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12/8/2020 3 San Bernardino county supervisors sworn in – San Bernardino Sun
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By By RYAN HAGENRYAN HAGEN | | [email protected]@scng.com | The Sun | The SunPUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: December 7, 2020 at 5:32 p.m.December 7, 2020 at 5:32 p.m. | UPDATED: | UPDATED: December 7, 2020 atDecember 7, 2020 at5:34 p.m.5:34 p.m.
Joe Baca Jr. is sworn in Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, as a member of the San BernardinoJoe Baca Jr. is sworn in Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, as a member of the San BernardinoCounty Board of Supervisors by his father, Joe Baca. (Photo courtesy of SanCounty Board of Supervisors by his father, Joe Baca. (Photo courtesy of SanBernardino County)Bernardino County)
LOCAL NEWSLOCAL NEWS
3 San Bernardino county3 San Bernardino countysupervisors sworn insupervisors sworn in
• • NewsNews
12/8/2020 3 San Bernardino county supervisors sworn in – San Bernardino Sun
https://www.sbsun.com/2020/12/07/3-san-bernardino-county-supervisors-sworn-in/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_s… 2/4
Three newly elected supervisors were sworn into office and officially becameThree newly elected supervisors were sworn into office and officially becamemembers of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Dec.members of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Dec.7.7.
Joe Baca Jr., Joe Baca Jr., electedelected in November, will represent the 5th District, which in November, will represent the 5th District, whichincludes Rialto and Fontana as well as Colton, San Bernardino, Bloomington, Elincludes Rialto and Fontana as well as Colton, San Bernardino, Bloomington, ElRancho Verde, Glen Helen, Arrowhead Farms, Muscoy, Little Third and RosenaRancho Verde, Glen Helen, Arrowhead Farms, Muscoy, Little Third and RosenaRanch.Ranch.
Dawn Rowe and Paul Cook, who won a majority of the vote in their MarchDawn Rowe and Paul Cook, who won a majority of the vote in their Marchprimary races, also took office.primary races, also took office.
RoweRowe, who had already served part of a term after being appointed to the seat, who had already served part of a term after being appointed to the seatwhen its previous occupant, James Ramos, was elected to state Assembly,when its previous occupant, James Ramos, was elected to state Assembly,represents the 3rd District. The district includes parts of San Bernardino, Lomarepresents the 3rd District. The district includes parts of San Bernardino, LomaLinda, Highland and Redlands, as well as communities in the San BernardinoLinda, Highland and Redlands, as well as communities in the San BernardinoMountains, Mojave Desert and Morongo Basin.Mountains, Mojave Desert and Morongo Basin.
Cook, who resigned as a member of Congress the same day, now representsCook, who resigned as a member of Congress the same day, now representsthe 1st District, in the High Desert.the 1st District, in the High Desert.
Two other seats will be up for election in 2022.Two other seats will be up for election in 2022.
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12/8/2020 Paul Cook, elected to Board of Supervisors, resigns from Congress | Political | highlandnews.net
https://www.highlandnews.net/news/political/paul-cook-elected-to-board-of-supervisors-resigns-from-congress/article_529ebf16-38e1-11eb-b4cc-ab18… 1/3
https://www.highlandnews.net/news/political/paul-cook-elected-to-board-of-supervisors-resigns-from-congress/article_529ebf16-38e1-11eb-b4cc-ab18e08a1d79.html
BREAKING
Paul Cook, elected to Board of Supervisors, resigns from Congress
Dec 7, 2020
Rep. Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) announced on Monday, Dec. 7, that he resigned from Congress in
order to take his seat on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. Following his resignation
as the U.S. Representative for California’s 8th District, Cook will be sworn in as the 1st District
Supervisor for San Bernardino County.
During the 2020 Presidential Election, Republican Jay Obernolte defeated Democrat Christine
Bubser to represent the 8th Congressional District. Obernolte earned 56.1 percent of the votes to
Bubser’s 43.9 percent as of Monday, Dec. 7.
Cook issued the following statement:
Highland Community News photo by Charles Roberts — Congressman Paul Cook talks to supporters at the San Manue
12/8/2020 Paul Cook, elected to Board of Supervisors, resigns from Congress | Political | highlandnews.net
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“Serving the people of the Eighth Congressional District has been one of the greatest honors of my
life. While there have been many partisan battles, there have also been important bipartisan
successes that don’t get as much attention.
“I’m particularly proud of the work we’ve accomplished for our veterans, ensuring our nation’s
heroes receive the bene�ts they deserve and that we properly honor their service to our country. My
HIRE Vets Act, which was signed into law nearly 4 years ago, recognizes and promotes businesses
that have proven their commitment to hiring and retaining our veterans, and the Education Equity
Act ensures that veterans can afford housing while using their educational bene�ts.
“As a member of the Armed Services Committee, year after year I was able to come together with my
colleagues from both parties to pass essential national security legislation. When I came to
Congress, over a decade of war had combined with the sequester to leave our military weakened and
our troops at risk. Over the past eight years, I worked with my colleagues to end the sequester,
providing crucial funding for our servicemembers and ensuring they have the training and
equipment they need to keep our nation safe.
“I’m also proud of what we’ve accomplished with respect to passing landmark public lands
legislation, protecting and preserving majestic lands for future generations to enjoy. The California
Desert Protection and Recreation Act established the nation’s �rst series of congressionally
designated Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Areas, established the Alabama Hills National Scenic
Area, set aside new areas as wilderness, and expanded our desert national parks. Additionally, I
joined with my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee to provide new funding to resolve
the maintenance backlog at our national parks and public lands.
“I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their service, their assistance, and their
friendship. It was a privilege to work with so many people who are passionate about service to our
country and communities. I hope we will see a renewed commitment to working together to �nd
bipartisan solutions for our great nation.
“Finally, I want to express my gratitude to my constituents for giving me the opportunity to
represent them in Congress for the last eight years, and I look forward to continuing to serve many
of them as their county supervisor.”
12/8/2020 Paul Cook, elected to Board of Supervisors, resigns from Congress | Political | highlandnews.net
https://www.highlandnews.net/news/political/paul-cook-elected-to-board-of-supervisors-resigns-from-congress/article_529ebf16-38e1-11eb-b4cc-ab18… 3/3
Rep. Cook began his service to our nation in 1966 when he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served
in Vietnam, earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. After 26 years in the Marine Corps, he
retired as a Colonel and continued his service as a Town Councilman, Mayor, and then as a
California State Assemblyman. He was �rst elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and
served in Congress for four terms, before winning election to the San Bernardino County Board of
Supervisors in March of this year.
District 8 includes most of Highland, Yucaipa, the San Bernardino mountain communities and the
High Desert communities.
12/8/2020 Inland Empire to receive extra COVID-19 support from state as cases climb
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/health/2020/12/07/inland-empire-receive-extra-covid-19-support-state-cases-climb/3862080001/ 1/3
HEALTH
Inland Empire to receive extra COVID-19support from state as hospitalized casesclimbNicole Hayden Palm Springs Desert SunPublished 12:37 p.m. PT Dec. 7, 2020
Stable COVID-19 patients in Southern California will be able to receive oxygen treatments athome in order to lessen pressure on hospital systems under a new program announced byGov. Gavin Newsom on Monday.
The Home O2 Program initially targets Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties, allof which are experiencing a rapid surge in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
The program will provide oxygen therapy and paramedic support for up to 100 patientsrecovering at home in either Riverside or San Bernardino counties as well as 100 patients inImperial County, which has been one of the hardest-hit in the state.
The goal is to free up hospital beds for critical COVID-19 patients by creating infrastructurethat will allow patients with less severe symptoms to safely be taken care of in their ownhomes.
Newsom said the Inland Empire region was targeted because Riverside County is“experiencing rather significant rates of growth” in its COVID-19 positivity rate, while SanBernardino County is “feeling pressure on ICU capacity.”
FYI: California unveils voluntary smartphone tool to trace COVID-19 cases
Vaccine: How will it be distributed in the Inland Empire? State offers new clues
The state has not released updated COVID-19 positivity rate data in the past two weeks, butNewsom said Riverside County's single-day positivity rate, or the rate of tests coming backpositive, hit near 16% on Saturday.
12/8/2020 Inland Empire to receive extra COVID-19 support from state as cases climb
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/health/2020/12/07/inland-empire-receive-extra-covid-19-support-state-cases-climb/3862080001/ 2/3
Riverside County health officials reported 1,148 new coronavirus cases and 15 new virus-related deaths on Friday, raising the county's totals to 87,945 confirmed cases and 1,472virus-related deaths since the pandemic began.
State officials say 12% of new cases will end up in a hospital bed two weeks after the case hasbeen confirmed.
Coronavirus hospitalizations in Riverside County continue to climb at an unprecedentedrate, with a record-breaking 658 COVID-19 patients reported in area hospitals as of Friday,according to public officials.
“Every day, we seem to be creating a new record,” Riverside County spokesman Jose Arballosaid of the new daily hospitalized COVID-19 cases. “The trend is definitely going up, and wepredict this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.”
That prediction is based on the fact that people's behaviors haven't changed despiteadditional warnings and restrictions, Arballo said. Officials largely attribute the increase incases to people gathering with other households, which goes against state orders.
Riverside County, along with the majority of California, woke up Monday to new orders fromthe state not to leave their homes for at least the next three weeks except for essentialpurposes as a surge of new cases threatens to overwhelm hospitals.
“Anecdotally, we are hearing about parties here and there,” Arballo said last week. “We evenhave people moving forward with inviting local children to the traditional Santa Claus photoopportunities, inviting them to private homes and the flyers advertise that masks areoptional. That is the kind of thing that is still happening and exactly the thing we wouldprefer not happen.”
In neighboring San Bernardino County, spokesman David Wert said that Inland Empirecounty is experiencing the same issues.
"This is the reason why the county has discouraged residents from gathering and urgespeople to celebrate virtually as much as they possibly can," Wert said last week.
San Bernardino County eclipsed 100,000 COVID-19 cases on Friday, becoming just the 10thcounty nationwide to reach that milestone. Its numbers continued to climb over theweekend, as the county added 6,037 cases.
According to data released Sunday, San Bernardino County has now reported 106,770 casesand 1,175 virus-related deaths. Home to about 2.2 million people, San Bernardino County is
12/8/2020 Inland Empire to receive extra COVID-19 support from state as cases climb
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/health/2020/12/07/inland-empire-receive-extra-covid-19-support-state-cases-climb/3862080001/ 3/3
the state's fifth-most populous county but continues to record the second-highest number ofcases in California.
More: San Bernardino County becomes 10th in U.S. to surpass 100K COVID-19 cases
More: County no longer sending ambulances to every 911 call as hospitalizations surge
San Bernardino County saw an increase of nine hospitalized COVID-19 patients since Friday,raising its total to 913. Of those, 209 are being cared for in intensive care units. That totalcomprises 39.8% of the county's occupied ICU beds.
To account for the predicted uptick in hospitalized patients, Wert said local hospitals arepreparing to add additional surge beds. But Wert said the hospitals worry they won't have thecapacity to staff those beds as the county is struggling to obtain additional medical staff.
The state plans to deploy surge staff to various parts of California but San Bernardino Countywill not be one of the first counties to receive those resources; priority will be givento Imperial County and Northern California.
Already, San Bernardino County is no longer sending ambulances in response to all 911medical calls, as virus patients fill local hospitals. The change aims to "help reduce the strain"on the county's health care system as 911 calls and hospital visits increase amid flu seasonand the pandemic.
Desert Sun reporter Nicole Hayden covers health in California. She can be reached [email protected] or (760) 778-4623. Follow her on Twitter@Nicole_A_Hayden.
12/8/2020 San Bernardino County sets records for coronavirus cases, hospitalizations over weekend – Daily Bulletin
https://www.dailybulletin.com/2020/12/07/san-bernardino-county-sets-records-for-coronavirus-cases-hospitalizations-over-weekend/?utm_co… 1/4
By By NIKIE JOHNSONNIKIE JOHNSON | | [email protected]@scng.com and and BEAU YARBROUGHBEAU YARBROUGH | |
[email protected]@scng.com | |
PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: December 7, 2020 at 2:39 p.m.December 7, 2020 at 2:39 p.m. | UPDATED: | UPDATED: December 7, 2020 at 3:13December 7, 2020 at 3:13
p.m.p.m.
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As Southern California went into a As Southern California went into a renewed coronavirus pandemic lockdown thisrenewed coronavirus pandemic lockdown this
weekendweekend, San Bernardino County set multiple new records., San Bernardino County set multiple new records.
On Saturday, Dec. 5, county health officials recorded a record 3,178 new cases,On Saturday, Dec. 5, county health officials recorded a record 3,178 new cases,
breaking a record set Nov. 21. The county also set three records in a row forbreaking a record set Nov. 21. The county also set three records in a row for
largest weekly increases, setting new records, Saturday; Sunday, Dec. 6; andlargest weekly increases, setting new records, Saturday; Sunday, Dec. 6; and
Monday, Dec. 7; with the seven-day increase ending at 14,257 on Monday.Monday, Dec. 7; with the seven-day increase ending at 14,257 on Monday.
LOCAL NEWSLOCAL NEWS
San Bernardino County setsSan Bernardino County setsrecords for coronavirus cases,records for coronavirus cases,hospitalizations over weekendhospitalizations over weekendThe county also saw highs for weekly increases and theThe county also saw highs for weekly increases and thenumber of those in intensive carenumber of those in intensive care
• • NewsNews
12/8/2020 San Bernardino County sets records for coronavirus cases, hospitalizations over weekend – Daily Bulletin
https://www.dailybulletin.com/2020/12/07/san-bernardino-county-sets-records-for-coronavirus-cases-hospitalizations-over-weekend/?utm_co… 2/4
San Bernardino CountySan Bernardino County
San Bernardino County also saw highs for the number of people hospitalized withSan Bernardino County also saw highs for the number of people hospitalized with
COVID-19, setting new records Saturday and Sunday. As of Sunday, there wereCOVID-19, setting new records Saturday and Sunday. As of Sunday, there were
984 people hospitalized with 984 people hospitalized with the coronavirusthe coronavirus. The number of patients in the. The number of patients in the
county’s intensive care units also set records over the weekend, hitting a peak ofcounty’s intensive care units also set records over the weekend, hitting a peak of
225 in the ICU on Saturday and dropping to 212 on Sunday, which is still the225 in the ICU on Saturday and dropping to 212 on Sunday, which is still the
second-highest number in the county since the pandemic began.second-highest number in the county since the pandemic began.
Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator said SundayDeborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator said Sunday
that the that the winter surge in COVID-19 cases will be the “worst event” in the nation’swinter surge in COVID-19 cases will be the “worst event” in the nation’s
historyhistory..
Here are the latest numbers, according to county and state public health officials.Here are the latest numbers, according to county and state public health officials.
Confirmed cases:Confirmed cases: 107,928 total, up 7,195 from Friday, Dec. 4, averaging 2,037 107,928 total, up 7,195 from Friday, Dec. 4, averaging 2,037
reported per day in the past weekreported per day in the past week
Deaths:Deaths: 1,188 total, up 13 from Friday, averaging 8.4 reported per day in the past 1,188 total, up 13 from Friday, averaging 8.4 reported per day in the past
weekweek
Hospital survey:Hospital survey: 984 confirmed and 76 suspected patients hospitalized Sunday, 984 confirmed and 76 suspected patients hospitalized Sunday,
including 212 confirmed and 6 suspected patients in the ICU, with 24 of 25including 212 confirmed and 6 suspected patients in the ICU, with 24 of 25
facilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is up 26% from a weekfacilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is up 26% from a week
earlier.earlier.
People tested:People tested: 1,220,406 total, up 58,032 from Friday, averaging 14,843 1,220,406 total, up 58,032 from Friday, averaging 14,843
reported per day in the past weekreported per day in the past week
Resolved cases (estimate):Resolved cases (estimate): 96,247 total, up 6,027 from Friday, averaging 1,618 96,247 total, up 6,027 from Friday, averaging 1,618
per day in the past weekper day in the past week
Metrics tracked by the stateMetrics tracked by the state::
ICU capacity: 14.2% across Southern CaliforniaICU capacity: 14.2% across Southern California
New cases per day per 100,000 residents: 46.1New cases per day per 100,000 residents: 46.1
Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 23.0Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 23.0
Test positivity rate: 11.3%Test positivity rate: 11.3%
What that means: Southern California is under a What that means: Southern California is under a stay-home orderstay-home order because because
of the low ICU availability. When that is lifted, San Bernardino County willof the low ICU availability. When that is lifted, San Bernardino County will
return to a return to a color-coded tiercolor-coded tier with restrictions based on the other metrics. with restrictions based on the other metrics.
To see a map and list of cases, deaths and per-capita rates by community,To see a map and list of cases, deaths and per-capita rates by community,
click click herehere..
12/8/2020 Riverside County sets several new coronavirus records – Press Enterprise
https://www.pe.com/2020/12/07/riverside-county-sets-several-new-coronavirus-records/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter.com… 1/4
By By NIKIE JOHNSONNIKIE JOHNSON | | [email protected]@scng.com and and BEAU YARBROUGHBEAU YARBROUGH | |[email protected]@scng.com | |PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: December 7, 2020 at 4:59 p.m.December 7, 2020 at 4:59 p.m. | UPDATED: | UPDATED: December 7, 2020 atDecember 7, 2020 at4:59 p.m.4:59 p.m.
This critical coverage is being provided free to all This critical coverage is being provided free to all readers. Support reporting like this with areaders. Support reporting like this with a
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Riverside County set multiple new Riverside County set multiple new coronaviruscoronavirus records this weekend, as Southern records this weekend, as SouthernCalifornia went into a California went into a renewed coronavirus pandemic lockdownrenewed coronavirus pandemic lockdown..
The county set a new record for total cases as of Monday, Dec. 7, with 4,237 —The county set a new record for total cases as of Monday, Dec. 7, with 4,237 —more than double the county s̓ record, which was set just a week before. Riversidemore than double the county s̓ record, which was set just a week before. RiversideCounty does not report coronavirus data on weekends. The 7,860 new cases overCounty does not report coronavirus data on weekends. The 7,860 new cases overthe past week is also a new seven-day record. This also marks the first time thethe past week is also a new seven-day record. This also marks the first time thecounty has had an average of more than 1,000 new cases for a week.county has had an average of more than 1,000 new cases for a week.
LOCAL NEWSLOCAL NEWS
Riverside County sets severalRiverside County sets severalnew coronavirus recordsnew coronavirus recordsThe county saw new highs in total cases, totalThe county saw new highs in total cases, totalweekly cases, most tests given, and most peopleweekly cases, most tests given, and most peoplehospitalizedhospitalized
• • NewsNews
12/8/2020 Riverside County sets several new coronavirus records – Press Enterprise
https://www.pe.com/2020/12/07/riverside-county-sets-several-new-coronavirus-records/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter.com… 2/4
Riverside CountyRiverside County
It also set a dramatic new record for the most tests given, with 49,729It also set a dramatic new record for the most tests given, with 49,729administered as of Monday afternoon, beating a high set the day afteradministered as of Monday afternoon, beating a high set the day afterThanksgiving. The additional 12,261 tests given in the past week over the weekThanksgiving. The additional 12,261 tests given in the past week over the weekbefore is also a new seven-day record.before is also a new seven-day record.
There are 700 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Riverside County, anotherThere are 700 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Riverside County, anotherrecord, beating the one set Friday Dec. 4.record, beating the one set Friday Dec. 4.
Deborah Birx, the White House s̓ coronavirus response coordinator said SundayDeborah Birx, the White House s̓ coronavirus response coordinator said Sundaythat the that the winter surge in COVID-19 cases will be the “worst event” in the nations̓winter surge in COVID-19 cases will be the “worst event” in the nations̓historyhistory..
Here are the numbers as of Monday, according to state and county public healthHere are the numbers as of Monday, according to state and county public healthofficials.officials.
Confirmed cases:Confirmed cases: 87,945 total, no change from Friday, averaging pending 87,945 total, no change from Friday, averaging pendingreported per day in the past weekreported per day in the past week
Deaths:Deaths: 1,472 total, no change from Friday, averaging pending reported per day in 1,472 total, no change from Friday, averaging pending reported per day inthe past weekthe past week
Hospital survey:Hospital survey: 700 confirmed and 117 suspected patients hospitalized Sunday, 700 confirmed and 117 suspected patients hospitalized Sunday,including 146 confirmed and 7 suspected patients in the ICU, with 19 of 25including 146 confirmed and 7 suspected patients in the ICU, with 19 of 25facilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is up 20% from a weekfacilities reporting. The number of confirmed patients is up 20% from a weekearlier.earlier.
People tested:People tested: 1,162,971 total, no change from Friday, averaging pending reported 1,162,971 total, no change from Friday, averaging pending reportedper day in the past weekper day in the past week
Recovered cases:Recovered cases: 68,236 total, no change from Friday, averaging pending per day 68,236 total, no change from Friday, averaging pending per dayin the past weekin the past week
Metrics tracked by the state:Metrics tracked by the state:
ICU availability: 14.2% across Southern CaliforniaICU availability: 14.2% across Southern CaliforniaNew cases per day per 100,000 residents: 28.5New cases per day per 100,000 residents: 28.5Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 21.1Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 21.1Test positivity rate: 7.7%Test positivity rate: 7.7%What that means: Southern California is under a What that means: Southern California is under a stay-home orderstay-home order because of because ofthe low ICU availability. When that is lifted, Riverside County will return to athe low ICU availability. When that is lifted, Riverside County will return to acolor-coded tiercolor-coded tier with restrictions based on the other metrics. with restrictions based on the other metrics.
12/8/2020 Riverside County sets several new coronavirus records – Press Enterprise
https://www.pe.com/2020/12/07/riverside-county-sets-several-new-coronavirus-records/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=twitter.com… 3/4
To see a map and list of cases, deaths and per-capita rates by community,To see a map and list of cases, deaths and per-capita rates by community,click click herehere..
Here is a look at how the county s̓ numbers have changed each day:Here is a look at how the county s̓ numbers have changed each day:
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Nikie JohnsonNikie Johnson | Data Reporter| Data ReporterNikie Johnson has been a journalist in Southern California since 2005 when sheNikie Johnson has been a journalist in Southern California since 2005 when shestarted at The Press-Enterprise, now part of the Southern California Newsstarted at The Press-Enterprise, now part of the Southern California NewsGroup. A Midwestern native, she graduated from the University of Houston withGroup. A Midwestern native, she graduated from the University of Houston witha degree in communications and previously worked at the Florida Times-Uniona degree in communications and previously worked at the Florida Times-Unionin Jacksonville. She has been a copy editor, metro editor, digital editor andin Jacksonville. She has been a copy editor, metro editor, digital editor andbreaking news editor, and now uses data and public records to tell stories on thebreaking news editor, and now uses data and public records to tell stories on thecrime and public safety beat. She has trained with the Poynter Institute,crime and public safety beat. She has trained with the Poynter Institute,Investigative Reporters & Editors and USC's Center for Health Journalism, andInvestigative Reporters & Editors and USC's Center for Health Journalism, andhas won several awards for breaking news coverage and reporting on housinghas won several awards for breaking news coverage and reporting on housingpermits.permits.
[email protected]@scng.com
Follow Nikie Johnson Follow Nikie Johnson @nikiesnews@nikiesnews
Beau YarbroughBeau Yarbrough | Reporter| ReporterBeau Yarbrough wrote his �rst newspaper article taking on an authority �gureBeau Yarbrough wrote his �rst newspaper article taking on an authority �gure(his middle school principal) when he was in 7th grade. He s̓ been a professional(his middle school principal) when he was in 7th grade. He s̓ been a professionaljournalist since 1992, working in Virginia, Egypt and California. In that time,journalist since 1992, working in Virginia, Egypt and California. In that time,he s̓ covered community news, features, politics, local government, education,he s̓ covered community news, features, politics, local government, education,the comic book industry and more. He s̓ covered the war in Bosnia, interviewedthe comic book industry and more. He s̓ covered the war in Bosnia, interviewedpresidential candidates, written theatrical reviews, attended a seance, ridden inpresidential candidates, written theatrical reviews, attended a seance, ridden ina blimp and interviewed both Batman and Wonder Woman (Adam West anda blimp and interviewed both Batman and Wonder Woman (Adam West andLynda Carter). He also cooks a mean pot of chili.Lynda Carter). He also cooks a mean pot of chili.
[email protected]@scng.com
Follow Beau Yarbrough Follow Beau Yarbrough @LBY3@LBY3
Tags: Tags: All ReadersAll Readers,, CoronavirusCoronavirus,, HealthHealth,, public healthpublic health,,Top Stories PETop Stories PE
12/8/2020 California coronavirus cases push capacity of ICUs - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-08/california-icu-beds-fill-up-coronavirus-cases 1/15
CALIFORNIA
Hospitals face tough choices as ICUs fill up with COVID-19patients
Intensive care units in California are rapidly filling with COVID-19 patients. Above, medical workers treat a COVID-19 patientin May at Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
By RONG-GONG LIN II, LUKE MONEY, SOUMYA KARLAMANGLA
DEC. 8, 2020 | 5 AM
ADVERTISEMENT
12/8/2020 California coronavirus cases push capacity of ICUs - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-08/california-icu-beds-fill-up-coronavirus-cases 2/15
With intensive care units across California rapidly filling with COVID-19 patients,
hospitals have a limited number of tools available to free up more capacity in the
coming weeks as cases are expected to surge.
Back in the spring, the government opened a so-called “surge” hospital in Los Angeles
and even docked a Navy medical ship in San Pedro harbor to take overflow patients if
medical centers filled up. But officials found that those supplemental facilities did not
treat many patients and did not provide the same level of care as traditional hospitals.
“Hospital ships are wonderful if you’re a 23-year-old wounded sailor. But it’s no place to
take care of ICU patients” sick with COVID-19, said Dr. George Rutherford, an
epidemiologist and infectious-diseases expert at UC San Francisco. “If they need to be in
the ICU, they need to be in the ICU.”
So in the coming weeks in L.A. County, hospitals will try to choreograph their staffing to
best meet the needs of critically ill patients, some of whom still might have to be sent to
other areas of the hospital that don’t typically treat ICU cases.
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But that comes with risks. Should a staff shortage become particularly dire, critically ill
patients could end up getting care from nurses and doctors without up-to-date
specialized intensive care training.
12/8/2020 California coronavirus cases push capacity of ICUs - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-08/california-icu-beds-fill-up-coronavirus-cases 3/15
“Physical beds are not the limiting factor in this, or most other, pandemics,” Dr.
Christina Ghaly, the Los Angeles County director of health services, said recently. “What
matters is the hospital’s practical ability to take care of the patients that come in the
door. And that requires not just a bed, but more importantly it requires people: It
requires staff. It requires supplies and equipment.”
Rutherford was more blunt: “If, all of a sudden, you have one nurse taking care of seven
patients on ventilators like in New York, the mortality can be astronomical.”
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California Department of Public Health
California coronavirus hospitalizationsThe number of hospital patients with a confirmed case
Total patients by day
April May June July August September October November0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
ICUICU OtherOther
Ben Welsh
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12/8/2020 California coronavirus cases push capacity of ICUs - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-08/california-icu-beds-fill-up-coronavirus-cases 4/15
ICU beds are still available even in hard-hit places like Los Angeles County. But the
units are filling up fast, as California posts record numbers of new daily coronavirus
cases. A Times county-by-county tally Monday recorded more than 34,000 new
infections reported on Monday, shattering the previous single-day record of 22,369
cases tallied on Friday.
California has now recorded more than 20,000 cumulative COVID-19 deaths, a
milestone recorded Monday by The Times’ coronavirus tracker.
ICU capacity has become tight in several locations around Los Angeles County,
including the Westside, the San Gabriel Valley and southeast L.A. County. Among
staffed and licensed beds, on Sunday, the Westside had eight ICU beds available;
southeast L.A. County had seven, and the San Gabriel Valley had just three.
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Times survey of local health departments
Coronavirus cases in CaliforniaThe number of cases announced each day by local health officials.
New cases by day
May June July August September October November December0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
The seven-day average offers a more stable view of the trend than daily totals, which are subject to bureaucratic delays.
Ben Welsh
7-day average
12/8/2020 California coronavirus cases push capacity of ICUs - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-08/california-icu-beds-fill-up-coronavirus-cases 5/15
According to data released Monday, L.A. County hit more than 3,000 COVID-19
hospitalizations on Sunday, and officials say it’s possible that number will rise to 4,000
by next week as more people who were infected during the Thanksgiving holiday fall ill.
ICUs can surge beyond the number of licensed, staffed beds when needed, but the level
of expansion is finite.
Hospitals can also redeploy staff from other parts of the healthcare system, such as
workers who now work in clinics and other outpatient settings or in other procedures. It
does decrease outpatient services, “but it can importantly help add bed capacity when
it’s most needed,” Ghaly said.
Hospitals can also cancel scheduled procedures and work to discharge patients who can
be cared for in lower-level settings, Ghaly said.
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These steps come with consequences.
Delaying scheduled care for other procedures can come at a health cost for other
patients who need hospital care for chronic diseases, like heart disease, which could
increase mortality for reasons not related to the pandemic. And relying on hospital staff
without specialized training in intensive care is not ideal, but the last resort when
capacity is overstretched.
Hospitals can do their best to cancel scheduled surgeries to make way for coronavirus
patients. But at a certain point, a crush of patients will eventually lead to surging
mortality, such as from overwhelmed nurses and doctors taking care of far too many
critically ill COVID-19 patients than they normally would.
“This is not an ideal situation and can lead to sub-optimal outcomes for patients,” Ghaly
said.
12/8/2020 California coronavirus cases push capacity of ICUs - Los Angeles Times
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There are also growing concerns about hospital staffing becoming tighter if more
personnel get sick from COVID-19.
Coronavirus cases statewide »As of December 7, 10:11 p.m. Pacific
1,385,689confirmed
20,054deaths
Statewide deaths by day
Jan. 26 Dec. 70
100
200
California » L.A. County » Orange County »
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Healthcare workers are being infected by the virus at a pace never before seen in this
pandemic. In the past week, there were 1,745 new coronavirus cases among healthcare
workers in L.A. County, more than double what was reported the week before.
“It’s the highest weekly number of healthcare workers testing positive for COVID-19
that we have ever reported,” Ferrer said. “And that has a tremendous impact on our
capacity throughout our entire healthcare system to take care of those who are sick.”
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Other healthcare systems have come under pressure from worker illnesses or exposure
to the virus. The Mayo Clinic Health System, which serves Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Iowa, last month said that more than 1,500 of its staff were out due to a diagnosis or
exposure to the virus, according to the Associated Press.
12/8/2020 California coronavirus cases push capacity of ICUs - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-08/california-icu-beds-fill-up-coronavirus-cases 7/15
The California Department of Public Health on Monday said Southern California has an
available ICU capacity of 10.9%, and the San Joaquin Valley, 6.3%.
In previous waves of the pandemic, other parts of California have been able to help
other hard-hit spots — San Francisco and San Diego County, for instance, accepted
COVID-19 patients from hard-hit Imperial County along the Mexican border. That
won’t be possible as much now, with the Bay Area already in the grips of an
unprecedented surge.
“If we get in a situation where we don’t collectively take this seriously, we will not have
the capacity in other parts of the state to actually help each other out when things get
tight,” said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of UC San Francisco’s department of
epidemiology and biostatistics.
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MORE COVERAGE ON CORONAVIRUS IN CALIFORNIA
12/8/2020 California coronavirus cases push capacity of ICUs - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-08/california-icu-beds-fill-up-coronavirus-cases 8/15
Some restaurants are defying California lockdown rules: ‘We have to make a living’
Los Angeles City Council panel seeks to scale back potential LAPD job cuts
California’s new contact-tracing app: What you need to know
In Santa Clara County, the number of ICU beds filled with COVID-19 patients has
tripled in the last month. The home of Silicon Valley has just 15% of its ICU beds
12/8/2020 California coronavirus cases push capacity of ICUs - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-08/california-icu-beds-fill-up-coronavirus-cases 9/15
available.
“Unfortunately, we are shattering records, every day,” said Dr. Sara Cody, the health
officer for Santa Clara County. “Many of our hospitals have already elected to cancel
elective surgeries, and other procedures in order to be able to care for the influx of
COVID patients.”
Hospitals that are overloaded with critically ill patients do try to transfer them to other
facilities that can accept them. “But, particularly with critical care patients, there are
added challenges in in moving patients who are critically ill,” Cody said.
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With infections continuing to rise, L.A. County’s average daily death toll could increase
by 63%, from 40 deaths a day currently to 65 fatalities daily, Ferrer said. L.A. County is
now averaging more than 8,000 new coronavirus cases a day over the past week — a
quadrupling in the last month.
Statewide, California’s hospitals exceeded 10,000 COVID-19 patients for the first time.
That’s double the number from less than three weeks ago.
Unless trends change, this surge will be unlike the first two waves that have already
resulted in thousands of deaths in Los Angeles County. Ghaly projected last week that
based on trends, L.A. County will run short of ICU beds before Christmas — a shortage
that never occurred in the previous two waves.
One doctor at an L.A. County public hospital said that although there are currently
sufficient resources, shortages of beds and staff are expected soon given the recent rapid
rise in case counts.
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12/8/2020 California coronavirus cases push capacity of ICUs - Los Angeles Times
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“We’re on the borderline now and the direction it goes is now going to be dependent on
society’s willingness to step up and adhere to the restrictions,” the doctor said.
The physician, who asked not to be named because the person was not authorized to
speak publicly, said the summer surge was extremely difficult to cope with, due to the
flood of patients entering hospitals up and down the state.
“We’re all worried that this next surge is going to be worse than that,” the doctor said.
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12/8/2020 California’s leaders should focus on securing vaccine supplies – Press Enterprise
https://www.pe.com/2020/12/07/californias-leaders-should-focus-on-securing-vaccine-supplies/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=so… 1/5
By By MARC JOFFEMARC JOFFE | |PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: December 7, 2020 at 9:53 a.m.December 7, 2020 at 9:53 a.m. | UPDATED: | UPDATED: December 7, 2020 atDecember 7, 2020 at9:53 a.m.9:53 a.m.
(iStockphoto)(iStockphoto)
California and other states are discussing how to disseminate COVID-19California and other states are discussing how to disseminate COVID-19vaccinations and who will be offered them first.vaccinations and who will be offered them first.
OPINIONOPINION
California’s leaders shouldCalifornia’s leaders shouldfocus on securing vaccinefocus on securing vaccinesuppliessupplies
• • OpinionOpinion
12/8/2020 California’s leaders should focus on securing vaccine supplies – Press Enterprise
https://www.pe.com/2020/12/07/californias-leaders-should-focus-on-securing-vaccine-supplies/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=so… 2/5
The state s̓ plan says when California gets its first batch of vaccines that healthThe state s̓ plan says when California gets its first batch of vaccines that healthcare workers who interact with patients at acute care, psychiatric andcare workers who interact with patients at acute care, psychiatric andcorrectional facility hospitals, workers at skilled nursing facilities, paramedics,correctional facility hospitals, workers at skilled nursing facilities, paramedics,and workers at dialysis centers will be the ʻtier oneʼ priorities.and workers at dialysis centers will be the ʻtier oneʼ priorities.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is scheduled to meet on Dec. 10The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is scheduled to meet on Dec. 10to consider an emergency use authorization for Pfizer s̓ coronavirus vaccineto consider an emergency use authorization for Pfizer s̓ coronavirus vaccineand then the Moderna vaccine s̓ authorization is scheduled to be consideredand then the Moderna vaccine s̓ authorization is scheduled to be consideredthe following week. If the vaccines are approved by FDA, California expects tothe following week. If the vaccines are approved by FDA, California expects tohave some supplies quickly.have some supplies quickly.
“We are anticipating 327,000 doses of the vaccine, Pfizer, to come in within the“We are anticipating 327,000 doses of the vaccine, Pfizer, to come in within thenext few weeks,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said recently.next few weeks,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said recently.
Unfortunately, that s̓ not enough vaccines for even the state s̓ first tier of healthUnfortunately, that s̓ not enough vaccines for even the state s̓ first tier of healthcare workers. The decision to prioritize health care workers who may treatcare workers. The decision to prioritize health care workers who may treatCOVID-19 patients is non-controversial. Keeping hospitals fully staffed during aCOVID-19 patients is non-controversial. Keeping hospitals fully staffed during asurge of admissions may prevent the health care system from being furthersurge of admissions may prevent the health care system from being furtheroverwhelmed this winter, although with limited vaccine supplies it might beoverwhelmed this winter, although with limited vaccine supplies it might beuseful to differentiate amongst Californias̓ 1.7 million health care workers byuseful to differentiate amongst Californias̓ 1.7 million health care workers byrecognizing the risks for those dealing with patients and families are far higherrecognizing the risks for those dealing with patients and families are far higherthan those for hospital administrators and others who are less likely to come inthan those for hospital administrators and others who are less likely to come incontact with infectious patients.contact with infectious patients.
Once we move beyond health care workers, however, choices generally comeOnce we move beyond health care workers, however, choices generally comewith tradeoffs and pros and cons. The California Department of Public Healthwith tradeoffs and pros and cons. The California Department of Public Healthrecently announced its Community Vaccine Advisory Committee which “willrecently announced its Community Vaccine Advisory Committee which “willhelp guide the state s̓ decision making and build equity into decisions abouthelp guide the state s̓ decision making and build equity into decisions aboutvaccine distribution and allocation.” The committee includes representativesvaccine distribution and allocation.” The committee includes representativesfrom at least 64 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), many of whichfrom at least 64 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), many of whichadvocate for specific demographic or interest groups. Unionized publicadvocate for specific demographic or interest groups. Unionized publicemployee interests are represented by AFSCME and SEIU, for example, but it isemployee interests are represented by AFSCME and SEIU, for example, but it isnot clear who is advocating for other workers, like those driving and deliveringnot clear who is advocating for other workers, like those driving and deliveringfood for app-based companies like Uber or working at non-unionized homefood for app-based companies like Uber or working at non-unionized homeimprovement, food, and convenience stores.improvement, food, and convenience stores.
Setting priorities for the vaccines while supplies are limited is a necessarilySetting priorities for the vaccines while supplies are limited is a necessarilysubjective process but it also comes with real drawbacks. An uncertainsubjective process but it also comes with real drawbacks. An uncertainpercentage of individuals in priority groups (aside from health care workers)percentage of individuals in priority groups (aside from health care workers)may decline or delay receiving the vaccine due to fears of side effects ormay decline or delay receiving the vaccine due to fears of side effects orbecause they have been persuaded by arguments from anti-vaxxers. It isbecause they have been persuaded by arguments from anti-vaxxers. It isdifficult to predict how many members of any given priority group will showdifficult to predict how many members of any given priority group will showup for their vaccinations.up for their vaccinations.
12/8/2020 California’s leaders should focus on securing vaccine supplies – Press Enterprise
https://www.pe.com/2020/12/07/californias-leaders-should-focus-on-securing-vaccine-supplies/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=so… 3/5
A better focus for the state s̓ public policy and health leaders is to figure outA better focus for the state s̓ public policy and health leaders is to figure outhow California can procure and distribute more doses of safe and effectivehow California can procure and distribute more doses of safe and effectivevaccines more quickly. One way to do that would be to encourage FDA to speedvaccines more quickly. One way to do that would be to encourage FDA to speedup its process and to also assess vaccines being developed in China, India, andup its process and to also assess vaccines being developed in China, India, andother countries. If these alternative vaccines are judged worthy by healthother countries. If these alternative vaccines are judged worthy by healthauthorities, they could potentially be purchased and imported in largeauthorities, they could potentially be purchased and imported in largequantities.quantities.
If the prioritization process slows down distribution of vaccines, that delayIf the prioritization process slows down distribution of vaccines, that delaywould likely increase the number of infections and deaths. In extreme, worst-would likely increase the number of infections and deaths. In extreme, worst-case scenarios, errors and power failures could destroy doses that need to becase scenarios, errors and power failures could destroy doses that need to bekept in exceptionally cold storage. So quickly distributing vaccine doses as soonkept in exceptionally cold storage. So quickly distributing vaccine doses as soonas they are received has real advantages that a complex allocation schemeas they are received has real advantages that a complex allocation schememight limit.might limit.
In fact a recent report in Health Affairs by Yale and Harvard researchers said,In fact a recent report in Health Affairs by Yale and Harvard researchers said,“Using a mathematical simulation of vaccination, we find that factors related to“Using a mathematical simulation of vaccination, we find that factors related toimplementation will contribute more to the success of vaccination programsimplementation will contribute more to the success of vaccination programsthan a vaccine s̓ efficacy as determined in clinical trials. The benefits of athan a vaccine s̓ efficacy as determined in clinical trials. The benefits of avaccine will decline substantially in the event of manufacturing or deploymentvaccine will decline substantially in the event of manufacturing or deploymentdelays, significant vaccine hesitancy, or greater epidemic severity.”delays, significant vaccine hesitancy, or greater epidemic severity.”
Rather than conduct an open-ended and ultimately counterproductive debateRather than conduct an open-ended and ultimately counterproductive debateover who is the most worthy of being immunized, and in which order, weover who is the most worthy of being immunized, and in which order, weshould think in terms of how we can prioritize all Californians who want theshould think in terms of how we can prioritize all Californians who want thevaccination as soon as possible.vaccination as soon as possible.
Marc Joffe is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation. Marc Joffe is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
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12/8/2020 California rolls out new app to alert you of potential COVID-19 exposure – Press Enterprise
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By By MAGGIE ANGSTMAGGIE ANGST | | [email protected]@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay | BayArea News GroupArea News GroupPUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: December 7, 2020 at 9:58 a.m.December 7, 2020 at 9:58 a.m. | UPDATED: | UPDATED: December 7, 2020 atDecember 7, 2020 at3:26 p.m.3:26 p.m.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the release of the CA Notify app.California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the release of the CA Notify app.Notify CA app will send notifications to a user’s cell phone alerting them if they haveNotify CA app will send notifications to a user’s cell phone alerting them if they havebeen in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. Thebeen in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. Theapp will be available on Thursday, December 10 for iPhone and Android phones.app will be available on Thursday, December 10 for iPhone and Android phones.Pictured is an iPhone user on the Notify CA web site in Santa Ana on Monday,Pictured is an iPhone user on the Notify CA web site in Santa Ana on Monday,December 7, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)December 7, 2020. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
NEWSNEWSCALIFORNIA NEWSCALIFORNIA NEWS
California rolls out new app toCalifornia rolls out new app toalert you of potential COVID-19alert you of potential COVID-19exposureexposureStarting Thursday, Californians can startStarting Thursday, Californians can startreceiving the alertsreceiving the alerts
• • NewsNews
12/8/2020 California rolls out new app to alert you of potential COVID-19 exposure – Press Enterprise
https://www.pe.com/2020/12/07/california-rolls-out-new-app-to-alert-you-of-potential-covid-19-exposure/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_m… 2/4
“Every day that is saved in alerting others of a possible exposure, is a day that a“Every day that is saved in alerting others of a possible exposure, is a day that apossibly infectious person can begin self-quarantine and reduce the spread,”possibly infectious person can begin self-quarantine and reduce the spread,”California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said in a newsCalifornia Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said in a newsrelease. “This technology is another way for Californians to take proactive stepsrelease. “This technology is another way for Californians to take proactive stepsto keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe.”to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe.”
As Californias̓ latest coronavirus surge spreads at a record-setting pace, stateAs Californias̓ latest coronavirus surge spreads at a record-setting pace, stateofficials on Monday unveiled a new cell phone app aimed at helpingofficials on Monday unveiled a new cell phone app aimed at helpingCalifornians track their exposure to the virus.Californians track their exposure to the virus.
Starting Thursday, Californians will be able to opt into the new app — dubbedStarting Thursday, Californians will be able to opt into the new app — dubbedCA Notify — and receive notifications on their cell phones informing them ifCA Notify — and receive notifications on their cell phones informing them ifthey have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for thethey have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for thevirus.virus.
California joins more than a dozen states, including New York, Michigan andCalifornia joins more than a dozen states, including New York, Michigan andWashington, to launch exposure notification apps in recent months.Washington, to launch exposure notification apps in recent months.
“Throughout this pandemic, we have tapped Californias̓ talent pool to fight this“Throughout this pandemic, we have tapped Californias̓ talent pool to fight thisvirus and that includes working with tech innovators like Apple and Google,”virus and that includes working with tech innovators like Apple and Google,”Newsom said in a news release. “… The process is private, anonymous andNewsom said in a news release. “… The process is private, anonymous andsecure, and is one of the many tools in the state s̓ data-driven approach to helpsecure, and is one of the many tools in the state s̓ data-driven approach to helpreduce the spread.”reduce the spread.”
The tool, which uses Bluetooth technology to exchange random codes betweenThe tool, which uses Bluetooth technology to exchange random codes betweenphones, was developed in partnership with Google and Apple and piloted onphones, was developed in partnership with Google and Apple and piloted onthe campuses of the University California, San Diego and the University ofthe campuses of the University California, San Diego and the University ofCalifornia, San Francisco. State officials vow that the tool protects usersʼ dataCalifornia, San Francisco. State officials vow that the tool protects usersʼ dataprivacy and does not reveal a user s̓ identity or location.privacy and does not reveal a user s̓ identity or location.
If a person tests positive for COVID-19, the California Department of PublicIf a person tests positive for COVID-19, the California Department of PublicHealth will send a text with a verification code that the person will then need toHealth will send a text with a verification code that the person will then need toplug into the CA Notify app. Once the code is entered, it will trigger an alertplug into the CA Notify app. Once the code is entered, it will trigger an alertthrough the CA Notify app to the phones of people who may have been within 6through the CA Notify app to the phones of people who may have been within 6feet of that individual for 15 minutes or more in the past 14 days.feet of that individual for 15 minutes or more in the past 14 days.
State officials say the new app will help curb the alarming rate of spread ofState officials say the new app will help curb the alarming rate of spread ofCOVID-19 across California by giving residents more timely information aboutCOVID-19 across California by giving residents more timely information aboutexposure in order to make more responsible decisions around quarantine andexposure in order to make more responsible decisions around quarantine andtesting.testing.
12/8/2020 California rolls out new app to alert you of potential COVID-19 exposure – Press Enterprise
https://www.pe.com/2020/12/07/california-rolls-out-new-app-to-alert-you-of-potential-covid-19-exposure/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_m… 3/4
Cases and hospitalizations Cases and hospitalizations have spiked at an alarming rate in Californiahave spiked at an alarming rate in California since sincethe Thanksgiving holiday weekend. For the first time, the state is averagingthe Thanksgiving holiday weekend. For the first time, the state is averaging20,000 cases per day over the past week, a rate five times higher than at the20,000 cases per day over the past week, a rate five times higher than at thestart of November. More Californians are hospitalized with COVID-19 than everstart of November. More Californians are hospitalized with COVID-19 than everbefore, numbering nearly 10,000, as of Saturday, with more than 2,200 in thebefore, numbering nearly 10,000, as of Saturday, with more than 2,200 in theICU, according to the latest data from the state.ICU, according to the latest data from the state.
As of Monday, the rate of tests coming back with positive results over the pastAs of Monday, the rate of tests coming back with positive results over the pastseven days is average 10.7% — more than double the positivity rate seen justseven days is average 10.7% — more than double the positivity rate seen justone month ago.one month ago.
In order to receive notifications, Californians must download the CA NotifyIn order to receive notifications, Californians must download the CA Notifyapp from the Google Play Store and allow notifications of the app through theapp from the Google Play Store and allow notifications of the app through thephone settings.phone settings.
This story will be updated. This story will be updated.
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Maggie AngstMaggie Angst | Peninsula| PeninsulareporterreporterMaggie Angst covers government on the Peninsula for TheMaggie Angst covers government on the Peninsula for TheMercury News. She's a Chicago native and previously coveredMercury News. She's a Chicago native and previously coveredbreaking news for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel andbreaking news for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and
education for the Island Packet in Hilton Head, S.C.education for the Island Packet in Hilton Head, S.C.
[email protected]@bayareanewsgroup.com
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12/8/2020 California's new contact-tracing app: What you need to know - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2020-12-07/california-just-launched-a-contact-tracing-app-what-do-you-need-to-know 1/10
TECHNOLOGY
California’s new contact-tracing app: What you need to know
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a voluntary smartphone app to alert people if they were in close contact withsomeone who tested positive for the coronavirus.
By SUHAUNA HUSSAIN | STAFF WRITER
DEC. 7, 2020 | 6:30 PM
Beginning Thursday, Californians will have the option to receive smartphone
notifications if they’ve been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the novel
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12/8/2020 California's new contact-tracing app: What you need to know - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2020-12-07/california-just-launched-a-contact-tracing-app-what-do-you-need-to-know 2/10
coronavirus.
California on Monday announced the public rollout of an app to support the state’s
COVID-19 contact tracing efforts. Called CA Notify, the app relies on a tech framework
created by Apple and Google that uses Apple and Android phones’ short-range
Bluetooth radios to determine when two devices have been near one another for more
than 15 minutes.
The tool arrives seven months after the tech giants released the digital interface and
Gov. Gavin Newsom said it would be key to supporting California’s contact-tracing
efforts. It comes as California’s coronavirus hospitalizations have surged past 10,000,
making this wave of infections the largest to date.
“This holds a lot of promise,” Newsom said at a news conference Monday. “The more
people that participate in it, the more that opt in, the more effective this program can
be.”
However, Newsom said he didn’t want to “overstate” the utility of the app: In order for
it to have a profound effect, many Californians would need to use it.
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Here’s what you need to know:
12/8/2020 California's new contact-tracing app: What you need to know - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2020-12-07/california-just-launched-a-contact-tracing-app-what-do-you-need-to-know 3/10
How does it work?
When users of the app test positive for COVID-19, they will receive a text notification
from the California Department of Public Health with a code to input.
Those whose phones have been in proximity to the phone of the infected person within
the previous two weeks will receive exposure alerts.
The idea is to identify exposed individuals early, allowing them to quickly quarantine. In
a pilot program involving an estimated 250,000 students, staff and faculty at seven UC
campuses earlier this fall, the system proved effective, Dr. Christopher Longhurst, chief
information officer at UC San Diego Health, said in a statement.
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Tech companies, California officials and health experts point out these types of tools are
no substitute for other measures to prevent transmission, including distancing, mask-
wearing and interview-based contact tracing.
TECHNOLOGY
Apple and Google won’t solve coronavirus contact tracing. Here’s what willMay 1, 2020
Can I opt out of using the app?
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12/8/2020 California's new contact-tracing app: What you need to know - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2020-12-07/california-just-launched-a-contact-tracing-app-what-do-you-need-to-know 4/10
Yes. Californians voluntarily activate the app. There is no requirement that you use it.
Newsom underscored this point in Monday’s news conference, aiming to get out ahead
of privacy concerns that could deter use of the platform.
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“It’s 100% private, 100% secure, 100% voluntary. You opt in, or you choose not to,” he
said.
What are the privacy implications?
Minimal. Safeguards proposed by Apple and Google won cautious approval from
privacy advocates such as the American Civil Liberties Union (though the organization
has remained skeptical overall of the need to use apps for exposure notification.)
Data stay anonymous because mobile devices in proximity to one another only exchange
randomly generated strings of numbers — keys that rotate frequently to prevent
tracking a device over time. Data are stored on the user’s device only 14 days, after
which it is automatically deleted.
Has the technology worked in other states?
In the dozen-plus states where the technology has been made available so far,
encouraging enough people to sign up has posed a huge hurdle.
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Preliminary research by a team at Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Medicine
projected that 15% uptake of an exposure notification system in Washington state
(combined with manual contact tracing efforts) could reduce infections by 15% and
deaths by 11%.
12/8/2020 California's new contact-tracing app: What you need to know - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2020-12-07/california-just-launched-a-contact-tracing-app-what-do-you-need-to-know 5/10
Data from Nevada show how tough it is to reach that level of adoption. On Aug. 24,
Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services launched exposure notification
app COVID Trace to its 3 million-plus residents. By Nov. 9, the app had been
downloaded less than 70,000 times — or just under 3% of the state’s adult population,
according to Time magazine.
How can I activate the CA Notify app?
Californians with Android phones must download the app from the Google Play store
once it’s available Thursday, and check to make sure their device’s Bluetooth is on.
Users of iPhones running iOS version 13.7 or later can enable notifications without
downloading anything by opening “Settings,” scrolling down to “Exposure
Notifications,” selecting “Turn On” and setting California as the location.
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Times staff writer John Myers contributed to this report.
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12/8/2020 California's COVID shutdown will last through Christmas - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/california-covid-19-shutdown-to-last-through-christmas-as-hospitalizations-spike 1/17
CALIFORNIA
California coronavirus shutdown will last through Christmas asdeaths explode past 20,000
Kelsy Tasem, 11, left, and sister Mackenzi, 14, have their socially distanced photo taken with Santa, played by Je�rey Fast, onWednesday at Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
By LUKE MONEY, RONG-GONG LIN II, SEAN GREENE
DEC. 7, 2020 | 10:46 AM UPDATED DEC. 8, 2020 | 4:30 AM
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12/8/2020 California's COVID shutdown will last through Christmas - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/california-covid-19-shutdown-to-last-through-christmas-as-hospitalizations-spike 2/17
For millions of Californians, the COVID-19 pandemic will provide a most unwelcome
gift this Christmas: a wide-ranging shutdown imposed as the state grapples with its
most massive and dangerous surge in infections and hospitalizations to date.
Monday provided even more devastating news: More than 20,000 cumulative deaths
and more than 34,000 new coronavirus cases reported Monday alone, according to The
Times’ county-by-county tally of infections. That shatters the previous single-day
record, set Friday, when 22,369 coronavirus cases were tallied.
And for the first time, more than 10,000 people with coronavirus infections are now
hospitalized in California — quadruple the number from Halloween.
The stay-at-home restrictions that took hold at 11:59 p.m. Sunday across Southern
California and the San Joaquin Valley will remain in place for at least three weeks,
meaning those regions will not be able to emerge from the state’s latest stay-at-home
order until Dec. 28 at the earliest.
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Five counties in the San Francisco Bay Area also announced last week that they were
proactively implementing the new restrictions and planned to keep them in place until
at least Jan. 4.
12/8/2020 California's COVID shutdown will last through Christmas - Los Angeles Times
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Combined, those regions are home to some 33 million Californians, representing 84% of
the state’s population.
CALIFORNIA
L.A. County faces ‘three weeks of devastation’ before COVID-19 surge might slow,experts sayDec. 7, 2020
The timing of the rules is the latest blow, in a year full of them, for many businesses —
which have been battered by coronavirus-related restrictions and hoped the holiday
shopping season would throw them a desperately needed lifeline — and to the psyche of
Californians, who for months have lived with the threat of the coronavirus hanging over
their heads.
Officials, though, have said desperate times call for drastic measures. The number of
new daily coronavirus cases has skyrocketed to a level that would have been unthinkable
just weeks ago. Hospitals are already contending with an unprecedented wave of more
than 10,000 COVID-19 patients.
“Once people die, they’re gone from our lives forever — and there’s no way to measure
that impact at all,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said during a
briefing Monday. “There’s no value you really can place on a person’s husband or
daughter or their friend or their loved one. And every death is a tragedy, particularly
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those deaths that, in some ways, if we were all better at doing our part, we could be
preventing right now.”
CALIFORNIA
Photos: Governor Newsom announces new stay-at-home order as COVID-19hospitalizations hit recordNov. 30, 2020
As bleak as things are now, the ceiling of the surge may be yet to come, as experts say
the ramifications of travel and gathering for the Thanksgiving holiday have yet to be
fully realized.
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Cases that stem from “dinner tables or activities and plans, travel through
Thanksgiving, are going to show up right about now,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s
Health and Human Services secretary, and “we know we’ll be seeing that for many days
to come.”
“We believe,” he said at a Monday briefing, “that the levels of transmission that we’ve
been reporting so far will likely continue to go up some because of those activities
around Thanksgiving.”
CALIFORNIA
With nearly 20,000 dead and economy hit by lockdown, California facestreacherous phase of pandemicDec. 7, 2020
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the new round of restrictions last week, saying
stricter intervention was needed to shore up the state’s hospital system and make sure
12/8/2020 California's COVID shutdown will last through Christmas - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/california-covid-19-shutdown-to-last-through-christmas-as-hospitalizations-spike 5/17
intensive care beds remained available.
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The state’s latest strategy carves California into five regions: Southern California, the
San Joaquin Valley, the Bay Area, the Greater Sacramento area and rural Northern
California.
A region is required to implement a state-defined stay-at-home order — which restricts
retail capacity to 20% and shuts down outdoor restaurant dining, hair salons, nail
salons, public outdoor playgrounds, card rooms, museums, zoos, aquariums and
wineries — if its available ICU capacity drops below 15%.
Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley are already below that threshold, and as
of Monday their ICU availability had tumbled to 10.9% and 6.3%, respectively.
The Southern California region encompasses Imperial, Inyo, Los Angeles, Mono,
Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and
Ventura counties.
12/8/2020 California's COVID shutdown will last through Christmas - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/california-covid-19-shutdown-to-last-through-christmas-as-hospitalizations-spike 6/17
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On Monday, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties announced that
they may seek approval from the state to separate from the Southern California region
and create their own Central Coast region.
The counties will request to be considered a separate region to assess restrictions to
curb the spread of the virus if their ICU capacity exceeds 15% in the next three weeks,
according to a Ventura County press release.
“A smaller regional approach is important for our community members and struggling
businesses,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers. “We believe it’s reasonable to
have the Central Coast as one region instead of including our County with over half the
State’s population in the current Southern California Region.”
The area defined as the San Joaquin Valley covers Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings,
Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne
Times survey of local health departments
Coronavirus cases in CaliforniaThe number of cases announced each day by local health officials.
New cases by day
May June July August September October November December0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
The seven-day average offers a more stable view of the trend than daily totals, which are subject to bureaucratic delays.
Ben Welsh
7-day average
12/8/2020 California's COVID shutdown will last through Christmas - Los Angeles Times
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counties.
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CALIFORNIA
Many aren’t buying public officials’ ‘stay-at-home’ message. Experts say there’s abetter wayDec. 7, 2020
Both Greater Sacramento (20.3%,) and Northern California (28.2%) remain above the
ICU threshold for now.
So does the Bay Area, at 25.7%. Health officials there aren’t waiting, however, and have
already decided to apply the order — which went into effect in San Francisco, Santa
Clara and Contra Costa counties on Sunday; in Alameda County on Monday; and will do
so in Marin County on Tuesday.
“We cannot wait until after we have driven off the cliff to pull the emergency brake,” Dr.
Sara Cody, Santa Clara County’s health officer, said in a statement.
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The latest restrictions have been a source of controversy, however. Critics have
demanded to see data justifying the latest rules and questioned whether they will play a
significant role in turning the tide of the pandemic — particularly if residents don’t
abide by them and law enforcement departments decline to enforce them.
Some have also objected to the state taking a regional view, saying they shouldn’t be
punished because of their neighboring counties’ circumstances.
12/8/2020 California's COVID shutdown will last through Christmas - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/california-covid-19-shutdown-to-last-through-christmas-as-hospitalizations-spike 8/17
Though the additional restrictions are undoubtedly a hardship for many, Ghaly said
they were “required to make sure we get through the surge as quickly as possible and
saving as many lives and preventing as many infections as we possibly can.”
Coronavirus cases statewide »As of December 7, 10:11 p.m. Pacific
1,385,689confirmed
20,054deaths
Statewide deaths by day
Jan. 26 Dec. 70
100
200
California » L.A. County » Orange County »
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California has seen a sustained and shocking rise in coronavirus cases and
hospitalizations over the last few weeks — with numbers surging to levels far beyond
those seen at any other point in the pandemic.
Statewide, average daily coronavirus cases have jumped sixfold since early October,
hospitalizations have quadrupled since late October, and average daily deaths have
nearly tripled in the last month.
Over the last week, California has averaged 20,414 cases per day, a 78.3% increase from
two weeks ago, according to data compiled by The Times.
Roughly 240,000 Californians have tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 14
days. That number is larger than the entire population of the city of San Bernardino.
12/8/2020 California's COVID shutdown will last through Christmas - Los Angeles Times
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There are now 10,070 coronavirus-positive patients hospitalized statewide and 2,360
are in intensive care, according to numbers Newsom presented Monday. Both those
figures are all-time highs.
An average of 112 Californians have died from COVID-19 every day over the last week.
“I think we have moved from characterizing this as a surge, in my mind, to being
basically a viral tsunami in terms of its size,” said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, a professor at
the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, medical epidemiologist and infectious
disease expert.
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In Los Angeles County, the state’s most populous, health officials reported more than
10,500 new cases Sunday, an unprecedented number for a single day. Hospitalizations
California Department of Public Health
California coronavirus hospitalizationsThe number of hospital patients with a confirmed case
Total patients by day
April May June July August September October November0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
ICUICU OtherOther
Ben Welsh
12/8/2020 California's COVID shutdown will last through Christmas - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/california-covid-19-shutdown-to-last-through-christmas-as-hospitalizations-spike 10/17
for COVID-19 have surpassed 3,000, and Ferrer said that number could rise
dramatically in the next few weeks as the full toll of the Thanksgiving holiday comes
into view.
Given the county’s recent sky-high case counts, Ferrer said officials are projecting that
daily hospitalizations could surpass 4,000 this month — with daily deaths potentially
rising to 65 soon thereafter.
Before the latest surge, the county had never seen recorded 2,300 COVID-19 patients
hospitalized in a single day.
“These numbers reflect actions we took in late November, and we can’t take those
actions back,” Ferrer said. “What we can do is change our actions today so that, two to
three weeks from now, we’re not reporting a similarly disastrous cascade of events.”
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SCIENCE
How were COVID-19 vaccines made so fast? Scientists had a huge head startDec. 7, 2020
Though the pandemic has reached crisis levels in California, state officials say there is
light at the end of the tunnel as companies begin to roll out their initial shipments of
COVID-19 vaccines.
Newsom said Monday the state was planning to receive 2.16 million doses of vaccine
this month — with delivery expected to start by next week.
“Hope is on the horizon,” he said.
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12/8/2020 California's COVID shutdown will last through Christmas - Los Angeles Times
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More tools are also coming online. Starting Thursday, Californians will be able to opt
into a smartphone-based system, turning on COVID-19 exposure notifications in their
iPhone settings or downloading the CA Notify app in the Google Play Store.
Some residents can expect to get a notification by phone alerting them that the program
is available.
State officials hope the Bluetooth-based technology — which doesn’t collect location
data or people’s identities — will help slow the transmission of the novel coronavirus by
quickly notifying people when they’ve been exposed to someone who later tests positive
for the disease.
Newsom has also named a new general in the battle against COVID-19. He announced
Monday that he had appointed Tomás Aragón as director of the California Department
of Public Health.
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Aragón had been health officer for the city and county of San Francisco.
“We’re very, very enthusiastic to have him now on the team,” Newsom said, “to continue
to supplement our efforts as we move into this next and challenging phase.”
The appointment requires confirmation from the state Senate.
Times staff writers Alex Wigglesworth, Jack Dolan and Sean Greene and Lyndsay
Winkley of the San Diego Union-Tribune contributed to this report.
CALIFORNIA COVID-19 PANDEMIC
12/8/2020 C.D.C. Call for Data on Vaccine Recipients Raises Alarm Over Privacy - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/us/politics/cdc-vaccine-data-privacy.html?referringSource=articleShare 1/2
https://nyti.ms/2JZzU0L
C.D.C. Call for Data on Vaccine Recipients Raises Alarm Over PrivacyThe Trump administration is requiring states to submit personal data — including names, birth dates and addresses — of Covid-19 vaccinerecipients.
By Sheryl Gay Stolberg
Dec. 8, 2020 Updated 8:39 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is requiring states to submit personal information of people vaccinated against Covid-19 —including names, birth dates, ethnicities and addresses — raising alarms among state officials who fear that a federal vaccine registrycould be misused.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is instructing states to sign so-called data use agreements that commit them for the firsttime to sharing personal information in existing registries with the federal government. Some states, such as New York, are pushing back,either refusing to sign or signing while refusing to share the information.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York warned that the collection of personal data could dissuade undocumented people from participatingin the vaccination program. He called it “another example of them trying to extort the State of New York to get information that they canuse at the Department of Homeland Security and ICE that they’ll use to deport people.”
Administration officials say that the information will not be shared with other federal agencies and that it is needed for several reasons: toensure that people who move across state lines receive their follow-up doses; to track adverse reactions and address safety issues; and toassess the effectiveness of the vaccine among different demographic groups.
At a briefing with a small group of reporters on Monday, officials from Operation Warp Speed, the government’s vaccine initiative,defended the plan. They said all but a handful of states had signed data agreements, and the rest would sign by the end of the week,though it is not clear how many states will submit personal information.
“There is no social security number being asked for; there is no driver’s license number,” said Deacon Maddox, who runs the operation’sdata and analysis system. “The only number I would say that is asked is the date of birth.”
The hurried effort at data gathering, with delivery of vaccine doses expected to begin next week, is making many immunization experts —including the doctor who ran the C.D.C.’s immunization program for 16 years — deeply uneasy. At issue is the delicate balance between apatient’s right to privacy and the government’s right to invoke its expansive authority in the name of ending the deadliest pandemic inmore than a century.
In Minnesota, officials are refusing to report any identifying details to the C.D.C., but they will submit “de-identified doses-administereddata” on a daily basis once the vaccine campaigns begin.
“This is a new activity for us, as we don’t typically report this level of detail on this frequency to the federal government,” Doug Schultz, aspokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health, said in an email. He added, “We will not be reporting name, ZIP code, race, ethnicityor address.”
In the United States, collecting immunization data has been a purely state-by-state effort. A push two decades ago to develop a federalregistry imploded after an uproar over patient privacy and how the data would be used.
“The general philosophy in this country is states manage public health, so the concept that federally we are going to be tracking identifiedinformation is concerning,” said Dr. Shaun J. Grannis, a professor of medical informatics at Indiana University, who has advised the C.D.C.on data gathering.
“We are 50 different states with a patchwork quilt of regulations and different perspectives on privacy and security,” Dr. Grannis added.“And I think people are going to be asking the question: What does the C.D.C. do that we can’t do regionally?”
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12/8/2020 C.D.C. Call for Data on Vaccine Recipients Raises Alarm Over Privacy - The New York Times
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But at the briefing on Monday, Col. R.J. Mikesh of the Army, the information technology lead for Operation Warp Speed, said the datagathering was part of a “whole of America approach” to vaccine distribution. And some experts say that in the thick of a pandemic thathas already cost nearly 284,000 lives in the United States, now is the time to start a federal vaccine registry.
“We’re in a pandemic,” said Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert at Emory University in Atlanta. “Privacy has its role, but itcannot be what drives decision-making when you’re trying to do a monumental task like vaccinating millions of Americans with a vaccinethat requires two doses.”
The fight over the registry also exposes yet again the fractured nature of health data gathering — and how the government’s lack ofsophistication has impeded the response to the pandemic, said Dr. Dan Hanfling, an expert in emergency response and a vice president atIn-Q-Tel, the investment arm of the national intelligence community.
Some state immunization registries can coordinate to directly exchange information without a centralized federal database, but otherscannot. “If you don’t have a national system, then at least there should be consistency in terms of what the states are doing,” Dr. Hanflingsaid.
And while there are ways to encrypt personally identifiable data, the C.D.C. is not yet using such a system. C.D.C. officials did not respondto repeated requests for comment.
When the National Governors Association warned that collecting personal data “may create a lack of trust and discourage people fromgetting vaccinated,” the C.D.C.’s parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services posted a document saying that it was“exploring solutions” to protect privacy.
In the meantime, states are grappling with how — and to what extent — they should participate in the data-gathering effort. Some stateshave laws that preclude them from sharing identifiable health information.
In Pennsylvania, Cindy Findley, the deputy secretary for health promotion and disease prevention, said she could see the need for vaccinedata collection but would prefer that states share information one on one. Lawyers for the state tried to amend the C.D.C.’s data useagreement, but its changes were rejected and Pennsylvania signed anyway, state officials said.
The data requirements are detailed in an appendix to the C.D.C.’s interim playbook for vaccine distribution, published in late October. Fourorganizations representing state health officials — including the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the Association ofImmunization Managers — sent a letter to Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the C.D.C. director, outlining their reservations about the vaccine rolloutplan.
Their primary concern, the letter said, was how the government would use the personally identifiable information and whether gatheringit would erode public trust in the vaccine program.
“It’s an awful lot to ask 50 states to sign the data use agreement and to send potentially identifiable data into a cloud,” said Claire Hannan,the executive director of Association of Immunization Managers. “The experience that states have had with data around Covid in thefederal government has not been ideal.”
Ms. Hannan and Rebecca Coyle, the executive director of the American Immunization Registry Association, which also sent the letter, sayC.D.C. officials have yet to fully explain why they need personal information, what they will do with it and precisely who will have accessto it.
“We want to make sure that people’s information is protected,” Ms. Coyle said. “We want to make sure that only the right people haveaccess to the data, and I think it’s important to think long and hard about who needs access to what parts of the data.”
Dr. Walter A. Orenstein, who ran the C.D.C.’s immunization program from 1988 to 2004 and is now the associate director of the EmoryVaccine Center, said he shared that concern. He said he was not certain why the federal government needed personally identifiable datathat would ordinarily remain at the state level.
During the Clinton administration, Dr. Orenstein said, he argued against a federal vaccine registry, against his own interests. “There wasso much uptightness about the government holding the data that I was opposed to it,” he said, “even though I would have loved to havehad that.”
12/8/2020 Pfizer’s Vaccine Offers Strong Protection After First Dose - The New York Times
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Pfizer s̓ Vaccine Offers Strong Protection After First DoseThe Food and Drug Administrations̓ first analysis of the clinical trial data also found that the coronavirus vaccine worked well regardless ofa volunteer s̓ race, weight or age.
By Noah Weiland and Carl Zimmer
Dec. 8, 2020 Updated 10:17 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON — The coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech provides strong protection against Covid-19 within about 10days of the first dose, according to documents published on Tuesday by the Food and Drug Administration before a meeting of its vaccineadvisory group.
The finding is one of several significant new results featured in the briefing materials, which include more than 100 pages of data analysesfrom the agency and from Pfizer. Last month, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that their two-dose vaccine had an efficacy rate of 95percent after two doses administered three weeks apart. The new analyses show that the protection starts kicking in far earlier.
What’s more, the vaccine worked well regardless of a volunteer’s race, weight or age. While the trial did not find any serious adverseevents caused by the vaccine, many participants did experience aches, fevers and other side effects.
“This is what an A+ report card looks like for a vaccine,” said Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University.
On Thursday, F.D.A.’s vaccine advisory panel will discuss these materials in advance of a vote on whether to recommend authorization ofPfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine.
Pfizer and BioNTech began a large-scale clinical trial in July, recruiting 44,000 people in the United States, Brazil and Argentina. Half ofthe volunteers got the vaccine, and half got the placebo.
New coronavirus cases quickly tapered off in the vaccinated group of volunteers about 10 days after the first dose, according to one graphin the briefing materials. In the placebo group, cases kept steadily increasing.
The vaccine’s swift impact could benefit not just the people who get it but the country’s strained hospitals, curbing the flow of new patientsinto intensive care units.
Despite the early protection afforded by the first dose, it’s unclear how long that protection would last on its own, underscoring theimportance of the second dose. Previous studies have found that the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine gives the immune systema major, long-term boost, an effect seen in many other vaccines.
The efficacy of the vaccine after the first dose is about 52 percent, according to Dr. William C. Gruber, senior vice president of PfizerVaccine Clinical Research and Development. After the second dose, that rises to about 95 percent. “Two doses of vaccine providemaximum protection,” he said.
Many experts have expressed concern that the coronavirus vaccines might protect some people better than others. But the results in thebriefing materials indicate no such problem. The vaccine has a high efficacy rate in both men and women, as well as similar rates in white,Black and Latino people. It also worked well in obese people, who carry a greater risk of getting sick with Covid-19.
Some vaccines for other diseases set off a weak immune response in older adults. But Pfizer and BioNTech found that people over 65 gotabout as much protection from the coronavirus vaccine as younger people did.
Even if the vaccine is authorized by the F.D.A., the trial will continue. In the briefing documents, the companies said that they wouldencourage people to stay in the trial as long as possible, not knowing whether they got the vaccine or the placebo, so that the researcherscould continue to collect information about whether the vaccine was safe and effective.
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12/8/2020 Pfizer’s Vaccine Offers Strong Protection After First Dose - The New York Times
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Words to Know About Vaccines
Confused by the all technical terms used to describe how vaccines work and areinvestigated? Let us help:
Adverse event: A health problem that crops up in volunteers in a clinical trialof a vaccine or a drug. An adverse event isnʼt always caused by the treatmenttested in the trial.
Antibody: A protein produced by the immune system that can attach to apathogen such as the coronavirus and stop it from infecting cells.
Approval, licensure and emergency use authorization: Drugs, vaccines andmedical devices cannot be sold in the United States without gaining
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The briefing materials also provide a deeper look at the safety of the vaccine. In any large clinical trial, some people who get vaccinesexperience health conditions that have nothing to do with the vaccine itself. Comparing their rates of symptoms with those of the placebogroup as well as with background rates in a population can point to symptoms that may actually be caused by a vaccine.
The F.D.A. concluded that there were no “meaningful imbalances” in serious health complications, known as adverse events, between thetwo groups. The agency noted that four people in the vaccinated group experienced a form of facial paralysis called Bell’s palsy, with nocases in the placebo group. The difference between the two groups wasn’t meaningful, and the rate in the vaccinated group was notsignificantly higher than in the general population.
The new Pfizer analysis revealed that many volunteers who received the vaccine felt ill in the hours after the second dose, suggesting thatmany people might have to request a day off work or be prepared to rest until the symptoms subside. Among those between ages 16 and55, more than half developed fatigue, and more than half also reported headaches. Just over one-third felt chills, and 37 percent felt musclepain. About half of those over age 55 felt fatigued, one-third developed a headache and about one-quarter felt chills, while 29 percentexperienced muscle pain.
“Taking a day off after the second dose is a good thing to anticipate,” Dr. Iwasaki said.
On Monday, Kristen Choi, a psychiatric nurse and health services researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, published a first-person account of the symptoms she experienced as a participant in the Pfizer-BioNTech trial, which included chills, nausea, headacheand fever.
“Clinicians will need to be prepared to discuss with patients why they should trust the vaccine and that its adverse effects could look a lotlike Covid-19,” Dr. Choi wrote in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. She advised doctors to tell patients that these unpleasant symptomswere “a sign that the vaccine is working, despite the unfortunate similarities with the disease’s symptoms.”
12/8/2020 Explainer-I just got a COVID-19 vaccine. Now what? | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccine-immunity-e-idUSKBN28I0OK 1/4
HEALTHCARE & PHARMA
DECEMBER 7, 2020 / 11 :09 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO
Explainer-I just got a COVID-19 vaccine. Now what?
By Deena Beasley
(Reuters) -Britain became the first country in the world on Tuesday to roll out the COVID-19vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNtech, initially making the shot available at 50 hospitals.
FILE PHOTO: Vials with a sticker reading, "COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only" and a medicalsyringe are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken October 31, 2020. REUTERS/DadoRuvic
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12/8/2020 Explainer-I just got a COVID-19 vaccine. Now what? | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccine-immunity-e-idUSKBN28I0OK 2/4
The country’s National Health Service is giving priority to vaccinating people over the age of80, frontline healthcare workers and nursing home staff and residents.
Here is what people getting the vaccine should expect.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE GETS THE VACCINE?
The vaccine, developed with new messenger RNA technology using a manufactured fragmentof the coronavirus’ genetic code, is injected into the arm. The immunization is given in twodoses, three weeks apart, and has been shown in trials to protect up to 95% of recipients fromcontracting COVID-19.
Pfizer has said side effects in trial volunteers were mostly mild to moderate, and cleared upquickly. The most severe side effects occurred after the second dose: fatigue in 3.8% ofvolunteers and headache in 2%. Older adults tended to report fewer and milder adverse events.
WHAT KIND OF PROTECTION DOES IT GIVE?
The vaccine prevented COVID-19 illness seven days after the second injection - which is abouta month after the first shot.
Clinical trials so far have not been designed to determine if an immunized person can stillspread the coronavirus to someone else. Some vaccines, such as hepatitis A, do provide suchprotection - known as sterilizing immunity - but others do not. COVID-19 vaccine makersfocused trials on determining whether the drug stopped people from getting ill.
It will also be several more months before it becomes clear how long the vaccination willprotect someone from coronavirus infection.
“Until then, it is better to avoid the pub, and other in-person gatherings with many people,”said Dr. Anita Shet, infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
12/8/2020 Explainer-I just got a COVID-19 vaccine. Now what? | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccine-immunity-e-idUSKBN28I0OK 3/4
Health.
DOES THE VACCINE MEAN BACK TO NORMAL LIFE?
Since there is no evidence that the immunization prevents transmission of the virus - and novaccine is 100% effective - scientists call for continued vigilance, including mask-wearing,hand-washing and social distancing.
“As with all vaccines, it may work really great in certain patient subsets, but not as well inothers ... Does that mean you are free to hop on a plane or have 30 people over at your house?Probably not,” said Dr. Michelle Barron, senior medical director for infection prevention atColorado’s UCHealth.
She said vaccination campaigns are unlikely to reach “a critical mass” until next spring or earlysummer.
Reporting by Deena Beasley, Editing by Peter Henderson and Aurora Ellis
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
M O R E F R O M R E U T E R S
12/8/2020 As Virus Spreads, C.D.C. Draws Up an Urgent Battle Plan - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/health/coronavirus-cdc-recommendations.html?surface=home-discovery-vi-prg&fellback=false&req_id=9900894… 1/2
https://nyti.ms/3ovSkFz
As Virus Spreads, C.D.C. Draws Up an Urgent Battle PlanThe multipronged advice, for individuals and state and local officials, may augur a national strategy in the months to come, experts said.
By Roni Caryn Rabin and Apoorva Mandavilli
Dec. 4, 2020
With coronavirus infections soaring across the nation, federal health officials on Friday urged Americans in the most forceful language yetto take steps to protect themselves — starting with consistent, proper use of masks — and pressed local governments to adopt 10 publichealth measures deemed necessary to contain the pandemic.
The guidance reflected deep concern at the agency that the pandemic is spiraling further out of control and that many hospitals arereaching a breaking point, potentially disrupting health care across the country.
Agency officials have issued increasingly stark warnings in the waning weeks of the Trump administration, and President-elect Joseph R.Biden Jr. has promised a new national strategy to turn back the virus. On Thursday, Mr. Biden said he would call on Americans to wearfacial coverings for 100 days.
To some experts, the C.D.C.’s appeal appeared to augur a more comprehensive and coordinated national approach to controlling thepandemic — one consistent with messages from Mr. Biden and his advisers.
“We’re seeing C.D.C. and other public health institutions awaken from their politics-induced coma,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, whoserved as the agency's director under President Barack Obama.
“This is them aligning themselves more with science, which also aligns them more with the Biden administration,” he added.
While none of the directives are new, experts said the rising case numbers demonstrated a need for a more uniform approach, rather thanthe patchwork of restrictions adopted by states.
“The role of the C.D.C. is to lead with the science,” said Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious-disease physician and member of Mr. Biden’sCovid advisory group. “In the absence of strong national guidance from the C.D.C., we’ve had a variety of responses across the country,some more scientifically grounded than others.”
The scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of certain health measures, such as wearing masks, has been accumulating, and thosemeasures are urgently needed now to stop the spread, C.D.C. officials said.
Though the agency has issued all of the recommendations in earlier guidance, the new summary represented the first time the C.D.C. hadpublished a multipronged list of strategies for states, a sort of battle plan.
“This idea of a 50-state solution is completely impractical when we live in one nation,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at JohnsHopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We are not going to get past this pandemic unless we have a concerted nationalapproach.”
The new recommendations place high priority on keeping schools open, from kindergarten through 12th grade, saying schools should beboth “the last settings to close” and “the first to reopen” because of the critical role they play in providing meals and support services tochildren. Closures take a disproportionate toll on low-income families, the agency noted.
Officials warned that eating at indoor restaurants was one of the “particularly high-risk scenarios” because diners had to remove theirmasks. The C.D.C. urged communities to require face coverings on mass transit, something Mr. Biden also has endorsed, and to expandroutine screening to identify asymptomatic individuals, who are responsible for about 50 percent of transmissions.
Failure to implement the preventive measures will lead to continued spread of the virus and more unnecessary deaths, said Margaret A.Honein, the first author of the C.D.C. report.
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12/8/2020 As Virus Spreads, C.D.C. Draws Up an Urgent Battle Plan - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/health/coronavirus-cdc-recommendations.html?surface=home-discovery-vi-prg&fellback=false&req_id=9900894… 2/2
She emphasized that Americans could take many important steps on their own: wearing masks, physically distancing from others,limiting their contacts and avoiding nonessential visits to indoor spaces.
“We want to make sure every person is aware that it’s within their power to take this critical step: Wear a face mask and preventtransmission, and maintain physical distance from others,” said Dr. Honein, a member of the agency’s Covid-19 emergency response team.
Scientific evidence that masks can both prevent an infected individual from spreading the disease and protect the user from infection is“compelling,” she added. “Clearly, not everyone is hearing how important that is,” she said. “It’s an action everyone can take to protecteach other.”
Americans also should avoid indoor spaces outside the home, as well as crowded outdoor spaces, the C.D.C. said. That includesrestaurants and could also apply to some with outdoor dining: The report suggests switching to takeout food service instead.
Americans should be tested if exposed to the virus and should cooperate with contact tracers if infected, the agency said. They should stayhome and postpone travel, air out and ventilate rooms, wash hands frequently and get vaccines as they become available.
Exercise should be done outdoors, with a mask and social distancing, the agency said. Working remotely should be encouraged, and socialgatherings should be limited.
In a shift, the C.D.C. also urged states and local jurisdictions to encourage and enforce these behaviors, including mandating the wearingof masks in public spaces and on public transportation.
The Trump administration in September blocked a C.D.C. order that would have required passengers to wear masks on planes, buses andsubway trains and in transit hubs. Officials in some states continue to resist mask mandates in public spaces. In Florida, which hasreported over a million coronavirus cases, Gov. Ron DeSantis reiterated his opposition to mask mandates earlier this week.
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The C.D.C. urged officials to limit the use of high-risk nonessential indoor spaces, to erect physical barriers and visual remindersunderscoring the need for social distancing, and to begin planning now for the distribution and administration of vaccines.
The agency is also pushing for increased testing of essential workers who come into contact with the public and people who are otherwiseat high risk.
Even with mass vaccinations apparently imminent, Dr. Honein emphasized the need to implement such measures. “We are seeing thatlight at the end of the tunnel, but need time to get to that,” she said.
Dr. Nuzzo, of Johns Hopkins, and other experts praised the agency’s new emphasis on prioritizing schools over venues like restaurantsand bars, a recommendation echoed by Mr. Biden and his advisers.
The C.D.C.’s previous guidance, issued over the summer and doctored by the White House, also pushed for schools to reopen but was notbalanced by a scientific assessment of the accompanying risks, Dr. Nuzzo said, adding, “It felt more like a treatise rather than an analysis.”
Having all 10 measures in one document is helpful and underscores the message that no one strategy can hinder the spread of the virus,experts said. But the document was thin on some details, said Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, medical director of the special pathogens unit at BostonMedical Center.
Dr. Bhadelia was struck by the suggestion that there might be a coordinated program to hand out masks to people. “I haven’t seen thatbefore, particularly for those who are at high risk,” she said. But the C.D.C. did not specify whether states or employers should provide themasks, she noted.
The new guidance also emphasized the importance of improving ventilation in indoor spaces, where airborne virus is a threat. But theagency could have detailed best practices to minimize confusion, Dr. Bhadelia said.
She cited fully enclosed outdoor dining “cabins” as an example of the misguided solutions that can result from unclear guidance.
The agency also did not clarify what the triggers should be for restaurants or schools to shut down or which groups were recommendedfor increased testing because of their greater interactions with other people. “I would have loved to see a little bit more detail,” Dr.Bhadelia said.
12/8/2020 Hypocrisy on pandemic rules contributes to cynicism – San Bernardino Sun
https://www.sbsun.com/2020/12/07/hypocrisy-on-pandemic-rules-contributes-to-cynicism/ 1/5
By By THE EDITORIAL BOARDTHE EDITORIAL BOARD | | [email protected]@scng.com | |PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: December 7, 2020 at 12:44 p.m.December 7, 2020 at 12:44 p.m. | UPDATED: | UPDATED: December 7, 2020 atDecember 7, 2020 at12:44 p.m.12:44 p.m.
Los Angeles county supervisor Sheila Kuehl, left, speaks at a rally outside of theLos Angeles county supervisor Sheila Kuehl, left, speaks at a rally outside of theLos Angeles County Hall of Administration Tuesday, September 10, 2019. Los Angeles County Hall of Administration Tuesday, September 10, 2019. At right isAt right issupervisor Hilda Solis. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)supervisor Hilda Solis. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
OPINIONOPINION
Hypocrisy on pandemic rulesHypocrisy on pandemic rulescontributes to cynicismcontributes to cynicism
• • EditorialEditorial
12/8/2020 Hypocrisy on pandemic rules contributes to cynicism – San Bernardino Sun
https://www.sbsun.com/2020/12/07/hypocrisy-on-pandemic-rules-contributes-to-cynicism/ 2/5
Amid a surge of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and new government-Amid a surge of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and new government-ordered restrictions, tensions and anxieties are understandably high. Not onlyordered restrictions, tensions and anxieties are understandably high. Not onlyare lives at risk from COVID-19, but livelihoods too are under growing strain.are lives at risk from COVID-19, but livelihoods too are under growing strain.Which makes it all the more regrettable that a number of public officials haveWhich makes it all the more regrettable that a number of public officials havefanned the flames of cynicism with inconsistent and even hypocriticalfanned the flames of cynicism with inconsistent and even hypocriticalpersonal behaviors.personal behaviors.
Gov. Gavin Newsom violated his own public messaging and state guidelines toGov. Gavin Newsom violated his own public messaging and state guidelines toattend a birthday dinner for a lobbyist at The French Laundry.attend a birthday dinner for a lobbyist at The French Laundry.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, just after voting to ban outdoorLos Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, just after voting to ban outdoordining in the county, dined at a local restaurant outdoors.dining in the county, dined at a local restaurant outdoors.
In a vacuum, Newsom and Kuehl didnʼt do anything horrendous. They did whatIn a vacuum, Newsom and Kuehl didnʼt do anything horrendous. They did whatmost normal people would like to be able to do. And in Kuehls̓ case, she stayedmost normal people would like to be able to do. And in Kuehls̓ case, she stayedwithin the official rules since the outdoor dining ban she supported wasnʼt inwithin the official rules since the outdoor dining ban she supported wasnʼt ineffect yet.effect yet.
But the mismatch between their words and mandates versus their behaviorBut the mismatch between their words and mandates versus their behaviorunderstandably contributes to public cynicism.understandably contributes to public cynicism.
If Newsom and Kuehl are willing to destroy businesses, jobs, fortunes,If Newsom and Kuehl are willing to destroy businesses, jobs, fortunes,investments and opportunities because of a threat so dangerous they needed toinvestments and opportunities because of a threat so dangerous they needed tomake such calls, they at the very least need to act accordingly.make such calls, they at the very least need to act accordingly.
Just as many have grown cynical about the fact that small businesses can andJust as many have grown cynical about the fact that small businesses can andare being driven out of their business on the one hand, but massive protests areare being driven out of their business on the one hand, but massive protests arecondoned and even celebrated on the other, public confidence iscondoned and even celebrated on the other, public confidence isunderstandably shaken whenever they see a poorly explained mismatch.understandably shaken whenever they see a poorly explained mismatch.
Of course, it s̓ not enough for public officials ordering lockdowns to merelyOf course, it s̓ not enough for public officials ordering lockdowns to merelybehave consistent with their mandates. They have to do a better job of makingbehave consistent with their mandates. They have to do a better job of makingdecisions grounded in evidence and effectively communicating those decisionsdecisions grounded in evidence and effectively communicating those decisionsto the public.to the public.
In the case of Kuehl, it certainly doesnʼt help that the factual basis for banningIn the case of Kuehl, it certainly doesnʼt help that the factual basis for banningoutdoor dining was and remains weak.outdoor dining was and remains weak.
Or that two of her fellow supervisors strongly disagreed with the vote to banOr that two of her fellow supervisors strongly disagreed with the vote to banoutdoor dining.outdoor dining.
Or that the flimsy case for banning outdoor dining has received nationalOr that the flimsy case for banning outdoor dining has received nationalscrutiny.scrutiny.
12/8/2020 Hypocrisy on pandemic rules contributes to cynicism – San Bernardino Sun
https://www.sbsun.com/2020/12/07/hypocrisy-on-pandemic-rules-contributes-to-cynicism/ 3/5
With all this said, it must be reiterated that while politicians are going to doWith all this said, it must be reiterated that while politicians are going to dowhat theyʼre going to do, fundamentally it is up to individuals to take personalwhat theyʼre going to do, fundamentally it is up to individuals to take personalresponsibility and take proper precautions, as most certainly have.responsibility and take proper precautions, as most certainly have.
In Newsoms̓ case, his French Laundry dinner came amid growing challengesIn Newsoms̓ case, his French Laundry dinner came amid growing challengesto his one-man rule and often seemingly arbitrary decision-making, and wasto his one-man rule and often seemingly arbitrary decision-making, and wassubsequently followed by escalating lockdowns.subsequently followed by escalating lockdowns.
This editorial board has long called on Newsom to work more closely with the This editorial board has long called on Newsom to work more closely with the Legislature to determine the appropriate statewide response and to cede moreLegislature to determine the appropriate statewide response and to cede morepower and decision-making to local authorities.power and decision-making to local authorities.
Whether Newsom or others are handling the situation properly doesnʼt meanWhether Newsom or others are handling the situation properly doesnʼt meanthe problem of the pandemic isnʼt real. Nearly 20,000 Californians have lostthe problem of the pandemic isnʼt real. Nearly 20,000 Californians have losttheir lives so far this year, even with the extraordinary lockdowns and changestheir lives so far this year, even with the extraordinary lockdowns and changesin behavior. Many more have been hospitalized and many are dealing within behavior. Many more have been hospitalized and many are dealing withlong-term health issues.long-term health issues.
Moving forward, while public officials need to do better, Californians cannotMoving forward, while public officials need to do better, Californians cannotallow even legitimate cynicism to blind them to the fact that this pandemic isallow even legitimate cynicism to blind them to the fact that this pandemic isfar from over.far from over.
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12/8/2020 Fire weather brings new power shutoffs to California - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/fire-weather-brings-potential-power-shutoffs-southern-california 1/11
CALIFORNIA
Power shutoffs hit Southern California as dangerous fire weatherreturns
A firefighter walks across a hillside blackened by the Bond fire. More Santa Ana winds are on tap this week. (Luis Sinco /Los Angeles Times)
By HAYLEY SMITH | STAFF WRITER
DEC. 7, 2020 | 9:23 AM UPDATED DEC. 7, 2020 | 10:26 PM
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12/8/2020 Fire weather brings new power shutoffs to California - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/fire-weather-brings-potential-power-shutoffs-southern-california 2/11
Southern California Edison preemptively shut off power to more than 54,000 customers
by Monday night as widespread fire weather conditions ramp up across the region.
More than 150,000 additional customers are facing potential shutoffs as well.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings — indicating conditions for
wildfires to start — in portions of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los
Angeles counties through noon Tuesday, with the agency warning residents to be
prepared to evacuate.
“Another Santa Ana wind event is expected to begin late tonight and continue through
Tuesday evening,” the weather service said Monday. “This is the time to get set with
assembling your emergency supply kit and knowing your evacuation route.”
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Mountain and foothill areas could see isolated wind gusts as high as 70 mph, the agency
said, with coasts and valleys peaking at 55 mph. The strongest winds will occur Monday
evening through Tuesday morning and will be met with critically dry vegetation and
very low relative humidity.
“If fire ignition occurs,” the Weather Service said, “conditions will be favorable for rapid
fire spread, long-range spotting and extreme fire behavior, which would threaten life
and property.”
12/8/2020 Fire weather brings new power shutoffs to California - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/fire-weather-brings-potential-power-shutoffs-southern-california 3/11
In Orange County, where the Bond fire has seared a path through 7,375 acres and
destroyed at least 30 structures, a red flag warning is in effect through 10 p.m. Tuesday.
The fire was 70% contained Monday evening, the Orange County Fire Authority said.
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NWS Los Angeles@NWSLosAngeles
Widespread critical fire weather conditions are expected Mon-Tue and Red Flag Warnings have been issued for all areas except for inland valleys. Gusty Santa Ana winds are expected with very low RH and critically dry fuels. Please practice wildfire safety! #CAwx #LAwind #CAfire
4:20 PM · Dec 6, 2020
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12/8/2020 Fire weather brings new power shutoffs to California - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/fire-weather-brings-potential-power-shutoffs-southern-california 4/11
Edison spokesman Paul Netter said the utility performs public safety power shutoffs in
an effort to prevent the electrical system from acting as a source of ignition for wildfires.
In October, the company came under scrutiny for its potential role in the Bobcat fire,
which may have been sparked by tree branches striking a power line.
Customers currently without power include 3,300 in Kern County, 8,200 in Los Angeles
County, 22,500 in Ventura County, and 17,200 in Riverside County.
More than 150,000 customers in eight counties are under consideration for a power
shutoff, including an additional 38,500 in Los Angeles County, 34,500 in San
Bernardino County and 13,800 in Ventura County. Residents can enter their address
here to determine whether they may be affected.
Just how many customers on alert will actually experience a shutoff depends on the
weather, Netter said.
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“You can’t really say in advance what’s going to happen,” he said. “It’s totally based on
conditions. The forecast calls for the winds to be heavier in the afternoon and into
tomorrow, so we’re particularly looking at those as the key periods of concern.”
San Diego Gas & Electric Monday night also announced that, due to high winds, it had
shut off power to approximately 14,200 customers.
12/8/2020 Fire weather brings new power shutoffs to California - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/fire-weather-brings-potential-power-shutoffs-southern-california 5/11
The latest potential shutoffs come on the heels of back-to-back power outages over the
last two weeks amid high winds.
CALIFORNIA
Does a dry fall in Los Angeles always lead to a parched, fire-prone winter?Dec. 4, 2020
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The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a no-burn alert through
Tuesday for areas including Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino
counties, warning of possible health problems arising from particles in wood smoke.
“No-burn day alerts are mandatory in order to protect public health when levels of fine
particulate air pollution in the region are forecast to be high,” the agency said. Burning
wood in fireplaces or any indoor or outdoor wood-burning devices is prohibited during
the mandatory wood-burning ban.
No-burn alerts do not apply to mountain communities above 3,000 feet in elevation, or
to homes that rely on wood as a sole source of heat.
David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said there was no rain
on the horizon for at least the next seven days in the region.
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The current fire weather conditions are the result of winds from a low-pressure system,
heading southwest, meeting with winds from a high-pressure system that’s coming from
the east, he said.
12/8/2020 Fire weather brings new power shutoffs to California - Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-07/fire-weather-brings-potential-power-shutoffs-southern-california 6/11
“When you have strong winds at every level … that’s an ideal situation for a Santa Ana
wind condition that is moderate to strong,” he said. “That’s why we have very gusty
winds, very low humidities and high fire danger.”
CALIFORNIA CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT FIRES
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Hayley Smith
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Hayley Smith is a Metro reporter covering breaking news for the Los Angeles Times.
Previously she was an intern on The Times’ COVID-19 team who contributed to “The
Pandemic’s Toll: Lives Lost in California” in partnership with the Pulitzer Center and
USC. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from USC.
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12/8/2020 Red flag warnings continue in Riverside and San Bernardino counties – San Bernardino Sun
https://www.sbsun.com/2020/12/08/red-flag-warnings-continue-in-riverside-and-san-bernardino-counties/?utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_cam… 1/4
By By CITY NEWS SERVICECITY NEWS SERVICE | | [email protected]@socalnews.com | |PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: December 8, 2020 at 8:51 a.m.December 8, 2020 at 8:51 a.m. | UPDATED: | UPDATED: December 8, 2020 at 8:51December 8, 2020 at 8:51a.m.a.m.
Graphic courtesy of the National Weather ServiceGraphic courtesy of the National Weather Service
RIVERSIDE — Gusty Santa Ana winds and low humidity will significantly raise theRIVERSIDE — Gusty Santa Ana winds and low humidity will significantly raise therisk of wildfires throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties again Tuesday,risk of wildfires throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties again Tuesday,according to the National Weather Service.according to the National Weather Service.
NEWSNEWSCRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETYCRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Red flag warnings continue inRed flag warnings continue inRiverside and San BernardinoRiverside and San Bernardinocountiescounties
• • NewsNews
12/8/2020 Red flag warnings continue in Riverside and San Bernardino counties – San Bernardino Sun
https://www.sbsun.com/2020/12/08/red-flag-warnings-continue-in-riverside-and-san-bernardino-counties/?utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_cam… 2/4
The weather agency issued a red-flag warning that will be in effect through 10The weather agency issued a red-flag warning that will be in effect through 10p.m. Tuesday in the Riverside and San Bernardino metropolitan areas, thep.m. Tuesday in the Riverside and San Bernardino metropolitan areas, theRiverside and San Bernardino county mountains and the San Gorgonio Pass nearRiverside and San Bernardino county mountains and the San Gorgonio Pass nearBanning.Banning.
Moderate to strong Santa Ana winds are expected Tuesday, with dry conditionsModerate to strong Santa Ana winds are expected Tuesday, with dry conditionsacross the region and high temperatures several degrees above normal. Gusts areacross the region and high temperatures several degrees above normal. Gusts areexpected to reach 45 to 50 mph.expected to reach 45 to 50 mph.
Graphic courtesy of the National Weather ServiceGraphic courtesy of the National Weather Service
The red-flag warning means that outdoor burning should be avoided because anyThe red-flag warning means that outdoor burning should be avoided because anyfires that develop will spread rapidly, according to the NWS.fires that develop will spread rapidly, according to the NWS.
A no-burn orderA no-burn order is in effect for much of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. is in effect for much of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.The order prohibits indoor and outdoor wood burning through 11:59 p.m.The order prohibits indoor and outdoor wood burning through 11:59 p.m.Tuesday due to a forecast of high air pollution in the area.Tuesday due to a forecast of high air pollution in the area.
Gusty conditions may knock down trees or power lines, and travel will be difficultGusty conditions may knock down trees or power lines, and travel will be difficultfor high-profile vehicles in wind-prone areas, forecasters said.for high-profile vehicles in wind-prone areas, forecasters said.
High temperatures Tuesday are expected to be in the 70s in the valleys and metroHigh temperatures Tuesday are expected to be in the 70s in the valleys and metroareas, the upper 70s in the Coachella Valley and the upper 50s to lower 60s in theareas, the upper 70s in the Coachella Valley and the upper 50s to lower 60s in themountains.mountains.
A cooling trend is expected Wednesday with all areas back to normalA cooling trend is expected Wednesday with all areas back to normaltemperatures by the end of the week, the NWS said.temperatures by the end of the week, the NWS said.
12/8/2020 JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK CLOSES CAMPGROUNDS, MODIFIES OPERATIONS | Z107.7 FM
z1077fm.com/joshua-tree-national-park-closes-campgrounds-modifies-operations/ 2/5
Joshua Tree National Park of�cials have announced that park operations will be temporarily
modi�ed during California’s stay-at-home order. While the park will remain open for day-use
activities and back-country camping, the park’s campgrounds will be closed until further notice;
sections of Indian Cove and Black Rock campgrounds will remain open to hikers, but not campers.
All programs, including ranger programs and the Keys Ranch Tour, are suspended. All �res,
including camp�res, are prohibited. The visitor centers will have a reduced capacity. Special use
permits and commercial activities have temporary limits. Camping fees and Keys Ranch tour
tickets will be refunded through the government website, recreation.gov.
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DECEMBER 8, 2020 | Z107.7 NEWS | LEAVE A COMMENT
12/8/2020 SR-210 and Base Line work for week of Dec. 7 | Public Works | highlandnews.net
https://www.highlandnews.net/news/public_works/sr-210-and-base-line-work-for-week-of-dec-7/article_b1955324-38b2-11eb-bd06-2f3e6054183c.html… 1/3
https://www.highlandnews.net/news/public_works/sr-210-and-base-line-work-for-week-of-dec-7/article_b1955324-38b2-11eb-bd06-2f3e6054183c.html
BREAKING
SR-210 and Base Line work for week of Dec. 7
Dec 7, 2020
The week of Dec. 7, construction crews will perform work on the retaining wall adjacent to the Base Line interchange, set temporary
concrete barriers also known as k-rail along SR-210 between Base Line and Fifth Street, and perform a concrete pour for the bridge
widening work at City Creek.
The following nighttime full closures are scheduled along eastbound and westbound SR-210 to facilitate this work.
• Eastbound SR-210 closed at Base Line: Nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday, Dec. 7, and Tuesday, Dec. 8 (into Wednesday
morning). DETOUR: Exit eastbound SR-210 at Base Line and turn right at the end of the ramp, turn left on Palm Avenue, then left on
Fifth Street to reenter eastbound SR-210.
• Westbound SR-210 closed between Fifth Street and Base Line: From 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, to 5 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11. DETOUR:
Exit westbound SR-210 at Fifth Street and turn right at the end of the ramp, turn left on Boulder Avenue, then turn left on Base Line to
reenter westbound SR-210.
SBCTA crews form bridge columns at Sand Creek.
Photo courtesy of SBCTA
12/8/2020 SR-210 and Base Line work for week of Dec. 7 | Public Works | highlandnews.net
https://www.highlandnews.net/news/public_works/sr-210-and-base-line-work-for-week-of-dec-7/article_b1955324-38b2-11eb-bd06-2f3e6054183c.html… 2/3
Bridge widening activities are underway at numerous locations throughout the project area, including Fifth Street, Pioneer Avenue,
Victoria Avenue, Base Line Interchange and Highland Avenue. Crews are working on the bridge widening at Base Line and Highland
Avenue, where crews will work during daytime and nighttime hours. Visit the Google map above (project Google map) for the most up-
to-date closures scheduled and available detour routes.
SR-210 lane, connector and ramp closures
Ramp Closures:
Eastbound SR-210 on-ramp at Base Line -
• Nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday, Dec. 7, through Thursday, Dec. 10 (into Friday morning)
• From 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, to 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Westbound SR-210 on-ramp at Base Line -
• Nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday, Dec. 7, through Wednesday, Dec. 9 (into Thursday morning)
• From 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, to 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Westbound SR-210 off-ramp at Base Line -
• Nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday, Dec. 7, through Wednesday, Dec. 9 (into Thursday morning)
• From 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, to 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Eastbound SR-210 off-ramp at Base Line -
• Nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8, through Thursday, Dec. 10 (into Friday morning)
• From 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, to 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
Westbound SR-210 on-ramp at Fifth Street -
• From 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, to 6 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11
Please note, nighttime lane/ramp closures may occur intermittently along eastbound and westbound SR-210, between Del Rosa
Avenue and I-10, Mondays through Fridays (into Saturday mornings), from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. No two consecutive ramps will be closed at
the same time. In addition, crews will continue daytime and nighttime construction activity along SR-210 as well as on local city
streets.
Local street closures
Highland Avenue at SR-210 - Full closure between the eastbound SR-210 off-ramp and Arden Avenue, nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.,
Monday, Dec. 7, through Wednesday, Dec. 9 (into Thursday morning), and from 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10.
12/8/2020 SR-210 and Base Line work for week of Dec. 7 | Public Works | highlandnews.net
https://www.highlandnews.net/news/public_works/sr-210-and-base-line-work-for-week-of-dec-7/article_b1955324-38b2-11eb-bd06-2f3e6054183c.html… 3/3
Arden Avenue at SR-210 - Lanes will be closed on Arden Avenue at SR-210, nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday, Nov. 30, through
Wednesday, Dec. 2 (into Thursday morning), and from 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3. At least one lane in each direction will
remain open on Arden Avenue at SR-210 at all times.
About the project
The SR-210 Lane Addition and Base Line Interchange Project is designed to provide increased traf�c �ow throughout this corridor. To
eliminate the existing bottleneck and provide lane continuity, the SR-210 will be widened from Sterling Avenue to San Bernardino
Avenue in the cities of San Bernardino, Highland, and Redlands, as well as an unincorporated portion of San Bernardino County. Base
Line Interchange will also be widened from Buckeye Street to Seine Avenue in the city of Highland, which will include widening three
of the four interchange ramps. As the SR-210 Lane Addition and Base Line Interchange projects aligned geographically and shared
similar delivery schedules, they were combined for the design, right-of-way, and construction phases to save cost and expedite the
schedule. In addition, pavement rehabilitation work was added through a cooperative agreement with Caltrans that includes new
concrete pavement between Fifth Street and Lugonia Avenue. Adding the pavement rehabilitation work during the Lane Addition and
Base Line Interchange projects means one less project that the community will have to navigate around in the future.
Please remember all construction is dynamic and the schedule is weather-permitting and subject to change.
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