SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Here are the latest updates on coronavirus and how local governments are responding to the illness, with a focus on California for Friday, April 3.
CALIFORNIA STATUS UPDATE
The California Department of Public Health reports:
- Confirmed cases: 10,701 (As of April 2, 2020).
- 237 deaths (including one non-California resident)
- 22 state and county labs processing tests for COVID-19. As of April, approximately 92,500 tests have been conducted.
- Click here for complete information on coronavirus, unemployment, and more from the state of California.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- The number of clinical hours some California nursing students must complete have been lowered in order to speed up graduation for thousands who could help during the coronavirus pandemic. The Department of Consumer Affairs announced Friday that the change will lower the required hours in direct patient care from 75% to 50% for some nursing students and allow up to 50% of patient care through simulation or lab training for others "provided that certain conditions are met." The waiver applies to students in schools that can prove students were displaced or that the school can't find an alternative site for students to complete the hours in direct patient care.The change will affect about 9,000 students.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a series of executive orders on Friday that would expand telehealth services and protect people from price gouging during the coronavirus pandemic. The former would expand protections from healthcare workers already on the frontlines of the pandemic by relaxing certain state privacy laws so that they can have video conversations with patients. The latter gives the California Department of Justice and the state Attorney General's office more power in enforcing punishment for price gouging during the public health emergency.
- California's legislative leaders say lawmakers will not reconvene later this month as they had planned. Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said lawmakers will reconvene on May 4. They had planned to return to work on April 13. The Legislature recessed on March 16 shortly after approving a $1 billion spending package to address the COVID-19 outbreak. It is believed to be the first unscheduled work stoppage for the Legislature in 158 years. The Senate has changed its rules to allow for remote meetings. But the Assembly did not after leaders questioned its legality.
- El Dorado County public health officials announced Friday a no-travel order to South Lake Tahoe for people who aren't already residents. The order was made in response to an apparent increase of visitors to the area despite the statewide stay at home order issued by Gov. Newsom to slow the spread of the coronavirus. El Dorado County Public Health Officer Dr. Nancy Williams said "It's time to take this very strong message to those who are not already residing in South Lake Tahoe: if you have no essential function and you are here, please go home; if you have no essential function and you are not here, please stay home."
- The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in San Joaquin County increased to 185, with 11 people dying due to complications of the virus, county public health officials said. The county said it is averaging 10 new cases each day, but the true number of those who have the virus is incomplete because most cases of have not been tested. Despite the rise, the San Joaquin County health officials say long-term modeling shows the curve is flattening thanks to efforts to stay home during the pandemic. Officials say projections show a significant drop in the number of coronavirus-related hospital admissions on the date of the county's expected peak. Projects show there could have been upwards to 768 positive cases on April 30 had there been no emergency efforts to mitigate the spread. Now it's expected that the city could reach 299 cases by the same peak date.
- One week after Stockton officials announced the closure of all public parks, the city's mayor, Michael Tubbs, said on twitter that they are working to provide hygiene stations for the homeless population. People experiencing homelessness, many of whom rely on the city's parks for sleeping, are among the most vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. "It's important that we do all we can to keep everyone safe and prevent the spread of coronavirus," Tubbs said.
- The number of vacationers using short-term rentals in North Lake Tahoe has decreased as more homeowners are comply with Gov. Gavin Newsom's orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Newsom's orders made it so short-term rentals — usually listed on sites like Airbnb — can't operate for commercial purposes during the public health emergency. According to Placer County officials, many owners have voluntarily removed their homes from the rental market. Last week, 3% of owners had visitors, a drop from 6% from the previous week.
The Sleep Train Arena in Natomas will be converted into a surge hospital for coronavirus patients. The Office of Emergency Services announced plans for the California Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to convert the arena into a surge field hospital to provide critical medical services for coronavirus and trauma care patients. The Sacramento Kings Foundation is donating $250,000 to “help provided essential services and supplies” people in need during the pandemic. The team also said it will donate 100,000 medical masks to local health agencies.
- Total confirmed coronavirus cases in Sacramento County are up to 390 including 10 deaths, according to the latest figures released by the Sacramento County Health Department. All patients who have died in the county were either age 65+ or had underlying health conditions, the health department said.
- A second Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputy has died from coronavirus. Deputy David Werksman passed away on April 2. Less than 24 hours prior, the sheriff’s department announced the passing of Deputy Terrell Young. The cause of death for both deputies was due to complications with COVID-19, the sheriff’s department said. Three California law enforcement officers are confirmed to have died from coronavirus, including a Santa Rosa police officer.
- Two dozen state-issued RV trailers arrived at Cal Expo Friday. The trailers are meant to house at-risk people, including the homeless, to help slow the spread of coronavirus in the area. This is just the first batch of trailers. They are of a $150-million plan created by Gov. Gavin Newsom. According to a press release, “Sacramento is expected to receive a total of 63 trailers from the state, which also is leasing motels, hotels and other facilities in partnership with counties and cities to provide immediate isolation placement and housing options for people in need.”
- Roseville Transit is temporarily suspending some bus routes due to the coronavirus pandemic. Transit officials say, effective April 6, the following Commuter routes will be suspended indefinitely. AM: 1, 6, 7 & 10 | PM: 3, 4 & 8. According to Roseville Transit, the changes can be viewed immediately on Bus Tracker but it will take a couple of weeks to appear on Google Maps.
- Sacramento City Unified School District schools are starting to give out computers to students to aid in distance learning as campuses remain closed during the coronavirus pandemic. SCUSD included a list of school sites giving out computers, beginning Friday April 3, in what it is calling the first deployment of the devices. Pickup runs between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. and officials say recipients should have received an email from the principal of the school at which their student(s) attend. The email will include a site-specific pickup time, officials said. Tap here to learn more about the program and the schools that are a part of then first deployment.
- Solomon’s Deli in downtown Sacramento is stepping up to feed hundreds of homeless residents, with meals delivered by Sacramento Covered. Sacramento Covered runs the Whole Person Care Program. According to the mayor’s office, Whole Person Care “enrolls the most medically fragile and vulnerable members of Sacramento’s homeless population and connects them with health care, housing and other resources to help them stabilize their lives.” Sacramento Covered has been delivering 300 and 400 of the meals per day since Solomon’s started putting them together, the mayor’s office said.
- The annual American Graffiti Festival & Car Show in Modesto has become the latest California event to get canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the event's promoters announced. The festival, which has hosted by the North Modesto Kiwanis Club every year for the last 21, was scheduled for June 12-14. Organizers said there is a chance that the festival comes back in the fall but only if the pandemic subsides. Car owners who already submitted entry fees for the 2020 show will be issued refunds.
- Testing issues cloud scope of California's virus outbreak: California is ramping up testing for coronavirus even as a backlog of nearly 60,000 pending tests grows. Lags in getting results can be as long as 12 days and delays treatment and isolation of the sick and leaves an incomplete picture of how widespread the outbreak is in the state. The state has reported that results of nearly two-thirds of the 90,000 tests administered are still pending. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that the backlog is part of a broader national problem. The state had more than 10,000 cases of coronavirus and at least 238 deaths reported Thursday.
- Electric usage up 15% to 20% in recent weeks, CPUC says: “As Californians are practicing safe procedures and following the public health guidelines and Governor Newsom’s Executive Order by sheltering at home, it is likely that residential electric and natural gas usage will greatly increase, leading to higher utility bills,” said CPUC President Marybel Batjer. “Residential electric usage has increased 15% to 20% in recent weeks compared to the same period last year. The CPUC is taking action to ensure that this does not become an added hardship for people who have lost their jobs or are otherwise suffering economically due to COVID-19.” To mitigate rising energy bill costs, the CPUC is looking to accelerate use of California Climate Credit and the CARE Rate Discount in April, May, and June, and change how residential bills are calculated for the duration for the coronavirus crisis.
- North Lake Tahoe: No visitors for right now: Officials in North Lake Tahoe are asking people to reschedule their travel to the area until after the pandemic ends. Placer County will be enforcing short-term rental restrictions to comply with the governor's stay at home order. “Although it is difficult to ask those who support our tourism-driven economy not to visit now, their selfless decision to stay home and revisit their travel plans when travel is deemed safe is critical to the health and future of our mountain community,” said Jeffrey Hentz, CEO of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. “The reality is that continuing to receive an influx of people to the region -- whether they’re coming for a day-trip or an extended stay -- puts tremendous strain on our limited community resources and healthcare system during these challenging times.”
- California counties recommending face coverings: Officials in Calaveras County and Placer County are now recommending face coverings to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. This includes coverings like bandannas, scarves, or a homemade cloth cover. “While we recognize the potential for face coverings to help reduce the spread of germs, we want to stress that people should be staying home first and foremost. And when you must go out for essential needs like groceries or medication, you still need to stay at least six feet away from others,” said Placer County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson. “We do not want people to get a false sense of security from wearing a face covering and gather in close proximity, which is not allowed. Physical distancing remains our primary tool in battling this pandemic.”
OUR MISSION: FACTS NOT FEAR
Coronavirus Background
According to the CDC, coronavirus (COVID-19) is a family of viruses that is spreadable from person to person. Coronavirus is believed to have been first detected in a seafood market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. If someone is sick with coronavirus, the symptoms they may show include mild to severe respiratory illness, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Currently, there is no vaccine; however, the CDC suggests the following precautions, along with any other respiratory illness:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
WHY HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SO CONCERNED
Some people have compared the low overall death toll to the flu's high annual death toll in the United States as a reason not to be concerned about COVID-19, however, doctors and health officials are concerned for three main reasons:
- Some people have built up immunity to the flu, but few have immunity to COVID-19 version of coronavirus.
- Both the flu and COVID-19 are spread by droplets, but COVID-19 might be spread in the air. Scientists are researching exactly how COVID-19 spreads.
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