the transition, all scheduling for first doses will be paused so as to finish second doses. By early to mid-April, Curative will once again allow people to schedule first dose appointments at Cal Expo. The transition will be finalized on April 19, the county said.
Latest COVID statistics in California
On Friday, California announced a state total of 3,538,821 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
California also reported 232 new deaths from COVID, bringing the total to more than 56,072 since the start of the pandemic.
The state reported at least 13,769,061 vaccine doses had been administered to Californians.
Mayor Steinberg releases video honoring Sacramento's COVID victims on anniversary of first stay-at-home order
Friday marks one year since Sacramento County issued it's first stay-at-home order on March 19, 2020, and to honor the anniversary, Mayor Darrell Steinberg's office has released a video commemorating the 1,565 people in Sacramento County who have tragically died of COVID-19.
The video shows the creation of a candle-lit memorial, with each victim represented through the soft glow of a paper bag lantern at the steps of Memorial Auditorium.
CDC 'OKs' 3 feet of social distancing for schools with low transmission
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed its social distancing guidelines for schools Friday, saying students can now sit 3 feet apart in classrooms.
The move allows some flexibility for schools who were struggling to bring back students to the classroom in a safe way.
In recent months, schools in some states have been disregarding CDC guidelines, using 3 feet as their standard. After studies showed the effect that change played on these schools, Greta Massetti, who leads the CDC's community interventions task force, said “we don't really have the evidence that 6 feet is required in order to maintain low spread.”
The revised COVID-19 recommendations still recommend 6 feet of distancing in common areas like lobbies and cafeterias, and in middle schools and high schools if there is a high rate of spread in their communities. However, the CDC has also removed plastic shields or other barriers between desks from their guidance, again citing a lack of evidence of their effectiveness.
Resources guide for California families
- San Joaquin County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Yolo County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Stanislaus County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Sacramento County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Where to find help in Placer County: A resource guide for struggling individuals and families
- Northern California Help: A resource guide for struggling Families and individuals
