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Sacramento County hopes to see vaccine distribution for general public by spring

in Health
FILE PHOTO: A healthcare worker holds a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine vial at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, in South Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

SACRAMENTO, Calif — Public health experts are trying to do the most good they can with the first batches of COVID-19 vaccine coming in.

The first doses are being set aside for people in places like hospitals and nursing homes, and as more doses come in, more people will qualify either by age, occupation, or health conditions.

“Right now, we have a huge demand, much more than the vaccine that is coming in,” said Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County Public Health Officer.

When it comes to a rollout for the general public, Dr. Kasirye said the county is hoping to get to that point by spring.

For now, the focus is on making sure that the county gets through the initial batch of vaccinations and that the people with higher risk are covered first. Afterward, they'll look toward increasing outreach.

Continue Reading on ABC 10

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Congress is at the front of the line for COVID vaccines. Which Californians are taking it?

in People

Federal lawmakers are part of the first group of people — alongside frontline health care workers — to get access to the COVID-19 vaccine. But they’re not all taking it.

Many have taken their first does, but others are choosing to wait, saying they don’t want to receive it before seniors who are more likely to die from the novel coronavirus.

The main groups who have access to the vaccine are health care workers, seniors in nursing homes and certain public officials, including members of Congress, President-elect Joe Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Supreme Court justices and executive branch office holders.

Brian Monahan, the attending physician for Congress, recommended to all members that they take the vaccine in order to continue government operations. Monahan also offered to all members of Congress two staff members from their personal offices could receive vaccines. Committee chairs and party leaders can designate four staff members to receive vaccines.

Continue Reading on Sacramento Bee

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Nearly 600 deaths reported statewide following holiday weekend | COVID-19 updates for Northern California

in People

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom will provide an update on the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic at noon on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

The state recorded 567 additional deaths over the weekend following the New Year's holiday. 

Over the weekend, it was announced that the Greater Sacramento Region will continue to stay in the state's stay-at-home order due to low ICU capacity. The region's four-week projected ICU capacity does not meet the 15% threshold to end the order.

Continue Reading on ABC 10

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San Francisco business owner blames indefinite stay-at-home order for spike in burglaries

in business

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Many San Francisco business owners are hoping city officials will intervene after an increase of burglaries city-wide are causing small businesses to pay for damages during an already tough time.

A popular set of restaurants on the Embarcadero are facing $10,000 in damages after a recent burglary.

"A whole bunch of outdoor heaters that were attached to umbrellas that were vandalized and some of them stolen. At Epic we actually had a break-in," said Pete Sittnick, Managing Partner of Waterbar and Epic Steak.

Continue Reading on ABC 7 News

Greater Sacramento region falls below 15% ICU availability, stay-at-home order will ‘likely be extended’

in Health

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Hospital intensive care unit availability for the Greater Sacramento Region has fallen below 15% again, all but ensuring the state's stay-at-home order will not be lifted in time for the new year as many had hoped.

California’s COVID-19 state dashboard on Thursday listed 14.4% ICU availability, the first time the metric has fallen back below 15% in several days.

State officials said Thursday afternoon that the order would "likely be extended based on early ICU projections."

"While the Greater Sacramento region’s daily current ICU capacity numbers have been relatively consistent at approximately 14%, early projections over the next four weeks show ICU capacity is likely to drop," a release from the Department of Public Health said. "Therefore, the order will likely be extended for that region. Official ICU projections for the Greater Sacramento region will be posted on January 2 based on January 1 data."

Continue Reading on KCRA

Free COVID-19 mobile testing for Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties will launch Monday

in Health

MODESTO, Calif. (KTXL) — A new COVID-19 mobile testing van for Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties will launch beginning Monday, Jan. 4, Rep. Josh Harder announced Thursday.

“We heard from communities across the Valley that we’re low on testing capacity — so we went and found some more,” Harder, D-Turlock, said in a statement. “The first step in combating the virus is understanding where it is. This will give us a better chance to do that while also giving people more opportunities to get tested.”

Curative, a national oral COVID-19 testing provider, will offer a self-administered oral test, instead of a nasal swab.

The test is free to all individuals, including those without insurance, and can be administered to children, according to Harder’s office.

Continue Reading on Fox 40

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Going to a New Year’s Eve party in California? Tool lets you calculate the COVID risk

in Holidays

Coronavirus cases are surging across the country as family and friends continue to gather during the holiday season.

If you’re wondering if you should attend a party to ring in the new year, there’s a tool to assess the risk of COVID-19 spreading at gatherings in every California county.

Georgia Institute of Technology researchers created a map tool that allows users to assess the chances of at least one person testing positive for COVID-19 at an event. Counties in yellow pose have the lowest risk while those in dark red pose a risk greater than 99%.

“You can reduce the risk that one case becomes many by wearing a mask, distancing, and gathering outdoors in smaller groups,” the Georgia Institute of Technology researchers wrote.

As of Dec. 30, California is among the states with the most red-colored counties regardless of event size.

Continue Reading on Sacramento Bee

With Latino COVID-19 cases a problem for Stanislaus County, vaccine education starts now

in Health

STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. — For Stanislaus County, vaccine education for the Latino populations starts now.

With 64% of all the COVID-19 cases in the county being Latino, the way forward is inherently linked to getting the population vaccinated.

Kamlesh Kaur, a spokesperson for Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, said the Latino community was disproportionately impacted due in part to the sectors where many of them worked and due to many living in multi-generational households that spread the virus. 

Kaur said one of the key elements behind that 64% figure was the increased rates during the summer for Latinos and a lack of education and messaging.

“It (education) wasn’t as widespread at the time because it was also at the beginning of the pandemic, sort of,” Kaur said. “Since then, we have made a conscious effort in reaching out to the Latino community.”

Continue Reading on ABC 10

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Grant funds from cannabis tax available to fight impaired driving

in Economy

The California Highway Patrol has nearly $27 million in grant funds available to help local communities combat impaired driving.

The funding is the result of Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which provided specified cannabis tax funding to the CHP to administer local grants for education, prevention, and enforcement programs regarding impaired driving.  Funding for the grants comes from a tax on the cultivation and sale of cannabis and cannabis products sold in California since January 2018.

For the current grant cycle, the CHP’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program will be awarding grants based on a competitive process to California law enforcement agencies and local toxicology laboratories meeting the eligibility requirements described in the 2021 Request for Application, available on the CHP website.  

The CHP will hold a virtual workshop on Jan. 6, 2021, to answer questions from potential grant applicants regarding the application process, the 2021 Request for Application, administrative program regulations, and other general questions.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

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The heart of Turlock

in People

The silver lining of the difficult times that overshadow the year 2020 was the spirit of giving that sprang forth from community members young and old who did their best to make difficult times just a little bit easier for their neighbors.

Turlock residents have always been known for their generosity, but the overwhelming impacts of the coronavirus pandemic spurred many to share their time, talents and resources in meaningful ways from church groups shopping for shut-ins to a senior citizen knitting hats and blankets for newborn babies.

Below are a few of the ordinary citizens who made extraordinary efforts to help others in 2020:

— New Life Christian Center’s high school ministry group, comprised of junior and senior students Brooke Rose, Emma Borrelli, Lilly Leonard, Grace Gonzales, Kayla Reese and Bella Pace, took it upon themselves to go grocery shopping for the elderly and others who may not be able to make it to the store due to the impact of COVID-19.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

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