California may have paid out-of-state inmates job benefits
A report says more than $40 million in California funding intended to help people left jobless by the coronavirus pandemic probably went to inmates in out-of-state jails and prisons.
The Los Angles Times says it reviewed an analysis commissioned by the state Employment Development Department that found the department approved more than 6,000 unemployment claims involving people who probably were incarcerated out of state, including at least 2,000 in Florida jails and prisons.
The EDD has acknowledged it paid about $400 million in the names of California prison inmates, including some on death row.
San Joaquin's situation is not as severe as Los Angeles
The demand for intensive care services has reached an all-time high in San Joaquin County, as their ICU capacity is at 166% on Tuesday, according to the county's Emergency Medical Services Agency.
Hovering above 100% capacity for nearly two months now, the county's EMS agency said their seven hospitals are having to adapt and adjust to the surge by creating ICU space that essentially wasn't there before the pandemic.
"So technically a room that was intended for one person, now it has two. Different units throughout the hospital like telemetry units are now being used for ICU units," Marissa Matta, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County EMS agency said.
Still, Matta said it is less of a space issue and more of a staffing issue, juggling 355 COVID positive patients on Tuesday alone.
In Los Angeles County, where their region's ICU's are also in surge capacity, ambulance crews have been directed to not take patients in with little chance of survival to hospitals.
San Joaquin County says, in addition to having ample supply of oxygen and ventilators ready to go, we are not there yet.
"As hectic and as inundated as the healthcare system is, we are not there yet, San Joaquin County is not there, if you call 911, you are going to get an ambulance," Matta said.
Governor Newsom plans $4 billion for economic recovery
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a $4 billion spending plan he says will create jobs and help small businesses recover from the pandemic.
Nearly half of the money would help people purchase electric cars and build the charging stations necessary for drivers to use them. Small businesses would get $575 million.
The money would pay for grants of up to $25,000 each. Newsom and the state Legislature have already given this program $500 million.
This proposal would make more than $1 billion available to small businesses. Newsom has asked the Legislature to quickly approve the request instead of waiting until June.
Hospital quickly vaccinates 850 people after freezer fails
A hospital in Ukiah quickly vaccinated 850 people after a freezer that was holding the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines failed, prompting officials to do an emergency distribution of the vaccines before they spoiled.
An outage Monday left the refrigerator at the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Medical Center in Mendocino County without power.
Cici Winiger, Adventist Health spokeswoman, told the Ukiah Daily Journal, that by the time hospital officials realized the freezer had malfunctioned, they had 2.5 hours to distribute the vaccines. Hundreds of county residents were given the vaccine of vaccines on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Students return to classrooms in Roseville
Students in the Roseville Joint Union High School District returned to the classrooms on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, for four, 70 minute classes. Some students are able to leave prior to lunch at 12:50 p.m., while others will remain on campus for a support period for an additional 45 minutes.
The school district's Board of Trustees will consider moving to 80 minute periods with lunch at the Jan. 26, 2021, board meeting.
California Department of Public Health provides latest numbers
The California Department of Public Health released the state's latest COVID-19 numbers for Monday, Jan. 5, 2021.
The state currently sits at 2,452,334 total cases, with 27,003 total deaths.
The current ICU capacity by regions are:
- Greater Sacramento: 11.7%
- Northern California: 29.8%
- San Joaquin Valley: 0%
- Bay Area: 5.9%
- Southern California: 0%
1% of Californians immunized
Distribution hiccups and logistical challenges have slowed the initial coronavirus vaccine rollout in California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the pace is “not good enough” as the virus continues to ravage the state. Only about 1% of California’s 40 million residents have been vaccinated.
About 454,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered — that's just a quarter of the 1.3 million doses the state has received so far. The state’s death toll on Monday topped 26,500 and confirmed cases neared 2.4 million since the pandemic began. California's hospitals are swamped with more than 22,000 COVID-19 patients.
Sacramento Antique Faire reopens
Antique shopping is coming back to Sacramento.
In a post on Instagram, the Sacramento Antique Faire plans to return on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. The fair has been shut down since the beginning of December 2020.
Attendees are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing when shopping.
CORONAVIRUS AND VACCINE RESOURCES AND ANSWERS:
- 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
- Q&A: Why wear a mask after you've been vaccinated?
- Can my employer require the COVID-19 vaccine? | Q&A with workers rights attorney
- El Dorado County Help: A resource guide for struggling families and individuals
- Northern California Help: A resource guide for struggling Families and individuals
